Hello, 9 years ago, I inherited most of my grandmothers plants after her death. Mostly I imagine, was because I was the only one who cared for them. for the most part, they have been doing very well and after time have even thrived with my ignorance of what they are, or even need. About 10 months ago this plant that is one of my favorites, began to yellow. I did some research on line and determined that it had been infested with spider mites, so with a weekly spraying of water I managed to pull it out of the woods. Seven months ago we moved, and this plant is now again not really looking all too healthy. After I began spraying the leaves, it did better, but it never has looked completely 100 percent, with dead edges on most of the older leaves. To add to my trouble we recently converted our water system with a reverse osmosis filtration filter that is yielding us right at .004 ppm. I have been adding miracle grow to the water that I pour in the soil per the directions. Unfortunately, I am just doing the same thing to all of our plants, and now I worry that if I do not try to isolate the needs of this particular plant, I am going to lose it. So now to it, firstly, I am needing to identify what plant it is, so I can accurately care for it, and secondly if anyone has a better suggestion for additives for my ultra clean water. I have attached a photo, and can email more. Thank you so much in advance, for your time reading all of this, and your help in keeping part of my memories.
John, I commend you for your assiduous care of the plants. This one is looking pretty good, considering its ex-infestation. Hmm. Has it ever bloomed for you? I'm suspecting that it is an aroid. If so, the person you need is photopro! He knows all. You might take a look at his outstanding web site: http://www.exoticrainforest.com Good luck!
John, the plant does look healthier than you seem to believe. I just checked photos of Cordyline fruticosa (L.) A. Chev. on TROPICOS http://www.tropicos.org/Image/100110741 and your plant appears to be a good match. You might try brighter light but Junglekeeper would be better at advice on this species.
The plant does not appear to be unhealthy. Unfortunately I am not familiar with its cultural requirements. However since it thrived before being moved, it may be helpful to consider how the current conditions differ from those before.
Thank you! Thank you all. What an amazing resource this is! I will do more research now. The plant has never bloomed that I know of, or at least within my watch. In the photos, it doesn't show too well, but I didn't get a picture of the more mature leaves that are brown on the tips & edges, yesterday I also took out perhaps four to five leaves that just didn't appear to be able to come back. There is a younger sprout that is in there as well, this little fellow I've almost taken out as I felt it may be enervating the larger one, but now as time has progressed, it may be the one I wind up with in the end. I have tried to match the conditions from our old home, but perhaps I'm just too stressed when it is just doing it's thing. Thank you so much again, and I'll keep up the efforts. You are all so great.
With only a bit of brief research I was able to learn the plant appears to be a native of Polynesia or Asia. It was originally published in the Catalogue des plantes du Jardin botanique de Saigon 66. 1919. (Jard. Bot. Saigon) which was an Asian publication. It is grown in parts of Asia but is also now found all over much of Mexico south through Central America, in much of South America but also in the Caribbean. Whether or not it is native to parts of the world other than Asia or Polynesia is not immediately apparent. There are some warnings about the plant causing medical problems but I can't vouch for any of that since sometimes those are totally bogus. Since it is a rain forest species the general rule would be to give it moderately bright light with the plant potted in fast draining soil rather than house plant soil. Rain forest species typically prefer evenly damp soil but should not be kept in wet soil.
I just confirmed through the Royal Botanic Garden Kew website World Checklist of Selected Plant families this species is naturally from Papuasia to Western Pacific Ocean. It has been widely imported and is now naturalized in rain forests around the world but is native only to a select number of islands.
I'll third the ID of Cordyline frucitosa - it's a hugely popular landscape plant in Ecuador, Colombia, and Peru. I've found it does best in fairly loose soils with good water retention (ie the soil stays moist without becoming soggy or compacting) in full to 3/4 sun for green versions and full full sun for red ones. They rarely bloom, even here in the tropics - they're more of a foliage interest plant. Yours looks very healthy - so keep doing what you're doing!
Agreed, I too looked in to it last night and found; http://www.plantcare.com/encyclopedia/ti-plant-337.aspx My plan is to discontinue the weekly watering with the fertilizer, and opt to every other watering as needed. Also I intend to loosen the soil & mix in some peat moss, carefully of course. Another mistake that I've been doing is the continued weekly heavy spray on the foliage, (I guess I perceived that all plants yearned for this, compounded with the fear of my spider mite problem returning). Lastly, I had moved our noisy humidifier into the same room with it, apparently this too wasn't the best plan either. Ironic enough, I did get the lighting right! I do see a fuller future in for it though, now that you all helped me with identifying what it is. Possibly too, as an afterthought, while adding the peat to the soil, I may follow the steps to remove the smaller plant to a pot of it's own. Mind you, I do NOT intend to preform anything too evasive all at once! In the words of the ancient Chinese proverb: " The oxen are slow, but the earth is patient." As long as I can keep it alive, I have time for it's future! Thank very much for your help.
Although I understand the hesitancy to use the humidifier please don't forget this is a rain forest plant. Keeping the plant humid whether by a spray mist or otherwise is a good idea. I grow literally hundreds of plants in an artificial rain forest and spider mites along with similar pest are never a worry due to the humidity, never less than 85%. Just take a look at the first big photo on this page: www.ExoticRainforest.com So long as you keep plant in bright indirect light and the soil evenly moist the plant should do fine, just avoid allowing the soil to dry.
I wonder if over-fertilization may have been part of the problem; leaf margin browning could be due to an excess of salt in the soil. Flushing of the soil would be called for if that is the case. Fertilization with very other watering may still be too much especially if there's already a buildup in the soil. I suspect once a month is sufficient for most houseplants.
Certainly. The use of a diluted fertilizer on a regular basis rather than full strength will help to solve that. Another method is to use a pellet fertilizer such as Home Depot's Dynamite fertilizer but use it sparingly. I know you know this "Jungle" but rather than try to add amendments to the plant this grower will likely find the plant will benefit from being repotted with a well mixed mixture o soil, peat, orchid bark, Perlite, and horticultural charcoal. This type of mix is commonly called a "Jungle Mix". At the same time the roots can be spread so they have more room to grow. I spend a fair amount of time in the research greenhouses at the Missouri Botanical Garden and their plants are repotted on a fairly regular basis.
Great ideas. I too wondered after my last post if I shouldn't make up a new batch of soil and discard the potentially over fertilized batch it's been in for the last four years or so. I think that if done with great enough care, it has been agreed upon that it should be healthy enough to take the hit of being re-potted. The humidifier in the room keeps it at around 30 to 35% humidity, so that shouldn't be too excessive either. I need to shoot to Home Depot later for some electrical switches, I think I'll see what they can do for another pot and soil as well.
Well damn! I had hoped to seperate the two plants. I purchased a new pot for the smaller one which would allow copious room for the larger mature one. But blast it all, they are joined so well, I fear that had I attempted to split them, I would fatally damage both. As such, I simply re potted the entire plant, in the original larger pot, which I fear is a bit too small, as in order to re plant it all, I had to literally mound up some of the new soil to cover all of the taller (higher up roots). I have no compunction whatsoever in purchasing a larger pot to accommodate the two impossibly conjoined stems, but now, how long should I wait to re pot? I do not wish to risk the health of either.
You could periodically inspect the root ball by easing it out of its container and repot if it appears to be too snug.
