Things I Wish I Knew Before Growing Succulents Indoors

The year 2020 was truly crazy. Enough to drive a lot of already crazy people even crazier. While I enjoyed staying indoors, months of not taking my occasional nature trips have begun to make me feel a little "off". Dramatic as it may sound, I felt a slow sense of melancholy creeping in me despite keeping myself busy with work and other hobbies.

I had always adored plant life, but I finally succumbed into the plant-shopping trend by the middle of that year. By early 2021, I was experimenting with different types of plants I can possibly grow indoors. And hearing about succulents being "Easy to grow and easy to propagate", I hopped in the succulent-parenting trend without doing ANY research on how to take care of the desert cuties. I thought to myself; "plants are plants. Gardening is gardening. Some light, oxygen, and water on these cute leafy things and that oughta do it." Boy, was I wrong. Well, not really. All living things that thrive on land will need those three to survive. But I left out some absolutely important factors to consider when giving the dessert plants those three necessities. 

If you've ever killed one indoor plant after another despite thinking that you have enough knowledge. enthusiasm and/or experience in gardening, then perhaps you've also overlooked a few things on this list;

1. Adjustment Period: Just like humans, did you know that succulents need to get accustomed to the changes in their environment, too? If the plant was propagated and taken cared of in a sunny outdoors environment, and then was suddenly brought into a dimly lit and cool room, its survival rate may suddenly drop. The same thing can happen if a plant was grown in an indoor environment and then was suddenly brought outdoors to get exposed to the harsh rays of the summer sun and the strong winds that often accompany rainy days. 

Left to right: Campfire, Flapjack, Campfire, Mendozae, Moonstone, and Pink Jellybeans;

I got these succulents for my mother. It was placed in a dimly lit area, and eventually became too leggy.

We had to move it outdoors. It's doing better now.

• Outdoors to Indoors: Keep the plant in a brightly lit place, and then after two weeks, move it into a "sufficiently lit" area. For example, if you got your succulents from an outdoor environment, you can leave it by your porch, a well-lit backyard, or veranda. Always make sure the area is pest-free and  don't forget to place the plant back indoors during heavy rains. After two weeks, you can now place your plant in a well-lit indoor area; ideally, near the windows. You can also use 'grow lights'. 

Reminder: Succulents are desert plants, so always remember: although you can get them accustomed into a more mellow-lit area, NEVER place them in "low-light" areas or the "almost-no-light" areas. If you will keep succulents in your bedroom (just as I do), make sure they get a minimum of five hours light and good ventilation.

• Indoors to Outdoors:  If you have a succulent that has been taken cared of indoors for some time, it's most likely smaller and thinner compared to the ones that were grown outdoors. Especially if the succs were grown with very minimal light exposure. You might think that giving it an everyday dose of outdoor sunshine and occasional showers of rain water would be a good change. And you're right. But NOT RIGHT AWAY. The skinny (and probably leggy) stems and leaves might not be able to withstand the gusts of natural wind and the scorching heat of the mid afternoon sun. Try taking your potted succulents outdoors for a few hours, and then bringing it back indoors for the first two weeks. After that, move it to a shaded area outdoors. As always, make sure the spot you place it in is pest-free and has good ventilation.

2. Watering habits:

• Schedule: Scheduling is great because it prevents plant caretakers from both forgetting and over-watering plants. But do you know what's even better? Basing off watering needs on the moisture of the soil. Yep. It's best to feel that top soil, especially the first inch -- on different sides of the pot. If you're using fungicide or powdered pest control on the soil of your potted plants, try using a 'moisture meter' so you don't have to get into contact with the chemicals. 

Tip (optional): Have a 'wall thermometer' or a digital indoor temperature detector- this would help you estimate how often you need to water your plants. If you notice that it's getting a little too hot and the temperature is higher than normal, you might notice that the top soil dries faster than cooler seasons. If so, you might need to amp up your watering schedule from once-every-two-weeks to a weekly basis. 

• Water distribution: Rule number 1: DO NOT SPRAY ON THE DAMN LEAVES. PLEASE.  Succulents are desert plants, they thrive in dry environments. Long term exposure to moisture will definitely cause rotting on the leaves and the stem. If you watch basic "how-to-repot-your-succulent" guides on YouTube and you see the youtuber confidently attack the surface of the succulent with abundant squirts of water from their spray bottle, stop watching that video tutorial right away. Succulents absorb water from the roots. Always direct the water onto the soil. Nowhere else. Except maybe on the person in front of you (if there's one) if they talk too much while you are busy tending to your plants.
•  Cleaning the leaves: If you see specks of dust on the leaves or petals of your succulents, dust them off with a brush. If you're trying to remove white spots (those could be insects, or those could also be web from the spider mites-- yikes) use cotton buds soaked in alcohol (--neem oil works, too) and gently remove it.
• Dry/wrinkly leaves: If the leaves are beginning to get wrinkly, chances are, the succulent is dehydrated. Still. DO NOT SPRAY ON THE DAMN LEAVES. Spraying from the top will not magically bring your shriveled succulents leaves back into plump liveliness. Instead, put your potted plant (with drainage holes at the bottom) on a shallow bowl or basin filled with two to three inches of water for three hours or until the water is absorbed (some people leave the potted plant on the basin for 24 hours-- I do it this way, too). Make sure to put the potted succulent back in a brightly lit place with good air circulation.

3. Pesticides/ Insect repellants: If you're the type to rely on spray-on pesticides, make sure to use a spray nozzle with really fine holes, or just step three feet away from your plant before you go along with your insect repellant routine. Make sure to "mist" the pesticide instead of spraying it like you're some kind of rain fairy. Better yet, use powdered insecticides or insect repellants instead. Use a soft paint brush to dust it on the leaves and the stem.

4. Soil: The quality of soil and the air circulation in your pot has immense effect on the growth and overall health of your succulents.

• Drainage: I keep mentioning "ventilation" in this post, but ventilation is not just limited to the air circulation around your plants. It's also an important aspect where the roots are. Making sure your pots have holes underneath will prevent moisture from building up and causing root rot. The holes allow the excess water to drip naturally from the soil. 

Tip for beginner succulent parents: Mixing in perlite, pumice, and/or even sawdust into your soil is also a good way to make your potting medium lighter, and thus, promote more air circulation around the roots. Note that perlite is very "light" and may rise to the surface of your soil mix as you water it overtime. Pumice is a good alternative as it is heavier, but you can also mix the two for better aeration.

• Acidity: Succulents can be very resilient and could withstand even the shittiest of soil so long as it is not lodged in water and it gets sufficient light exposure and freedom from pests. However, just like any type of plant life, they are not immune to fertilizer burns. Minimize your use of fertilizers, as it can throw the soil's ph off balance. High acidity can burn the roots.
• Health: Acidity and air circulation are parts of this, but when I say "healthy" soil, I mean, you also have to make sure that it is free from fungi and parasite. If you notice that your hands or any part of your skin itches when it gets into contact with the soil on your pot, or if your plants keep rotting no matter how healthy it once was for the first two weeks (and no matter how well you tried taking care of it), then there's a high chance your soil is contaminated. Take your plant out of that soil immediately. And remember: DO NOT RE-USE THE SOIL WHERE A PLANT DIED FROM ROOT-ROT. Unless you "treat" or detoxify the soil first. 

That's it for now. I'll make another post about DIY soil treatments later on. I'll put the link here, too so you guys are free to save this post and check back later if you'd like. Happy indoor-planting~ :)

The Catch When Working with Spirits, Part 1: Synchronicities and... Noodles

I once did a reading for a young friend. I asked her what kind of reading she wanted. When she found out I also do readings as a form of mediumship, she said she'd like to have a try and "ask" a few things about a lover who had passed on. I agreed and we proceeded with my usual reading routine. As always, I kept it simple; I asked for the guy's name (or whatever she prefers to call him),  followed by the name he had always called her as, and then I proceeded to ask her all the questions she wanted me to ask him. I also asked her if she had other messages which she wanted me to let him know. (Ahahaha, take a shot everytime I mentioned the word "ask" in one paragraph.)

Synchronicities and... Noodles

One of the most interesting thing when using tarot, especially when you connect with souls and/or spirits, is how their personalities would show through the cards and the things around the reader/medium during the "conversation". There's also the ever-interesting occurrence of synchronicities among different decks, and how the same cards would fly out of the deck/s no matter how many times you put it back in the pile and how many different ways you shuffle all the cards. 

All those things happened during the reading. But days prior to that, as I prepared my head space and my tools to "sense out" her lover (I was waiting for a deck I ordered to arrive as I wanted to use it for that reading), I started getting repeating words and flashes of random images inside my head. You know what the big word was? NOODLES. All sorts of images of noodles kept repeating for days inside my head. It was probably one of the most random, funny, and nearly annoying things I have ever experienced. I would be in the middle of work, then bam "noodles" would echo in my head. I would be about to sleep, then bam, an image of noodles in a black bowl flashes at the back of my mind. 

Yep. N O O D L E S.

I didn't actually bring it up to my friend until after I finished the reading. In fact, I had no intention of mentioning it as it just sounded so silly. I didn't even bother asking the guy like, "hey, does this happen to have anything to do with you?" But as I finished relaying his messages to her, a voice inside my head mentioned "noodles" again, so I just had to do it. And so I finally said "noodles". 

I know, that sounded silly. I also expressed that to her.

My friend was surprised. And then she laughed. It turned out that the reason for this was simple: The guy loved noodles. She said she knew he liked eating it, but she never knew he loved it that much. I mentioned all the types of noodles that kept popping in my head to her. I started describing certain ways the noodles were plated, and that one particularly stood out to me; she said they used to eat that type of noodles in the college cafeteria together after classes.

A few days later, she told me she dropped by the college cafeteria again and had the noodles in commemoration of him. A part of me melted at that; it's funny how the everyday little things we take for granted can be the ones that bind us to the things (and people) most important to us beyond time and space.

No matter in flesh or in spirit, us humans are truly such funny and sentimental beings. 

-Kara Xin

>>> Continuation: The Catch When Working with Spirits, Part 2: Consistencies and Irregularities (to be posted soon)

Things to Know Before Cleansing Crystals in Water

Saltwater rinse, Sound frequency cleansing, moon-water cleansing, moonlight baths, smudging-- and many other ways of cleansing divination tools are passed down from one magic/witchcraft practitioner to another. At some point, you would pick certain cleansing routines based on what your mentor or school of practice had taught you, or simply on what is most comfortable for you.

However, every tool is made up of different materials. And different materials require different ways of caring. One thing that has always made me cringe is the popular notion that you can bathe or "wash" all your crystals. I have seen many crystal-users and enthusiasts confidently share their cleansing routines with generalized instructions. Some would even say that "washing" ALL your crystals is a MUST when cleansing. 

Sure, if they are this confident, then it most likely means that it works effectively for them, right? But what these types of guides often do not take into account is that there are different types of crystals with different hardness levels, purity (mineral concentrations), and water solubility. Some people who are new to crystal-cleansing may not be aware that certain types of crystals can get damaged or worn down faster if often soaked in water. The people who generalized washing or soaking crystals in any liquid either own high quality crystals with high water resistance and hardness level, or they simply change their crystals on a normal basis when they see that it is beginning to crack, discolor, or crumble. And perhaps that's just not something they thought much about, or maybe it's just a natural and normal thing for them, that they forget to put a warning for their audience.

Below are things to consider before you conduct water-cleansing rituals for your crystals/ gemstones;

1. Hardness level: If you have been collecting gemstones for some time now, there's a high chance that you have already encountered the term "MOHS Hardness Scale". Here's a short explanation for it:

"The MOHS Hardness Scale starts with talc at 1 being the softest mineral and ending with diamond at 10 being the hardest mineral. It is universally used around the world as a way of distinguishing minerals. Simply put: the higher the number, the harder the mineral." - gemrockauctions.com

Here's a chart for quick reference:

2. Purity: Did you know that for some crystals and gems, the higher the purity is, the softer or more brittle they actually are? This is another reason the Mohs Scale is important. The scale assumes that the gemstones are at its purest form. You can use it as a reference for the level of purity of the stone you are buying. 

For example, it may not be indicated in the reference chart above, but turquoise falls under number 3 in the hardness scale. This is because the mineral typically comes in chalk form from nature. However, you might notice that some turquoise feel tougher and more scratch-resistant than others despite their respective sellers claiming they are authentic. That's because jewelers and laboratories mix the chalky mineral with stabilizers or hardeners. This is also commonly done with jade. You might notice that some jades have a glassy or marble-like feel to its surface, while some may feel a little "waxy". 

The Mohs Hardness Scale is a great basis for conducting different types of tests to prove a gem's authenticity. You can try a "Scratch test" (the main basis of Mohs scale), water solubility test, or heat tests on your own if you have the time and the courage to put your gemstones to the test.

3. Water Resistance/ Water Solubility: Since some crystals are softer in its purest form while some are harder, certain types of stone are more likely to wear down faster if soaked in water or exposed to anything liquid. For example, with the softness of pure selenite, not only can you easily scratch it with a fingernail, you can also expect it to become mushy and disintegrate in water. If it doesn't do either of the two after a thorough soak or frequent exposure to liquids, it's definitely been "treated" in one way or another.

4. Treatments

• Hardening agents: As mentioned earlier in this post, it is very common for soft and chalky minerals to be mixed with stabilizers or hardeners. However, some jewelers also grind hard gem stones and mix them in different combinations of hardeners. This allows them to sell gems in larger batches and at a cheaper price. Often times, the "diluted" or "treated" gems also undergo other forms of treatments in the process to enhance its appearance;
• Color enhancements: Have you ever encountered certain types of stones that have more vivid colors than others despite appearing "raw"? Or stones that have passed all forms of test but somehow just looks too colorful than the others of the same kind? Sometimes, it's just because the gems are of high quality, or it's the "good piece" from the chunks which the seller has sold to you. However, if the price is almost suspiciously cheap, and the vividness of the pieces seem so uniform (such as those commonly sold in bead form), it has most likely been dyed. 
• Sometimes, the dye treatments were done in a "soak" or spraying process. Which is then followed by heating or airdrying. Gemstones or crystals that go through this type of dying process are the ones that commonly fade fast from exposure to sweat and water.
• Another way jewelers or gem manufacturers color-treat gemstones is by mixing the coloring pigments into the hardeners or "diluted mixture". This type of coloring treatment gives a more durable result; even if the piece is cracked, the color appears solid through and through. With a good mixture, the artificial color will not leak easily even when soaked in liquid or exposed to soap.
• Coating/ polishing enhancements:  Aside from the different smooth "cuts" most high grade crystals go through, another process that gives crystal pieces luster are glass coatings, resin, or other forms of varnish. So if you think the beads or square chunks you got are a little too shiny and reflects more light than its minerals are supposed to do, then it's most likely been varnished. This extra coating can make your gemstones more resilient to liquids and breakage.

I found this chart posted by a jewelry shop on Pinterest. The source of the original post is at the bottom of the chart itself. I think this is a great chart for those only beginning to familiarize themselves with crystal/ gemstone care. 

However, I still recommend keeping in mind the list of factors mentioned in this blog post. After all, as I have mentioned above, many crystals in the market undergo different treatments. 

My Personal Experience of Being Ignorant About the Basics of Crystal Care:

I remember buying my first lapis lazuli bracelet. It was sold for a lower price than most stones of similar kind and size. I bought it right away. At that time, I didn't really care much about crystals and gemstones. I simply bought the bracelet because I loved the colors. Heck, I loved it so much, I wore it almost every day. However, I began to notice the color of some beads slowly fading. The pyrite specks remained, but some beads noticeably turned into a lighter shade of blue.

I went back to the shop that sold it, and they claimed that all the crystals they sell were authentic and even go through a series of tests before they are put up for sale. They didn't provide certificates of authenticity, though. So I did some online research to try to ease my mind. I learned that apparently, lapis lazuli is one of the most commonly dyed gemstones in the market.

I suddenly remembered all the times I would wash my hands with the bracelet on. I also thought about how I often sprayed perfume on my wrists without letting it completely dry before putting on the said accessory. Long story short, it was a lesson learned for my ignorant ass.

I have more experiences like this with different types of stones and crystals. At some point I even had assumptions that as long as a gem is heavy and didn't have any bubbles in it, then it must be genuine. (LOL, I know. That was clearly not very smart of me.) It's really important to read about the type of crystals you are interested in before buying it. That way, you get your money's worth, as well as learn more about the proper ways of preserving its good condition for a longer period of time.

Can you tell which ones are laboratory-made and/or treated?

I'll continue to update this list if I remember more things I should add here. If you think I forgot to mention other important information, please feel free to send me a message about it.

My Little Back Story: My Relationship with the Occult and the Supernatural

 My POV of the Supernatural

The supernatural is something that I suppose, has always been familiar to me. Sensing things that cannot be seen by the naked eye but can be sensed by other senses, or even seeing things with my naked eye that are difficult to explain under "normal" circumstances-- they were all part of my childhood. Every now and then, I would post short recollections from such events in my childhood here in this blog. 

My History with the Occult

Oh, this is gonna be boring and typical, trust me. But if you're either that curious or that bored, then go ahead, read away...

I started "playing" with playing cards the way you would a tarot deck when I was... Eleven years old? I printed out guides on how to read each card and "attempted" to memorize the meanings. "Attempt" being the keyword here, I failed. My interests as a tween hopped from one subject to another. Five years later, I picked up the same cartomancy  guide while I was cleaning up my stash of papers. Like any curious teenaged dreamer, I started painting a lot of "what-if" scenarios in my head about my future; my career, my crush, the weather during my next P.E. class, and every random petty "what-if's" most teenagers would come up with whenever they day dream. 

Having the printed guide in my hands, I decided to give divination another go. This time, with the blind and playful excitement of youth. That being said, I had never taken any of the results of my readings seriously. I had never even bothered to read for my friends back then. But looking back, years later, I realized my readings didn't lie to me. My faith in divination grew stronger as I got older. 

At around 18 years old, I stumbled upon the terms 'empath' and 'HSP' (Highly Sensitive Person). I then spent my late teens and my early twenties connecting with different people who identify as either of the two. In between, I met people who practiced different forms of magic and divination both online and offline- from tarot cards, runes, pendulums, crystals, and everything else in between. There were people who relied on their "visions", and some who relied on other forms of "clairsenses". Meanwhile, there were also those who focused purely on the "technical" aspects of their chosen divination practice and spiritual principles; people who strictly followed books and traditions; people who followed a certain path, observed the Native Indian divination practices, the Chinese astrology, Wiccan rituals, and all sorts of customs all in similar groups. I was ecstatic. I began to navigate where I felt like I belonged.  

During breaks from the craziness of daily life, I continued to read up on topics relating to the supernatural and the things that border between the mundane and the superstitious. I continued to ask different people online and offline about their personal experiences growing up in relation to how they identified themselves in the realm of the "not-so-normal". I even started volunteering as a free client for practicing tarot readers (back then, not everybody had the confidence to proclaim themselves as "readers" or "psychics" despite having been born with that gift). Online, I would share my experiences and occasional dreams and visions in a particular community. Offline, I would ask questions about encounters with souls and spirits to actual mediums.

And so my first reading went...

Image source: https://i.redd.it/wq86iagwe5d31.jpg

Eventually, I began to explore what else I can do beyond what my senses involuntarily picks up on. I was on a thread about "spirit guides" when a lady who was participating in the conversation sent me a private message. For the first time in my life, at 23 years old, I "read" for someone else. I didn't have any cards with me at that time. Neither did I have any knowledge on how to use any kind of divination tool "professionally". I admitted to the lady that all I could do at that moment was to sense out present feelings and get hazy visions which will probably kick in at random (if she's lucky). Strangely, she wouldn't leave me alone. She insisted that I help her "read" her love life. 

We were in a group of hundreds of psychics, fortune tellers, mediums, empaths, HSP's, witches, and sorcerers of different levels, ethnicities, and paths. And I was sure many of them wouldn't mind sparing a lady in love with a quick reading, especially one who was in the same private social media group as they were.  Heck, there was a young woman giving out free readings a few times a month in the group. All we had to do was comment on her post. And yet there was that lady, in my inbox. Insisting I be the one to help her out. I remember feeling both puzzled and nervous. I couldn't shake her off, I was so close to blocking her from reaching my inbox.

Eventually, I gave in and gave it a shot with every ounce of concentration I could muster. Long story short, I pulled through. But I swear to God, I felt nauseous and feverish afterwards. It was an odd experience. She actually popped up a few times more in my inbox after that (More about that experience on this post)

Aight. Enough of my boring past. 

So what the feck do I do these days?

Doing normal human things. I work. I cry. Binge-watch Asian dramas. Stare at the wind with bubbling anger at the pit of my stomach while I drink my coffee in the mor--  Seriously though, just everyday mundane things. I work, do chores, take care of my indoor plants, spend time with the people I care about, get drunk on Wednesdays and Saturdays, shitpost on tumblr, and occasionally post tips and recollections of my previous experiences in relation to the occult and the supernatural.

I'm nobody significant in the field of occultism or rocket science; I'm just another magical, dramatic, and chaotic lady interested in chaos magic :)