I know you probably give a modicum of water periodically and the poor things manage to soldier bravely on.
Don’t you think it’s time to reward them for their valor? Although some plants such as cacti, succulents and some bromeliads actually THRIVE on neglect, most smooth-leaved plants would really welcome some nurturing from you now.
The easiest way to tend your plants is to collect them all in one room, preferably the kitchen or the bathroom. Then check leaves on both the top and the undersides for signs of insects or diseases. Loosen the soil with a fork, remove some of the old compacted soil and mix in some new, healthy potting soil. Mist the leaves of all smooth-leafed plants and then set them in a few inches of water in your bathtub.Let them sit there and soak up the water from the bottom of their containers for a few hours. This way the entire root ball will be moistened, which usually doesn’t happen when you just dribble water over the top of the soil.
Q. We took a cutting from a hoya several years ago when we were in Florida. It’s become a rangy vine climbing onto everything in sight, but it hasn’t bloomed.
A. You didn’t say how old your hoya is, because age is important. Mature hoyas are prolific bloomers if they are not pruned. Keep your plant free from drafts, water sparingly, mist the leaves every two weeks to provide humidity and apply a liquid fertilizer monthly from May until September. Following those suggestions should produce clusters of fragrant white blossoms. Above all, don’t prune your plants.
Q. About a year ago I received a hanging basket filled with wandering Jew and Swedish ivy. What was once a container filled with a thick growth of plants is now a mess of dried stems with leaves at the ends. What can I do to regain that growth?
A. Start over. The key to full growth with these vining plants is to pinch regularly to encourage new side stems. Although your plants may be too far gone, it’s worth pinching several down almost to soil level to see what happens.
In addition, cut off some of the stems with healthy leaves, place them in a water- filled glass container and watch new roots develop. When all your cuttings have healthy roots, re-plant them in new potting soil in your container. Continue pinching back periodically to prevent a repeat of that leggy growth.
Q. Since last summer’s coleus were gorgeous, I brought two plants indoors for the winter. They had been surviving OK, but lately I noticed two tiny, cotton-like spots on the stems and leaf undersides. The plants also seem to be declining.
A. You have a mealy bug infestation which is very common with coleus – and also croton, some cacti and impatiens. Unfortunately, treatment is tedious and involves dabbing each spot with a Q-tip dipped in alcohol. After the mealy bugs die, spray the plant with warm water, being certain to cover the undersides of leaves. It also might help to place your plants outdoors in a sheltered spot for a few hours on warm days.
Q. Why are all the leaf ends of my maranta drying up? The leaves have also lost their striking contrasting color and are very pale.
A. Your prayer plant (maranta) has environmental issues that can be remedied quite easily. Those dry leaves are probably due to low humidity, a common situation in our homes during winter months. These tropical natives require humidity (think rainforests and jungles). Therefore, move your plant to a more humid location such as the bathroom. Otherwise, set the plant’s container in a saucer or tray filled with small pebbles and/or gravel saturated with water. Some gardeners even put their maranta in their pots inside another larger container to retain moisture. That container could be filled with moss.
The pale leaves on your plant might be caused by too much sunlight if your plant is in a south or west window. Marantas like filtered sunlight or strong north light. Start feeding your plant with a liquid fertilizer every few weeks starting March 1. You should see results fairly quickly.
During this month of love and this not-quite-spring month, love your indoor plants and yourself. Buy another plant for your indoor family to bring new vitality into your house. If you don’t have room, then try a small pot of herbs that you can use now and plant outdoors later. Don’t ignore the colorful invitations offered by grocery store displays of primroses and, above all, sharpen your eyes to spot the cheerful golden face of the first blooming crocus. That really is a sign of nature’s love.
To February.
