House Plant

[LizzieAnn]

Do house plants count as gardening?

I haven't started outdoor yet, but am planning on it shortly since we've actually had more than 1 day warmer weather. I usually wait for a week of warm weather before I start.

In the meantime, I have a house plant that's going screwy. It's a variegated (not sure about the spelling) pothos plant that I bought in the fall. Lately, its leaves have been turning yellow. As they turn more & more yellow the easily become detached from the plant stem. I now have long gaps of hanging stems without leaves. Does anyone know what the problem is?

Thanks

[KathyS]

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LizzieAnn wrote:
Do house plants count as gardening?

I haven't started outdoor yet, but am planning on it shortly since we've actually had more than 1 day warmer weather. I usually wait for a week of warm weather before I start.

In the meantime, I have a house plant that's going screwy. It's a variegated (not sure about the spelling) pothos plant that I bought in the fall. Lately, its leaves have been turning yellow. As they turn more & more yellow the easily become detached from the plant stem. I now have long gaps of hanging stems without leaves. Does anyone know what the problem is?

Thanks

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Well, Liz, Becke's the expert here, but from where I see it....which is about 27 hundred miles away, ;-), your plant's leaves are turning yellow and they're becoming detached from the plant stem....hmmm, Oh! you already said that, didn't you? Well, my second guess would be, you might be over-watering it....or under-watering it....or it hasn't seen daylight in so long, it needs sun! When all else fails, say a prayer, kiss it, and wait for it's possible demise. Or, you can get some epoxy and glue the leaves back on. (it's less noticeable than tape) Do you often kill your screwy plants? :-)

[becke_davis]

Of COURSE houseplants count! I lived in an apartment for years, and they were all the gardening I had. Believe me, it counts!

Pothos are easy and your problem is common and not critical. Possibly the plant is being allowed to dry out too much between waterings. Really soak it in the sink, so it is wet all the way through, but be sure to let it drain completely after watering. Try inserting one of those fertilizer plant stakes into the pot (2, if it's a large pot).

Yellowing can be a sign of iron deficiencies in plants, which the fertilizer stakes can probably fix, a sign of excess dryness, or it can just be a sign that the plant is shedding some old leaves, which most houseplants do periodically. If possible, and if it's warm enough, set the plant outside in the sun for a couple hours each day. That might perk it up, although some plants get a little "shocky" when you first put them out. Keep an eye out for new leaves -- if new leaves are still forming, your plant should be fine.

[LizzieAnn]

Thanks for the help. Fortunately, new leaves are still growing at the end of the long empty stems!!! I'll try both the soaking and the fertilizer sticks. Thanks! Funny thing is my other pothos (which is the darker green variety) is doing just fine.

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becke_davis wrote:
Of COURSE houseplants count! I lived in an apartment for years, and they were all the gardening I had. Believe me, it counts!

Pothos are easy and your problem is common and not critical. Possibly the plant is being allowed to dry out too much between waterings. Really soak it in the sink, so it is wet all the way through, but be sure to let it drain completely after watering. Try inserting one of those fertilizer plant stakes into the pot (2, if it's a large pot).

Yellowing can be a sign of iron deficiencies in plants, which the fertilizer stakes can probably fix, a sign of excess dryness, or it can just be a sign that the plant is shedding some old leaves, which most houseplants do periodically. If possible, and if it's warm enough, set the plant outside in the sun for a couple hours each day. That might perk it up, although some plants get a little "shocky" when you first put them out. Keep an eye out for new leaves -- if new leaves are still forming, your plant should be fine.

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[LizzieAnn]

Hmmmm, epoxy, huh? I'm beginning to think this plant doesn't like me, as my other pothos is doing just fine! I can almost hear it singing: nah, nah, nah, nah, nah . . . nah, nah, nah, nah, nah!

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KathyS wrote:

Well, Liz, Becke's the expert here, but from where I see it....which is about 27 hundred miles away, ;-), your plant's leaves are turning yellow and they're becoming detached from the plant stem....hmmm, Oh! you already said that, didn't you? Well, my second guess would be, you might be over-watering it....or under-watering it....or it hasn't seen daylight in so long, it needs sun! When all else fails, say a prayer, kiss it, and wait for it's possible demise. Or, you can get some epoxy and glue the leaves back on. (it's less noticeable than tape) Do you often kill your screwy plants? :-)

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[KathyS]

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LizzieAnn wrote:
Hmmmm, epoxy, huh? I'm beginning to think this plant doesn't like me, as my other pothos is doing just fine! I can almost hear it singing: nah, nah, nah, nah, nah . . . nah, nah, nah, nah, nah!

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KathyS wrote:

Well, Liz, Becke's the expert here, but from where I see it....which is about 27 hundred miles away, ;-), your plant's leaves are turning yellow and they're becoming detached from the plant stem....hmmm, Oh! you already said that, didn't you? Well, my second guess would be, you might be over-watering it....or under-watering it....or it hasn't seen daylight in so long, it needs sun! When all else fails, say a prayer, kiss it, and wait for it's possible demise. Or, you can get some epoxy and glue the leaves back on. (it's less noticeable than tape) Do you often kill your screwy plants? :-)

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Liz, if you can hear your Pathos singing to you, you're in bigger trouble than I thought! And you'll need more than glue to help you! ;-)....and if I could get this 'wonderful' program to work, I'd have a happy smile winking at you!