Houseplants: I feel bad for this plant.

Replies: 15 Views: 124

Author	Comment
Leysha Dallas, TX (Zone 8a) October 31, 2009 05:31 PM	I received a plant that I believe is a desert plant (succulent) and it's not doing so well. The person who had it previously didn't know anything about plants and this guy was flourishing and now that I have it (i know a bit more than her) it's going downhill faster than a boulder. The bottom most leaves are wilting away, some leaves have cracks in them, and I can't tell if it's elongating in places or if its new growth. I hardly water it and keep it in a room with lots of filtered sun. View Larger
Leysha Dallas, TX (Zone 8a) October 31, 2009 05:32 PM	Here is a close up. View Larger
Leysha Dallas, TX (Zone 8a) October 31, 2009 05:33 PM	Here is the wilting and the cracking leaves. View Larger
plantladylin (Zone 9b) October 31, 2009 06:50 PM	It looks like an Agave of some sort to me, which are drought tolerant plants and don't need much water. I don't know much about Agave's or if your plant is failing because of possibly being over-watered. It looks to my eyes like it could use a larger pot but my eyes aren't real great, so hopefully someone more familiar with these plants will stop by and offer advice. http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/20957/ http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/55351/
Leysha Dallas, TX (Zone 8a) October 31, 2009 07:26 PM	I've had it for about a month and a half and I've only watered it twice. Once I watered it really well and the other time I just misted the soil. It was doing well up until two days ago when I noticed it like this. It hasn't been watered for two weeks now (which was the misting). I'm wondering if maybe it's not getting enough sun or if this might be normal. You might be right about it needing a bigger pot as well, I'll consider looking for a bigger pot and possibly mixing some better soil along with the older stuff to see if that might help. I really appreciate the help with all these plants I've taken in. It has been a bigger burden than I expected. But I suppose I had to learn eventually. :) This message was edited Oct 31, 2009 2:28 PM
plantladylin (Zone 9b) October 31, 2009 07:37 PM	It doesn't sound like you've been over-watering, but depending on what type of potting medium/soil is in the container it still could be retaining a lot of water at the roots, which will cause rot. Have you taken it out of it's pot to look at the root system to see if they look healthy and if the plant is possibly root bound? When you repot, just go to a pot one size larger. The soil you use will make a difference also. Most commercially bagged potting mixes are quite heavy and retain a lot of moisture. You should consider adding perlite to whatever potting medium you use to help in drainage. Some of the garden centers like Home Depot, Lowes and Wal-Mart sell a packaged cactus and succulent soil but I don't know anything about it so can't advise there ... but it would probably be better than a regular potting soil since it's specifically labeled for cactus and succulents.
Leysha Dallas, TX (Zone 8a) October 31, 2009 08:03 PM	That's a great idea. The potting soil I got will work fine as long as I just keep misting. I used to just dump water into the pots but I've recently switched to using a water bottle mister. I might have to mist a lot but that's better in my opinion than just watering it once and then praying. Also, a lot of the plants I received had a lot of what I think is perlite... they are small white foamy looking balls mixed in with the medium. What I have been doing... is re-potting plants and mixing the old with the new to create a good middle so I don't shock the poor things. This will most likely work until I can actually afford to waltz down to Home Depot since my Walmart doesn't carry that succulent soil you mentioned. It only carries Miracle Grow Potting soil (the stuff I have), topsoil, outdoor soil, and citrus soil. If you ask me ... my Walmart kind of sucks on the selection for gardening. I haven't checked the roots but I will try to do that today after I've gotten things done. I know that you are suppose to check for color and smell when you look at the roots. Unfortunately I can't remember what color roots are suppose to be when they are healthy... isn't it suppose to be a light beige color?
plantladylin (Zone 9b) October 31, 2009 08:09 PM	I don't know about misting as being the best way to water a plant. With misting, there is no way for the roots to take up moisture and the mist evaporates rather quickly. Sometimes misting too much can promote fungal infections as well. LOL, I've never heard about smelling roots. And, roots can be different colors depending on the plant in question. Just look for any soggy, ratty looking, or dried looking roots and snip them off before repotting.
3jsmom31 zone 6a, KY November 1, 2009 12:00 AM	I would think citrus soil would be well draining with lots of aeration. Does anyone know?
trinawitch Canton,IL &Dent County, MO (Zone 5b) November 1, 2009 01:37 AM	I used the MG Citrus soil on my citrus trees this spring, needless to say I'm going back to my regular potting soil, they did't grow at all, and it seemed the soil was always wet, not damp or moist but wet
plantladylin (Zone 9b) November 1, 2009 04:30 PM	Well, I don't know anything about citrus soil but it looks like the MG is labeled for Cactus, Plams and Citrus: http://lawn-and-garden.hardwarestore.com/77-500-potting-soil... so it should work. I don't know if this soil has fertilizer added (a lot of MG bagged soil does), so I'd be careful about fertilizing the plant, if the soil already contains a fertilizer.
Leysha Dallas, TX (Zone 8a) November 1, 2009 05:27 PM	I appreciate the help. :)
trinawitch Canton,IL &Dent County, MO (Zone 5b) November 1, 2009 08:25 PM	yes it does come with the fertilizer already in it, but it only works for 3 months...now here's something interesting I didn't know....that's 3 months from the Date in which it was bagged, not purchased,, now if you bought it direct you could probably get it straight off the line, if Not they (the MFG) probably store it in a warehouse, so your still good, it's the time it sits outside unprotected from the elements that messes it all up. Learned that from my Dad, cause he works at lowes
plantladylin (Zone 9b) November 1, 2009 09:32 PM	I notice that it says on the bags of soil: "Feeds for three months", but if you are using a soil that already has fertilizer in it, and you are mixing up plant food/fertilizer to feed as well ... in some instances it could be over-feeding, depending on how much you use and how often. I've heard a lot of folks say they feed every time they water but that they use a diluted solution.
QCHammy Queen Creek, AZ (Zone 9a) November 3, 2009 05:58 AM	It does look like an Agave to me but not sure which one. Most agaves are not heavy feeders (in fact I never fertilize mine in the ground). In a pot it might need occasional fertilizer. Give it as much light as possible (full sun) and water sparingly. By that I mean water it good so that water is running out the bottom of the pot but then let it dry thoroughly before you water again. Don't let any water sit in the tray if it has one as that will cause rot. I have two in pots kept outside year round but even during the summer here in the Phoenix area I only water them about once a week. The two in the pots do get some shade protection however. As plantlady said misting will not be a good way to water as the water will never get to the roots that way. Lastly, put the plant outside for the summer (acclimatize it of course). As far as the splitting of the leaves go it could be caused by too much water or too much fertilizer. Hope this info helps.
Leysha Dallas, TX (Zone 8a) November 3, 2009 01:57 PM	Thank you for the suggestions y'all. I'll give it a try.