How Not to Kill Your Houseplant Page 7
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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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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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