How Not to Kill Your Houseplant Page 3
26
RED SPIDER MITES
Look for bleached or speckled
foliage, webbing between the
leaves and stems, and leaf fall. If you
look under the leaves with the aid of a
magnifying glass, you’ll see the mites.
The Basics
TREAT IT Spray with an insecticide or use a biological control. Red spider mites thrive in hot, dry conditions so mist your plants daily to raise humidity if the atmosphere is hot and dry. Be vigilant – use a magnifying glass to look for the mites on the underside of leaves.
Ivy leaf (pp.80–81)
“Inspect your plant regularly
and deal with problems before
they escalate.”
VINE WEEVILS
If your plant has
collapsed and you haven’t over-
or underwatered it, vine weevil
grubs could be the culprit.
They’re found in the compost of
plants that have spent time outside.
They munch on the plant’s roots, bulb,
or tuber, causing it to suddenly wilt.
TREAT IT If your plant has been
outside in summer, drench the compost
with an insecticide or biological control in late summer or early autumn to kill
any grubs. If they have eaten most of
the roots, your plant will not recover.
Look for grubs in the
compost of your plant Hen & chicks (pp.72–73) 026-027_pests.indd 26
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APHIDS
Also known as greenflies, these
can be green, black, grey, or
orange. They gather on the tip of the
stems and on flower buds, where they suck
sap and secrete honeydew, which is then
colonized by sooty mould. Aphids can also
spread viruses.
TREAT IT Rub them off by hand, dislodge with a spray of water, or spray with insecticide.
Nerve plant
Hanging a yellow sticky trap nearby can help.
leaf (pp.78–79)
SCALE INSECTS
MEALYBUGS
These limpet-like insects
These white, slow-
look like brown lumps on
moving insects coated
the stems and the undersides of
in white fluff are found in clusters
leaves. They also excrete a sticky sap,
on stems, in leaf joints, and under leaves.
which can lead to sooty mould. If not
They suck sap and excrete sticky
controlled, your plant will be weakened
honeydew, which then gets colonized by
and the leaves will turn yellow.
sooty mould. An infestation can lead to
yellowing leaves, leaf fall, and wilting.
TREAT IT Rub them off, or spray
the affected areas with insecticide (don’t TREAT IT Wipe off the insects with spray the leaves of ferns, as they are very a damp cloth or cotton bud soaked with
sensitive to chemicals). You could also try insecticide. Alternatively, spray the whole a biological control.
plant with insecticide once a week. You
could try a biological control. Mealybugs are hard to eradicate and it is often
Scale insects cluster along
simpler to throw away severely
infested plants.
the centre of the leaves
Umbrella
tree leaf
(pp.118–119)
Orchid leaf
(pp.102–103)
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28
PLANT DISEASES
Caring for your houseplants correctly is the best defence The Basics
against disease, but stay vigilant! Here's how to spot and treat diseases that could attack your plant.
Grey mould
The plant
Patches of
spreading
has collapsed
white dust
African violet
Cyclamen
Missionary plant leaf
(pp.112–113)
(pp.60–61)
(pp.108–109)
BOTRYTIS (OR
CROWN AND
POWDERY
GREY MOULD)
STEM ROT
MILDEW
Grey fluff can be found
The lower parts of the
Patches of white dust
all over the plant,
plant are dark, soft, and
will appear on the
especially in cool,
rotten, due to a fungal
leaves. It's more likely
damp, or congested
infection. It’s usually
to occur where plants
conditions.
caused by excess
are crowded together,
TREAT IT
watering, splashing
on underwatered plants,
Water
the base of the stems,
or in conditions that
your plant from below
or cool conditions.
are too hot and humid.
to avoid splashing
It's not fatal, but it can
water on the leaves
TREAT IT You can
weaken your plant.
or crown. Remove any
try to save your plant by
affected areas, along
cutting out the affected
TREAT IT
with any mouldy
area and treating it with
Remove the affected
compost, and treat
a fungicide. Avoid
leaves, and treat your
with a fungicide. Water
overwatering, and move
plant with fungicide.
and mist less frequently.
the plant to a warmer,
Space plants further
Improve ventilation.
well-ventilated spot.
apart to improve airflow.
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Sooty
mould
Corky
growths
Mottled yellow
markings
Radiator plant leaf
Umbrella tree leaf
Indian rope plant leaf
(pp.100–101)
(pp.118–119)
(pp.88–89)
OEDEMA
SOOTY MOULD
VIRUSES
Look for corky growths
This black fungus grows
Signs include mottled,
on the underside of
on the sticky waste of
yellow foliage, distorted
leaves. Oedema is caused
aphids, whitefly, scale
growth, and white streaks
by waterlogging, high
insects, and mealybugs.
on the flowers.
humidity, and low light.
It blocks light and the
TREAT IT A virus
plant’s pores.
TREAT IT Water
would have been
your plant less, reduce the
TREAT IT Sponge
transmitted by insects or
humidity in the room, and
off the mould with a clean,
was already present on the
move it to a brighter spot.
damp cloth and treat the
plant when it was bought.
insect infestation (see
There is nothing you can
Plant pests, pp.24–27).
do to save it.
ROOT ROT
Caused by overwatering, root rot is a fungal
Leaf spot
infection of the roots that
will lead to yellow, wilting leaves that turn brown, followed by the Fiddle-leaf fig
collapse of your plant. Affected roots will be leaf (pp.76–77)
soft and dark.
LEAF SPOT
TREAT IT Remove the compost
Brown or black spots on the foliage
to check the roots. You can try to save
are often surrounded by a yellow
it by trimming off any affected roots
halo. Leaf spots can merge and kill
with a sharp knife, leaving any
an entire leaf. Caused by bacteria or
healthy, white roots. Then cut the
fungi, they are more likely in damp
plant back to allow for the root
or overcrowded conditions, or if water
reduction, treat
has been splashed on the leaves.
with a fungicide,
Soft,
TREAT IT Remove any
and repot in fresh
rotten
affected leaves and treat your plant
compost and a
areas
with fungicide. Reduce humidity and
disinfected pot.
space plants more widely.
Cactus (pp.98–99)
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THE
HOUSEPLANTS
How to treasure
your houseplant
and deal with
any problems
030-031_The_Houseplants.indd 31
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32
MAIDENHAIR FERN
Adiantum raddianum
ouseplants
This delicate, arching fern is rather fussy
and can be tricky to grow – it needs
The H
moisture, warmth, and a shady spot.
HOW NOT TO KILL IT
LOCATION
Keep it at 15–21ºC (60–70ºF), and
no colder than 10°C (50°F) in winter. Place
it away from radiators and draughts. It needs a lot of humidity, so is good for a bathroom.
LIGHT
Keep it out of direct sunlight –
about 1m (3ft) from a north window, or in
the diffused light of an east-facing one.
WATERING + FEEDING
Water when the top 1cm (1/2in)
of compost is dry, but let excess drain
away – the compost should be moist. Feed
FRONDS TURNING
once a month in spring or summer.
BROWN AND CRISPY?
This is due to low humidity,
CARE
draughts, close proximity to a
Place it on a pebble-filled tray of
radiator, bright sunlight, or
because the compost is too dry.
water and mist the leaves regularly to provide
Adia
ra
n
humidity – more often in a hot, dry room.
SAVE IT
d
t
Snip off the affected
u
d
m
ian
H
u
Snip the old fronds off at the base.
fronds. Check your plant isn’t in too
m
ei
s
g
p
h
bright a spot, or near a radiator. Mist
r
t
e
&
ad
to
:
u
your plant regularly and stand it
4
p
0
Prone to scale insects
(
c
1
m
BUG
on a tray of damp pebbles. Keep
6in)
ALERT!
and mealybugs on the compost moist.
(see pp.24–27)
the foliage.
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LEAVES TURNING PALE?
SHARE
If the leaves are pale your plant may be in too much direct THE CARE
sun – in this case it may have scorch marks on the leaves too. Alternatively, it could also be in too dark a spot. Your plant may also need feeding.
SAVE IT Move it to a spot
with diffused light. Feed your
plant if you haven’t
been doing so.
CRETAN BRAKE FERN
Pteris cretica
This fern needs similar care
to a maidenhair fern, but is
more forgiving if the compost
dries out occasionally.
YELLOW LEAVES?
This could be due to under- or
Ad
overwatering, or exposure to
ia
ra
n
d
tu
d
m
temperature fluctuations.
ian
H
um
ei
s
g
SAVE IT Check that the
p
h
r
t
e
&
ad
t
compost isn’t waterlogged and
o
:
u
4
p
HARE'S FOOT FERN
0
(
c
1
m
make sure your plant isn’t
6
Davillia canariensis
in)
near a radiator or air-
This fern has similar care
conditioning unit.
needs but can cope with less
water and less humidity.
032-033_maidenhair_fern.indd 33
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34
URN PLANT
Aechmea fasciata
ouseplants
Urn plants are exotic-looking bromeliads that have long-lasting flowers. The rosette of leaves forms a The H
central “vase” that holds water.
HOW NOT TO KILL IT
BROWN, SOGGY LEAVES
OR WILTING LEAVES?
LOCATION
This could be crown or root rot, caused
by overwatering or poor drainage.
Place the plant in a warm room that
is 13–27°C (55–81°F). Good air circulation
SAVE IT Check for crown and
is important, so open a window on occasion.
root rot. Try trimming off the
affected areas, treating with
LIGHT
fungicide, and repotting
Provide bright light, away from
in fresh compost.
For more information,
direct sun, which will burn the leaves.
see Plant diseases
(pp.28–29).
WATERING + FEEDING
Water the central vase, ensuring
Brown leaf
the water is always 2–3cm (1in) deep. Use
distilled, filtered, or rainwater. Empty and
refill the vase every 2–3 weeks to prevent
the water stagnating. Water the compost in
FLOWER OR PLANT
summer if the top 2–3cm (1in) is dry. Allow
DYING BACK?
to drain after.
This is normal.
SAVE IT
CARE
Cut away the flower,
as near to the foliage as you can,
Provide high humidity if the room
using a sharp knife. Urn pl
ants
is warm – place it on a pebble-filled tray of only flower once, but if you
water and mist the leaves 1–2 times a week.
continue to care for your plant it
will produce “pups” (new plants at its
BUG
base). When they are a third the size of
Prone to mealybugs
ALERT!
the main plant, cut them away carefully
and scale insects on
and pot them up individually.
(see pp.24–27)
the foliage.
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PALE LEAVES?
BROWN LEAF TIPS
SHARE
The air is too dry or the
This may be due to hot,
THE CARE
plant is in direct sunlight.
dry air, or under- or
overwatering. It can also
SAVE IT Move
be caused by hard tap water.
your plant to a shadier
spot and mist the
SAVE IT Add more
leaves regularly.
water to the central vase
and water the compost
lightly. Mist the leaves more
often. If you think hard water
is the problem, switch
to distilled, filtered,
or rainwater.
FLAMING SWORD
Vriesea splendens
With its unusual, sword-like
flower spike, this plant
needs the same care
as an urn plant.
Aechmea
fasciata
Height &
GUZMANIA
spread: up to
Guzmania lingulata
50cm (20in)
This is another popular
bromeliad with similar
needs. It is known for its
pineapple-like flower.
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36
ELEPHANT’S EAR
Alocasia x amazonica
ouseplants
Elephant's ears like hot, steamy conditions
and have impressive, veined, dark
The H
green leaves.
BROWN PATCHES
HOW NOT TO KILL IT
ON THE LEAVES?
This is sunburn.
LOCATION
Keep the plant at a temperature of
SAVE IT Move your
plant to a more shaded spot,
18–21°C (65–70°F) all year round. Avoid
out of direct sunlight.
placing it near radiators, air conditioning
units, and cold draughts.
LIGHT
Keep the plant out of direct sun
in summer – a partially shaded spot is best.
In winter, move it to a brighter spot.
Brown patches
WATERING + FEEDING
Keep the compost moist (but not
PLANT DYING
soggy) by watering lightly every few days.
BACK?
Use distilled, filtered, or rainwater that is If it is winter, your plant is