all the older leaves keep shriveling up and dying and turning brown. i keep the plant next to the window and generously water it every other day but when i water it a group of about 5 ants come running out. also there is a large tree outside that might be taking some light but the grass is healthy that grows next to it. ive been told that there isnt enough room for the roots to grow but im not too sure about that. what should i do to help them be healthy? the cantaloupe plant is about 70 days old. may 10th july 18th
Hi --what sort of soil is in the container? Any fertilizer added...what kind? Look under the green leaves and see if there are tiny spider like creatures with webbing, spider mites are very possible indoors. Does look like not enough light, these would be grown in full sun normally. In a window, they are getting less light than outdoors to begin with. Can this be planted outdoors, or is it a space thing, or just want to try it inside for fun? Growing outside would solve most or all problems compared to the window sill deal, this is a challenge for indoors!
the soil is just some dirt i dug up from this forest next to some apartment complex, no spider mites, could i set up a light and shine it on the plant all day for some extra lighting, well i live at an apartment most the areas outside the yardskeeper would mow down
Okay, I understand a bit more. To flower, then fruit, you will need more light, as in the nearby electric light you mentioned. Also, need as large a container as possible, with something to help the soil drain, mixed into that forest soil. I would mix in some perlite, but maybe you have gravel or bark chips...then use that mix to repot into something larger. Also could use some time release fertilizer mixed in, but if you don't have that any sort of plant food used according to the label. In a pot, the plant won't be able to access a large area for nutrients, so you have to baby it more in the container. Water when the soil has dried out a bit, don't keep the soil constantly wet. The perlite, etc. would help to make watering less fussy. That is to say, you could water more and still have the water drain out quickly and not unintentionally harm the roots. You would need an incredibly green thumb to effectively water the plain forest soil in a container, so hopefully you can amend it as mentioned.
