Raffaele Di Lallo - Houseplant Warrior: 7 Keys to Unlocking the Mysteries of Houseplant Care

houseplant warrior

7 KEYS TO UNLOCKING THE MYSTERIES OF HOUSEPLANT CARE

RAFFAELE DI LALLO

CREATOR OF OHIO TROPICS

This book is primarily dedicated to my husband, David, who has been the biggest supporter of my Ohio Tropics endeavor and has tolerated the constant influx and outflux of plants throughout the years, both indoors and outdoors. Without his support, it would be very difficult to be where I am today. I would just ask him to reconsider allowing me to place plants in the beautiful, sunny southern window in our home. Of course, if it would result in divorce, I suppose I could forego this prospect.

I also dedicate this book to my loyal followers and readers, many of whom have stuck with me from the beginning and have provided the spark and encouragement to keep me going. Without you this book would not be possible, so thank you for helping me grow on this journey with you.

contents

Im honored to have been asked to write this foreword for Raffaele Di Lallo, my good friend and colleague in the plant community. Raffaele and I first met years ago through our alter egos, @ohiotropics and @greenhousegirl94, on Instagram. I was immediately impressed by his large collection of plants, which includes both trendy, more difficult to obtain tropicals and more traditional houseplants, some exceeding 10 years in age, which I refer to as Heirloom Plants. Raffaeles plants are evidence that hes been collecting plants for a very long time and is exceptionally adept at plant care.

Over the course of getting to know each other, Raffaele and I soon realized we have the same brain, as we call it, when it comes to plant care practices and our mutual desire to educate others on how to care for their plants.

Aside from having an incredible collection of houseplants, Raffaele has a wealth of plant care knowledge that he loves to share with others. Hes gifted at breaking down information that may be overwhelming into easy-to-understand teachings. From photosynthesis to phototropism, Raffaele covers it all by using simple language and practical examples.

Interest in houseplants is at an all-time high, and I regularly use Raffaeles tutorials and writings to help educate myself as well as my customers on a variety of plant subjects. I routinely recommend Raffaeles first two books and his blogs on plant care to my customers in the large, tropical greenhouse where I work.

I truly value my friendship with Raffaele, and I respect both his incredible knowledge of houseplants and his willingness to share it with others. Im confident that plant novices as well as experienced plant collectors will benefit from the invaluable information that Raffaele so generously shares here.

GRETCHEN MASON

Merrifield Garden Center

(Fairfax, Virginia)

Jewel Orchid (Ludisia discolor) cutting

My houseplant obsession started very early in life. As a child, I had read somewhere that houseplants could clean the air. Growing up, I was disgusted with my fathers two-pack-a-day smoking habit, so I started amassing quite a few houseplants in elementary school and high school to counteract this.

As the product of an Italian immigrant family, growing plants is in my blood. From fig trees, oleanders, geraniums, and huge vegetable gardens outdoors, to an assortment of houseplants and endless cuttings indoors, plants have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I started growing houseplants long before the current rage. I would imagine that most people in elementary school are not interested in growing houseplants, but thats exactly when my lifelong passion began.

Although I went on to study chemical engineering in college, my career did eventually come full circle back to plants. As it turned out, my analytical and problem-solving background helped me help others with houseplant care. It all started with a phone call from my friend Donna when she confidently announced that I should share my knowledge and start a blog to help people out with their plants. The next day, in typical Raffaele fashion when I get overly excited about something, my website and Instagram (@ohiotropics), were born.

My engineering curriculum refined my critical thinking skills and fostered my observation-based approach to plant care. I verify what is actually happening with struggling plants. Too often, plant parents take the advice they receive at face value. For example, they may read somewhere that overwatering causes yellow leaves without actually verifying the truth of that advice for their particular circumstance. Perhaps instead they should observe the state of their potting mix. The truth is that yellow leaves can be caused by myriad factors. Ultimately, as a plant parent it is up to you to determine what is happening. Did you actually feel your potting mix to see if it was wet? This can cause yellow leaves. Or perhaps your potting mix was in fact very dry. This can also cause yellow leaves. You wont know unless you physically observe it! In order to be a successful plant parent, you must be able to employ critical thinking and questioning skills, and make astute observations about your plants.

No one is born with a green thumb. Whether it is intentional or not, weve all killed a plant or two... or three. But with each failure comes a lesson! After 30-plus years of growing houseplants and developing a proverbial green thumb, Ive encountered many terrible misconceptions and myths that are hindering generations, young and old, from being able to have thriving houseplants.

White Moth Orchid (Phalaenopsis)

From all the questions that Ive fielded from my blog readers and Instagram and YouTube followers, as well as from my houseplant consultation clients, Ive heard it all. Ive received many frantic messages, comments, and e-mails from helpless plant parents begging me to save their dying plants. The most common plea is perhaps, Help, my plant is dying! Oftentimes, once I ask the plant parent in question to supply me with a photo of their dying plant, Im amused to find out that only the smallest, very oldest leaf has turned yellow and the rest of the plant looked as healthy as can be. No leaf lasts forever. Conversely, many times it is not a false alarm and I see evidence of a plant that truly is in distress. Some other common pleas for help include: Why is my plant not growing? Why are my leaves turning brown and crispy? I want my plants to look like yours! What can I do? I received a peace lily from my fathers funeral and its not looking good. How can I save it?