Houseplants: I recieved a few plants in not so good condition.

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Leysha Dallas, TX (Zone 8a) October 18, 2009 04:02 PM	Hi, I'm pretty new to this site (just started today). I've rescued a few plants and a few of them aren't doing so well and I'm wondering what I can do to help them. I have a Peace Lily that isn't bushy, he has one withering flower and two leaves and all three are pointed in one direction and are long and spindly. What is the best action to take to get it to bush out correctly? I was thinking about cutting it back but I don't want to take the chance of killing it. (problem solved for Peace Lily) Also, from the same source, I received a Sago Palm and the bottom two leaves are turning yellow and are dropping. Do you think it was over watered or is it just upset from being outside in the cold? (I live in Dallas but we've had a small cold streak the last week). (Sago going to home with someone who knows what they are doing - problem will be solved) I also have a succulent that was doing well when I first got it here but now the leaves are turning yellow in some places and I know I'm not over watering it, I hardly have watered it since I got it home almost 3 weeks ago. (still not solved) I also gained a Poinsettia Tree that had white fly all over it. I managed to pull most of the infested leaves off and used a soapy water mixture for the flyers. Then one day all the leaves just wilted. I think it might have gotten over watered as well. It no longer has any leaves. Is there any way it will jump back? The stalks where the Poinsettia plant was connected to the tree are not looking too good but the tree part looks healthy still. (still not solved but I'm debating on throwing it away at this point) If you need some pictures I'll try to get pictures up this afternoon if anyone needs to see what I'm talking about... I have some other questions but I think I will leave it at this so I don't overwhelm everyone with so many questions in one post. :) This message was edited Oct 18, 2009 12:01 PM This message was edited Oct 22, 2009 8:41 AM
trinawitch Canton,IL &Dent County, MO (Zone 5b) October 18, 2009 05:38 PM	how big is the pot the peace lily is in? they like to be just a tad rootbound, and if everything is pointing in the same direction that means all of its light was coming from that way usually
Leysha Dallas, TX (Zone 8a) October 19, 2009 03:32 AM	It looks to be about an 8 inch pot. When the lady handed me the plant it was sitting in a corner all stuffed with other plants. I kinda feel sorry for some of the plants I got from her.
trinawitch Canton,IL &Dent County, MO (Zone 5b) October 19, 2009 06:24 AM	wow! I really wish you could post some pictures of your plants it would really help. on the peace lily it sounds like the pot to plant ratio is wrong unless the rest of the plant died off
Leysha Dallas, TX (Zone 8a) October 20, 2009 12:39 AM	Here is the Peace Lily. I haven't attempted to do anything just yet. View Larger
Leysha Dallas, TX (Zone 8a) October 20, 2009 12:40 AM	Here is the Sago Palm. View Larger
Leysha Dallas, TX (Zone 8a) October 20, 2009 12:41 AM	Here is the other leave on the Sago Palm as well. View Larger
trinawitch Canton,IL &Dent County, MO (Zone 5b) October 20, 2009 12:45 AM	the peace lily I would try planting in a smaller pot and planting it a little deeper
Leysha Dallas, TX (Zone 8a) October 20, 2009 02:34 AM	Thank you for the help. :) Do you think it will grow back normally after its had some tender loving care or do you think it needs to be cut back at all?
trinawitch Canton,IL &Dent County, MO (Zone 5b) October 20, 2009 02:37 AM	It should grow back, mine does after the cat attacks it. I'm new to the palms though so I don't know how to answer those questions for you
trinawitch Canton,IL &Dent County, MO (Zone 5b) October 20, 2009 02:48 AM	but you did say you had some other questions, so what are they and I will do the best I can to help, and maybe somone else will cime in where I can't help
Leysha Dallas, TX (Zone 8a) October 20, 2009 01:10 PM	I have a succulent (which I do not know the name of) that has begun to yellow in some places very rapidly. I know I'm not over watering it. I've only watered it a few times since getting it. I wonder if it's cold damage? View Larger
Leysha Dallas, TX (Zone 8a) October 20, 2009 01:12 PM	Here is a different part of the succulent where the leaves had been yellow but are now falling off and withering. I remember I had it outside when it first started getting yellow. It was just a tiny bit cooler which is why I think it might be doing this because of the cold. I can only speculate that I will just have to cut these parts off since I'm sure they won't regrow leaves there. View Larger
Leysha Dallas, TX (Zone 8a) October 20, 2009 01:17 PM	I also got this plant. I have no earthly clue what it is either. I believe it is a moon plant but I can't seem to find it in my Horticulture books or online. I suspect it might be a family member of morning glory. The person who had it left it out during the winter and it came back the next year. I even had to cut the old stem back just to get this into my car. I'm wondering if it would be safe to do so again? I really don't want to bring it in but I also want it to come back next year. If it does die I'd like to get some seed to regrow it, but since I don't know what the heck it is, I can't look in the stores for it since I've never seen it in stores anyway. (I've decided to leave it outside to see how it does, if it dies then no big deal and I can try again next time). This message was edited Oct 22, 2009 8:50 AM View Larger
Leysha Dallas, TX (Zone 8a) October 20, 2009 01:19 PM	Here is a close up of the beautiful flower it produces. My hand is in there for size comparison and so I could hold it up to do the picture. :) It opened at night and it has a wonderful fragrance to it. It half closes during the day and reopens when it becomes dark. This message was edited Oct 20, 2009 8:27 AM View Larger
Leysha Dallas, TX (Zone 8a) October 20, 2009 01:24 PM	I got this 3 foot aloe plant that originally had so many babies in it that I couldn't water the poor thing. I managed to get all the babies out but then in my pursuit to make it happy I think I over watered it and then it also got too cold. I couldn't bring it in because it was so heavy and it took forever to get my boyfriend into the mix. (We can both be procrastinators) The best action I thought was to cut the wilting leaves off and then put the plant into the pot deeper and do it up to the currently healthy leaves. Do you think this is the best course of action? (aloe vera problem has been solved) This message was edited Oct 22, 2009 8:51 AM View Larger
trinawitch Canton,IL &Dent County, MO (Zone 5b) October 20, 2009 01:51 PM	ok cacti and succulents you only really need to water about 1 a month unless they are outside in your Texas summer. and then only water them either in the morning or in the evening. your leaves will fall off the yellowed one when the plant is done with them the "no earthly idea" is called a brugmansia, but I can't tell you the cultivar as they are new to me this year...they like sun and they like to be moist but not wet. DO NOT cut the leaves on the aloe and NEVER plant one lower than it's original planting depth...again these only need to be watered about once a month so let it dry out completely before you water it again. the leaves may still recover, if not the plant uses them as energy to grow so don't cut them off until they are dead and usually they will drop on there own. also aloes as they age tend to start to look like trees and get taller and taller....again do not attempt to burry them deeper in the pot... ok if that answers your first set of questions, bring on the next ones
Leysha Dallas, TX (Zone 8a) October 20, 2009 02:03 PM	I'm so glad to have someone knowledgeable to talk to about plants. My boyfriend is a computer man and even though he is kinda interested in plants he's not passionate about it like me. :) I just have a few questions about plants in general. I read somewhere that sanseveria (sp) aka snake plant or mother in laws tongue is poisonous to animals. Is this true? If so is there any way to deter animals from eating it? My friend (whom I gave the plant to) thinks that spraying a mix of vinegar and water on it will help but I'm wondering if this would upset the plant at all? She's not very plant savvy and I'm only partially plant savvy. I also found that peace lily, aloe vera, and that one plant you identified for me (brugmansia) might be poisonous. (as said by the world wide web) is this true? I need to know since my boyfriend and I want to get a dog but I don't want to have something that will make them ill or possibly kill them. Just the thought stresses me out to no end. Are aloe vera plants sensitive to texas winters? Sorry for all the questions. I really appreciate your time and effort on me. :) (problem solved) This message was edited Oct 22, 2009 8:52 AM
trinawitch Canton,IL &Dent County, MO (Zone 5b) October 20, 2009 04:08 PM	Ok yes Mother in Laws tongue is poisonous but the animal would only take one bite as they taste bad and makes thier tongues go numb...sometimes its a hard lesson to learn but it's the only way they learn sometimes. Brugmansias yes are highly poisonous well it's said the can be used as a hallucenogen (sp). If you grow them in the house the overpowering scent does tend to have a narcotic effect...I've not eperienced that though. aloes are not posonous, they are used to treat household burns and peace lilies...yes but the effects if the animal ate an entire large plant is an upset tummy... Ok next set, bring it on I'm ready...LOL
QCHammy Queen Creek, AZ (Zone 9a) October 20, 2009 06:31 PM	Here is my two cents. As far as the aloe goes no it is not hardy in your zone 8a garden. It is hardy to about 20 degrees according to PlantFiles but ours survived outside to 16 degrees but with some damage. Aloe vera, which is what yours does look like, is not a tree forming aloe and in this case is probably forming a longer stem because it is not getting enough light. We grow these here in Arizona in direct sun so if grown indoors it should go in as bright a spot as possible. As far as potting them deeper than originally the aloe is probably the exception in that it will not have a problem having it's stem buried as long as any leaf scars or damage to the stem are allowed to heal over completely before burying it and it is kept pretty dry. You would not do this if you had a true tree aloe. As trina stated generally you do not want to bury the stem of most plants when repotting them and as she also said they don't need much water. The other plant that has not been identified looks like a Kalanchoe to me but hard to tell from the picture. I have a question about the sago palm. The leaves you showed were starting to turn yellow but does it have new green growth in the center? The older leaves will fade with time as the plant feeds off them. When they are totally brown you can just cut them off. Cycas revoluta (your plant) does not require much water. It would be borderline hardy in your zone so may do fine if you have a protected area that is a slightly warmer microclimate. If you decide to keep it indoors give it as much light as possible as they will stretch to the light and grow very long fronds that look quite unnatural. If you do choose to keep it indoors move it outdoors in the summer. Make sure though that when you move it outside you acclimate it otherwise the fronds will get burned. It would appreciate some shade outdoors during the hot summer months though. This is another highly toxic plant for dogs. This message was edited Oct 20, 2009 11:33 AM
Leysha Dallas, TX (Zone 8a) October 21, 2009 01:04 AM	Yeah I found out about the Sago Palm being poisonous awhile ago and have already begun to find it a new home. I love to save plants but even I know when I've gotten too many. My aloe plant has been tilting and wont stay up and I'm going to try and set it by pushing the soil down near the stem to see if that keeps it up. I'm afraid of there being long term damage from it leaning like it is. If I were to take the whole plant out and replant it so its planted more towards the middle would it freak out? I did it to one of the aloes with little trouble and it has done well so far (same size as the other). I also have a small plant that I believe to be a Philodendron selloum. (lacy tree philodendron) I don't have a pot big enough for it because the few roots it has are way to big and lengthy and I was wondering if it would grow those back if I put it in water and see if it will grow more roots? (problem solved for now) This message was edited Oct 22, 2009 8:55 AM
trinawitch Canton,IL &Dent County, MO (Zone 5b) October 21, 2009 01:20 AM	yes you can repot the aloe, just be prepared when it starts producing pups it will more than likely lean again. I don't know why they just do, I think they do it just to irritate us humans! LOL as for the philodendron selloum, I've never heard of one (sounds awesome though!) but if you ask in the aroids forum someone over there will know....it just may take awhile to get an answer
Leysha Dallas, TX (Zone 8a) October 21, 2009 04:33 PM	It's raining today and cold so I had to run out and grab a few plants and bring them in. Here is a picture of the Philodendron selloum for your personal enjoyment. :) This is only a very small one. They can get as big as trees and the leaves I believe can also get bigger. This one, as told to me by the same lady I got the peace lily from, that it was an air cutting off one of the big plants. It was sitting out in the open with no water or anything. I wonder how long it was sitting there before I came along. The air roots were so long that it won't fit into any of my pots and I'd be afraid to maneuver them to fit because I don't want the plant to girdle itself in the long run.
Leysha Dallas, TX (Zone 8a) October 21, 2009 04:36 PM	Here is what it looks like in the pot. View Larger
Leysha Dallas, TX (Zone 8a) October 21, 2009 04:37 PM	Here is a close up of the leaves. View Larger
Leysha Dallas, TX (Zone 8a) October 21, 2009 04:39 PM	Here's the trunk. I like how it looks. Unfortunately my boyfriend doesn't like this plant very much. :( But I guess he can't like everything I bring home. View Larger
Leysha Dallas, TX (Zone 8a) October 21, 2009 04:56 PM	QCHammy... To answer your question. The two palm leaves still have a bit of green on them sporadically. Luckily, I found a home for it yesterday and will be going to it's new home on Thursday to a lady who knows what she's doing. I told her what was wrong with it and she says she has a nice sunny place for it. :) Here is a better picture of that succulent plant. View Larger
trinawitch Canton,IL &Dent County, MO (Zone 5b) October 21, 2009 05:33 PM	I love that Philodendron selloum! ok now that I saw the picture as long as you don't do any triming off that large "tap root" cut the rest to fit in the pot
Leysha Dallas, TX (Zone 8a) October 21, 2009 05:42 PM	The two pieces you see going into the soil are the problem. Is that the taproot you are talking about? If you would like I can take a picture of the whole root system for you.
plantladylin (Zone 9b) October 21, 2009 05:54 PM	If your Tree Philodendron is this one: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/37036/ you can lay it sideways on the soil and just cover a bit of the trunk and it will put out more roots. My side yard has a large area of these plants, some grow up tall, others grow out to the side. I have one in my backyard that is more tree like, growing fairly straight. These are in my side yard and get morning sun but are shaded by taller trees the rest of the day.This area had been so full you couldn't see through but a couple of weeks ago I did some major pruning. View Larger
plantladylin (Zone 9b) October 21, 2009 05:59 PM	This one is in the backyard and gets full sun most of the day. You can see the aerial roots that came out from the sides and trailed down to the soil, probably searching for a water source because the sprinklers don't get this area at all and it only gets watered when it rains. View Larger
Leysha Dallas, TX (Zone 8a) October 21, 2009 06:03 PM	It looks very similar to the one you have but I'm still not completely sure since I received it from someone who also didn't know what the heck it was. At least she knew it was a philo. I will give your idea a try. If it doesn't grow new roots then it will be a lesson learned. It's not in very good condition anyway so the chances of it living are low already in my opinion. I'll let you know how it goes. :) Thank you plantladylin.
plantladylin (Zone 9b) October 21, 2009 06:08 PM	Yours might be Philodendron xanadu: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/219028/ Full information and photo's: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/59808/ Click on the thumbnail images to enlarge the photo's. edited to correct the link for full information on P. xanadu. This message was edited Oct 21, 2009 2:23 PM
daisylovn Wilmer, AL (Zone 8b) October 21, 2009 06:14 PM	Plantladylin, I wanna come and see all your plants. I believe your philos in the pictures are Split Leaf Philo, and I have to agree that Leysha's looks like a Philodendron xanadu. I have a xanadu that was really picky when it was in a pot. A local garden center owner suggested I put it in the ground.. I did and it doesn't give me a moments trouble any longer.
plantladylin (Zone 9b) October 21, 2009 06:22 PM	Yes, mine are the Cut Leaf, Tree Philodendron's: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/37036/ and the more I look at Leysha's photo I think she has P. xanadu. I have a xanadu also but it isn't in the ground but in a pot on my deck. You have yours in the ground in zone 8?? How does it handle freezes in winter or do you get that cold? We have occasional frosts and freezes here and the tree philo's have been knocked down by freezes in the past but always grow back. Of course when we get 32º and below here it is only for a few hours and as soon as the sun rises the temperatures warm up.
daisylovn Wilmer, AL (Zone 8b) October 21, 2009 06:28 PM	We don't get very cold here, and like you, if it the temp reaches freezing it doesn't stay there more than a few hours once the sun shows its face.. but even so, I cut it back and mulch well. It comes back every year. Same with my Split/Cut Leaves. I don't have any that have grown into actual trees but there are some around here. Could be because I cut them back. I don't really know.. I'm still a novice at this stuff.
Leysha Dallas, TX (Zone 8a) October 21, 2009 06:49 PM	plantladylin - I believe you are right. :) It does look like a P. xanadu. I also have already cut all the elongated roots off and planted the stump on its side like you said. I never realized what a nasty smell it has when you cut fresh parts off of this plant. covers nose Afterwards I lightly misted the soil and the leaves. Trinawitch - I replanted the Peace Lily today into a 6 inch pot instead of that 8 inch pot. The roots still look pretty healthy and there is plenty of roots to go around. I removed all the loose roots and found a few presents at the bottom of the previous pot. It looked to be dead chunks of large roots. I went ahead and cut the flower off because it was becoming gross but I did not cut off any of the leaves. I also lightly misted the soil and leaves. I also mixed a little bit of fresh soil into the pot with some miracle grow potting soil with an extremely light fertilizer so that it can get some nutrients. I used the miracle grow potting soil on the philo as well. This message was edited Oct 21, 2009 1:51 PM
trinawitch Canton,IL &Dent County, MO (Zone 5b) October 21, 2009 07:04 PM	sounds like you did that right then Leysha Plantylady too bad I wasn't around for the trimming that day! LOL
QCHammy Queen Creek, AZ (Zone 9a) October 21, 2009 07:12 PM	The other succulent could be a sedum. I'm just not sure.
Leysha Dallas, TX (Zone 8a) October 21, 2009 07:20 PM	The succulent that is having problems is planted next to an aloe plant. It looked nice until the succulent started to yellow. :( If I had a much better camera I'd be able to take a picture from farther away so you could get a really good look but unfortunately I only have a camera phone.
plantladylin (Zone 9b) October 21, 2009 07:21 PM	Your succulent pictured here: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/p.php?pid=7193823 might be Kalanchoe marmorata: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/57334/ but I'm not sure. I don't know succulents real well.
plantladylin (Zone 9b) October 21, 2009 07:25 PM	Or, as QC said, it could also possibly be a Sedum. http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/50569/
Leysha Dallas, TX (Zone 8a) October 21, 2009 07:35 PM	Yeah... they all look very similar. The best thing I could probably do is take it to a nursery and see what they say.
trinawitch Canton,IL &Dent County, MO (Zone 5b) October 21, 2009 09:59 PM	or post it in cacti & succulents they'd have a really good idea
plantladylin (Zone 9b) October 21, 2009 10:13 PM	You have a paid subscriber to access the C & S Forum. I see Leysha is not a paid subscriber so she wouldn't be able to post there.
trinawitch Canton,IL &Dent County, MO (Zone 5b) October 21, 2009 11:14 PM	I keep forgetting that! Hey Plantlady guess what I discovered the seed trading forum! LOL
Leysha Dallas, TX (Zone 8a) October 22, 2009 02:45 AM	I have a quick question. I accidentally broke off one of the tips of one of the big aloes and it smells horrible and it has a bit of yellow on the inside. Is there something wrong with it? I've never seen (or smelled) this before! I'd take a picture for you but my boyfriend already threw the broken part away. D:
plantladylin (Zone 9b) October 22, 2009 02:56 AM	The gooey gel inside an Aloe is medicinal. I don't think it smells very nice either but to me it doesn't smell horrible ... I guess it's all depends on who's smelling it. If you scroll down this page a tad it shows what the inside of aloe vera should look like: http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.summitheal... If the inside of your plant looked like this it is normal.
Leysha Dallas, TX (Zone 8a) October 22, 2009 03:09 AM	It's very odd. My tilting aloe doesn't have any smell or real color to the inside. But the other has a tinge of yellow around the outer parts and has a pungent smell.
plantladylin (Zone 9b) October 22, 2009 03:32 AM	Plant Files lists over 500 different Aloe's: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/adv_search.php?searcher[com... I'm not familiar with any of them except the one I have, Aloe Saponaria. I wonder if some are different inside than others?
joycerogers0713 Poplarville, MS (Zone 8b) October 22, 2009 03:47 AM	Hi Leysha, I have been watching this thread and when I read about the yellow inside the aloe and the bad smell I wanted to tell you that I have grown aloe for years but gave my last plant away to someone with a bad burn. Wouldn't you know next I get burned! My daughter brought me a few stems of her MIL's plant and thought one of the kids stepped in dog poo due to the odor in the car. The odor hit me as soon as they got out of the car - aloe stem in hand! It was also yellow inside instead of the clear gel it's supposed to have. Her MIL had it outside where the rain comes off the roof of the house and we have had a LOT of rain! Needless to say I didn't use it on my burn and the plant got moved.
QCHammy Queen Creek, AZ (Zone 9a) October 22, 2009 05:56 AM	I grow a lot of different aloes in my yard and many of them have a nasty odor including the medicinal aloe A. vera. The yellow ooze is also normal. It may stink but it will still be useful on a burn. Many aloes may be different inside to some extent but most of them contain a clear fleshy gel. Different species have different amounts from what I've seen.
Leysha Dallas, TX (Zone 8a) October 22, 2009 01:27 PM	So even though both my aloes are the same type they can still be different on the inside? Hence the yellow in one and clear in the other. Do you think it's a random occurrence or does something in the environment change them sometimes?
amalie63 Duncan, OK (Zone 7a) October 23, 2009 07:40 AM	Hi Leysha, I think the succulent plant is Kalanchoe pinnata. I just game the one I had away to my neighbor, here is the link to it here on Dave's GArden...Look at the pictures they have of the plant, looks alot like yours Hope this helps you out. http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/68271/ Amalie
3jsmom31 zone 6a, KY October 25, 2009 12:18 PM	The succulent is some kind of flowering kalanchoe, The peach flowered plant looks like brugmansia or datura to me. Take a cutting and pot it up, and grow it in a sunny window for winter. They need a little more moisture than the succulents. If you leave the big one outside, I would do it in a protected spot and planted in the ground. The aloe, I would just lean the pot up against something to hold it up and not worry. If the plant is too big for you, put a baby or 2 in a sunny windowsill and enjoy the burn salve they can provide. Throw it outdoors, come spring. The philodendron selloum is a tough plant... I would add some more soil to your pot or tuck in some long fibered sphagnum moss. Fill it up to the stem. In nature, they climb up trees until they find the conditions they want, then they mound up. I wouldn't water root this epiphytic plant. The aerial roots are very good at getting enough moisture in the jungles, even when broken from the rooted plant. The roots will grow out of the stem as the plant climbs, that's what it's supposed to do. They can take bright indirect light in the house (or even dappled sun). Outside, I put mine on a shaded porch for the summer so it can stretch out. Have your BF read how cool this plant is and maybe he'll appreciate it more. Look up exoticrainforest to see how someone made a greenhouse jungle to show him some cool info about aroids. I know some of these were already answered, but I didn't want to cut everything out of my post :).
Leysha Dallas, TX (Zone 8a) October 25, 2009 03:19 PM	No worries :) I just put all those problem solved edits so new people wouldn't get confused. Not sure if it has helped much though.
daisylovn Wilmer, AL (Zone 8b) October 27, 2009 06:19 AM	Here is a pic of my P Xanadu while it was still in the pot. It is the ground now and looks better than ever.. View Larger
daisylovn Wilmer, AL (Zone 8b) October 27, 2009 06:23 AM	One more... Just so you know.. This was immediately after I had just watered it. Thus the water sitting underneath. View Larger
trinawitch Canton,IL &Dent County, MO (Zone 5b) October 28, 2009 02:41 AM	that is cool daisy!
plantladylin (Zone 9b) October 29, 2009 12:35 AM	Daisy, that is not Philo xanadu in your last two photo's. Here's what xanadu looks like: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/218799/ I'm not sure which one yours is but it sure is gorgeous! I think you should post a photo over on the Plant and Tree Identification Forum: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/f/plantid/all/ to see if you can get an exact name for it!