House Plants

/House Plants

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 is more info: http://www.hgtv.com/landscaping/qa-leaf-spots-on-dracaena/index.html

By | 2016-03-10T18:40:00-08:00 March 10th, 2016|House Plants|0 Comments
Read More

Prayer Plant And Begonia

The striped leaf is commonly known as a prayer plant, a relatively easy to grow houseplant prized for its striking variegated leaves with purple undersides. The foliage tends to curl up at night, the reason for its common name. They need average water and average light, but will burn in full sun. Also, like most houseplants, prayer plants are tropical plants and are sensitive to salts in the tap water. If its tips begin to brown, suggest you switch to steam iron water and feed with a slow-release or organic fertilizer formulated for houseplants.

The other plant is a begonia although without seeing the flower it's impossible to know which one since there are hundreds with similar foliage. These grow the best in the same conditions as the prayer plant, but if you are wanting each to thrive you should place them in their own pots. Plants growing in the same pot don't do as well since their roots fill the soil and try to out-compete each other. You might want to separate these as soon as possible.

By | 2016-03-10T14:15:07-08:00 March 10th, 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. 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 with water.

By | 2016-03-09T12:43:16-08:00 March 9th, 2016|House Plants|1 Comment
Read More

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 (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. 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 is more info: http://www.hgtv.com/landscaping/qa-leaf-spots-on-dracaena/index.html

By | 2016-03-08T22:56:41-08:00 March 8th, 2016|House Plants|0 Comments
Read More

Cyclamen

Your plant belongs to the Cyclamen genus of which there are many species and hybrids. A native of Europe, the Mediterranean region and Asia, these plants are prized for their flowers and attractive clumps of green or variegated foliage. Depending on the cultivar, the flowers look like shooting stars or butterflies and come in hues of pink, red, magenta, white or bi-colors. In your area does best in partial shade or filtered light outdoors where winter temperatures remain mild. Indoors place where there is bright indirect light. Water when the top of the soil feels dry. Do not allow plant to sit in water as this leads to root rot. Continue to care for Cyclamen until the foliage yellows and dies back. From tubers, it will go dormant in the summer, but will return in the cooler seasons. These can be tricky to re-bloom: let the bulbs rest in their pots for a month and then begin watering again.

By | 2016-03-08T20:04:42-08:00 March 8th, 2016|House Plants|0 Comments
Read More

Dracaena Leaf Blotch

Although without seeing the plant "in person" or culturing tissue in a lab it's impossible to say for sure, here are the most likely causes of the problem you see on this dracaena:
1. Fluoride toxicity. Dracaenas are very sensitive to too much fluoride, whether it's in the water or in fertilizers that are high in phosphate, which has fluorine in it. Try removing the plant from the pot, gently take off some of the old soil and repot. In the future water with bottled/distilled water if your town adds fluoride to the water. Ask at your local garden center for a houseplant fertilizer that's higher in nitrogen and lower in phosphates.
2. Leaf scorch from too bright light (direct sun) can cause leaf blotches. This is often combined with damage from low-humidity. These plants like bright light but not direct sun.

Be sure to let this plant dry out a bit in between watering, and check it to see if it's root bound and needs a new pot.

By | 2017-10-08T01:37:23-07:00 March 8th, 2016|House Plants|0 Comments
Read More

Ginseng Ficus Bonsai

Its form and foliage resembles the Ficus genus, possibly F. microcarpa also known as F. retusa. Ficus are known for their dramatic roots that survive above ground resembling bulbous structures. It makes an ideal houseplant/bonsai provided there is 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. Feed with a water soluble organic
or slow-release fertilizer formulated for container plants at 1/2 the recommended dilution rate
during its growth cycle. Again, make sure the container has adequate drainage and allow to drain out completely, but do not allow it to sit in water. Also be aware that most Ficus do not like their locations changed and will show their displeasure by dropping its leaves. Once you find a good site with bright, indirect light and it is thriving, try to keep it there.

By | 2016-03-08T05:14:11-08:00 March 8th, 2016|House Plants|0 Comments
Read More

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; in nature it is a vining, climbing plant. Indoors provide bright, indirect light, and water when the top half inch of soil feels dry

Overall, your plant look healthy and the brown leaves seems to be only those two at the bottom. It's normal for plants to lose their bottom leaves as they grow, just the way we lose a small amount of hair every day. We suggest you remove the damaged leaves and examine the undersides closely for signs of insects or spider mites. If they look clean, continue to observe the plant. As long as you are giving it the right amount of light and water, it should be a trouble-free houseplant for you. It might look more attractive if you took it off the metal trellis and let it sprawl naturally. That way the loss of the bottom leaves wouldn't be so obvious.

If there's more damage throughout the plant that we can't see in the above photo, please let us know.

By | 2016-03-07T11:49:20-08:00 March 7th, 2016|House Plants|0 Comments
Read More

Peace Lily

Your plant is probably a large peace lily. There are several species, some make great window sill plants (the smaller types) and others are floor specimens (like yours). Have you ever seen it flower. Peace lilies produce white flowers. It would help us to see a photo of the entire plant, focussing on the stem where the leaves emerge. There are a few other tropicals that have leaves like this (bird of paradise, ornamental bananas) but their stems are very distinctive. If you send us another photo of the stem base, we'll try to confirm our identification. Peace lilies grow best in bright, indirect light indoors, never direct sunlight. If the plant doesn't get enough light, it won't bloom, but if it gets too much direct sun on the leaves, it may get leaf burn. Give it regular water and feed with a slow-release fertilizer formulated for blooming container plants. Must have good drainage. Do not allow plant to sit in water as this leads to root rot.

By | 2016-03-06T21:19:17-08:00 March 6th, 2016|House Plants|3 Comments
Read More

Dracaena Problem

There could be one or more of several reasons why the leaves are falling off: 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. Finally, if the leaves continue to fall off, 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 | 2016-03-06T17:49:05-08:00 March 6th, 2016|House Plants|0 Comments
Read More