Substrate & semi-hydroponics: what you need to know before you overwater
Teaser: Our methods of potting and care keep your plants healthy and hydrated, so you don’t have to.
Your Plantclub plants aren’t potted like any average houseplant. With our use of semi-hydroponics and mineral substrate, maintenance and watering can look a little different. So before you pick up that watering can, here’s everything you need to know about how we take care of your greenery, so you don’t have to.
First of all, we know you all love your plant friends dearly, but watering them yourselves may be doing more harm than good. Overwatering can lead to root rot and a whole host of problems which can cut plants off from oxygen and lead to their untimely deaths; we don’t want that. This is why we time our planned check-ins and keep up with regular maintenance schedules - to make sure your plants have everything they need to stay happy and healthy.
Watering & overwatering, how does it work?
For some species of plants, signs of overwatering appear as droopy, yellow or brown leaves and soft or unstable stems, while underwatered plants will develop dry, crunchy, wilting leaves sometimes with brown tips or leaf curling.
Plantclub plants are potted using more self-sustaining methods, which means they need much less water than usual. Inorganic substrate and water level indicators, make up our semi-hydroponic system that is best suited for the types of plants Plantclub offers.
An example of an underwatered plant.
This plant’s leaves started to brown in a response to being overwatered.
What is semi-hydroponics?
Semi-hydroponics, not to be confused with hydroponics, which completely cuts out the use of soil or substrate, is a method that makes plant care easier through its use of inorganic potting material that requires less frequent watering and adds other benefits such as sustainability and pest prevention.
The average potted plant sits in soil or peat moss, the latter being the popular but more controversial choice for plants due to the environmental detriment caused by its non-renewable nature and over-extraction from its natural habitat.
Plantclub’s method of using semi-hydroponics involves an inner liner holding the plant and potting material, which is then kept in an outer pot. This system allows water to slowly be released by the mineral substrate over time, which is monitored by a water level indicator in each plant. (It’s important to note that we have found that the best conditions to avoid a plant sitting in water will show the water level indicator reading in at “minimum.”) So instead of the plant’s roots sitting in normal soil which will repeatedly dry out without regular watering, our use of substrate lets plants take what is needed when it's necessary.
An example of a water level indicator in mineral substrate. Don’t be concerned if the indicator reads ‘minimum’!
Our substrate mix
At Plantclub we use a carefully curated inorganic vulcanic-based mineral mix, of zeolites, pumice, and lava. There is no peat involved in the potting of our plants. These mineral substrates can hold three times as much water as normal soil and provide other benefits such as excess nutrient storage, pH stabilization, odor and fungus prevention, and better conditions for root growth.
The benefits of semi-hydroponics
With all these factors combined, your plants from Plantclub require a lot less water than you may be used to and are generally more self-sustaining than regular houseplants. There are also the added benefits of less pests and a substrate that is longer-lasting than regular soil - meaning a lot more time before you need to repot. Plus, less water and no peat also means more environmentally-friendly plants.
This ficus audrey at the Wandwall Berlin office is thriving in the mineral substrate.
What do Plantclub members have to do?
Besides maybe some words of encouragement, nothing. Plantclub plants have already been taken care of, so don't worry if water level indicators read “minimum.” Your plants are our business and through our potting and regular check-ins, you can rest assured that your indoor jungle will continue to thrive.
Plantclub.io provides you and your colleagues with the benefits of plants, wherever you work. Rent office plants and transform your space into a green oasis, with flexible monthly membership options to suit your size. Diversify your employee perks with a dedicated company store, where you can give green gifts and your team can buy plants for their home office. Book a time to chat with us today.