How Not to Kill Your Houseplant Page 5
watering. It can get quite tall, but
it doesn’t take up much room as it
has a very thin trunk. Keep it in a
lightly shaded spot.
See Dragon tree, p.69.
046-047_Top_5_desk_plants.indd 47
30/01/2017 16:10
48
QUEEN’S TEARS
Billbergia nutans
BUG ALERT!
(see pp.24–27)
ouseplants
This is one of the easiest bromeliads to
Prone to mealybugs
grow. Try displaying queen’s tears
and scale insects
The H
in a hanging planter.
on the foliage.
HOW NOT TO KILL IT
LOCATION
Keep the plant in a room that is
5–24°C (41–75°F). It will only flower if at
the upper end of this range.
LIGHT
Place in bright, but indirect light.
WATERING + FEEDING
Water the “vase” (the centre of the
rosette of leaves) with distilled, filtered,
or rainwater, ensuring the water is always
2–3cm (1in) deep. Empty and refill the vase
every 2–3 weeks to prevent the water
stagnating. Keep the compost just moist.
Feed once a month in spring and summer
by adding half-strength liquid feed to the
central vase.
CARE
LEAF TIPS
Place the plant on a pebble-filled
TURNING YELLOW?
tray of water for humidity. It will flower at Your plant has probably
around 3 years old. Gently pull faded flowers outgrown its container.
away. Repot after flowering in spring. It will SAVE IT Repot your plant
produce “pups” (new plants at the base),
in spring, after it has flowered.
dying slowly in the process. Pot up pups when they are one-third the size of the parent.
048-049_Bilberigia.indd 48
24/01/2017 14:50
BROWN LEAF TIPS?
DRIPPING
SHARE
This could be due to dry air,
FLOWERS?
THE CARE
or watering with hard water.
This is nectar, which
SAVE IT Mist the
drips from the flowers
leaves regularly, if warm.
when they are moved
Switch to distilled, filtered,
or touched – hence
or rainwater.
Billbergia’s common
name, queen’s tears.
SAVE IT
Do nothing!
PINK QUILL
Tillandsia cyanea
This bromeliad has
similar care needs to
queen’s tears, but
prefers a warmer room
(14–25ºC/57–77ºF).
Billbergia
nutans
Height &
spread: up
to 50cm
(20in)
NO
FLOWERS?
Your plant won’t flower until it’s around 3 years old. If you BLUSHING BROMELIAD
have a mature plant, the temperature may be too low, or it
Neoregelia carolinae
may be in too dark a spot.
f. tricolor
Provide the same care as
SAVE IT Move it to a warmer spot in a bright position.
for pink quill. The central
Avoid placing it in direct sunlight.
vase turns red (“blushes”)
before it flowers.
048-049_Bilberigia.indd 49
28/02/2017 16:52
50
PEACOCK PLANT
Calathea
ouseplants
Most peacock plants are grown for their
leaves. Calathea roseopicta leaves have
The H
red undersides.
HOW NOT TO KILL IT
LOCATION
It is a rainforest
plant, so keep it in a warm
room (16–20°C/60–68°F). It
needs humidity, so a bathroom can
be ideal. Avoid rooms with sudden
temperature fluctuations.
LIGHT
Put it in partial shade or bright
light. Keep it away from direct sun.
WATERING + FEEDING
From spring to autumn, keep the
compost moist (but not wet) at all times.
Use distilled, filtered, or rainwater as these plants are sensitive to chemicals added to
tap water. Ensure the pot drains well. Water
more sparingly in winter. Feed once in
spring, summer, and autumn.
Cala
r
t
o
h
s
e
e
a
op
H
ic
e
t
CARE
ig
a
2
h
4
t:
c
u
m
p
To maintain humidity, stand it on
(
t
9
o
S
1
p
/2
r
i
a pebble-filled tray of water, and mist daily.
e
n
a
)
d
1
:
5
u
cm
p
Grouping with other plants will also improve
t
(
o
6in)
humidity. Wipe the leaves occasionally to
keep them free of dust. Repot in spring.
050-051_calathea.indd 50
24/01/2017 14:50
DROOPY LEAVES?
SHARE
This could be a sign of overwatering. Alternatively, your THE CARE
plant may be too cold or exposed to draughts.
SAVE IT The compost should be moist but not wet.
Water sparingly in winter. Try moving your plant to a warmer, sheltered spot.
BUG ALERT!
(see pp.24–27)
Prone to red
spider mites on
the foliage.
Brown leaf edge
PRAYER PLANT
LEAF TIPS
Maranta
OR EDGES BROWN?
A prayer plant has the same
needs as a peacock plant.
The air is probably too dry, you
The leaves fold at night like
may have overfed your plant,
human hands in prayer.
or it may be due to watering
with hard water.
SAVE IT Mist your plant
daily and place it on a pebble-
filled tray of water. Group
with other plants to increase
humidity. Switch to distilled,
filtered, or rainwater.
FADED OR SCORCHED LEAVES?
Your plant has probably been in
direct sunlight.
STROMANTHE
SAVE IT Move it to a shadier place.
Stromanthe
A stromanthe likes more
humidity than a peacock
Faded leaf
plant. Keep it above
18ºC (65°F) and don’t water
it with cold or hard water.
050-051_calathea.indd 51
28/02/2017 16:52
52
SPIDER PLANT
Chlorophytum comosum
BUG ALERT!
ouseplants
Spider plants are ideal for beginners
(see pp.24–27)
as they are very easy to care for.
Prone to red
The H
Display them in a hanging planter.
spider mites on
the foliage.
HOW NOT TO KILL IT
BROWN TIPS
ON THE LEAVES?
LOCATION
Your plant can tolerate the hot, dry
Keep the plant in a room that is
air of centrally heated rooms, but this
may make the leaf tips go brown.
always between 7–24°C (45–75°F).
Underfeeding or underwatering
can have the same effect.
LIGHT
Place it in a bright spot, away from
SAVE IT Cut off the
direct sunlight.
brown tips and move your
plant to a cooler room.
WATERING + FEEDING
Make sure you feed and
water it regularly.
Keep the compost moist but not
soggy. Water more sparingly in winter. Feed
every few weeks except during winter.
CARE
BROWN STREAKS
Repot young plants into a slightly
ON THE LEAVES
bigger pot every spring. Repot mature plants
IN WINTER?
when the white, fleshy roots begin to push
the plant from its container, making it tricky This means your plant has
to water. Mature spider plants produce
been watered too much in
cool conditions.
“plantlets” or “babies” that can be cut off
and grown individually. If they have tiny
SAVE IT Remove any
Chlo
roots, plant them directly into new
unsightly leaves. Make sure
rop
co
h
m
yt
o
u
compost. If they have no roots,
that you water your plant
H
s
m
u
e
m
ig
place them in water for a few
less during winter – the
h
2
t
0
:
c
u
m
p
t
(
o
weeks until the roots appear.
compost should be
S
8
p
i
r
n
just moist.
e
)
a
brown
3
d
0
:
c
u
m
p
(
t
1
o
streaks
2in)
052-053_Chlorophytum.indd 52
06/03/2017 16:35
YELLOW
PALE LEAVES?
SHARE
LEAVES?
Harsh sunlight, lack of
THE CARE
The soil around the roots
water, or low sunlight
is too dry, which might
and low temperatures
mean your plant needs
in winter can all make
repotting. Alternatively,
the leaves turn pale.
it may have root rot.
SAVE IT Move
SAVE IT Remove
the plant out of direct
any unsightly leaves. Water
sunlight, and water
well from spring to autumn.
well. In winter, move
Repot your plant if it is
your plant to a warmer,
bulging from its pot. Check
brighter room.
for root rot (see Plant
diseases, pp.28–29).
POTHOS
Epipremnum
This plant has similar
needs to a spider plant,
and will climb up a moss
pole or trail from a pot.
ARROWHEAD PLANT
C
Syngonium
hlorop
podophyllum
co
h
m
yt
o
u
H
s
m
Care for as you
u
e
m
igh
would a spider
2
t
0
:
c
u
m
p
t
plant. It will
(
o
S
8
p
i
r
n
e
)
climb or trail, and
a
3
d
0
:
c
u
m
p
looks great in a
(
t
1
o
2in
hanging planter.
)
052-053_Chlorophytum.indd 53
06/03/2017 16:35
54
POT MUM
Chrysanthemum
BUG ALERT!
(see pp.24–27)
ouseplants
Blooms come in many colours and last
Prone to aphids,
for several weeks. Choose plants with both
leaf miners, and
The H
red spider mites
open flowers and opening buds.
on the foliage.
HOW NOT TO KILL IT
LOCATION
Keep the plant at 10–15ºC
(50–60°F), as the flowers will last longer.
A windowsill in a cool room is ideal.
LIGHT
Provide bright, indirect light;
keep it out of direct sun.
WATERING + FEEDING
A pot mum likes water, so keep the
compost moist (but not soggy) at all times.
You could feed the plant after a few weeks.
It won’t flower for long enough to need
feeding a second time.
CARE
Deadhead any spent flowers.
WILTING LEAVES?
Plants are often discarded after
flowering, but you could try planting
The plant needs watering.
yours in the garden. It will have been
SAVE IT Water your
treated with dwarfing hormones before
plant and ensure you are
it was sold, but should revert to its
keeping the compost moist,
normal growth habit outdoors, and
but not soggy.
may flower in autumn.
Wilting leaves
054-055_chrysanthemum.indd 54
28/02/2017 16:52
SHARE
FLOWERS
FUZZY GREY
THE CARE
NOT LASTING?
MOULD ON
Higher temperatures
THE FOLIAGE?
will make the flowers
This grey mould is called
open more rapidly and
botrytis, and may have
fade more quickly.
been caused by your plant
SAVE IT Move it to a
sitting in its cellophane
wrapping for a long time.
cooler spot that is 10–15ºC
(50–60°F).
SAVE IT Remove any
affected areas and treat
with fungicide. For more
information, see Plant
diseases (pp.28–29).
MINIATURE ROSES
Rosa
Potted roses should last for
weeks indoors if cared
for like pot mums. Try
planting them in the garden
after flowering. They go
Fuzzy
dormant in winter.
grey
mould
BUDS
Chrysanthemum
Height
WON’T OPEN?
PRIMROSE
& spread:
The plant may not be
Primula vulgaris
up to 30cm
(12in)
getting enough light. If
These bring some welcome
the buds are completely
colour to the home in winter
green, they may not open.
and spring. Care for them in
the same way, and once they
SAVE IT Move your
have finished flowering,
plant to a brighter spot.
plant them in the garden.
054-055_chrysanthemum.indd 55
24/01/2017 14:51
56
NATAL LILY
Clivia miniata
ouseplants
Natal lilies are native to South Africa
and produce a beautiful, single, red, orange, The H
or yellow flower in early spring.
HOW NOT TO KILL IT
BLEACHED OR
BROWN PATCHES
ON THE LEAVES?
LOCATION
The leaves are sunburnt.
From spring to late autumn, keep
the plant in a heated room. In winter, move it SAVE IT Move
to a room that is 10ºC (50ºF) for 3 months to your plant out of
rest – this will help initiate a flower bud. Then direct sunlight.
return it to its spring-to-autumn position.
Bleached
LIGHT
patches on
Provide bright, but indirect light.
the leaves
WATERING + FEEDING
From spring to late autumn, keep
the compost moist. Reduce watering in
winter so that the compost is almost dry.
BUG
Prone to mealybugs
Feed once a month from spring to autumn,
ALERT!
and red spider mites
and not at all during winter.
(see pp.24–27)
on the foliage.
CARE
Wipe the leaves occasionally. Don’t
BROWN LEAVES AT THE
move the pot when the plant is flowering or
BASE OF YOUR PLANT?
in bud. After flowering, cut off the dead
This happens when the older leaves
flower spike at the base. The plant may
are dying back.
produce a second flower in late summer.
Natal lilies like to be snug, so repot the plant SAVE IT This is normal, just
gently pull away any brown leaves.
after flowering only if the roots are bursting out of the pot.