5 secret plant hacks you (probably) didn't know

Rich here, and welcome back to Houseplant Digest, sponsored by Houseplant SOS.

In this week’s issue:

Five little-known hacks from the Sheffield community
The power of clever, everyday household tools
Why I’ll never look at a chopstick the same again
One reader’s genius way to stop fungus gnats
Got your own secret hack? I want to hear it!
And more…

🇬🇧 Sheffield Answers

Every week, I get tons of questions about growing houseplants. In “Sheffield Answers”, I’m going to pick one out each week and answer it. Want to submit your own and get it featured next week? Click here to ask me a question!

Question: "I love how you’ve filled your home with grow lights to support plants in all sorts of locations. Do you find that directional light (from below or from the side) works just as well, or does the light need to be placed above the plant" Melissa

My Answer: I find that from above and off to the side works best for most plants. It kind of mimics the sun that way. Having it shine from below would encourage the plant to face downwards, which might look odd. It depends on the plant though. It’s probably fine for a tradescantia but not so much for a Monstera.

🪴HOW TO & TIPS

Over the years, I’ve tested more plant hacks than I can count. I even filmed a one-hour video showing 28 of my favourites… yet somehow, new ones keep finding me.

Most of them come directly from you, the clever bunch who comment on my YouTube videos and newsletters every week.

So today, I’m sharing five of the best hacks I’ve seen from viewers recently. Some are practical, some are a bit mad, so try them at your own will!

1) “Use chopsticks to aerate your soil.” Pam 🥢

Pam wrote: “I started using a wooden chopstick to poke a few holes into the soil before watering. It stops water from running straight down the sides and helps the roots get air too. Plus it makes me feel like I’m giving my plant a mini acupuncture session.”

Clever, quick, and surprisingly effective especially for compacted soil that’s been sitting a while.

2) “Coffee filters in the bottom of plants I’m potting” Rick ☕

Rick said that his “favourite hack is putting coffee filters in the bottom of plants I'm potting. It keeps the soil from spilling into the catch basin & if you're a bottom waterer, it will help wick up water. They don't hold up forever, but they do at least until the soil is slightly compacted & doesn't spill from the drainage holes.”

Coffee and houseplants aren’t the match made in heaven that some think, but this I like!

3) “Cinnamon for fungus gnats.” Marsha 🐛

Marsha commented: “I sprinkle a little cinnamon on top of my soil whenever I see gnats flying about. It smells nice and helps stop them from laying eggs. My kitchen smells like a bakery now, but at least the gnats are gone.”

Cinnamon is mildly antifungal and can help dry out the surface of the soil — a double win.

4) “Old toothbrush = best leaf cleaner.” Darren 🪥

Darren wrote: “Instead of wiping big leaves with a cloth, I use an old soft toothbrush for textured leaves like calatheas or ferns. Gets the dust off without tearing them.”

I tried this one last month and it’s genuinely brilliant. Just make sure the brush is soft and clean.”

5) “Use old scarves to hide ugly nursery pots.” Ivy 🧣

Ivy says: “I wrap old silk scarves around my pots instead of buying new planters. A bit of tape at the back keeps them in place and they look really nice. I change them out with the seasons.”

It’s quick, sustainable, and weirdly chic. (The fashion world may not be ready for plant couture, but we are.)