How Not to Kill Your Houseplant Read online

  CARE

  too little or too much. It may also

  Wipe the leaves occasionally, pulling

  have root rot.

  away any that are dead. The plant needs

  SAVE IT Make sure you

  humidity, so place it on a pebble-filled tray are watering correctly (see left).

  of water and mist a few times a week.

  Check the pot has good drainage.

  If the problem persists, check for

  BUG

  root rot and remove any affected

  Look for mealybugs

  areas. For more information,

  ALERT!

  and scale insects on

  see Plant diseases (pp.28–29).

  (see pp.24–27)

  the foliage.

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  SHARE

  BROWN TIPS

  THE CARE

  ON THE LEAVES?

  This is probably due to dry air, but it

  could be due to your plant getting too

  little water.

  SAVE IT Increase humidity and

  make sure that you water your plant

  correctly for the season

  (see left).

  MADAGASCAR

  DRAGON TREE

  Dracaena marginata

  This dragon tree has the

  same care requirements. It's

  narrow, so good if you're

  short on space.

  YELLOWING

  LEAVES AT

  THE BASE?

  Each leaf will naturally

  turn yellow and fall off

  after a couple of years.

  SAVE IT Don’t

  worry! Just gently pull

  away the yellowed leaves

  Dracaena

  to remove them.

  fragrans

  SONG OF INDIA

  Dracaena reflexa

  Height: up

  Another dragon tree with the

  to 1.5m (5ft)

  same needs. Its lush, palm-

  Spread: up

  Yellowing leaf

  like leaves are arranged in a

  to 75cm

  (30in)

  spiral around the main stem.

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  70

  LUCKY BAMBOO

  Dracaena sanderiana

  ouseplants

  Popularly used in feng shui, this plant

  is often sold with twisted stems. It

  The H

  can be grown in compost or water.

  HOW NOT TO KILL IT

  LOCATION

  Keep the plant at 16–24°C

  BROWN LEAF TIPS?

  (60–75°F), and no colder than 10°C (50°F)

  In both plants growing in

  in winter. Avoid draughty spots or places

  compost and water, this

  with large temperature fluctuations.

  may be due to chemicals

  in tap water or because

  LIGHT

  the room is too dry.

  Place it in a bright spot, away

  SAVE IT Use distilled,

  from direct sunlight.

  filtered, or rainwater. If you

  think low humidity may be to

  WATERING + FEEDING

  blame, mist the leaves every

  Use distilled, filtered, or rainwater

  couple of days.

  as the plant is sensitive to the chemicals in tap water. If growing in compost, water

  when the compost has become slightly dry

  to the touch. Reduce watering in winter.

  Feed once in spring and once in summer.

  ALGAE IN THE WATER?

  Plants growing in water should be given a

  This will only affect plants grown in

  weak feed every couple of months.

  water, and is caused by chemicals

  in tap water, or by too much light.

  CARE

  SAVE IT Clean the container and

  If the plant is being grown in

  pebbles. You might want to switch to

  compost, repot it every 2 years. If growing

  an opaque container, and fill it with

  in water, the water needs a depth of at least distilled, filtered, or rainwater. Move

  5cm (2in) – make sure the roots are covered.

  your plant away from direct sunlight.

  Refresh with tepid water every week.

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  BUG ALERT!

  (see pp.24–27)

  Prone to mealybugs

  on the foliage.

  YELLOW

  LEAVES?

  Your plant may have been

  exposed to temperature changes

  or too much sun, or it may have

  been overfed or underwatered.

  SAVE IT Move your plant out of

  direct sun and ensure it is a consistent

  temperature. Check your watering

  regime and reduce feeding if necessary.

  YELLOW STEMS?

  This is due to a lack of water,

  stagnant water, overfeeding,

  temperature fluctuations, or too

  much or too little light. The

  Yellow

  stems will not recover.

  stem

  Dracaena

  SAVE IT Remove the

  sanderiana

  affected stems straightaway.

  Check your watering and feeding

  Height: up to

  regime. If growing in water,

  90cm (3ft)

  replace the water with fresh

  Spread: up to

  distilled, filtered, or rainwater.

  10cm (4in)

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  72

  HEN & CHICKS

  Echeveria

  ouseplants

  There are many varieties of this

  succulent, all producing tiny

  The H

  flowers on tall stems.

  HOW NOT TO KILL IT

  DRY, CRISPY LEAVES

  AT THE BASE?

  LOCATION

  This is just a case of the older

  leaves dying off. It is normal and

  Keep the plant at 10–24ºC

  nothing to worry about.

  (50–75ºF). It can tolerate lower

  temperatures if the compost isn’t wet.

  SAVE IT Gently pull the dead

  leaves away.

  LIGHT

  Provide lots of bright light. The

  plant can take some direct sunlight, as long

  as it is acclimatized gradually.

  BLEACHED OR BROWN

  PATCHES ON LEAVES?

  WATERING + FEEDING

  This may be sunburn, or rot from

  From spring to autumn, water when

  where water droplets have gathered

  the top 2–3cm (1in) of compost is dry. Water

  on the leaves.

  sparingly in winter. Feed once a month in

  SAVE IT Move your plant out

  spring and summer.

  of direct sunlight. Don’t splash the

  leaves – water from below if

  CARE

  necessary (see Water it, pp.18–19).

  Top the compost with a layer of

  gravel – this will keep the neck of the plant dry and will show off the whole plant nicely.

  BUG ALERT!

  Don’t choose too large a pot as it will do

  (see pp.24–27)

  better if a little cramped. Add some

  horticultural grit to the compost when

  Prone to mealybugs on the

  planting to improve drainage. Baby plants

  foliage, and, if the plant has

  bee
n outside in summer,

  need more care than large, established ones.

  vine

  weevil grubs in the compost.

  Plants will enjoy a holiday outside in summer.

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  YELLOW,

  LEAVES

  SHARE

  TRANSLUCENT,

  SHRIVELLING?

  THE CARE

  OR SOGGY LEAVES?

  Your plant needs water.

  This is most likely a sign of

  SAVE IT Water

  overwatering, and, if not

  your plant lightly over

  dealt with, can lead to the

  a few days – the leaves

  plant rotting.

  should soon become

  plump again.

  SAVE IT Reduce

  watering and check that

  the compost and pot are

  well drained.

  AEONIUM

  Aeonium

  Care for these

  rosette-forming

  succulents in the

  same way as hen &

  chicks. They come in

  a wide range

  of colours.

  Ec

  s

  h

  e

  e

  TIGER JAWS

  c

  v

  u

  e

  n

  r

  ‘

  d

  ia

  Faucaria

  G

  a

  l

  a

  v

  u

  a

  H

  c

  r

  Care for this succulent in the

  s

  e

  a

  .

  p

  i

  ’

  g

  same way. Don't worry about

  re

  h

  a

  t

  1

  d

  &

  the spiny-looking edges to

  0

  :

  c

  u

  m

  p

  (

  the leaves – they're not sharp.

  t

  4

  o

  in)

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  74

  POINSETTIA

  Euphorbia pulcherrima

  ouseplants

  The red bracts of poinsettias give them a

  festive feel. Exposure to cold can kill them, The H

  so wrap them up well to take them home.

  HOW NOT TO KILL IT

  LOCATION

  Keep the plant in a warm, bright

  spot, away from cold draughts or radiators,

  in a room that is 15–23°C (65–73°F).

  Pale bract

  Maintain a constant temperature.

  PALE LEAVES

  LIGHT

  AND BRACTS?

  Place it in bright light, away

  from direct sun.

  This happens naturally with age.

  It could be that your plant isn’t

  WATERING + FEEDING

  getting enough sunlight or is too hot.

  Water so that the compost is moist,

  SAVE IT Move your plant to

  but not soggy. Allow the top 1–2cm (1/2–3/4in) a brighter spot. If in a room warmer

  of compost to dry out before watering again.

  than 23ºC (73°F), move somewhere

  Let any excess water drain away.

  cooler. Place it on a pebble-filled

  tray of water and mist the leaves.

  CARE

  Humidity will make the bracts last

  longer, so stand on a pebble-filled tray of

  water and mist from time to time, especially

  BROWN TIPS OR EDGES

  if the plant is in a centrally heated room.

  ON LEAVES OR BRACTS?

  The air is too dry.

  SAVE IT Mist the leaves

  BUG

  Prone to mealybugs

  frequently, especially if the plant

  ALERT!

  and red spider mites

  is in a centrally heated room.

  (see pp.24–27)

  on the foliage.

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  YELLOWING, DROPPING LEAVES?

  Your plant could be too hot and dry, or it might not be getting enough light or water.

  SAVE IT Check your plant isn’t near a radiator and has enough bright light. Water the plant if the compost is dry. Raise humidity by placing it on a pebble-filled tray of water and misting the leaves.

  NO MORE BRACTS?

  The bracts will fade in

  spring, but you can try to

  make your plant reflower

  the following year.

  SAVE IT During

  mid-spring, prune it

  back to about 10cm

  (4in) in height, repot,

  and water. In summer,

  keep your plant in a

  cool spot with bright,

  indirect light (about

  15°C/60ºF). In early

  autumn, put your

  plant in a cupboard

  or cover it with a

  Eu

  black plastic bag for

  p

  p

  h

  u

  o

  lc

  r

  h

  b

  14 hours each night for 10

  e

  ia

  rr

  H

  im

  e

  weeks. Don’t forget to take it out

  s

  i

  a

  p

  g

  r

  h

  ea

  t

  6

  d

  &

  during the day. It should flower

  0

  :

  c

  m

  up

  (

  t

  again for the festive season.

  2

  o

  4in)

  PLANT WILTING AND/OR LOSING ITS LEAVES?

  Leaf loss often follows wilting. It could be due to exposure to cold or cold draughts, under- or overwatering, or a sudden change in conditions.

  SAVE IT Soak underwatered plants in tepid water for an hour – they should revive quickly. Check overwatered plants for root rot and remove affected areas (see Plant diseases, pp.28–29). Allow the compost to dry out before you water again. Make sure your plant is in a warm spot, free of draughts. Your plant is likely to die if it has been exposed to cold.

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  76

  FIDDLE-LEAF FIG

  Ficus lyrata

  ouseplants

  A lush, exotic tree that

  brings a sense of the jungle

  The H

  to your living room.

  HOW NOT TO KILL IT

  Whole plant

  LOCATION

  Choose a bright spot in a warmish

  room (18–24ºC/64–75ºF), away from any

  BUG

  radiators or draughts, and no colder than

  ALERT!

  (see pp.24–27)

  13°C (55°F) in winter. The plant doesn't like being moved, so once you have found the

  Prone to

  right spot for it, leave it there.

  mealybugs,

  scale

  LIGHT

  insects, and

  red spider

  Place it in bright light, but direct

  mites on

  summer sun will burn the leaves.

  the
foliage.

  WATERING + FEEDING

  From spring to autumn, water only

  when the top 2–3cm (1in) of soil is dry.

  SUDDEN

  Water sparingly during winter. Feed monthly

  LEAF LOSS?

  in spring and summer.

  A sudden loss of a lot of leaves could

  be due to your plant being moved,

  CARE

  which will cause it stress. Alternatively,

  Clean the leaves if dusty. Mist them

  it could be caused by dry air, over- or

  occasionally – more in summer, or if the

  underwatering, over- or underfeeding,

  temperature, and draughts.

  room is centrally heated. You might need

  to support the plant with a cane. When the

  SAVE IT Avoid moving your

  plant is young, repot it into a slightly larger plant. If your plant has not recently

  pot every spring. As it matures, replace only been moved, check its location and

  the top 5cm (2in) of compost.

  your care regime.

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  LEAF TIPS

  SHARE

  TURNING

  THE CARE

  BROWN?

  This is probably due

  to low humidity,

  or inadequate or

  erratic watering.

  SAVE IT Mist

  the leaves regularly –

  especially in centrally

  heated rooms. Make

  sure you water at

  regular intervals, and

  check that the whole

  root ball gets wet.

  WEEPING FIG

  Ficus benjamina

  Care for this fig as

  you would a fiddle-

  leaf fig – keep it

  away from draughts

  and radiators, and try

  not to move it.

  Ficus lyrata

  Height: up

  to 3m (10ft)

  Spread: up

  to 1m (3ft)

  Leaf

  spot

  DARK PATCHES

  OR SPOTS ON LEAVES?

  Dark patches could be sunburn. Small dark

  RUBBER PLANT

  spots could be leaf spot.

  Ficus elastica

  SAVE IT Move it out of direct sunlight. If An easy-care alternative

  leaf spot, remove any affected leaves and treat to the fiddle-leaf fig. Wipe

  with fungicide (see Plant diseases, pp.28–29).

  the leaves frequently and

  don’t overwater.

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  78

  NERVE PLANT

  Fittonia

  ouseplants

  Found in Peruvian rainforests, this striking

  plant is grown for its veined leaves.

  The H

  Fittonia verschaffeltii has red veining.

  HOW NOT TO KILL IT

  LOCATION

  This plant loves warmth, so

  put it in a room that is 15–23°C (60–75°F).

  A spot in a bathroom or kitchen could be

  ideal if the temperature is consistent. The

  nerve plant is also well suited to being