Just realized my orchid was thriving from neglect, not care

I used to fuss over my orchid with daily misting and weekly fertilizer. After ignoring it for a month, it started putting out new roots and a flower spike. Have you found that some plants do better with less attention?

4 comments

4 Comments

jessica_moore1mo ago

My cactus almost died from too much water until I left it alone for weeks. It reminds me of how overhelping can backfire, like when I kept giving my friend advice and she just needed space to figure things out. Even with cooking, constantly stirring the pot can ruin the sauce. Stepping back sometimes lets things develop naturally.

lily571mo ago

Ever notice how the best results come when you stop messing with things? @jessica_moore, your cooking example is so true. I learned the hard way with sourdough bread, checking it every hour. The loaf never rose right until I just left it alone overnight. Sometimes the best help is to just not help at all and let things be. Have you found other times where stepping back fixed the problem?

seanc751mo ago

True, but plants also die from neglect, not just overwatering.

shane_hayes25d ago

My basil plant always grows faster when I forget to water it for a week.