Potted plant solutions
2023-03-13T05:00:09+11:00
Caring for potted plants can sometimes be tricky. But the good news is that plants use visual cues to communicate their needs, and by learning to read these signs, you can give them the care they need to flourish and look their best.
Plants are like us. They need water, food and sunlight to thrive. Too much or too little of these can cause problems and lead to sad, sulky plants. But that’s not all!
Plants also have to deal with pests, diseases and other environmental factors that can impact their overall health. Here are solutions to some common potted plant questions.
Why are the stems of my trailing plants sparse or bare?
Trailing or climbing plants, such as devil’s ivy (Epipremnum aureum), heartleaf philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum) and satin pothos (Scindapsus pictus), develop long vining stems with leaves at each node. Inconsistent watering patterns or poor light situations can cause vines to drop their leaves, resulting in sparse or bare stems. Position plants in a spot with bright indirect light and cut back the stems to a node with a leaf. This will stimulate new growth and, eventually, stems that are long and full of leaves.
Why do my potted plants look wilted even though I water them regularly?
Plants need a good deep drink to ensure the water gets to where it’s needed most – the roots. A shallow watering only wets the surface of the mix where it will soon evaporate, leaving no water for the roots. Ensure you water deeply, allowing water to run out through the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot.
Also, the next time you water your indoor plants, observe whether the water is being absorbed into the soil or if it pools and runs off down the side of the pot. If it’s the latter, the mix has become hydrophobic or water repellent, so despite your best watering efforts, the plant will remain dry. You can use wetting agents to break water repellency, or if the plant is due for an upgrade, re-pot into a fresh mix.
How can I tell if I’m underwatering or overwatering my potted plant?
Symptoms of under or overwatering look similar – wilted, yellowing leaves – so it’s hard to rely solely on the plant’s appearance as a guide. The best way to tell if a potted plant needs water is to check the soil. You can do this with a store-bought moisture meter, or my preference: your finger! Insert your finger 2–3cm into the top of the mix. If it’s dry, give the plant a good water. If it’s moist, skip the watering for a few days.
Why do leaves get crispy brown edges?
If indoor conditions are too dry for plants, water vapour is released from their leaves (a process called transpiration). The moisture that’s lost is replaced by the plant’s roots taking up more water, but if water is not replaced in time or it’s lost faster than it can be replaced, leaf edges will dry and brown. To reduce browning edges, you’ll need to increase the humidity around the plant. To do this, you could group your plants together, place each plant on a saucer filled with pebbles and water, enclose small plants in a glass cloche or terrarium, or invest in a humidifier. Affected leaves won’t recover, but if they bother you, simply trim them back.
What is that sticky black residue on some stems and leaves?
These symptoms are a classic sign that the potted plant is under attack from sap-sucking insects such as scale, aphids, mealy bugs and whitefly. As they feed on the plant’s sap, they secrete honeydew, a sticky, sugary substance that attracts sooty moulds (fungal pathogens), causing leaves and stems to be covered with a black sooty powder. Treat the problem pest with insecticidal soap or horticultural oil, and the residue and sooty mould will eventually dry and fade.
Photo by iStock
