Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes. Stand With Nature wood planters are super eco-friendly. Perhaps they are the most sustainable planters in the world.
They are made of Paulownia wood. Paulownia trees are the fast growing trees in the world. When planted from seed, after eight years, they will be the same size as a 40-year-old oak tree. In one year alone they can grow 15 feet.
Paulownia leaves are huge. They can absorb ten times more carbon dioxide than any other tree in the world. Some people call them the lungs of the world.
Because of this, World Tree calls Paulownia trees, the tree that could save the planet.
We understand the question. But, as it turns out, Paulownia trees, because of their sustainability - - are the perfect tree for commercial timber.
After a Paulownia tree is cut the stump starts to immediately regrow.. Unlike most trees that can take years to provide usable timber, Paulownia trees can regrow from the stump and have usable timber in as few as 5 years.
Paulownia trees absorb more carbon dioxide than any other tree in the world. And, during this peak growing time (the first 5 years) is when Paulownia trees absorb so much carbon dioxide.
And here is the best part. The farming of paulownia wood helps prevent deforestation. Instead of cutting down the rain forests and old timber, paulownia farming is being used around the world to provide cash crops to farmers.
Often, the paulownia wood is inter-spaced with other cash crops. This is called “inter-cropping.” Paulownia timber is being used to help prevent deforestation in Columbia and Costa Rica, for example.
Because of this, you are promoting the reversing of climate change when you buy products made with Paulownia wood. We encourage everyone to buy Paulownia wood products. Including Stand With Nature planters.
Yes, both the Stand With Nature plastic liners and plastic trays are BPA free. And they are both recyclable.
Most “plant gurus” will tell you that you should check to see if your plant needs watering by sticking your finger in the soil. You should feel to see if the soil is dry. If it’s dry, then go ahead and water your plants.
The problem here is that this just checks the first inch or two of soil, maybe. If you’ve already overwatered your plant, then the roots may be waterlogged and getting root rot, while the top of the soil is dry to your touch.
So, you end up giving more water to a plant that is already drowning in too much water.
You have to ask yourself, if the “sticking your finger in the soil” method works so well, why do millions of houseplants still die from overwatering each year?
He reason why people promote sticking your finger in the soil is that before now, with See Soil Planters, there was not a better alternative.
Fact is, this only works for people that have killed dozens of plants and have a better “feel” (literally) than you do. And even they end up killing plants.
Moisture meters (otherwise known as moisture detectors) are sold on the premise that they can measure the amount of water within your plant’s soil.
Fact is, moisture meters don’t measure water content. Instead, they try to measure conductivity. Turns out, water isn’t the only conductor of electricity. For example, minerals can build up in your soil and your moisture meter will give false readings. And compact soil will give a different “reading” than looser soil.
Here is the bottom line on moisture meters. They just don’t work very well.
More truth: moisture meters are one step above Oaji Boards and Tarrot cards ....but not by much.
There’s lots of self-described “plant gurus” who advocate using moisture meters.
Most people that are pitching moisture meters are either selling them or they’re getting affiliate sales from pushing them. In other words they’re making money by telling plant owners like you that they have a solution to all of these houseplants dying.
Not us. Our reputations are more important to us, than picking up a few
bucks promoting something that just doesn’t work.
We’ve known too many people that have had bad results with moisture meters. These folks screwed up and trusted them. Only to have terrible results. More dead and/or unhealthy plants.
When you get down to it, most moisture meters are junk and you can’t trust them.
They’re a waste of money. Too often, moisture meters will “read” that your plant doesn’t
need anymore water, when the soil is dry.
The reason people buy moisture meters is the same reason why you’re frustrated
and unhappy with your plants dying and being unhealthy. It’s because so many plants are unhealthy and dying due to being underwatered or overwatered.
The good news is you’re not alone. The bad news is that you’re still quite rightfully frustrated and upset about your plants dying and being unhealthy.
Some people will tell you to try lifting your pots to estimate the water content based on its weight (a heavy water pot usually indicates an excess of water).
Trouble here is how do you know what it’s supposed to weigh? Are you lifting before or after you’ve overwatered?
What you’ll find is that you’ll have to kill a lot of plants before you figure this “weight of the pot” thing. Because you won’t know what the “right” weight is supposed to be.
Then there’s the people that suggest you look for signs of whether you need to water by seeing how your plants look. In other words, your plant will “tell you “ when it needs to be watered.
Many self-proclaimed “plant gurus” will tell you, “If your plant is limp and sad looking, then it’s a good sign it needs water.” Here is an actual quote:
“Houseplants wilt when dehydrated, as when the plant is thirsty, the plant will attempt to retain any moisture it can in its stem and roots... Thus causing them to wilt and droop.” Suggesting, now it’s time to water.
Note: I don’t tell you who this is because I don’t want to embarrass them.
Putting aside the fact that many plants wilt and are droopy when they’re overwatered, it’s just not a good strategy for heathy plants.
“If you’re waiting for a sign from the plant, you’ll be too late,” Daryl Cheng, author of The New Plant Parent teaches. “The soil will reach the ‘water me now’ dryness point well before the plant wilts.” Most plants can recover from wilting, but don’t delay the dousing if the dry soil is combined with droopy, curling or brown-tipped leaves.”
And not to confuse things further, but many plants will start to droop when they’re overwatered too. This is counter-intuitive. But, it’s also one of the biggest contributors to plants being killed due to overwatering. Plant owners thinking they need to water their plant because it “looks thirsty.” At this point, you may be watering and contributing to root rot, or be too late, and your plant has been underwatered.
Truth is, thousands, even millions of plants, get killed each year because of people trying to water their plants due to looking at “signs from their plant.” No, it’s not just you.
Many plants that are overwatered show the same symptoms as plants that are underwatered. Such as yellow leaves, brown tips, droppy, wilty and/or sick.
Because of this, it’s hard to tell from your plant whether you’re overwatering or underwatering.
Very few plant gurus come right out and say this. This is one of the main reasons - but not THE MAIN REASON - why so many plants are killed due to overwatering and underwatering.
People continue to water their plants, even though the soil near the roots are wet, because the plant looks like it needs water due to wilting and/or droopy leaves. And there’s just no easy or effective way to tell whether your plant needs to be watered.
Here’s the real problem. With most houseplants, the symptoms of overwatering look the same as underwatering. So sick dying plants, don’t tell you what you’re trying desperately to figure out: why your plants are sick and dying.
Root rot is a disease that can harm the roots of plants that grow in soil that's too wet or damp.
Rotting roots look brown and are stringy or squishy. Healthy roots are white or green and are firm.
The main reason why root rot happens, is when the soil doesn't drain well or when it's overwatered. When the soil is too soggy, the roots can't get enough oxygen to stay alive. When these oxygen-deprived roots die and start to rot, the disease can spread to healthy roots, even if the soil gets better and isn't soggy anymore.
Actually, it’s not. The top of the Stand With Nature liners have a lip that goes over the top of the wood planter.
It’s pretty easy to lift the lip of the liner in order to check to see if your plant’s soil is wet or dry.
The Stand With Nature liner has a lip that goes over the top of the wood planter. This protects the wood planter from getting wet.
The bottom of the planter has an opening where the spout of the liner fits. This prevents the wood planter from getting wet. Water drips down into the tray.
We recommend watering over the sink for a thorough watering. And when you water when the planter is in the tray, empty the tray from water that drips down into the tray.