My neighbor the orchid snob changed how I water everything

I was just dumping water on my peace lily whenever I remembered and it looked fine. Then this old guy from three doors down saw me through the window and knocked on my door to tell me I was drowning it. He showed me his orchid collection and explained how root rot works from overwatering. Now I stick my finger in the soil before every single plant and wait until it's dry two knuckles deep. Has anyone else had a random stranger correct their plant care and actually be right?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_david3d ago

Two years ago an old lady at Home Depot watched me pick out a cactus and literally chased me to my car to tell me I needed a pot with drainage holes. I felt like such an idiot because I had been watering this poor little guy every week and wondering why he looked sad. Now I'm THAT person who randomly tells strangers their succulents are rotting in the parking lot. My watering game got WAY better after I started ignoring the schedule and just checking the soil like a crazy person.

torres.drew3d ago

Isn't it funny how the best advice often comes from strangers who see what we're too close to notice?