House Plants

/House Plants

Money Treemalabar Chestnut

This is a Pachira or Money tree plant. Use a smallish container because a too-big container will hold too much water. Soggy potting mix is often the biggest problem with this plant, causing stem and root rot and yellowing/dropping leaves. Growing money tree in a small container will also prevent it from getting too big. In fact, this tree can be grown as a bonsai. Regular pruning will also help control its size. Pinch or prune off growing tips. Give it a winter rest. Keep your money tree warm and in bright light year-round. But cut back on water and stop fertilizing in the winter months because growth slows down with lower light levels. Brown, crispy leaves is a symptom of dry air or low light levels. Plants often are in shock when moved to a new home because they are adjusting to a new environment. Keep your plant away from heat/AC vents and cold drafts from windows or doorways. Dropped leaves are also caused by relocation shock. If your new tree drops its leaves, don't give up on it. They'll grow back with good care. Place your money tree in a bright location and leave it there. Increasing humidity around the plant can help. While it's tempting to overwater a shedding plant, don't. It only makes the problem worse.

By | 2016-01-03T02:41:01-08:00 January 3rd, 2016|House Plants|0 Comments
Read More

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 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). 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. Peace lilies are dramatic wilters when they get too dry. They bounce back but it weakens the plant.

By | 2016-01-01T12:22:45-08:00 January 1st, 2016|House Plants|2 Comments
Read More

Draceana Drainage Problems

Unfortunately we do not know the progression of the problem, but we are concerned about the containers. Do they have drainage holes to allow the water to drain out without the plant sitting in water? Lack of drainage often leads to root rot and plant problems. It is also important that you used a commercial, sterile potting soil that is well draining and not your native soil. Native soil compacts too much in a container and if your plant continues to decline, suggest you consider transplanting carefully into well-draining, commercial potting soil, plant it at the same level as its original container in a pot that has adequate drainage and if you can, find a root stimulator product that contains indolebutyric acid. This product helps the plant recover from transplanting but stay away from vitamin b12 products as these do not help at all. Water sparingly only when the soil feels dry down to the first knuckle. And provide bright indirect light if indoors and shade if outdoors. Feed with a slow release or organic fertilizer formulated for container plants. Be sure to check with a horticulturist, show the photo so that the problem can be confirmed before doing anything. Hope your plant recovers!

By | 2017-09-11T15:49:29-07:00 December 30th, 2015|House Plants|0 Comments
Read More

Moth Orchid Care Notes

We think this is a moth orchid. If so, here are a few tips for caring 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 because that's not how they work, no matter how much you feed them. How often are you feeding them? In winter (slow growth time) they don't really need food. If your orchids are potted in bark, once a week watering is good. If they are potted in long grain sphagnum moss, then push your finger into the moss and if it feels dry an inch down, it's time to water. 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.

By | 2015-12-30T14:26:59-08:00 December 30th, 2015|House Plants|0 Comments
Read More

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 above, 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.
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 | 2015-12-30T13:49:07-08:00 December 30th, 2015|House Plants|0 Comments
Read More

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. The wrinkling of the older blooms is a natural process of the flower's aging. Hope these care notes help your orchid.

By | 2015-12-30T04:12:10-08:00 December 30th, 2015|House Plants|0 Comments
Read More

Dried Leaf Tips

When the tips of a houseplant die back like this there are three likely causes. 1.Hot drafts from heating units. Many plants, including polkadot plant, don't like hot air that blasts nearby, so if this plant is near a radiator that could be the cause, or one contributor, to what you see. 2. Incomplete watering/drying. Some plants develop brown tips if they dry out in between waterings. Tips can also shrivel when the watering isn't through...in other words, when the entire root ball of the plant isn't being well soaked all at one time. If plants are watered "in dribs and drabs" or just given "a lick and a promise" they can get brown tips because the outer roots near the edges of the pot dry up. 3. Fertilizer burn can also cause this - this happens when fertilizer is applied in too high a concentration, or when a thirsty, dry plant is given fertilizer without first watering the plant well. Always mix synthetic fertilizers according to directions and only apply to well-watered plants.

With a polkadot plant two other conditions that might contribute to what you see are the plant being in too strong of sunlight, or the tips of the leaves touching a cold window. Finally, sometimes the symptoms we see on plants are the combination of two or more conditions as well. So go through the list we presented and see if one or more of these might be the problem.

By | 2015-12-29T13:19:21-08:00 December 29th, 2015|House Plants|1 Comment
Read More

Wandering Jew

Your plant is a species of Tradescantia; for you this will be a houseplant. It will grow and spread quickly with succulent stems making it ideal for containers. Cut back to refresh or control growth. Indoors it grows best in bright indirect light, not full sun. Water when the soil feels dry down to your first knuckle; overwatering can kill this plant. Don't let it sit in standing water as this may lead to root rot.

Older foliage on this plant commonly yellows and falls off with overwatering, although occasionally you'll see similar conditions on an under-watered plant. It looks like this plant may be root bound, since it's so large and probably in the same hanging basket you bought it in. Root bound plants can suffer from over and under watering more easily since the roots clog the soil and the pot doesn't drain well. At this point you'd probably be better off taking cuttings of the good ends and rooting those in a new pot of soil, and discarding the bare stemmed plant. This plant is easy to root - just cut off pieces that are about 6" long, remove lower leaves and stick the bottom 2 to 3" in fresh, moist potting soil. Keep that in a place that's bright light but not direct sun until the plant starts to grow.

By | 2015-12-29T13:03:52-08:00 December 29th, 2015|House Plants|0 Comments
Read More

Moth Orchid Care Notes

Your orchid is a Phalaenopsis - Moth Orchid, and it appears to have either dried out or been over-watered and suffered some root rot. How often do you water your plant? Is the orchid completely potted in bark or is there long grain sphagnum moss underneath? Potted in bark in a clay pot this Phal will probably need one good soaking per week, if it's getting bright indirect light and normal household temps. Have added some extra information for growing below:

They have extra long bloom cycles, but when they're done, flowers wilt and drop. During the bloom cycle, they need to be fed weekly with half strength water soluble orchid food or slow-release fertilizer formulated for blooming container plants. When flowers fall off, prune back only to green stem, since often the same flower stalk will rebloom. Check both sides of the leaves closely for mealy bugs and scale insects (the latter are like tiny scabs on the leaves). Both usually often produce sticky residue called honeydew. Remove insects with cotton swabs soaked in 70% alcohol. Does best in bright, indirect light and water every 7-10 days at the base of the plant, not in the center of the leaves. Do not allow plant to sit in water as this may lead to root rot.

By | 2015-12-28T21:09:45-08:00 December 28th, 2015|House Plants|0 Comments
Read More

Dracaena Problem

There could be one or more of several reasons why the leaf tips are browning: 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 or it is in a pot without drainage holes 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 | 2015-12-27T22:52:19-08:00 December 27th, 2015|House Plants|0 Comments
Read More