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Your Parlor Palm Problem

Difficult to tell for sure in the photograph, but if only a few fronds are affected, it might be due to sun scald or insufficient light. Place in an area indoors where it receives bright indirect light. Look for sucking insects such as aphids, scale or mealybug that suck the nutrients out of the leaves and stems. Also if you allow the plant to sit in water, root rot may result affecting the foliage. When watering, water in the sink, allow it to drain out completely before setting it back in the cover pot. Also many houseplants are sensitive to minerals/salts in the tap water. Suggest you switch to steam iron water and to avoid salt build up in the soil, feed with a slow-release or organic fertilizer formulated for container houseplants. If you disagree, please take another photo in better light showing the detail of the leaf problem as well as any other information you might have about it and we will try again for you.

By | 2016-02-21T20:53:55-08:00 February 21st, 2016|House Plants|1 Comment
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Hibiscus Problem

Hibiscus are not long-lasting houseplants. They need the bright light and heat outdoors to remain healthy. Hibiscus cannot be in a pot without drainage holes for very long. Unfortunately, your plant is showing signs of dying - you could try to re-pot it in a container with drainage, but it has already been stressed so much, it may not make it. If you want to try, treat it as gently as possible when transplanting in a more suitable pot (so as not to damage the roots) and fill with a well-draining, commercial, sterile potting soil. Use a liquid rooting hormone containing indolebutyric acid (not B12 - this does nothing to prevent transplant shock) and follow the directions on the label. Or suggest you select a plant that does thrive in the home environment such as a moth orchid (Phalaenopsis) if you prefer a flowering plant. But all houseplants need to be in containers with adequate drainage holes. Do not let a plant sit in standing water.

By | 2017-09-11T15:49:23-07:00 February 19th, 2016|House Plants|0 Comments
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Dracaena Problem

There could be one or more of several reasons why the leaves are spotting and the stem is rotting: make sure when watering (about once every 7-10 days) that the soil feels dry down to the first knuckle before watering again and that the water drains out without allowing the plant to sit in water (if there is a saucer under the plant and it is sitting in the water after watering, then this may lead to root or stem rot and leaf edge browning); feed with a slow-release or organic fertilizer formulated for container plants; the potting soil should be a well-draining commercial potting soil or cactus potting soil (sterile and well-draining); needs bright, indirect light-the spots may be due to leaf burn from too much direct sunlight. Finally, if the leaves continue to spot and discolor, suggest you switch to steam iron water - many houseplants come from the rainforest and are sensitive to the salts in tap water. There could also be some disease issues. Here is more info: http://www.hgtv.com/landscaping/qa-leaf-spots-on-dracaena/index.html

By | 2016-02-18T07:31:49-08:00 February 18th, 2016|House Plants|0 Comments
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Dracaena Problem

There could be one or more of several reasons why the leaves are discoloring: make sure when watering (about once every 7 days) that the soil feels dry down to the first knuckle before watering again (but no drier) and that the water drains out without allowing the plant to sit in water (if there is a saucer under the plant and it is sitting in the water after watering, then this may lead to root rot and leaf edge browning); feed with a slow-release or organic fertilizer formulated for container plants; the potting soil should be a well-draining commercial potting soil or cactus potting soil (sterile and well-draining); needs bright, indirect light-the spots may be due to leaf burn from too much direct sunlight. Finally, if the leaves continue to spot and discolor, suggest you switch to steam iron water - many houseplants come from the rainforest and are sensitive to the salts in tap water. There could also be some disease issues. Here is more info: http://www.hgtv.com/landscaping/qa-leaf-spots-on-dracaena/index.html

By | 2016-02-17T19:52:24-08:00 February 17th, 2016|House Plants|0 Comments
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Dracaena Problem

There could be one or more of several reasons why the leaves are turning brown: make sure when watering (about once every 7 days) that the soil feels dry down to the first knuckle before watering again and that the water drains out without allowing the plant to sit in water (if there is a saucer under the plant and it is sitting in the water after watering, then this may lead to root rot); feed with a slow-release or organic fertilizer formulated for container plants; the potting soil should be a well-draining commercial potting soil or cactus potting soil (sterile and well-draining); needs bright, indirect light. Finally, if the leaves continue to brown, suggest you switch to steam iron water - many houseplants come from the rainforest and are sensitive to the salts in tap water. There could also be some disease issues. Here's more info: http://www.hgtv.com/landscaping/qa-leaf-spots-on-dracaena/index.html

By | 2016-02-17T19:15:43-08:00 February 17th, 2016|House Plants|2 Comments
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Peace Lily Problem

We do not see any disease problem but there are a few cultural care tips that might help. Peace Lily plants do best indoors in bright, indirect light, w/regular water, but do not allow the plant to sit in water as this may lead to root rot. Since peace lilies are low light plants, do not place where there is direct sunlight, but do provide bright, indirect light. Black or brown leaf tips sometimes develop when humidity is low or irregular watering practices; place your plants on a pebble tray with water just up to the bottom of the pot to raise ambient humidity. Peace lilies are susceptible to salts in tap water which sometimes causes blackening of leaves. Try using distilled water (steam iron water). Some other things to check on: how often do you fertilize? Make sure you feed with a slow-release or organic fertilizer low in salts that is formulated for container houseplants. Again, make sure the pot has drainage holes, water in the sink and allow the salts to leach out and do not allow it to sit in a saucer or pot with water.

By | 2016-02-17T09:41:18-08:00 February 17th, 2016|House Plants|0 Comments
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Spider Mites

This looks like spider mite damage. Look for the fine webbing and small spider like mites on the under sides of the leaves. The mites themselves are very difficult to see with the human eye, so hold a piece of paper below the leaf and tap or shake slightly to see if anything falls off, or, take a spray bottle of water and spray it in the leaf axils. While the mites are very difficult to see, their webs catch the water and becomes more easily visible. You may wish to show your photo to a local garden center for confirmation of the problem, so they can help you select the right control.

Are you growing under artificial light? Spider mites thrive in hot dry conditions and plants growing under artificial lights are often especially hot and dry. (The distorted light in your photograph is typical of fluorescent lighting, which is why we ask.) Spider mites spread quickly, so check any other plants growing in this area for signs of a problem.

By | 2016-02-16T20:37:30-08:00 February 16th, 2016|House Plants|0 Comments
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Dracena Repotting

Thanks for writing back. You should water the plant 24 hrs. prior to transplanting it. You want a decorative plastic container or a glazed ceramic container about the same size as your planter is in now. Purchase some soilless potting mix without fertilizer in it. Over several sheets of newspaper, you can gently knock out the plant from the clay pot. If there are roots that are circling, you should loosen them with your fingers and try to direct them in all directions. It's ok if some of them break. Add some moistened potting mix to the bottom of the container then place the plant in the pot. Make sure it sits at the same level it does in the current pot. Add soil along the sides, packing it in slightly until it is level with the root ball of the plant. Water the plant again thoroughly allowing the water to drain out completely then dump the excess water and place the plant back on the saucer. Good luck!

By | 2016-02-16T17:18:06-08:00 February 16th, 2016|House Plants|0 Comments
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Not Enough Water

It is never appropriate to give a plant a set amount of water at a set interval. You need to water the entire volume of soil in the pot in order to encourage root growth throught the pot. If you only give a little water, many roots will die. Plants' water needs change with the season as temperature, humidity, and number of daylight hours vary. The same plant may need water every 5 days in summer and every 8 days in winter. To correct your problem, water your aspidistra until water comes out the bottom of the pot. (If you don't have a drainage hole in your pot, transplant your houseplant to a container that does.) Don't let the pot sit in water or this may cause root rot. You'll have to pour off the extra water if there's more than a half inch in the saucer so it's better to water slowly so you don't have too much overflow. Water whenever the soil surface feels dry to the touch. good luck!

By | 2016-02-16T04:57:44-08:00 February 16th, 2016|House Plants|0 Comments
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Splitleaf Philodendron

Grown as a house plant most places, this survives outside in areas that are virtually frost free. In the wild, this epiphyte can grow 65 feet tall. Indoors provide bright, indirect light, regular water and feed with a slow-release fertilizer or organic food formulated for container houseplants. Do not allow plant to sit in water as this may lead to root rot. Give it something to lean against or brace itself on for the best display in a pot. It has aerial roots which can be trained onto a support or inserted in the soil. When roots begin coming out the bottom, it will need to be re-potted into the next size larger pot. By "next size larger" we mean a pot that is about two inches wider in diameter and deeper. Put it outside in the summer for best growth (in a sheltered spot!) but acclimate to higher light levels gradually or will sunburn.. The leaves begin heart shaped and split as they mature, but won't do so if it doesn't get enough light.

By | 2016-02-15T23:02:02-08:00 February 15th, 2016|House Plants|0 Comments
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