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Splitleaf Philodendron Problem

Indoors Philodendrons need bright, indirect light and regular water when the soil feels dry to the touch down to the first knuckle. However, the leaf tip browning may be due to either the quality of water or if it is allowed to sit in water. If the plant is in a saucer, make sure you water in a sink so that the water drains out completely before returning to the saucer. And since many houseplants are endemic to the tropics, they are susceptible to salt build-up as well as salts in tap water. Suggest you flush out the plant with water several times in the sink to get the excess salts out of the soil and if the problem continues, switch to steam iron water available at your grocery store. Also feed with a slow release or organic fertilizer formulated for container plants. The pale leaves may indicate a nutrient deficiency. And look for insect infestation such as aphids, mealybugs or scale on leaves and stems. We do not see any insect problem from the photo and believe it is more of a cultural issue - watering, light and nutrient. Hope your plant thrives again.

By | 2016-01-21T09:01:22-08:00 January 21st, 2016|House Plants|0 Comments
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Brown Tips On Houseplant

There are a couple of reasons that house plants can get brown tips on their leaves and stems. We'll list all of them here and you can decide which might apply to your plant. Note that sometimes it's a combination of the situations listed, not just one of the conditions.
1. The plant is root-bound. When a houseplant has been in the pot for a long time the roots fill the pot and leave no space for water and soil. So the plant will dry out more quickly, even when you've watered it as you have for years. Tip the plant out of the pot and if you see lots of roots circling around the outside, time to repot! Or if the roots are growing out the drainage hole, time to repot. Put the plant in a pot that's at least 2-3" wider on all sides and bottom.
2. Drying. If the plant has dried out in between waterings, the leaves can brown. Sometimes a plant that's in more sun suddenly will dry out more quickly. Other times a plant is drying more quickly because it's root bound.
3. Fertilizer burn. If you fertilized with too-strong a concentration of a synthetic fertilizer, or if you fertilized a thirsty plant, this will cause such browning on the leaves.

By | 2016-01-19T12:19:26-08:00 January 19th, 2016|House Plants|3 Comments
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Madagascar Dragon Tree

This is Dracaena marginata and is a low maintenance plant that can be grown as a house plant Indoors or grown outdoors in the shade. Indoors it grows best in bright light and should only be watered when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. Originally native to East Africa, but now commonly grown globally in mild climates. Do not allow plant to sit in water as this may lead to root rot. Feed with a slow-release or organic fertilizer formulated for indoor container plants. Repot yearly or when the pot tips over because it is top heavy. When it reaches the ceiling, consider air layering the top to make another plant.

According to the ASPCA, all dracaenas are toxic to cats: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/dracaena. In case of ingestion, a veterinarian should be consulted immediately because we cannot guarantee identification from a photo or a timely enough response. There is a poisonous plant database here: http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants. There is also an animal poison control number listed here: http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control but there may be a $65 charge.

By | 2017-09-11T15:49:27-07:00 January 19th, 2016|House Plants|0 Comments
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Moth Orchid Care Notes

Here are a few care tips for your moth orchid, (Phalaenopsis species): This is a very drought tolerant orchid. Because it's leaves are succulent, it can also tolerate normal household humidity. Moth orchids bloom once or twice a year. In between they'll produce a few new leaves. Don't expect them to bloom continuously. How often are you feeding them? In winter (slow growth time) they don't really need fertilizer. If your orchids are potted in bark, once a week thorough watering is good. If they are potted in sphagnum moss, then push your finger into the moss and if it feels dry to the touch, it's time to water - be careful because moss retains water, so allow it to dry out before watering again - your orchid does not like soggy conditions. Feed with a slow release or organic fertilizer formulated for blooming container plants and provide bright, indirect light indoors. Do not allow the plant to sit in water as this may lead to root rot. It is best to water in the sink, flush out any excess salt build-up, allow to drain out completely before setting it back on a saucer or its cover decorative pot. The wrinkling of the older blooms is a natural process of the flower's aging. Hope these care notes help your orchid.

By | 2016-01-16T23:55:28-08:00 January 16th, 2016|House Plants|0 Comments
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Leaf Spot Or Fluoridechlorinesalts

This sort of leaf spot can be caused by several things and without culturing in a lab it's hard to be sure. It's also possible with plants that what you are seeing is a combination of these problems. Here are the reasons it shows up, however, and what you can do:
1. Fungal spots. Be sure not to wet the foliage (don't follow any advice to mist your plants) or, if you put this plant outside in the summer, to have it where the leaves get hit frequently with water. You can use an organic fungicide to help prevent fungal leaf spots.
2. Excess build up of fluoride, chlorine or fertilizer salts in the soil. This commonly happens when a houseplant is watered with "city water" that has fluoride and chlorine in it over a long period, and/or when fertilizer salts have been allowed to build up in the pot. The solution for this is to repot the plant, gently removing some of the old potting mix from the roots and putting the plant back in a clean pot with new potting soil. Do not put rocks, shards or other materials in the bottom of the pot no matter where you've read that information: it's bad for plants. After that, water with distilled or well water that doesn't have fluoride or chlorine in it. Use an organic fertilizer in the future according to directions.

By | 2016-01-16T11:11:17-08:00 January 16th, 2016|House Plants|0 Comments
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Leaf Spot Or Fluoridechlorinesalts

This sort of leaf spot can be caused by several things and without culturing in a lab it's hard to be sure. It's also possible with plants that what you are seeing is a combination of these problems. Here are the reasons it shows up on these Dracaenas, however, and what you can do:
1. Fungal spots. Be sure not to wet the foliage (don't follow any advice to mist your plants) or, if you put this plant outside in the summer, to have it where the leaves get hit frequently with water. You can use an organic fungicide to help prevent fungal leaf spots.
2. Excess build up of fluoride, chlorine or fertilizer salts in the soil. This commonly happens when a houseplant is watered with "city water" that has fluoride and chlorine in it over a long period, and/or when fertilizer salts have been allowed to build up in the pot. The solution for this is to repot the plant, gently removing some of the old potting mix from the roots and putting the plant back in a clean pot with new potting soil. Do not put rocks, shards or other materials in the bottom of the pot no matter where you've read that information: it's bad for plants. After that, water with distilled or well water that doesn't have fluoride or chlorine in it. Use an organic fertilizer in the future according to directions.

By | 2016-01-16T10:04:31-08:00 January 16th, 2016|House Plants|0 Comments
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Brown Tips On Houseplant

There are a couple of reasons that house plants can get brown tips on their leaves and stems. We'll list all of them here and you can decide which might apply to your plant. Note that sometimes it's a combination of the situations listed, not just one of the conditions.
1. The plant is root-bound. When a houseplant has been in the pot for a long time the roots fill the pot and leave no space for water and soil. So the plant will dry out more quickly, even when you've watered it as you have for years. Tip the plant out of the pot and if you see lots of roots circling around the outside, time to repot! Or if the roots are growing out the drainage hole, time to repot. Put the plant in a pot that's at least 2-3" wider on all sides and bottom.
2. Drying. If the plant has dried out in between waterings, the leaves can brown. Sometimes a plant that's in more sun suddenly will dry out more quickly. Other times a plant is drying more quickly because it's root bound.
3. Fertilizer burn. If you fertilized with too-strong a concentration of a synthetic fertilizer, or if you fertilized a thirsty plant, this will cause such browning on the leaves.
4. Could be chlorine in the water. llow a jug of tap water to air out with the top off for a few days and water as usual.

By | 2016-01-16T07:15:25-08:00 January 16th, 2016|House Plants|0 Comments
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Ficus Benjamina

Without seeing more of the plant itself we cannot be positive, but the leaf structure resembles a F. benjamina. If you snip off one of the leaves and it exudes a milky sap, this is another characteristic typical of Ficus. Wear protective gloves, however, because the sap can irritate your skin. If it is a F. benjamina, it is a popular houseplant. Growers often braid multiple trunks together. Ficus need bright indirect light, regular water, and a slow release or organic fertilizer formulated for container plants. Make sure the plant does not sit in water because this may lead to root rot. Ficus benjamina are particularly sensitive to changes in location and will show its displeasure by dropping all of its leaves. Find a good spot with bright indirect light and allow it to adjust to that location. Ficus also dislike cold or hot drafts, so do not place near an air conditioning or heating vent. Because of its sap, keep away from small children and pets. Here is another resource for you:
Plant Safety - About Kids Health
www.aboutkidshealth.ca/En/HealthAZ/.../Poisoning/.../Plant-safety.aspxäó_

By | 2016-01-15T23:57:34-08:00 January 15th, 2016|House Plants|0 Comments
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Browning On Houseplant Leaves

The browning on this plant is mostly on the older leaves, although we can see that a couple of the younger leaves are also showing some browning. Browning is usually a symptom of a plant drying out in between waterings. This might happen if the plant goes dry, but it can also happen if the plant is very root-congested. If your plant has been in the same pot for more than a year the browning is likely to be due to being root-bound. To remedy, put this plant in a pot that's at least two inches larger on all sides and bottom, with fresh soil. If when you take the plant out of its current pot you see a white mass of roots instead of roots and dirt, you'll want to use a pot that's even bigger than that.

The other reasons plants might get browning of leaves don't seem to fit what we see on this plant: if a plant has fertilizer burn from too much fertilizer all the leaves would brown at the same time, suddenly. If a plant has been moved into too bright sunshine suddenly the tops of all the leaves would be brown from sunburn. So it's likely that what your are seeing is due to the plant either drying in between waterings, or the need for a larger pot or both.

By | 2016-01-13T11:10:34-08:00 January 13th, 2016|House Plants|0 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. We can't see if there's any natural light in this office setting, but most offices don't provide enough for long term plant growth, and certainly not enough for flower production. Turn off all the lights in your office, and stand by your plant. Can you see the shadow of your hand on a white piece of paper next to the plant? If not, the plant is not getting enough light. Peace lilies need regular water and will flop dramatically if they get too dry. They bounce back but it weakens the plant. But do not allow the plant to sit in water as this may lead to root rot. Black or brown leaf tips sometimes develop when humidity is low or irregular watering practices; place your plants on a pebble tray with water place the pot on a brick so that it does not sit in the water 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).

By | 2016-01-13T08:51:27-08:00 January 13th, 2016|House Plants|2 Comments
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