How Not to Kill Your Houseplant Page 6
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YELLOW LEAVES?
This could be due to underfeeding,
or under- or overwatering.
SAVE IT Ensure you are using
the correct watering and feeding
regime for the season
(see left).
Yellow
leaves
SHORT FLOWER SPIKE?
NO FLOWER IN SPRING?
This is most likely due to a lack of rest in
winter, but it could be because the pot is too large, or because your plant was underwatered after being rested.
Clivia miniata
Height: up to
SAVE IT If it has been rested, ensure you 45cm (18in)
keep the compost moist. Check the pot is not too big – the root ball should only be 2–3cm (1in) Spread: up to
away from the edge of the pot.
30cm (12in)
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MONEY PLANT
Crassula ovata
ouseplants
This low-maintenance, long-lasting succulent
looks like a tiny tree and is said to bring good The H
fortune. It can produce flowers in winter.
HOW NOT TO KILL IT
YELLOWING
LEAVES?
LOCATION
This is probably due
Position the plant on a sunny
to overwatering.
windowsill that is 18–24°C (50–75°F). It will SAVE IT Allow
tolerate periods at 10ºC (50ºF) in winter.
the compost to dry out
and check that the pot
LIGHT
is well drained.
Provide bright, dappled sunlight.
WATERING + FEEDING
Water moderately; let the top 2–3cm
(1in) of compost dry out between waterings.
Water more sparingly in winter. Feed once in
DROPPING LEAVES?
spring and then again in summer.
Older leaves will shrivel and fall
off naturally, but younger leaves
CARE
may drop under environmental
Pull off any old, shrivelled leaves.
stress (such as being moved to
In spring, lightly prune the plant to shape.
bright sunlight suddenly, or
over- or underwatering).
Plant it in a weighty pot as it can become
top-heavy and topple over.
SAVE IT Give water if the compost is very dry, or allow it to
dry out if soggy. When repositioning,
move your plant gradually towards
BUG ALERT!
the desired spot over a week, to allow
(see pp.24–27)
it to acclimatize.
Prone to mealybugs
on the stems and leaves.
Dropped leaves
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SHRIVELLED LEAVES AND STEMS?
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Your plant is short of water.
THE CARE
SAVE IT Give your plant a small amount of water daily over the course of a few days – the leaves should soon plump up again. Don’t let it stand in sodden compost.
Shrivelled leaves
STRING OF BEADS
Senecio rowleyanus
This eye-catching,
hanging plant has similar
needs to a money plant.
LEGGY
PLANT?
Crassula
Your plant needs
ovata
more sunlight.
Height &
spread: up
SAVE IT Move
HEARTS ON A STRING
to 1m (3ft)
it to a sunnier spot.
Ceropegia woodii
This fleshy-leaved plant has
similar needs and is great for
a hanging planter.
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FLORISTS’ CYCLAMEN
Cyclamen persicum
ouseplants
Cyclamen makes a charming indoor
plant, adorned from autumn to
The H
spring with bright flowers.
HOW NOT TO KILL IT
LOCATION
A cyclamen should flower for several
months in a cool room, if bought in bud in
autumn (the start of the flowering season).
It won’t like high temperatures, but don’t
let it freeze either – keeping it at 10–15ºC
(50–60°F) is best.
LIGHT
Keep out of direct sunlight – a
north-facing windowsill would be ideal.
WATERING + FEEDING
Keep the compost just moist,
watering from below by standing the plant
in a saucer of water for about 30 minutes
YELLOW
(see Water it pp.18–19). This avoids getting
FOLIAGE?
the leaves and stems wet.
Your plant is too warm, has been over-
or underwatered, or exposed to direct
Yellowed
CARE
sunlight. If it’s spring, it may be dying
leaf
back naturally.
Remove spent flowers
or dead leaves by giving them a
SAVE IT Remove yellow leaves.
sharp tug or snipping them off.
Move it out of direct sunlight, and to
Most plants are discarded after
a place around 15ºC (60ºF). Keep
they flower, but it is possible to
the compost just moist, watering
keep them going from year to
from below (see Water it, pp.18–19).
year (see No more flowers?).
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POOR FLOWERING?
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Your plant will flower best in lower temperatures, THE CARE
as high temperatures will send it into early
dormancy. If it’s nearing the end of the season, your plant will stop flowering.
SAVE IT Check your plant isn’t in too warm a spot to flower, and ensure
you are caring for it correctly (see left).
Buy cyclamen in autumn and look for
plants with lots of buds. These will be the longest-flowering plants as the buds
will open into new flowers as the
older ones fade.
INDIAN AZALEA
Rhododendron simsii
PLANT HAS
Care for an Indian azalea in
COLLAPSED?
the same way as a cyclamen,
keeping the compost moist
This is probably because your
and watering them with soft
plant is getting too much water,
water or rainwater as they
and may be due to crown rot.
don’t like lime. Needs a cool
spot to flower well.
SAVE IT Look for crown
rot at the base of the stems;
remove affected areas.
For more information,
see Plant diseases
(pp.28–29).
Crown rot is likely
to kill your plant.
Crown rot
Cyclamen
persicum
NO MORE FLOWERS?
Height: up to
Florists’ cyclamen dies back and goes dormant over summer.
20cm (8in)
Spread: up to
SAVE IT Stop watering your plant when it stops flowering and 15cm (6in)
the leaves turn yellow and wither in spring. Place your plant
outside in a dry, shaded place over summer, keeping the compost just moist.
If you live in a wet area, put the pot on its side so that any rainwater drains out. In autumn, bring the plant back indoors and, when you see regrowth, start watering again.
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DUMB CANE
Dieffenbachia
ouseplants
Dumb cane (or leopard lily) acquired its name from its poison, which temporarily causes speech loss.
The H
It is known for its lush foliage.
HOW NOT TO KILL IT
LOCATION
Keep it in a warm room that is
16–24°C (60–75°F). Dumb canes are a little
fussy, and don’t like cold draughts or dry air.
LIGHT
Place it in a partially
shaded spot in summer. Move
it to a brighter spot in winter.
YELLOWING
WATERING + FEEDING
LOWER LEAVES?
From spring to autumn,
Low temperatures or draughts
water whenever the top 2–3cm (1in)
are probably the reason.
of compost is dry. Water sparingly in
SAVE IT Move it to a
winter. Feed once a month.
warmer room, somewhere
free of draughts.
CARE
Provide humidity by misting the
leaves regularly and placing the plant on a
pebble-filled tray of water. Wipe the leaves
PALE LEAVES?
once a month. Repot in spring.
Too much bright light or direct
sun will make the leaves look
Dieffenbachia
seguine
bleached and washed out.
Height &
BUG
Prone to
SAVE IT Move your plant
spread: up to
ALERT!
mealybugs
to a shadier spot.
60cm (24in)
(see pp.24–27)
on the foliage.
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LEAVES DROPPING?
THE CARE
The room may be too cold or
draughty for your plant.
SAVE IT Check for
draughts and place your plant
in a warmer location.
HEART-LEAF
PHILODENDRON
Philodendron scandens
Usually sold climbing a moss
pole, this glossy-leaved plant
can tolerate shady spots.
BROWN EDGES
Care for as you would
a dumb cane.
ON THE LEAVES?
The compost may be
too dry, or either dry
or cold air may be the
cause. Another possibility
is that your plant has been
given too much fertilizer.
SAVE IT Water until the
compost feels moist but not
soggy, and allow only the top
2–3cm (1in) of compost to
dry out between waterings.
Dieffenbachia
Increase the humidity around
seguine
BLUSHING
your plant, move it to a
Height &
PHILODENDRON
warmer spot, and check your
Philodendron erubescens
spread: up to
feeding regime (see left).
60cm (24in)
This slow-growing climber
has similar needs. It has
purple leaves when young.
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VENUS FLY TRAP
Dionaea muscipula
ouseplants
This fascinating, carnivorous plant has traps that snap shut when an insect lands on them. The captured The H
insect is then slowly digested.
HOW NOT TO KILL IT
Green, floppy lobes
LOCATION
Place the plant on a south-facing
RED LOBES TURNING
windowsill in a moderately warm room
GREEN AND FLOPPY?
(7–21ºC/45–70ºF). In winter, rest it in an
This is a sign that your plant isn’t
unheated room (7ºC/45ºF).
happy with your watering regime or
humidity. The plant may die suddenly
LIGHT
if this is not remedied quickly.
Provide bright sunlight, some direct.
SAVE IT Increase humidity
by misting the leaves.
WATERING + FEEDING
Check your watering
Keep the compost moist in the
regime (see left).
growing season (sit it in a saucer of water), and just moist during its resting period.
Use distilled, filtered, or rainwater. Do not use fertilizer as the plant gets its nutrients from the insects it catches. If there are no
BLACKENED
insects indoors, place it outside for a few
TRAPS?
days at a time during summer to catch prey.
Traps often die
off in autumn and
CARE
winter as the plant
goes dormant.
Plant it in a very low-nutrient,
specialist-mix compost. Cut off the dead
SAVE IT This is
traps with scissors. The plant may flower in
normal. When the plant
summer. It’s best to cut off the flowers as
comes back into growth
these will weaken the plant. Repot if
after the winter, it will
necessary in early spring.
produce new traps.
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YELLOW, BROWN,
TRAP NOT
THE CARE
OR BLACK TRAPS?
CLOSING?
This can happen if your
This is likely to be the
plant is moved from a
result of curious fingers
shady spot to a very
poking at your plant too
sunny one too quickly.
many times.
SAVE IT Acclimatize
SAVE IT Each
your plant to brighter spots
trap will only close four
gradually over the course
or five times in its
of a week.
lifetime, so resist
“teasing” your plant.
Burnt
PITCHER PLANT
leaves
Sarracenia
This plant attracts insects
BUG ALERT!
that fall into it and drown.
(see pp.24–27)
It has the same needs as
a venus fly trap.
Prone to
aphids and red
spider mites.
Dionaea
MONKEY CUPS
muscipula
Nepenthes
Height: up to
Insects are trapped in the
45cm (18in)
brightly coloured pitchers of
this plant. Care for it as you
Spread: up to
15cm (6in)
would a venus fly trap.
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TOP 5 PLANTS FOR
SUNNY SPOTS
ouseplants
The sun’s rays can scorch
the foliage of many
The H
houseplants, but some
plants
, including desert
cacti and succulents, love
sunshine. Acclimatize them
gradually and shade them
from very strong midday
sun in summer. They look
great grouped together –
here are five to try.
Hen & chicks
Echeveria
This rosette-forming succulent
Desert cactus
can cope with some direct
Opuntia
sunlight. A hen & chicks will
produce pretty, yellow, orange,
Cacti come in a
or pink, bell-shaped flowers.
fascinating range of
shapes and sizes. This
See Hen & chicks,
cactus is native to the arid
pp.72–73.
regions of North, Central,
and South America – it is
therefore no surprise it
loves bright light!
See Desert cacti, pp.98–99.
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Money plant
Crassula ovata
This plant needs lots of bright light, and
can tolerate some direct sunlight. It is often quite small when bought, so is perfect for
a sunny windowsill. It will last many years
and may produce small flowers each winter.
See Money plant, pp.58–59.
Aloe vera
Aloe vera
This spiky succulent enjoys being in a very bright location, and can even cope with some direct
sunlight. A mature aloe will produce offsets
(new baby plants) at its base.
See Aloe vera, pp.38–39.
Venus fly trap
Dionaea muscipula
This fun plant needs lots of bright light
and some direct sunlight. When an insect
lands on the hinged leaves, they snap
shut, trapping the prey inside.
See Venus fly trap, pp.64–65.
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DRAGON TREE
Dracaena fragrans
ouseplants
Grown for their palm-like leaves,
dragon trees are easy-going, indoor
The H
shrubs that don’t mind erratic watering.
HOW NOT TO KILL IT
LOCATION
Place the plant close to an east-
or west-facing window in a room that is
13–21°C (55–70°F).
LIGHT
Keep it out of direct sunlight.
WATERING + FEEDING
From spring to autumn, water
freely when the top 2–3cm (1in)
of the compost has become dry.
In winter, keep the compost just
moist. Feed monthly from spring to autumn,
but not during winter. They can survive
irregular watering to a certain extent.
WILTING LEAVES?
You may be watering your plant