How Not to Kill Your Houseplant Read online

  tepid. Feed once a month during spring and

  probably going dormant,

  summer. Water more sparingly in winter.

  especially if temperatures

  fall below 15ºC (60°F). If it

  CARE

  isn't winter, it’s not happy

  Alocasias love high humidity,

  with its conditions.

  so stand the plant on a pebble-filled tray

  SAVE IT If dormant, your

  of water and mist the leaves frequently.

  plant should re-sprout in spring

  Ensure that the pot has good drainage.

  – continue to care for it as

  Repot in spring, but only if the roots are

  normal. Otherwise, check

  significantly outgrowing the pot.

  location, light, and watering

  regimes (see left).

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  BUG ALERT!

  (see pp.24–27)

  Prone to mealybugs,

  scale insects, and

  red spider mites

  on the foliage.

  BROWN, CRISPY

  LEAVES?

  Either the humidity is too low,

  or watering with hard tap

  water is causing issues.

  SAVE IT Place it on

  a tray of moist pebbles

  and mist the leaves

  frequently. Switching

  to distilled, filtered, or

  rainwater may help.

  Brown, crispy leaf

  PLANT WILTING?

  This could be due to under- or

  overwatering. Overwatering can

  lead to root rot.

  SAVE IT Check the compost

  and adjust your watering regime if

  it is too dry or wet. If the problem

  persists, check for root rot. Remove

  Alocasia x

  any affected areas, treat with

  amazonica

  fungicide, and repot in new compost.

  Height &

  For more information, see Plant

  spread: up

  diseases (pp.28–29).

  to 1.5m (5ft)

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  38

  ALOE VERA

  Aloe vera

  BUG ALERT!

  ouseplants

  This easy-to-grow succulent has

  (see pp.24–27)

  spiky, fleshy leaves. The sap is used

  Prone to scale

  The H

  to soothe burns and skin irritations.

  insects on

  the foliage.

  HOW NOT TO KILL IT

  LOCATION

  Keep it in a room that is 10–24°C

  SHRUNKEN,

  (50–75°F). Happy, mature plants will

  WRINKLED LEAVES?

  produce yellow flowers.

  Your plant needs watering.

  SAVE IT

  LIGHT

  Water lightly and mist

  the leaves. Do the same the following

  Place in a bright spot (e.g. a south-

  day, and the day after that – the leaves

  facing window). It will cope with some direct should plump up again. Don’t let your

  sun, but acclimatize it gradually.

  plant sit in very wet compost.

  WATERING + FEEDING

  In spring and summer, water when

  the top 2–3cm (1in) of compost has dried

  out – this may be once a week, depending on

  its position. In winter, water very sparingly.

  LEAVES TURNING BROWN,

  Feed once in spring and once in summer.

  RED, OR REDDISH BROWN?

  Your plant could be getting too much

  CARE

  sun in the middle of the day during

  Aloes like well-drained compost,

  summer, or it may be overwatered.

  The roots may also be damaged.

  so add potting grit or perlite when planting, or use cactus compost. A layer of grit on the SAVE IT Move your plant

  top will keep the neck dry and prevent rot.

  to a bright spot with less direct

  Only repot if the plant has outgrown its pot.

  sunlight. Reduce watering. If it

  The plant will produce baby “offsets” – these doesn't recover, check the roots.

  can be left on the plant, or cut off at the base Reddish brown leaf

  with their roots and planted individually.

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  PALE OR YELLOWING

  SHARE

  LEAVES?

  THE CARE

  If your whole plant is pale or

  yellowing, it has been overwatered,

  or it isn't getting enough light.

  SAVE IT Ensure that you

  are watering the plant

  correctly (see left). Move

  it to a brighter spot.

  AGAVE

  Agave

  Ideal for a sunny windowsill,

  this succulent needs the

  same care as an aloe.

  Some varieties have

  very sharp spines.

  DARK SPOTS?

  BROWN OR

  MUSHY LEAVES?

  This is most likely due

  to overwatering.

  SAVE IT Do not water

  Al

  until the compost has dried

  oe vera

  out. Ensure that the pot has

  Height

  s

  &

  drainage holes. Avoid spilling

  pread:

  t

  u

  o

  p

  1

  water on the foliage, as it

  m (3ft)

  will gather at the base

  HAWORTHIA

  and cause rot.

  Haworthia

  Another spiky succulent

  Dark spots

  with the same care needs.

  In direct sun, the leaves

  may turn red.

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  40

  FLAMINGO FLOWER

  Anthurium

  ouseplants

  Also called oilcloth flower, this easy-to-grow houseplant has wavy, exotic, brightly coloured The H

  flowers (spathes) that can last for weeks.

  HOW NOT TO KILL IT

  LOCATION

  A flamingo flower is a tropical plant,

  so needs warmth and humidity. Place the

  BUG ALERT!

  (see pp.24–27)

  plant in a warm room (15–20°C/60–68°F)

  and away from draughts.

  Prone to mealybugs

  and red spider

  LIGHT

  mites on the

  Position it in bright light, but out of

  foliage.

  direct sun, such as 1m (3ft) or so away from

  a sunny window.

  Sunburn

  WATERING + FEEDING

  marks

  Water moderately from spring to

  autumn, whenever the soil surface feels

  dry. After watering, the compost should

  feel moist but not soggy. Water less in

  winter. Feed monthly in spring and summer.

  LEAF TIPS

  GOING BROWN?

  CARE

  The air isn’t humid enough or your

  To provide humidity, mist the leaves

  plant has too much direct sunlight

  regularly (avoiding the flowers) or stand the

  – the leaves can burn easily.

  plant on a pebble-filled tray of water. Clean SAVE IT Increase humidity by

  the leaves frequently with a damp sponge,

  misting the leaves regularly,
or place

  and gently pull off spent flowers. Repot in

  the pot on a pebble-filled tray of water.

  spring into a slightly larger pot.

  Move to a bright spot that is out of

  direct sunlight.

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  LOTS OF LEAVES

  BUT NO FLOWERS?

  Your plant may not be getting enough

  sunlight, it might be in too large a pot,

  or it may be underfed.

  SAVE IT Move to a brighter

  spot. Repot in a smaller pot if there is

  more than 1–2cm (1/2–3/4in) between

  num

  the edge of the pot and the root ball.

  Anthurium

  Feed once a month to encourage

  andraea

  Height &

  flowering (see left).

  spread: up to

  50cm (20in)

  YELLOWING LEAVES?

  This could be due to too much

  watering or overfeeding.

  SAVE IT Don’t allow your plant

  to sit in water, and only water again

  when the top of the compost is dry.

  If necessary, stop feeding for a

  month or two.

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  42

  EMERALD FERN

  Asparagus densiflorus Sprengeri Group ouseplants

  Not actually a fern but a member of the

  lily family, this easy-care plant has

  The H

  graceful, feathery foliage.

  HOW NOT TO KILL IT

  LOCATION

  Place the plant in a coolish

  room (7–21°C/45–70°F),

  away from direct heat,

  such as a radiator. It

  likes some humidity, so

  does well grouped with

  other plants. It’s a good

  choice for a bathroom.

  LIGHT

  Ideally, provide

  bright, indirect light.

  WATERING + FEEDING

  Water when the top 2–3cm (1in)

  of compost has dried out. Don’t let the

  compost dry out completely, or allow it to

  become waterlogged. Reduce watering in

  winter. Feed monthly in spring and summer.

  Aspar

  d

  a

  e

  g

  CARE

  n

  u

  s

  s

  ifl

  S

  o

  p

  ru

  r

  In winter, mist the leaves

  e

  s

  nge

  G

  r

  r

  i

  o

  occasionally if the room is centrally heated.

  up

  Heig

  Cut away any yellowing stems at the base.

  h

  s

  t

  p

  &

  read

  Repot the plant in spring if the root ball

  :

  t

  u

  o

  p

  30c

  comes into contact with the edge of the pot.

  m

  (12in)

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  SHARE

  YELLOW FOLIAGE?

  THE CARE

  Older foliage at the bottom of the plant will yellow naturally. If yellowing is widespread, the room temperature may be too high, there may be too much light, or your plant may be under- or overwatered. Ensure the compost is not waterlogged, as this leads to root rot.

  SAVE IT Move it away from a radiator or to a cooler room, and place it in a slightly shadier spot. Allow the compost to dry out if it is waterlogged and ensure you let the top 2–3cm (1in) dry out between waterings. Check for root

  rot (see Plant diseases, pp.28–29).

  Widespread

  yellowing

  ASPARAGUS FERN

  Asparagus setaceus

  It has similar care needs,

  but this plant likes higher

  humidity than its cousin

  and can tolerate less light.

  BUG ALERT!

  (see pp.24–27)

  Prone to red

  spider mites

  on the foliage.

  BROWN EDGES

  ON THE LEAVES?

  Your plant has had too much sun,

  or the compost has dried out.

  SAVE IT Move it to a

  shadier spot. Water, letting

  SHAMROCK PLANT

  any excess drain away.

  Oxalis triangularis

  This pretty plant has similar

  Brown leaves

  care requirements. It is a

  bulb, so dies back in winter.

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  PAINTED-LEAF BEGONIA

  Begonia rex

  ouseplants

  There are many varieties of painted-leaf begonia that have beautiful foliage in shades of crimson, The H

  silver, purple, green, and red.

  HOW NOT TO KILL IT

  WHITE POWDER

  ON THE LEAVES?

  LOCATION

  This is powdery mildew, often due to

  Ideally, keep the plant at around

  drought or too much heat, humid

  18–21°C (64–70°F) all year round, but don’t

  conditions, or poor air circulation.

  let it get any hotter. They can survive at

  SAVE IT Remove the affected

  13°C (55°F) in winter, but no colder.

  leaves and treat with fungicide.

  For more information, see Plant

  LIGHT

  diseases (pp.28–29).

  Place it in good, but indirect light.

  Avoid direct sun, which can burn the leaves.

  White

  powder

  WATERING + FEEDING

  Water so the compost is moist, but

  allow it to dry out a little in between

  waterings during summer. It is best watered

  from below to stop water accumulating at

  the base of the stems (see Water it, pp.20–

  LOSING

  21). Keep just moist in winter.

  LEAVES?

  Your plant may be

  CARE

  overwatered, or too

  Repot if necessary in spring. Turn

  hot. If it’s going leggy

  the pot regularly to ensure the plant grows

  too, it doesn’t have

  evenly. Make sure it has good ventilation.

  enough light.

  SAVE IT Move it to a brighter

  BUG

  Prone to aphids,

  spot, out of direct sunlight. Check

  ALERT!

  red spider mites,

  the temperature and your watering

  regime (see left).

  (see pp.24–27)

  whitefly and thrips.

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  YELLOWING

  GREY FLUFF ON

  SHARE

  LEAVES?

  PARTS OF THE

  THE CARE

  These could be due to too

  PLANT?

  much or too little water,

  This is grey mould (botrytis),

  or not enough light.

  due to cool, damp, crowded

  SAVE IT Check your

  conditions, or water

  plant’s care regime and

  splashing onto the leaves.

  position (see left).

  SAVE IT Move the plant

  away from other
begonias to

  stop the infection spreading

  and improve ventilation.

  Remove any affected areas

  and treat with fungicide (see

  Plant diseases, pp.28–29).

  ELIATOR HYBRIDS

  Begonia Eliator Group

  These have small, pretty

  flowers in a range of colours.

  Deadhead regularly to

  prolong flowering.

  TUBEROUS BEGONIAS

  Begonia spp.

  Deadhead regularly to

  prolong flowering. At the end

  of the season, cut back your

  plant, remove the compost

  from the tuber, store in a

  cool, dry place over winter,

  and repot in spring.

  Begonia rex

  Height: up to

  60cm (24in)

  Spread: up to

  45cm (18in)

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  46

  TOP 5 PLANTS FOR

  YOUR DESK

  ouseplants

  Greening up your

  workspace is said to

  The H

  boost productivity and

  reduce stress, with

  scientific studies

  revealing that certain

  plants can remove toxins

  from the air. A good desk

  Lucky bamboo

  plant is compact, and not

  Dracaena sanderiana

  too fussy about light levels.

  We can’t guarantee that

  this plant will get you a

  pay rise or a promotion,

  but it will bring cheer to

  your working day. Grow it

  in compost or even just

  in a glass of distilled,

  filtered, or rainwater.

  See Lucky bamboo,

  pp.70–71.

  Blushing bromeliad

  Neoregelia carolinae f. tricolor

  This attractive plant is grown for its foliage, which blushes pink just before it flowers. Keep its central ”vase” topped up with bottled water.

  See Blushing bromeliad, p.49.

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  TOP 5 PLANTS FOR

  YOUR DESK

  African

  spear

  Sansevieria cylindrica

  This striking foliage plant

  is related to the spiky

  snake plant, and has

  cylindrical leaves. It’s a low

  maintenance plant that

  doesn’t need much

  watering – so it can

  tolerate a bit of neglect

  if you go away.

  See African spear, p.115.

  Radiator plant

  Peperomia metallica

  Peperomias are attractive foliage plants. They are a great choice for your desk at work as they are compact, and do well under the fluorescent lights of office buildings.

  See Radiator plant, pp.100–101.

  Madagascar

  dragon tree

  Dracaena marginata

  This easy-going plant is a good air

  purifier, and doesn‘t mind erratic