Slow Growth

Hi All,

I have been a plant owner for just over a year now and still consider myself very much a novice with everything plants!

I have 3 spider plants, a Dracaena, Orchid, Monstera Deliciosa, jade plants, echaverias, Fuschias, a Lupin and a rose bush. I live in a flat so some of them are on my balcony and some are indoors (the orchid, monstera and succulents are indoors).

Recently I've decided to plant some garlic cloves that had sprouted soon after I bought them in the store so thought I'd grow more from them, I planted about 15 in a trough planter and they are doing alright, I've also planted 9 apple seeds and some of them are thriving better than others (but all growing) and I grow spring onions because they are incredibly easy.

I have also propagated some of the succulents in the past. But for some reason, recently the propagations haven't been taking despite me doing what I normally the same things I've done in the past.

Whenever I watch youtube videos on what to do they plant something in a pot and say "and within x weeks it'll look like this" and the plant will be full and lush, but I can wait that long, or even twice as long as they say, and mine won't be anywhere near as big or luscious.

I know about checking water levels and have gauges for this and I do use grow feed and succulent fertiliser about once a month.

Long story short: What am I doing wrong, why aren't my plants growing that fast (if at all, such as with the propagations)? Is it me or are the Youtubers fibbing about how long it'll take?

 

Sounds more like a "the meaning of life, the universe, and everything" question.

There are so many variables such as Light, Heat, Compost, Water and Feed and with you being limited to indoors and a balcony this can make things more difficult.

Most ytubes will be by people who have found the ideal way to raise and care for certain plants and probably only show you the best of what they grow and you may not be able to replicate the same conditions they have.

You list many plants but its hard for us to gauge how well yours are.

Can you take some photos of a just a few plants so we can see how they are looking and what conditions they growing in ?

 

Hi Joel, you have to take a lot of those videos with a very large pinch of salt!
Some are very good though. As they say, if something looks too good to be true it probably isn't.
Bear in mind that some are made in other countries with much better weather than us and in particular for succulents, much better light levels.
If you talk to experienced gardeners they will all say that they have killed lots of plants - that's how they got their experience.
It sounds like you are doing just fine, all that may be needed is a bit of patience.
By the way, have you tried growing herbs on your balcony? A lot of the ones supermarkets sell are several young plants all together in a single pot and you can tease them out and pot them up seperately.
All the best, keep growing!

 

All plants are different and grow at different rates and like different conditions, there is no one size fits all regarding what they like and how to grow.

Probably better to ask about a specific plant that is not doing well as they are all different.

 

@Joel Bailey It would be an idea to give people an idea of your location as advice can depend on location.