TIL my fern was dying because I was talking to it too much

I used to sit and read out loud to my Boston fern every evening, thinking the CO2 would help it grow. A botanist at the Denver Botanic Gardens told me that plants actually respond better to consistent humidity than to my voice, and my constant breath was drying the leaves out. I switched to a pebble tray with water and now the fronds are 12 inches longer in just 3 weeks. Has anyone else gotten weird care advice that turned out to be total garbage?

2 comments

2 Comments

green.jenny2d ago

The CO2 thing is actually real though. Plants do use CO2 for photosynthesis and talking to them does release CO2. The problem was probably that you were too close and the moisture from your breath was hitting the leaves directly. That can cause issues like brown tips or fungal problems. I read my houseplants old paperback novels every night before bed but I sit about three feet back so the humidity just drifts around the room. My snake plant has put out four new pups this winter and my pothos is trailing almost to the floor. Maybe try backing up a bit and see if the fern responds better. Pebble trays are great but they can also attract gnats if not cleaned regularly.

wendysmith1d ago

Wait hold on you read your plants old paperback novels? Like out loud? That's wild. I mean I talk to my plants too but I just ramble about my day or what's on TV. Actually now I'm thinking maybe that's why my calathea is so sad maybe she's bored of hearing about my grocery store drama. But seriously four pups from a snake plant in one winter? That's insane. My snake plant has been sitting in the same pot for two years doing absolutely nothing. You must have some kind of magic touch or maybe your old romance novels are just more interesting than my complaining.