House Plants

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Stem Cutting Propagation

You can re-cut the stem about 5-6 inches below the longest leaves, remove the damaged leaves (that were previously cut back) from the stem being careful not to damage the stem. Place this cut stem in moist soil, firm the soil around the stem so that it stands up-right, place in a brightly lit location (indoors is fine - out of direct sunlight) and wait for roots to form on the stem (below the soil). Do not water the soil again until it feels dry up to the middle of your index finger. These plants will usually form roots in about 8 weeks. You can tell when roots have formed by giving a slight upward tug on the stem - if it feels "caught" then you have roots. Care for the rooted stem like most any house plant - do not overwater!

By | 2016-03-22T15:44:36-07:00 March 22nd, 2016|House Plants|2 Comments
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We Do Not See A Problem

If there is a disruptive pest or disease here, we do not see it. Please take another photo showing the problem as well as any other information you might have about it and we will try again to help you. Some Pachira or money plant care tips include: regular water and feed with a slow-release or organic fertilizer formulated for container plants. They also need bright, indirect light and high humidity. Suggest you set up a tray of pebbles under the pot that you can fill with water to raise the humidity, but make sure the pot is not sitting in the water-place a brick underneath the pot. Also make sure you are feeding the plant during its growing cycle during the spring and summer. You can decrease the watering during the fall-winter months, but do not allow it to go completely dry.

By | 2016-03-22T12:10:49-07:00 March 22nd, 2016|House Plants|0 Comments
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Lucky Bamboo

This appears to be a variegated "Lucky bamboo" - an easy care houseplant that isn't a bamboo at all. It can survive in many indoor conditions, but indirect lighting is best as direct sunlight can cause the leaves to turn yellow and burn. Water when the soil starts to get dry but before it's completely dry, and fertilize once a month with the fertilizer of your choice used according to directions and/or use a slow release pelletized fertilizer made for houseplants. When the plant gets too tall and "leggy" it's easy to clip off some of the tops, cutting off about 8" pieces, and rooting them in a glass of water. The remaining stems should leaf out lower down on the plant and the rooted cuttings can either be put in the same pot around the original plant or in a new pot.

By | 2016-03-21T16:39:37-07:00 March 21st, 2016|House Plants|0 Comments
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Salt Damage

It appears to be the result of salt damage to your Dracaena. This is quite common in house plants. The salts accumulate in the soil because they are not being leached out properly when watering. If possible, about every month or two, give your plant a nice shower using room temperature water. Let the water flow through the pot and out the drainage holes in the bottom. When watering in between showers, if possible, water in a sink or outside until the water comes out the drainage holes in the bottom. Try not to let it sit in the drained water. If you fertilize, do so lightly as this is another source of salts in the soil. Here is a link that might be helpful:
http://coopext.colostate.edu/4dmg/Plants/guidline.htm#Signs of dehydration and overwatering

By | 2016-03-20T17:19:24-07:00 March 20th, 2016|House Plants|0 Comments
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Foliage Sunburn

This looks like sunburn - which happens when you move an indoor plant into more direct sunlight. When the leaves aren't used to direct sun, and suddenly they are exposed to that strong light, they burn and the leaves turn white or brown. Usually plants grow out of this once they adapt but those leaves never heal after the burn and can decline from then on.

Occasionally a plant might look sunburned when the leaves have been hit with something such as hot water, a chemical, housecleaning solutions etc. If this plant hasn't been recently put out into the sun and you doubt that sunburn is the cause, think of what else might have hit the foliage.

Additionally, sometimes sunburn happens when windows or glass doors are suddenly at a new angle and the light reflects off of them onto a plant.

By | 2016-03-19T23:38:47-07:00 March 19th, 2016|House Plants|0 Comments
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Small Leaf Spiderwort

Winter hardy to USDA Zones 9-12. It is easily grown as a houseplant. It is noted for its ease of culture and tolerance for wide range of growing conditions. Use a peaty, soil-based potting mix. Best in filtered sun. Will grow in direct sun with some afternoon protection. Also grows in shade. Plants like a consistently moist but well-drained soil during the growing season, with reduced watering from fall to late winter. Pinch stems as needed to encourage dense foliage growth. Easily propagated by stem cuttings. Stem cuttings may also be used to create new potted plants. Plants may be pruned hard in very early spring if needed. In areas where temperatures drop below 20 Fahrenheit, those grown as houseplants can be taken outside in summer.

By | 2016-03-19T21:23:00-07:00 March 19th, 2016|House Plants|0 Comments
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Corn Stalk Dracaena

We apologize for the delay, but due to technical difficulties, yours was not answered and we sincerely apologize for the delay. Our technician is looking into this glitch and hopefully this will be resolved to make our app even better. In the meantime, yours is commonly known as a corn plant. The Dracaena fragrans is a popular houseplant/tropical plant that thrives in well-drained soil in bright, indirect light indoors or filtered light outdoors when the temperatures are mild and there is no frost. Prized for its corn stalk-like foliage and growth habit. Water when the soil feels dry down to your first knuckle and feed with a slow release fertilizer formulated for container plants. Outdoors provide partial shade. Does not tolerate frost conditions.

By | 2016-03-19T08:51:05-07:00 March 19th, 2016|House Plants|0 Comments
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Clivia

Care for a clivia: it is a perennial from tuberous rhizomes. Native to South Africa, it bears primarily orange, red, or yellow clusters of funnel-shaped flowers on stalks that emerge above the clumps of foliage in late winter-spring. Following the spent flowers, seed head berries appear that typically ripen to red-orange or yellow. It grows best indoors in bright indirect light and needs a period of coolness in winter to promote bloom. It should be watered when the top
inch of soil feels dry down to the first knuckle. Does not tolerate frost, but when day and evening temperatures remain mild, it will do very well outdoors in shade. Feed with a slow release fertilizer during its growth and bloom cycles. Do not water overhead, water at the plant's base.

By | 2016-03-19T07:25:00-07:00 March 19th, 2016|House Plants|0 Comments
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Houseplant Problem

We can't tell for sure in the photo but this may be the result of insufficient light. Most houseplants need bright, indirect light, regular water, and feed with a slow-release fertilizer formulated for container plants (to avoid salt build-up resulting in leaf tip and edge burn). And make sure the potting soil is well-draining. If the foliage continues to fall off, suggest you show some of the leaves and your photo to a horticulturist at your local garden center for a hands on identification of the problem. Also look for signs of insects such as aphids, mealybugs or scale. They suck the nutrients out of leaves and stems causing the leaves to fade in color, distort the foliage or cause the foliage to fall off. If so, there are systemics for houseplants to help control them.

By | 2016-03-18T11:15:37-07:00 March 18th, 2016|House Plants|0 Comments
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Houseplant Palm Problem

Your palm appears to be a Chamaedorea popular as a house plant because of its graceful form. Indoors it needs bright indirect light, regular water, and feed with a slow-release fertilizer formulated for container plants. Yellowing or browning of the fronds may be the result of: insufficient light or insect/disease problem. If you do not see any signs of insect infestation, then perhaps there is a watering problem. If the plant is in a saucer, do not allow the plant to sit in the water as this may lead to root rot and make sure the plant is in well-draining soil - palms do not like soggy soil conditions. Also fertilize only with a slow-release or organic food formulated for container plants. Hope this helps you keep your palm healthy and happy.

By | 2016-03-18T08:14:50-07:00 March 18th, 2016|House Plants|0 Comments
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