I cannot tell you how refreshing it is to have someone just be honest and real about the influencer stuff. Watching these influencers usually feels sooo sterile and cold because they’ve lost touch with their followers. They are so focused on making money. I love your content so much because you feel like a real person and it fosters a sense of connection with people rather than more disconnection. Thank you!!
I appreciate your comment so much 🫶 I can't even log into my instagram or other socials without seeing the push of constant ads and promotions. It's so out of touch 😬 I would love to make more money right now doing this job but I'm not going to risk losing my followers over it. I wouldn't be here right now if I didn't have this supportive community 🥹
@mallorydemotte2329 - Very well said. I agree. And in addition, I often wonder if folks realize these sponsorships deals are essentially cheap commercials for these companies. And I loathe commercials. I come to YT to watch the content folks create. I'm not here to watch folks peddle wares. There are even channels that I sometimes watch but refuse to subscribe to simply because of the sponsorships they do. @plantsbymelissa - I appreciate your stance on that matter. Stay strong. Stay honest. Stay real. I eagerly await your shop!
To be honest Melissa, you are one of the very few channels I really respect, you only talk to your community about products you really like without being affiliated or sponsored by the brand, you are your own brand like you said and this makes me truly look up to you and your advise for my planty needs, thank you for being so genuine!
Thank you so much 😊 I've grown a lot this past year and I quickly realized that working with brands is not for me and not what I want to put my energy into 🫶
I am a couple years older than you, no kids (but we tried for many years) and been with my hubby for 21 years. The question about kids can be such a sensitive subject but you handle it so well!! Its great to have another friend out there who is living their best life with their hubby, furbabies and plants! ❤
Thank you! 🥹🫶 I've had my share of struggles talking about this subject and it still is hard some days if I think about it for too long but I am more at peace now about it than I was even several years ago. I like this little life we have with it just being us and the fur babies and plants 🤗
@@plantsbymelissa I totally understand. 😢 I left working in a clinical setting because it felt like every patient wanted to know if/when I would have kids and share their opinions about it. I had coworkers having babies left and right and I was SO happy for them but I left work crying so many days because it wasnt happening for us. I have learned after all these years that you truly can build yourself a happy, fulfilling life without having (human) children! I just wish more people understood that!
Thank you for everything you do for us. We know it's a lot of work and we appreciate it. Keep being yourself and the honest person you are. That's why I'm here. Thank you 🤗.
OMFGOODNESS This is the first time I've seen Star. What a doll, her little kisses were so precious. I also think it's awesome that you don't let sponsors try to bully you! They need you, you don't need them! I love your channel!
You are the only plant person I watch from start to finish because you come across and are authentic and honest. I only plant semi hydro (which you only started doing a while ago) and still made sure I watched every one of your posts. I love that you are passionate about this topic and love that you stand by your principles. 🌻
I appreciate that so much and thank you for watching the videos all the way 🥹 that really helps my channel out 🫶 I'm glad I decided to try out semi hydro I seriously love it!
Much respect for you and your channel. Keep up the good work, please. You are definitely an outstanding educator and you seem like a very nice person. Plantologist Extraordinaire for sure.
The way you approach sponsors is the most respectful and genuinely honest way I've ever seen; the consideration you have is so rare and inspiring it restores a lot of hope I've lost and it could inspire businesses to go about sponsoring differently. I've lost trust in many content creators over wasting money on horrible products they've recommended from random sponsorships. Your content has given me a better perspective on my plants and given me extraordinary results over the last couple years; my collection has never looked better and I just really want to thank you for making my part of the world a little better 🙏😌💚
I am new to your channel and I respect your integrity, I follow a Handful of “influencers” and I can tell they just want to sell you things just because they get something out of it and not really because they really like the product. Thank you for being real and honest.
I'm very big on buying my own products. I'm happy to accept something if the company wants to send it for me to try if I think I'll use it but when they expect me to make content around it then it's a no from me.
I enjoy the way you respond to comments. You've always answered my planty questions and I truly appreciate you for that! Not all influencers do this, and I know as your channel grows, and with your new shop opening up... this might not continue, and I completely understand if that happens. I always appreciate your plant tshirts so much that I just purchased three from Etsy. I've never owned a plant shirt so I'm excited to get them.
hehe I ordered this and one other from from Etsy recently. I needed some new t-shirts! I appreciate it Dora and thank you for commenting and engaging with my videos. I love responding back and being active in the comments. I try to answer as many as I can! 🤗
I've been watching you for a few years and I never comment 😅. But your plant care is next level. You deserve an award for how well you take care of them. I love your integrity and your obvious true love of the hobby. #goals
A few years?! Thank you for supporting as long as you have and thank you for your comment! I’m a silent viewer as well 🫶🏻 I love taking time to reply back as much as I can. I appreciate your kind words 🥹
Oh man my thai has been a disappointment too got it rotted now it sits shunned with all my other dashed hopes plants in my office where it gets just enough care to live
I love your honest and informative channel. I think you grow the best plants of all the people I watch and companies should want you to try and use the product honestly and with very little obligation.
Melissa I adore your videos and appreciate your sincerity! I do pet influencer content with my sweet dog so appreciated the discussion about sponsors and affiliates! With regard to sponsors, the numbers should definitely be in the thousands, like multiple thousands, to work with you. When you said $200 I was floored!! Mad disrespectful on them to offer you that. I’ve had really good experience with having an influencer manager to pitch, negotiate, and do contract red lines for me bc I hate all that part of it. Thanks for always sharing these videos with us, you’re my comfort RUclipsr 💕
Thank you so much 🥹 I've never gotten close to anything like that at all. I'll send my rate card out (which is way below probably what I should be asking) and they come back with it's not in their budget. I was even willing do go way down in price and do a full sponsored video for a brand that I really loved and wanted to work with and it went back and for for weeks and they just kept throwing more things they wanted me to do for the same price. Most brands actually ask me to do it just for the free product 🥴 Maybe one day I can get an influencer manager to handle all of that because I really dislike the emails. The plant niche is not it for making $$
So my husband and I live in an area where the chemicals in the water are only removable through RO. I’m poor lol so I stay very cost effective with my plants. We buy 5 gallon jugs of water, and refill them with RO water at Walmart for .49/G. We have several for house use, and I have one for plant use that I premix allllll my stuff in. Now your collection is different, but I wonder if buying some, using them for different types of water mixes, and keeping them on standby would make your life easier. Also there’s really cute water dispensers you can use on top!
I appreciate it! I probably go through 15+ gallons a week to water everyone so maybe a bigger vessel would help for sure but I also don't like to let anything sit for too long. So once I add my silica and fertilizer and I adjust the PH - I use it right away or within a couple hours. I don't like to let anything sit overnight either 🙈
Hello Melissa, did you know that otaku on etsy is using the part of your video where you are mentioning how nice their aroid mix is? Not sure if I spelled the nursery name correctly. I believe they gifted you a plant. Just an FYI.
Thanks for letting me know Joann! I remember her asking me about using part of the video showing her mix but I thought she meant using the close up view of her soil and not using my image and what I said to sell product. I think it was a misunderstanding is all. I messaged her to remove it 🙏🏼
Hi, I’m so glad I found your channel.I’m a burnt (21yrs) icu/pacu rn. I agree nursing has definitely changed tremendously and no one wants to address the toll it takes on one’s mental health. I’m currently not working. I have always loved plants.However, all of my plants were outdoors(mostly potted)when I lived in Florida for 41 yrs, I now live in Kansas City, Kansas. All of my plants are now indoors( I could only bring a few with me). Also, I have purchased a lot. Lighting, humidity,soil,watering,fertilizer..ect is a whole different ballgame..I love my plants but I’m starting to feel overwhelmed. Growing tropical plants outdoors in Florida is so much easier than indoors in KC. Thank you for your content.
Hi there! Thank you so much for being here! 21 years is amazing! Yes, nursing has changed so much and bedside is hard 😔 - it definitely takes a toll on your mental health and ultimately why I left the field. The burnout I felt towards the end of my time there was nothing like I had ever felt with any job before. Florida to KC is definitely a big change. I'm sure there's a lot more to learn growing in a completely different environment. I still go through periods of time feeling overwhelmed with them and I am still always learning. It'll get better though! Growing plants should be a fun hobby 🤗
You would be a wonderful nurse that community really lost a loving individual who I am sure treated her patients as she does her plants. ❤ Thanks for sharing your time in this Q&A it was enlightening!
Hi Melissa! So excited to find your channel! I have been experimenting with Pon and have tried sorting through the various information out there. Originally, I tried soil to pon and lost my Alocasias. After watching your videos, I am water rooting first and am hoping that will be more successful. QUESTION: One of my plants I restarted in Perlite and it seems ready to re-pot. Do you think I could transfer straight from Perlite to Pon or would you water root it first? Appreciate any thoughts!
Also, I have a Thai Con in soil that I am getting ready to re-pot. I'd like to move it to Pon as well. Did you water root your Monstera before moving it?
I actually highly agree with everything you stated about sponsorships and product reviews as I have also been through that with my content it the beauty community! It’s almost like the brands believe they are entitled to the content you make….which is how I ended up being on an Amazon “how to clips video” for a certain magnetic eyelash company for literally a $10 pack of lashes! 🙄🤦🏻♀️ I no longer do PR or anything due to the push to lie about their products and actions of “you owe them something” and literally pushing things on you that you aren’t even interested in trying in the first place! Thank you for all your honesty Melissa this is just one of the manyyyyyy reasons we love you and value your content!!!!! 🫶🏼🥹☺️
Hi Melissa! We need another Q&A I would to know if they’re any dream collab/sponsors you would want to have. Also how cool would it be if you did a plant drop, maybe that’ll alleviate some of the pressure of have to have a BIG inventory. A plant drop just seems more intimate/special. You can do like an IG or RUclips live to showcase the plants and sell on a first come first serve basis! Just a suggestion🥹😉
haha honestly working with brands is not really a goal for me right now. I've been rubbed the wrong way so many times that I put a guard up now. I mean if a big sponsor came along like ikea or target then I would consider lol. These brands in the plant community are disappointing. I'm not sure where the shop will lead or if I will be any good at it but I'll probably do weekly restocks or so once I have plants ready. I haven't thought about how to showcase plants yet but a live makes me anxious lol 🫶
@@plantsbymelissa omg that would be awesome maybe you have to reach out to them for that sponsorship!😉 And I’m sure you’d be fine on live. You’d be surprised how supportive your subscribers are and how fun live is. it’s just another way to connect, but whenever you’re ready!☺️🫶🏽
Hi Melissa, good for you to stand up for yourself and be your own person and not give these sponsors your time. I really love your channel and watching you.. you are so kind and honest. Your channel is the best I ve come across.❤
Melissa - I just ordered the minute pirate bugs from Nature's Good Guys website. I just went ahead and set up a bimonthly subscription...much less expensive than ordering on Amazon😊 thanks for letting me know!
Oh my gosh! I love that cat! She’s loving your mouth hahahaha. I have dogs their litter mates they are so adorable and I could see having another pet would end up being a 3rd wheel in the 3. Poor babies. So precious!
Thank you so much Mélissa for your honest opinion and to explain to me how the sponsor works. I am so greatfull for your honesty and transparancy. I respect you a lot for standing for yourself. Love from Québec, Canada
I would first like to say sorry you've struggled with infertility that would have been really heard to go through. My fiance and I personally are choosing not to have kids. I feel very judged and I always get asked have you changed your mind and its a little frustrating to hear it over and over again that we'll regret it. You made a point of not wanting to bring kids up today and I feel the same. I look at my nieces and nephews and there is so much pressure on them. Peer pressue and that is not something I'd want a child to go through. I told my dad the other day I don't want kids and he jokinly threatened me. Saying he'll die. He was saying it in a joking way but it made me upset. He kept saying your mum and I will look after them during the day. But what about the night? What about when you pass away? I dont want to have kids for the sake of parents. But I still want to say you had that choice taken from you because of your infertility but I'm glad your at peace.
I'm definitely interested to hear about conclusions you make with your pon experience. The timing seems like it could work out pretty well for me. 😁 If you do a lighting video, I'd be interested in light readings from various locations. Bottom/top of moss poles, window plants, cabinet plants, etc. Time of year/day along with current weather can definitely affect readings, especially closer to a window. Different light measuring tools/devices can also have varying levels of accuracy. Even so, I'd find readings pretty interesting. My understanding of the different types of readings are: lumens - light intensity at the source foot candles - light intensity at the receiving location (over an area) PPFD - usable light for plants at the receiving location (over an area) For plants, I don't know that lumens are all that useful. PPFD might be a bit tricky (expensive) to accurately measure, but it's what matters. I think foot candles can still be useful for a rough approximation. Foot candles may gain more value for someone using similar products as you, as the PPFD to foot candles relationship should be more consistent. With Barrina being pretty popular, I'd say that's pretty likely for a lot of viewers.
I like how matter of fact you are to your viewers that you respect your time, your hard work, and your personal brand too much to be taken advantage of by greedy, exploitative companies. We're in a period right now where companies have little to no shame wringing as much cheap or even free labor out of smaller businesses and content creators while they reap all the profits. I wish more people could stand up against these kind of practices. I know some are just trying to pay the bills and I hate that bigger companies know this full well and exploit it. Your honesty is refreshing and needed.
Thank you for not getting on the band wagon of having product sent to you for review. For instance, I followed an artist for many years who did creative content and use whatever you have. Suddenly companies sending product and they are doing 2 - 3 reviews a week and they no longer have time for that longer creative content and it gives you want the “want bug”. I had to stop watching a lot of creators due to this. In the plant community I avoid the content creators that do an advertisement because I want their true opinion of what they purchased and used and their true feelings. Even sending free product, I feel, does not give you an unbiased opinion. I do understand creators accepting free product for nothing in return but I feel it hurts the buyers. Thanks again
I watched your video with the thrips. I had recently purchased a Monstera Deliciosa and as I was looking at the plant, a couple of the leaves had bubble like formations on them. Googled it and it suggested thrips. I took a cheap lint roller to the front and back sides and I did see a couple. I immediately put the plant in my spare bathroom along with my adansonii’s as they were near each other. I researched and systemic was the best option for me, I work 60 hours a week and I simply don’t have time to do treatments, etc. I also bought blue sticky traps, I guess thrips are attracted to the color blue 🤷🏻♀and I have nothing on them. I’ve used the lint roller on the plants since and nothing.
Also! Regarding anthurium warocqueanum- sometimes it’s a cal-mag deficiency!! My anthuriums seem way more happy with cal-mag added to their fertilizer routine
22:37 I feel like when it comes to these programs, you gotta remember that the ball is ALWAYS in your court. You can choose to negotiate, or just say no. Whatever works for you. ❤
Love love love your personality and transparency, you are a trustworthy person to me and one I look up to when it comes to plants! Thank you for your chanel. It was nice to listen to this episode as I care and repot my plants, I feel like we did it together:) ♥️🪴 👩🏻🌾
Great video, loved learning about you more. We are also home bodies. Only reason we travel once a year is for our boys (more out of obligation). I hate being gone for longer than 5 days, I miss my fury babies too much.
I love your morals on doing sponsored ads! You seem so genuine and I love it! So many people with take any sponsors and I get an icky feeling about this they promote. Thank you for your openness and I hope your channel gets even bigger 😊
You can tell a transparent, honest plant person if they aren't sponsored by a product. From mushroom tea to body wash...lol Also, this is going to sound bad, and I do not wish you get a thrip on plant mail...but your best content was getting a thrip on the plant and your reaction 😅😂 I spent 2 weeks looking at all my plants under a microscope lol. Keep up the good content, Melissa! ❤❤❤
The reason why I LOVE you & your channel is because your content is about your plants. My favorites are like you that don’t create with products that you keep pushing for the next 20 videos. It’s really annoying to watch over and over again 😩😩😩 I feel some creators ( No name but she’s AMAZING 🌱 like you) be very picky with their sponsorships and handle it in a very professional way and others just don’t know when to stop pushing and pushing.
Thank you for the long video! I appreciate your selectivity on brand deals; I'm definitely one of those persons who is sick of being sold something. If you're enjoying the work making this channel, I’m sure a lifestyle/home channel by you would gain popularity. It would be a good way to grow your community and brand outside of plants! I think a lot of people subscribe to you not only because your skills with plants, but also because of how kind and hardworking you are. On another note, I think you’d love Hawaii! There are so many beautiful plants there! It became one of my favorite travel destinations ever since visiting
Thank you so much 🙏 I've been thinking about starting a second channel at some point that isn't focused around plants. Several had mentioned I would be good at ASMR. I think I could manage a few videos in addition to what I am doing now once the shop is up and I can get a routine going. I never thought about doing a lifestyle or home dedicated channel but definitely worth thinking about. I think some people are really good at selling and it can be authentic and other times you can tell it's just being promoted for a paycheck. There can be a good balance with doing sponsors though and to not annoy your audience. I tend to see the creator side now and I have a different outlook compared to when I first started as a fan/viewer. You really get to see how some of these brands act once they start emailing you and that excitement in potentially partnering with them is no longer there. Going to Hawaii will happen one day here! 🥰
Are you located in Canada? I live in Canada, and it would be very nice to be able to buy different plants plants, from someone I have been watching for awhile. Plus know how you care for your plants, which is very well. You have lovely plants. Glad you didn't fall for all the influencers. I did not realize how complicated that was.
I live in Savannah, Georgia in the US :) I won't be shipping out of the US though because there is so much that goes into that and something I can't look into right now with just starting up 🙏
I’m new to your channel(~4 months). I love the content you make. Your collection is beautiful. Your realness is refreshing. I’m very surprised to hear you say you are 38, because you look to be in your early twenties. Please share your secrets 😊
hehe thank you! Appreciate that :) No secrets really! When I was younger I got that I looked older for my age all the time so now that I am older I'll take looking younger 🙈 Thank you for being here and for supporting, it really does mean so much to me!
Hi Melissa 💫 As always it’s a pleasure to watch your videos. You have such a calming demeanor that, no matter how stressed I’ve been you just have a way to calm everything ~ so for that I thank you 🙏🏻. Just like everyone here has mentioned, I too appreciate your stand on sponsors and affiliates. It gets so overwhelming hearing the other RUclipsrs constantly having to plug their “affiliate or sponsor “ and honestly it’s a turn off to me. I appreciate if you want to try a product and buy it for yourself and then share because we get the real honest review because you don’t have to censor. I suppose I’ve rambled enough. Just thank you again for being you! Enjoy the rest of your week. 🙏🏻💫
Hi JC and thank you! 🙏 I would much rather buy a product than receive it for free especially if they expect something in return. I'm more willing to share products/small businesses that way and I prefer to give non-sponsored feedback. I don't have to get paid for everything but when asked to promote a product and they expect me to work and do it for minimal compensation then it's a huge red flag. I get some businesses don't have much of a marketing budget but also have respect a creator's time and effort. I'm not going to be a good return on their investment if I constantly promote and ruin that trust I have built with my following 🫶
I also very much appreciate your honesty. I am very drawn to your videos for several reasons and that is one of them. It doesn’t feel like an ad. I also would 1000% watch you doing mundane things in a vlog. Some of my favorite RUclipsrs are ones that just share regular everyday things. It feels more authentic. Lastly, I have a 19 year old but struggled with secondary infertility. For years I had this awful happiness/devastation when I found out someone close to me was pregnant. Now that I am at this point in my life, I know that I was only meant to have one child. I have made such peace with not being able to have more. Thank you for sharing yourself with us! I am a recent follower and have binged so many videos!
Thank you Rebekah! So happy to have you here! I am so sorry to hear that 🥹 it's hard to explain unless you've been there so I totally understand that happiness/devastation feeling. I've been wanting to film more casual vlogs but wasn't sure if anyone would be interested since I feel like I don't do much lol. I'll be making some shop/packing content though once my little store is open for anyone that is interested in it.
I love and appreciate this is 2 hours long. I know it takes a lot of work in the editing end so I thank you. Your aroid mix looks amazing. Can you share what you put in? Also Chai walking 🐈⬛ behind you🖤🌸
Thank you so much! Some videos are easier to edit than others and if I have more content I filmed there's more to go through so I like to keep a good mix of short content and longer videos 🫶 I enjoy editing though but sometimes I get tired of hearing myself talk haha. The mix I don't have any set ratios - I just made it so kinda played around with the components until it looked good. It has orchid bark, pumice (instead of perlite this time), lava rock for weight, charcoal (no more than 10%), vermiculite, choco chips (instead of coco coir) and tree fern fiber. I probably would have added some worm castings but I was out lol.
Love your content and for not bowing down to the marketing gimmicks from companies out to use you. Selling plants online is difficult but some people in my area do very well as they've built up a good base of locals and sell more unusual plants and cuttings. Have you thought about cat visits/sitting for people on holiday? That seems totally up your street especially with your experience
Thank you and I appreciate that! I'm not sure where it will lead but I am hopeful I can do this on the side with RUclips and be a source for someone to get happy plants from and know that they aren't getting taken advantage of 🫶 I would not pet sit for anyone unless I was doing them a favor which I do sometimes for my neighbors. As much as I love animals - it's not something I see myself doing as a job though.
Thank you for your honesty, integrity, hard work, and dedication. Your channel is one of my favorite. You have helped me so much with my own plants but also the long videos feel like “hanging out.” I appreciate you and your content so much. I can’t wait to support your new website. ❤
This was a nice Q&A video. Good information but not even close to using (lol). Star is so cute what a personality she has. Would still like to know what plants grow corms?. take care dear. Will you sell corms in shop?
thank you! I won't be selling corms unfortunately. I prefer to grow the alocasia out especially if it's variegated to see what the variegation will be like. I only want to sell rooted plants that are happily growing.
Still fairly new on my plant journey, like just diving in to fertilizing info kind of new. I appreciate these chatting/chore videos just as much as your specific subject videos as well. I’ve learned so much from you! Your knowledge is so impressive, thank you so much for sharing and just being so authentic 💕 Have a wonderful week!
Until I found plant people on RUclips, I thought I was the only crazy plant person. Now I know there are other people who love plants like I do. 😊 I do have plants all over the house but I try to keep them in groupings and on my shelves so my kids won't feel like they are in a jungle. 😂 but I think they might feel that way 😅
lol I love that we can all connect this way through plants! I would definitely have them all over the house but I know my husband wouldn't want that so I'll stick to my plant room and window groupings 😂
I would assume the banana gets too much light so the leafs curl like that? Maybe you should give it a little less light? Thanks for that long and interesting video! Always Like before watching! :)
Thank you! I had it in my cabinet under pretty high light so I moved it out probably at least a week and a half ago. Someone else mentioned I might have underwatered it too. I filmed this video probably 10 days ago and the new leaf has unfurled and looks better!
Love your channel and you plants. ❤ 🌿 You are by far my favorite plant influencer, I reference your videos all the time. Enjoyable and informative. Wishing you all the best. Can't wait for your plant store ❣
Thank you so much for being honest with all of us! Your channel is so refreshing because you are real with your opinion on products. I have toyed with the idea of starting my own RUclips channel but I don't think I can get over my shyness and being extremely introverted. You talked a little bit about that in this video, how did you get past that?
Thank you so much! I am soo shy and introverted lol. I laugh at my older videos sometimes haha - I could tell I was nervous. Don't let that stop you though! I talked myself out of starting a channel about 10+ years ago now (I wanted to do a beauty channel). You just have to sit down and film a quick little repot video and just post it. Once you do your first video it will give you more confidence. I post a lot on my instagram stories - so that helped me feel more comfortable on camera. I still get anxious filming and mess up all the time but with the magic of editing no one can tell when I cut unwanted clips out 😁 I heard someone say once that you probably won't like your first 50 videos you do but once you keep doing them it gets better and easier!
I know myself and many others really appreciate how you handle sponsorships. I feel like so much content nowadays is only made to promote something, and you can’t tell who to trust. You’re one of the only influencers I know who truly likes and tries all of the products they recommend. It’s also very refreshing that everything you post isn’t secretly an ad or riddled with product placement. It’s so nice to be able to watch your content and not feel like I’m being taken advantage of by a hungry salesperson 😅
Thank you! It's a lot of product push and promotion everywhere 🫣 I appreciate when it's actually disclosed as an ad but as a creator I see through all the fluff lol. As a consumer I don't want to be sold to so I don't want to do that to my audience. There can be times where a sponsor fits and it works out well for all parties but I have to truly want to use and buy the product to work with someone. I just turned down soltech because I feel their products are too expensive. They offered free lights and affiliate commission but I'm not going to sell their products for them when every other creator does 😅 oh but "we think our products would be a good fit for your audience" I just can't with the emails anymore.
I’m glad that you are honest about products and don’t advertise them just for a small profit. That is one of the reasons I love your channel because I know it’s your honest feedback on products. Money is tight for me so it’s so much easier to trust your opinion over the people that are getting profit from advertising products. I do use Mollys aroid mix and I actually love it and repotted all my plants in the mix so I was hoping one day you would do a video on it to give your honest opinion but I understand why your were turned off by the way they approached you. Thank you for being one of the realest and honest RUclipsr out there ❤
thank you! I was curious about their mix at one point but I just prefer to make my own now. I had plants in sols for about 7-8 months before they all started rotting. I don't want to risk my plants anymore trying a new product :(
Your videos are NEVER too long. You’re such an authentic human being and your sweetness and honesty is so incredibly rare. Thank You for all you do for us that love plants so much and thus love you in the process ❤❤🪴🪴
I laugh when I see an influencer with like tons of followers and like 2 comments I’m confused. My personal instagram gets more comments than that from friends 😅
The fake engagement, views, likes, comments you name it are cringe 😬 I don't understand the need to buy fake followers other than to appear larger to a company so they can get try and get a brand deal.
I cannot tell you how refreshing it is to have someone just be honest and real about the influencer stuff. Watching these influencers usually feels sooo sterile and cold because they’ve lost touch with their followers. They are so focused on making money. I love your content so much because you feel like a real person and it fosters a sense of connection with people rather than more disconnection. Thank you!!
I appreciate your comment so much 🫶 I can't even log into my instagram or other socials without seeing the push of constant ads and promotions. It's so out of touch 😬 I would love to make more money right now doing this job but I'm not going to risk losing my followers over it. I wouldn't be here right now if I didn't have this supportive community 🥹
I agree
I enjoyed reading this comment. It's so true
@mallorydemotte2329 - Very well said. I agree. And in addition, I often wonder if folks realize these sponsorships deals are essentially cheap commercials for these companies. And I loathe commercials. I come to YT to watch the content folks create. I'm not here to watch folks peddle wares. There are even channels that I sometimes watch but refuse to subscribe to simply because of the sponsorships they do.
@plantsbymelissa - I appreciate your stance on that matter. Stay strong. Stay honest. Stay real. I eagerly await your shop!
I agree ❤
To be honest Melissa, you are one of the very few channels I really respect, you only talk to your community about products you really like without being affiliated or sponsored by the brand, you are your own brand like you said and this makes me truly look up to you and your advise for my planty needs, thank you for being so genuine!
Thank you so much 😊 I've grown a lot this past year and I quickly realized that working with brands is not for me and not what I want to put my energy into 🫶
I concur 😀
I admire your integrity about sponsors .
Me too
You’re the cutest cat mom, btw.. I love how happy they make you! 🥰🤗
I love them all so much 🥹
I am a couple years older than you, no kids (but we tried for many years) and been with my hubby for 21 years. The question about kids can be such a sensitive subject but you handle it so well!! Its great to have another friend out there who is living their best life with their hubby, furbabies and plants! ❤
Thank you! 🥹🫶 I've had my share of struggles talking about this subject and it still is hard some days if I think about it for too long but I am more at peace now about it than I was even several years ago. I like this little life we have with it just being us and the fur babies and plants 🤗
@@plantsbymelissa I totally understand. 😢 I left working in a clinical setting because it felt like every patient wanted to know if/when I would have kids and share their opinions about it. I had coworkers having babies left and right and I was SO happy for them but I left work crying so many days because it wasnt happening for us. I have learned after all these years that you truly can build yourself a happy, fulfilling life without having (human) children! I just wish more people understood that!
Thank you for everything you do for us. We know it's a lot of work and we appreciate it. Keep being yourself and the honest person you are. That's why I'm here. Thank you 🤗.
Well said! Me too😊
You have an ideal Nurses disposition which goes along with your plant hobby.❤
Yesssss, ma'am!! I got my drink and popcorn ready to watch Melissa's plants movie!! 😆 Thank you!
2 hours! Thank the lordy! Love the long videos, thank you!!
Glad you like them! I knew once I started answering questions it was going to be long haha. This is actually my longest video!
Respect, it’s nice to see somebody on RUclips with integrity and not selling out.
One of my favorite plant creators. I have learned so much information from you and look forward to your videos. Thanks for all you do
You are so welcome! 🤗
You are a rare kind of soul ❤ love your videos, calm demeanor, honesty and loyalty to your followers ❤️
Thank you so much! 🥹🫶🏻
Your background looks like a painting. I love it ❤.
It’s very smart to investigate the brands you can potentially work for 👍
OMFGOODNESS This is the first time I've seen Star. What a doll, her little kisses were so precious. I also think it's awesome that you don't let sponsors try to bully you! They need you, you don't need them! I love your channel!
Thank you! Appreciate that :) Star is such a sweet kitty 🥹
You are the only plant person I watch from start to finish because you come across and are authentic and honest. I only plant semi hydro (which you only started doing a while ago) and still made sure I watched every one of your posts. I love that you are passionate about this topic and love that you stand by your principles. 🌻
I appreciate that so much and thank you for watching the videos all the way 🥹 that really helps my channel out 🫶 I'm glad I decided to try out semi hydro I seriously love it!
@@plantsbymelissa 🧡
Much respect for you and your channel. Keep up the good work, please. You are definitely an outstanding educator and you seem like a very nice person. Plantologist Extraordinaire for sure.
Definitely 💯😁 plant extrodanaire
The way you approach sponsors is the most respectful and genuinely honest way I've ever seen;
the consideration you have is so rare and inspiring it restores a lot of hope I've lost and it could inspire businesses to go about sponsoring differently. I've lost trust in many content creators over wasting money on horrible products they've recommended from random sponsorships. Your content has given me a better perspective on my plants and given me extraordinary results over the last couple years; my collection has never looked better and I just really want to thank you for making my part of the world a little better 🙏😌💚
I am new to your channel and I respect your integrity, I follow a Handful of “influencers” and I can tell they just want to sell you things just because they get something out of it and not really because they really like the product. Thank you for being real and honest.
Ohhoo my favorite content creator posted a long video ❤❤ super excited! still watching... its amazing thank you for posting.
I know it was a long one lol, I appreciate you for watching! 💖
She's my favorite too😊
No sponsors is why I’m watching your channel. I’m so sick of all the freebies the other RUclipsrs get. It’s just icky to say the least.
I'm very big on buying my own products. I'm happy to accept something if the company wants to send it for me to try if I think I'll use it but when they expect me to make content around it then it's a no from me.
Awww Star is so cuuuuuute. I love seeing her up there with you. 😊❤
I enjoy the way you respond to comments. You've always answered my planty questions and I truly appreciate you for that! Not all influencers do this, and I know as your channel grows, and with your new shop opening up... this might not continue, and I completely understand if that happens.
I always appreciate your plant tshirts so much that I just purchased three from Etsy. I've never owned a plant shirt so I'm excited to get them.
hehe I ordered this and one other from from Etsy recently. I needed some new t-shirts! I appreciate it Dora and thank you for commenting and engaging with my videos. I love responding back and being active in the comments. I try to answer as many as I can! 🤗
I love how open and honest you are. ❤❤
thank you! 🤗
@@plantsbymelissa❤
I've been watching you for a few years and I never comment 😅. But your plant care is next level. You deserve an award for how well you take care of them. I love your integrity and your obvious true love of the hobby. #goals
A few years?! Thank you for supporting as long as you have and thank you for your comment! I’m a silent viewer as well 🫶🏻 I love taking time to reply back as much as I can. I appreciate your kind words 🥹
I always appreciate your honesty and transparency about the influencer side of things. So excited for your shop to open up!! Keep doing you 🩷🩷
Thank you so much! 🥹🫶🏻
Melissa you’ve earned my respect.
Oh man my thai has been a disappointment too got it rotted now it sits shunned with all my other dashed hopes plants in my office where it gets just enough care to live
Do you take the extra steps to order food for your beneficials and spray moisture on your foliage to try to encourage them to reproduce?
I love your honest and informative channel. I think you grow the best plants of all the people I watch and companies should want you to try and use the product honestly and with very little obligation.
Seems to me Lechuza should be paying you some commission. Or at least giving you free product.
Melissa I adore your videos and appreciate your sincerity!
I do pet influencer content with my sweet dog so appreciated the discussion about sponsors and affiliates! With regard to sponsors, the numbers should definitely be in the thousands, like multiple thousands, to work with you. When you said $200 I was floored!! Mad disrespectful on them to offer you that. I’ve had really good experience with having an influencer manager to pitch, negotiate, and do contract red lines for me bc I hate all that part of it.
Thanks for always sharing these videos with us, you’re my comfort RUclipsr 💕
Thank you so much 🥹 I've never gotten close to anything like that at all. I'll send my rate card out (which is way below probably what I should be asking) and they come back with it's not in their budget. I was even willing do go way down in price and do a full sponsored video for a brand that I really loved and wanted to work with and it went back and for for weeks and they just kept throwing more things they wanted me to do for the same price. Most brands actually ask me to do it just for the free product 🥴
Maybe one day I can get an influencer manager to handle all of that because I really dislike the emails. The plant niche is not it for making $$
Yay! There you are! I have a lot of work to do in my house today..so a two hour video is perfect!❤️🪴
aw thank you for hanging out with me today 🥹🫶
Long viiideo, my faaav (podcast mode: on)
I appreciate the long movie style vlog too... I'm definitely here for it. 🎉
So my husband and I live in an area where the chemicals in the water are only removable through RO. I’m poor lol so I stay very cost effective with my plants. We buy 5 gallon jugs of water, and refill them with RO water at Walmart for .49/G. We have several for house use, and I have one for plant use that I premix allllll my stuff in. Now your collection is different, but I wonder if buying some, using them for different types of water mixes, and keeping them on standby would make your life easier. Also there’s really cute water dispensers you can use on top!
I appreciate it! I probably go through 15+ gallons a week to water everyone so maybe a bigger vessel would help for sure but I also don't like to let anything sit for too long. So once I add my silica and fertilizer and I adjust the PH - I use it right away or within a couple hours. I don't like to let anything sit overnight either 🙈
38??? What? I thought you didn't even hit 30 yet 😱 Also, love the sponsors views you have! :)
hehe thank you! Yes, I'm 38 ☺️ I appreciate it! I have a different outlook on sponsors now than I used to :)
You answered my questions!! Yayyy! Thank you! This video was so fun 🌱
Love these long videos! Thank you for all you do Melissa!
Thank you so much! I appreciate you for watching! 💖
Hello Melissa, did you know that otaku on etsy is using the part of your video where you are mentioning how nice their aroid mix is? Not sure if I spelled the nursery name correctly. I believe they gifted you a plant. Just an FYI.
Thanks for letting me know Joann! I remember her asking me about using part of the video showing her mix but I thought she meant using the close up view of her soil and not using my image and what I said to sell product. I think it was a misunderstanding is all. I messaged her to remove it 🙏🏼
Hi, I’m so glad I found your channel.I’m a burnt (21yrs) icu/pacu rn. I agree nursing has definitely changed tremendously and no one wants to address the toll it takes on one’s mental health. I’m currently not working. I have always loved plants.However, all of my plants were outdoors(mostly potted)when I lived in Florida for 41 yrs, I now live in Kansas City, Kansas. All of my plants are now indoors( I could only bring a few with me). Also, I have purchased a lot. Lighting, humidity,soil,watering,fertilizer..ect is a whole different ballgame..I love my plants but I’m starting to feel overwhelmed. Growing tropical plants outdoors in Florida is so much easier than indoors in KC. Thank you for your content.
Hi there! Thank you so much for being here! 21 years is amazing! Yes, nursing has changed so much and bedside is hard 😔 - it definitely takes a toll on your mental health and ultimately why I left the field. The burnout I felt towards the end of my time there was nothing like I had ever felt with any job before. Florida to KC is definitely a big change. I'm sure there's a lot more to learn growing in a completely different environment. I still go through periods of time feeling overwhelmed with them and I am still always learning. It'll get better though! Growing plants should be a fun hobby 🤗
Your almost at 50k 🎉❤😊 good job, and great video 📸😁🌼🖤
thank you Dora 🥹🥰
You would be a wonderful nurse that community really lost a loving individual who I am sure treated her patients as she does her plants. ❤ Thanks for sharing your time in this Q&A it was enlightening!
Thank you! I think about nursing a lot still it was a big part of my life. I miss taking care of patients and really enjoyed that part of my job 🥹
Perfect thing to wake up to!! ❤❤
Good morning! Thank you for watching! 🤗🥰
Hi Melissa! So excited to find your channel! I have been experimenting with Pon and have tried sorting through the various information out there. Originally, I tried soil to pon and lost my Alocasias. After watching your videos, I am water rooting first and am hoping that will be more successful. QUESTION: One of my plants I restarted in Perlite and it seems ready to re-pot. Do you think I could transfer straight from Perlite to Pon or would you water root it first? Appreciate any thoughts!
Also, I have a Thai Con in soil that I am getting ready to re-pot. I'd like to move it to Pon as well. Did you water root your Monstera before moving it?
I actually highly agree with everything you stated about sponsorships and product reviews as I have also been through that with my content it the beauty community! It’s almost like the brands believe they are entitled to the content you make….which is how I ended up being on an Amazon “how to clips video” for a certain magnetic eyelash company for literally a $10 pack of lashes! 🙄🤦🏻♀️ I no longer do PR or anything due to the push to lie about their products and actions of “you owe them something” and literally pushing things on you that you aren’t even interested in trying in the first place! Thank you for all your honesty Melissa this is just one of the manyyyyyy reasons we love you and value your content!!!!! 🫶🏼🥹☺️
That you! That means so much 🫶
Omg yay love these longer vids!!
Yay, thank you! ☺️💖
Hi Melissa!
We need another Q&A I would to know if they’re any dream collab/sponsors you would want to have.
Also how cool would it be if you did a plant drop, maybe that’ll alleviate some of the pressure of have to have a BIG inventory. A plant drop just seems more intimate/special. You can do like an IG or RUclips live to showcase the plants and sell on a first come first serve basis! Just a suggestion🥹😉
haha honestly working with brands is not really a goal for me right now. I've been rubbed the wrong way so many times that I put a guard up now. I mean if a big sponsor came along like ikea or target then I would consider lol. These brands in the plant community are disappointing.
I'm not sure where the shop will lead or if I will be any good at it but I'll probably do weekly restocks or so once I have plants ready. I haven't thought about how to showcase plants yet but a live makes me anxious lol 🫶
@@plantsbymelissa omg that would be awesome maybe you have to reach out to them for that sponsorship!😉
And I’m sure you’d be fine on live. You’d be surprised how supportive your subscribers are and how fun live is. it’s just another way to connect, but whenever you’re ready!☺️🫶🏽
Wow you are so different, honest, smart and well spoken love to watch your video good job please don't change. Have a beautiful day Melissa
Thank you so much! 🤗
Hi Melissa, good for you to stand up for yourself and be your own person and not give these sponsors your time. I really love your channel and watching you.. you are so kind and honest. Your channel is the best I ve come across.❤
Thank you so much! That means a lot 🤗
Great video. Lots of information
I am commenting if only to help your utub numbers; as well as to say that I think you might be the sweetest utuber out there.
Thank you Kristie! I appreciate it 🥰
You made me buy my first plant
Appreciate it!! 🫶
I wish you could have the beneficial mites you use on your Amazon storefront as I have to buy them every month or two is what I budgeted for
aw, I order directly from natures good guys site and not amazon :)
Melissa - I just ordered the minute pirate bugs from Nature's Good Guys website. I just went ahead and set up a bimonthly subscription...much less expensive than ordering on Amazon😊 thanks for letting me know!
I got a variegated maranta from The Green Escape and it is growing so well and the variegation is beautiful!
Great to hear! ☺️
How long did you leave the bisma in water. Those roots were amazing.
maybe 3 weeks? I did the unboxing about a month ago and filmed this Q/A probably 10 days ago lol
Melissa you're 38??!?!?! You look 32 tops lol
Thank you!! 🥹 I'll take that I look younger now hehe.
You're 38!?!?! I thought you were in your late 20s!
hehe thank you! Yep! Born in 86 😁
Oh my gosh! I love that cat! She’s loving your mouth hahahaha. I have dogs their litter mates they are so adorable and I could see having another pet would end up being a 3rd wheel in the 3. Poor babies. So precious!
Thank you so much Mélissa for your honest opinion and to explain to me how the sponsor works. I am so greatfull for your honesty and transparancy. I respect you a lot for standing for yourself.
Love from Québec, Canada
I would first like to say sorry you've struggled with infertility that would have been really heard to go through. My fiance and I personally are choosing not to have kids. I feel very judged and I always get asked have you changed your mind and its a little frustrating to hear it over and over again that we'll regret it. You made a point of not wanting to bring kids up today and I feel the same. I look at my nieces and nephews and there is so much pressure on them. Peer pressue and that is not something I'd want a child to go through. I told my dad the other day I don't want kids and he jokinly threatened me. Saying he'll die. He was saying it in a joking way but it made me upset. He kept saying your mum and I will look after them during the day. But what about the night? What about when you pass away? I dont want to have kids for the sake of parents. But I still want to say you had that choice taken from you because of your infertility but I'm glad your at peace.
I'm definitely interested to hear about conclusions you make with your pon experience. The timing seems like it could work out pretty well for me. 😁
If you do a lighting video, I'd be interested in light readings from various locations. Bottom/top of moss poles, window plants, cabinet plants, etc. Time of year/day along with current weather can definitely affect readings, especially closer to a window. Different light measuring tools/devices can also have varying levels of accuracy. Even so, I'd find readings pretty interesting.
My understanding of the different types of readings are:
lumens - light intensity at the source
foot candles - light intensity at the receiving location (over an area)
PPFD - usable light for plants at the receiving location (over an area)
For plants, I don't know that lumens are all that useful. PPFD might be a bit tricky (expensive) to accurately measure, but it's what matters. I think foot candles can still be useful for a rough approximation. Foot candles may gain more value for someone using similar products as you, as the PPFD to foot candles relationship should be more consistent. With Barrina being pretty popular, I'd say that's pretty likely for a lot of viewers.
❤
🫶🥰
I like how matter of fact you are to your viewers that you respect your time, your hard work, and your personal brand too much to be taken advantage of by greedy, exploitative companies. We're in a period right now where companies have little to no shame wringing as much cheap or even free labor out of smaller businesses and content creators while they reap all the profits. I wish more people could stand up against these kind of practices. I know some are just trying to pay the bills and I hate that bigger companies know this full well and exploit it. Your honesty is refreshing and needed.
Thank you for not getting on the band wagon of having product sent to you for review. For instance, I followed an artist for many years who did creative content and use whatever you have. Suddenly companies sending product and they are doing 2 - 3 reviews a week and they no longer have time for that longer creative content and it gives you want the “want bug”. I had to stop watching a lot of creators due to this. In the plant community I avoid the content creators that do an advertisement because I want their true opinion of what they purchased and used and their true feelings. Even sending free product, I feel, does not give you an unbiased opinion. I do understand creators accepting free product for nothing in return but I feel it hurts the buyers. Thanks again
A lady who has standards and knows her worth is a force to be reckoned with!
CHEERS TO THE NON SELLOUTS!!!
I watched your video with the thrips. I had recently purchased a Monstera Deliciosa and as I was looking at the plant, a couple of the leaves had bubble like formations on them. Googled it and it suggested thrips. I took a cheap lint roller to the front and back sides and I did see a couple. I immediately put the plant in my spare bathroom along with my adansonii’s as they were near each other. I researched and systemic was the best option for me, I work 60 hours a week and I simply don’t have time to do treatments, etc. I also bought blue sticky traps, I guess thrips are attracted to the color blue 🤷🏻♀and I have nothing on them. I’ve used the lint roller on the plants since and nothing.
How large is the hole.
Also! Regarding anthurium warocqueanum- sometimes it’s a cal-mag deficiency!! My anthuriums seem way more happy with cal-mag added to their fertilizer routine
Good point! Thank you 🙏 I need to add that to my routine soon! I bought a bottle several months ago but haven't used it yet 🫣
22:37 I feel like when it comes to these programs, you gotta remember that the ball is ALWAYS in your court. You can choose to negotiate, or just say no. Whatever works for you. ❤
Love love love your personality and transparency, you are a trustworthy person to me and one I look up to when it comes to plants! Thank you for your chanel. It was nice to listen to this episode as I care and repot my plants, I feel like we did it together:) ♥️🪴 👩🏻🌾
Great video, loved learning about you more. We are also home bodies. Only reason we travel once a year is for our boys (more out of obligation). I hate being gone for longer than 5 days, I miss my fury babies too much.
I love your morals on doing sponsored ads! You seem so genuine and I love it! So many people with take any sponsors and I get an icky feeling about this they promote. Thank you for your openness and I hope your channel gets even bigger 😊
52:25 kitty eating your plants at the bottom right! lol
😂😂 sneaky!
I have alot of respect for you for not selling out x
Appreciate that! 🫶🏻
You can tell a transparent, honest plant person if they aren't sponsored by a product. From mushroom tea to body wash...lol
Also, this is going to sound bad, and I do not wish you get a thrip on plant mail...but your best content was getting a thrip on the plant and your reaction 😅😂 I spent 2 weeks looking at all my plants under a microscope lol.
Keep up the good content, Melissa! ❤❤❤
I was so mad and upset 😂🫶🏻
You’re almost at 50K 🥹❤
So close! 🥹 thank you 🫶🏻
When do plant questions begin, as opposed to plant business questions ?😂 I keep skipping and cant find the point
The reason why I LOVE you & your channel is because your content is about your plants. My favorites are like you that don’t create with products that you keep pushing for the next 20 videos. It’s really annoying to watch over and over again 😩😩😩 I feel some creators ( No name but she’s AMAZING 🌱 like you) be very picky with their sponsorships and handle it in a very professional way and others just don’t know when to stop pushing and pushing.
Thank you Mary 🙏
Thank you for the long video! I appreciate your selectivity on brand deals; I'm definitely one of those persons who is sick of being sold something. If you're enjoying the work making this channel, I’m sure a lifestyle/home channel by you would gain popularity. It would be a good way to grow your community and brand outside of plants! I think a lot of people subscribe to you not only because your skills with plants, but also because of how kind and hardworking you are.
On another note, I think you’d love Hawaii! There are so many beautiful plants there! It became one of my favorite travel destinations ever since visiting
Thank you so much 🙏 I've been thinking about starting a second channel at some point that isn't focused around plants. Several had mentioned I would be good at ASMR. I think I could manage a few videos in addition to what I am doing now once the shop is up and I can get a routine going. I never thought about doing a lifestyle or home dedicated channel but definitely worth thinking about.
I think some people are really good at selling and it can be authentic and other times you can tell it's just being promoted for a paycheck. There can be a good balance with doing sponsors though and to not annoy your audience. I tend to see the creator side now and I have a different outlook compared to when I first started as a fan/viewer. You really get to see how some of these brands act once they start emailing you and that excitement in potentially partnering with them is no longer there.
Going to Hawaii will happen one day here! 🥰
Are you located in Canada? I live in Canada, and it would be very nice to be able to buy different plants plants, from someone I have been watching for awhile. Plus know how you care for your plants, which is very well. You have lovely plants. Glad you didn't fall for all the influencers. I did not realize how complicated that was.
I live in Savannah, Georgia in the US :) I won't be shipping out of the US though because there is so much that goes into that and something I can't look into right now with just starting up 🙏
I’m new to your channel(~4 months). I love the content you make. Your collection is beautiful. Your realness is refreshing. I’m very surprised to hear you say you are 38, because you look to be in your early twenties. Please share your secrets 😊
hehe thank you! Appreciate that :) No secrets really! When I was younger I got that I looked older for my age all the time so now that I am older I'll take looking younger 🙈 Thank you for being here and for supporting, it really does mean so much to me!
Hi Melissa 💫 As always it’s a pleasure to watch your videos. You have such a calming demeanor that, no matter how stressed I’ve been you just have a way to calm everything ~ so for that I thank you 🙏🏻.
Just like everyone here has mentioned, I too appreciate your stand on sponsors and affiliates. It gets so overwhelming hearing the other RUclipsrs constantly having to plug their “affiliate or sponsor “ and honestly it’s a turn off to me. I appreciate if you want to try a product and buy it for yourself and then share because we get the real honest review because you don’t have to censor.
I suppose I’ve rambled enough. Just thank you again for being you! Enjoy the rest of your week.
🙏🏻💫
Hi JC and thank you! 🙏 I would much rather buy a product than receive it for free especially if they expect something in return. I'm more willing to share products/small businesses that way and I prefer to give non-sponsored feedback. I don't have to get paid for everything but when asked to promote a product and they expect me to work and do it for minimal compensation then it's a huge red flag. I get some businesses don't have much of a marketing budget but also have respect a creator's time and effort. I'm not going to be a good return on their investment if I constantly promote and ruin that trust I have built with my following 🫶
I also very much appreciate your honesty. I am very drawn to your videos for several reasons and that is one of them. It doesn’t feel like an ad. I also would 1000% watch you doing mundane things in a vlog. Some of my favorite RUclipsrs are ones that just share regular everyday things. It feels more authentic. Lastly, I have a 19 year old but struggled with secondary infertility. For years I had this awful happiness/devastation when I found out someone close to me was pregnant. Now that I am at this point in my life, I know that I was only meant to have one child. I have made such peace with not being able to have more. Thank you for sharing yourself with us! I am a recent follower and have binged so many videos!
Thank you Rebekah! So happy to have you here! I am so sorry to hear that 🥹 it's hard to explain unless you've been there so I totally understand that happiness/devastation feeling. I've been wanting to film more casual vlogs but wasn't sure if anyone would be interested since I feel like I don't do much lol. I'll be making some shop/packing content though once my little store is open for anyone that is interested in it.
I love and appreciate this is 2 hours long. I know it takes a lot of work in the editing end so I thank you. Your aroid mix looks amazing. Can you share what you put in? Also Chai walking 🐈⬛ behind you🖤🌸
Thank you so much! Some videos are easier to edit than others and if I have more content I filmed there's more to go through so I like to keep a good mix of short content and longer videos 🫶 I enjoy editing though but sometimes I get tired of hearing myself talk haha.
The mix I don't have any set ratios - I just made it so kinda played around with the components until it looked good. It has orchid bark, pumice (instead of perlite this time), lava rock for weight, charcoal (no more than 10%), vermiculite, choco chips (instead of coco coir) and tree fern fiber. I probably would have added some worm castings but I was out lol.
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Love your content and for not bowing down to the marketing gimmicks from companies out to use you. Selling plants online is difficult but some people in my area do very well as they've built up a good base of locals and sell more unusual plants and cuttings.
Have you thought about cat visits/sitting for people on holiday? That seems totally up your street especially with your experience
Thank you and I appreciate that! I'm not sure where it will lead but I am hopeful I can do this on the side with RUclips and be a source for someone to get happy plants from and know that they aren't getting taken advantage of 🫶
I would not pet sit for anyone unless I was doing them a favor which I do sometimes for my neighbors. As much as I love animals - it's not something I see myself doing as a job though.
💚Yippee! My favorite of your videos. Chat and pot!
I didn't know you were starting a plant shop. All the best to you. 🐈⬛🐈🌾🌿🪴
Thank you so much! 😊
Canadian here! Love your content. Great video to see the insight overall
Thank you for your honesty, integrity, hard work, and dedication. Your channel is one of my favorite. You have helped me so much with my own plants but also the long videos feel like “hanging out.” I appreciate you and your content so much. I can’t wait to support your new website. ❤
Thank you Tara for the support 🥹 it means so much!
This was a nice Q&A video. Good information but not even close to using (lol). Star is so cute what a personality she has. Would still like to know what plants grow corms?. take care dear.
Will you sell corms in shop?
thank you! I won't be selling corms unfortunately. I prefer to grow the alocasia out especially if it's variegated to see what the variegation will be like. I only want to sell rooted plants that are happily growing.
Still fairly new on my plant journey, like just diving in to fertilizing info kind of new. I appreciate these chatting/chore videos just as much as your specific subject videos as well. I’ve learned so much from you! Your knowledge is so impressive, thank you so much for sharing and just being so authentic 💕 Have a wonderful week!
Thank you so much Sherry! I hope you have a wonderful week as well! 🫶🥰
Until I found plant people on RUclips, I thought I was the only crazy plant person. Now I know there are other people who love plants like I do. 😊 I do have plants all over the house but I try to keep them in groupings and on my shelves so my kids won't feel like they are in a jungle. 😂 but I think they might feel that way 😅
lol I love that we can all connect this way through plants! I would definitely have them all over the house but I know my husband wouldn't want that so I'll stick to my plant room and window groupings 😂
I would assume the banana gets too much light so the leafs curl like that? Maybe you should give it a little less light?
Thanks for that long and interesting video! Always Like before watching! :)
Thank you! I had it in my cabinet under pretty high light so I moved it out probably at least a week and a half ago. Someone else mentioned I might have underwatered it too. I filmed this video probably 10 days ago and the new leaf has unfurled and looks better!
Love your channel and you plants. ❤ 🌿 You are by far my favorite plant influencer, I reference your videos all the time. Enjoyable and informative. Wishing you all the best. Can't wait for your plant store ❣
Thank you so much 🥹🫶
Thank you so much for being honest with all of us! Your channel is so refreshing because you are real with your opinion on products. I have toyed with the idea of starting my own RUclips channel but I don't think I can get over my shyness and being extremely introverted. You talked a little bit about that in this video, how did you get past that?
Thank you so much! I am soo shy and introverted lol. I laugh at my older videos sometimes haha - I could tell I was nervous. Don't let that stop you though! I talked myself out of starting a channel about 10+ years ago now (I wanted to do a beauty channel). You just have to sit down and film a quick little repot video and just post it. Once you do your first video it will give you more confidence. I post a lot on my instagram stories - so that helped me feel more comfortable on camera. I still get anxious filming and mess up all the time but with the magic of editing no one can tell when I cut unwanted clips out 😁 I heard someone say once that you probably won't like your first 50 videos you do but once you keep doing them it gets better and easier!
I know myself and many others really appreciate how you handle sponsorships. I feel like so much content nowadays is only made to promote something, and you can’t tell who to trust. You’re one of the only influencers I know who truly likes and tries all of the products they recommend. It’s also very refreshing that everything you post isn’t secretly an ad or riddled with product placement. It’s so nice to be able to watch your content and not feel like I’m being taken advantage of by a hungry salesperson 😅
Thank you! It's a lot of product push and promotion everywhere 🫣 I appreciate when it's actually disclosed as an ad but as a creator I see through all the fluff lol. As a consumer I don't want to be sold to so I don't want to do that to my audience. There can be times where a sponsor fits and it works out well for all parties but I have to truly want to use and buy the product to work with someone. I just turned down soltech because I feel their products are too expensive. They offered free lights and affiliate commission but I'm not going to sell their products for them when every other creator does 😅 oh but "we think our products would be a good fit for your audience" I just can't with the emails anymore.
That’s corporations baby. They all want to pay you less for the most amount of work. Good for you. You can buy the ingredients and make it yourself.
Yes! Some of them are so greedy! They dangle free product at me like I am automatically going to take the bait and do as they wish. No 😅
I’m glad that you are honest about products and don’t advertise them just for a small profit. That is one of the reasons I love your channel because I know it’s your honest feedback on products. Money is tight for me so it’s so much easier to trust your opinion over the people that are getting profit from advertising products. I do use Mollys aroid mix and I actually love it and repotted all my plants in the mix so I was hoping one day you would do a video on it to give your honest opinion but I understand why your were turned off by the way they approached you. Thank you for being one of the realest and honest RUclipsr out there ❤
thank you! I was curious about their mix at one point but I just prefer to make my own now. I had plants in sols for about 7-8 months before they all started rotting. I don't want to risk my plants anymore trying a new product :(
Would you consider selling plants on PlantStory?
They reached out to me and I'm not interested in working with them.
My online site will be a shop and I won't be selling anywhere else :)
I totally respect that! Looking forward to your shop.
Your videos are NEVER too long.
You’re such an authentic human being and your sweetness and honesty is so incredibly rare.
Thank You for all you do for us that love plants so much and thus love you in the process ❤❤🪴🪴
That means so much! 🥲 I appreciate you for supporting like you have! Here and IG and being a patreon, just a big thank you! 🥹🙏🏼
I laugh when I see an influencer with like tons of followers and like 2 comments I’m confused. My personal instagram gets more comments than that from friends 😅
The fake engagement, views, likes, comments you name it are cringe 😬 I don't understand the need to buy fake followers other than to appear larger to a company so they can get try and get a brand deal.