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Dear Plant Pimp

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wiffledaddy

wiffledaddy

Gorn Star
Joined
Oct 24, 2003
Location
Saint Ralph, Guacamole
Moto(s)
New one, shiny and chrome
I probably know more about houseplants than anyone on the interwebs. I am very bored, stuck at home packing all my worldly shit into boxes.

You got houseplant questions? Hit me.
 
Dear Plant Pimp,

I have 4 questions for you:

1. How can you tell when it's time to repot a houseplant?

2. What does it mean when the directions on the plant say to 'keep the soil moist?' Does this mean that I need to water it every other day?

3. Do those Miracle Grow sticks really work?

4. Is it normal for the leaves on my brand new ficus (sp?) to be falling off? There are new leaves growing on top, but others are falling off too.
 
What's the average life span for a house plant? It seems that my older ones are looking a bit thin and frail(just like regular old folk). Also, they don't grow anymore even after being put into a bigger pot. Should I kill them immediately, or just not water them anymore and watch them die slowly?
 
What to do when a draecena hits the ceiling? Do you prune it?
 
Dear plant wiffledaddy,

For years, I've been attempting to cross poison ivy with clovers, particularly 4-leaf clovers. This year, I finally did it, and I got a rash of good luck. Is this normal?

Thanks,
-Mike
 
zefflyn said:
Dear plant wiffledaddy,

For years, I've been attempting to cross poison ivy with clovers, particularly 4-leaf clovers. This year, I finally did it, and I got a rash of good luck. Is this normal?

Thanks,
-Mike
Click to expand...

:laughing
 
wannabe said:
Dear Plant Pimp,

I have 4 questions for you:

1. How can you tell when it's time to repot a houseplant?

2. What does it mean when the directions on the plant say to 'keep the soil moist?' Does this mean that I need to water it every other day?

3. Do those Miracle Grow sticks really work?

4. Is it normal for the leaves on my brand new ficus (sp?) to be falling off? There are new leaves growing on top, but others are falling off too.
Click to expand...

1 - different plants will give you different indications about when it's time to pot up a size. Generally, if a weekly watering isn't sufficient, and the root mass is growing out of the soil, the plant is ready to be repotted. A palm tree, as an example, will break the pot it's in when it's time to repot.

2 - keep soil moist usually means that you want the soil to feel like a wrung out sponge. Not wet, but holding water. If the plant is in a hot, bright spot and drying out, then you might need to water it every other day.

3 - yes, the sticks work. They are for people who can't remember to use the fertilizing solution, and do a decent job.

4 - leaf drop on a ficus is not a good sign, but very common. This can be caused by overwatering or underwatering, so you have to give me more information. Where is the plant. How bright a spot, how warm, how much water are you giving it. Are the leaves dropping yellow or green?
 
rsrider said:
What's the average life span for a house plant? It seems that my older ones are looking a bit thin and frail(just like regular old folk). Also, they don't grow anymore even after being put into a bigger pot. Should I kill them immediately, or just not water them anymore and watch them die slowly?
Click to expand...

There's no average lifespan for a houseplant. The plants used for interior landscaping are indoor tropical plants. Some can last a few years, while others can outlive you if given proper care.

Use that blue water stuff like miracle grow. It's the elixir of youth. (Use it on the plant).
 
lizard said:
What to do when a draecena hits the ceiling? Do you prune it?
Click to expand...

A dracaena won't grow from the cut, but will sprout alongside the areas where you made the cut. If you want to cut it back, you want to cut it low. So, if it's hitting the ceiling now, you would really want to cut it back several feet.

HOWEVER, since the dracaena is such a slow growing plant, it's not going to look very good for a long time after the trim -- if ever. Unless you have exceptional light and good growing conditions (warmth), I think you don't want to do this.

The dracaena, sadly, is a plant that just never looks as good as the day you got it. Unless the room it's in has the ambient temps and humidity of Florida or Hawaii, it's just going to very slowly dry up and get sad.
 
zefflyn said:
Dear plant wiffledaddy,

For years, I've been attempting to cross poison ivy with clovers, particularly 4-leaf clovers. This year, I finally did it, and I got a rash of good luck. Is this normal?

Thanks,
-Mike
Click to expand...

Absolutely.
 
:thumbup on the thread!! Luv it!

now, since I have sooo many houseplants,,,I will have to find out what they are and what their problems are, then get back to ya!! Stay tuned!:laughing
 
I often buy tropical plants which are attached to wooden branches (I hope you know the kind I am talking about).

They always die off fairly quickly because I cannot figure out how to water them. I have tried misting them, pouring water over them, not watering them but nothing works.

What is the proper way to care for these plants?
 
I overwatered my cactus and now theres mushrooms growing out of the soil. Can I eat them and die or get high?
 
wiffledaddy said:
4 - leaf drop on a ficus is not a good sign, but very common. This can be caused by overwatering or underwatering, so you have to give me more information. Where is the plant. How bright a spot, how warm, how much water are you giving it. Are the leaves dropping yellow or green?
Click to expand...


I just bought it and repotted it immediately. It's about 2 feet tall, and it's a 'braided' ficus. I've only seen 2 green leaves fall so far, but I was wondering whether or not to be concerned. I live alone, and I don't have any pets. I put it in the corner of one of the landings on my stairs near a window, so light is not an issue.

There is quite a bit of new growth on the plant that wasn't there when I first repotted it.

What could it be?

Also, how often should I use that magic blue elixer that you recommended?
 
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Oh, as a visual aid....this is my ficus. His name is George. I just brought him home last weekend. I immediately repotted him and placed him in a bright and warm area in my place.

1647537-dsc00027.jpg
 
There are still a lot of new leaves coming in, so I'm thinking that I have nothing to worry about, right?

1647539-dsc00028.jpg
 
Dear Plant Pimp,

I've got many more questions while I'm at it. This is another new addition to my plant collection. This was a house-warming present from a friend of mine.

1. What the heck is it? It looks like some tropical plant.

2. Are there any special care needs for this one?

I have not had very good luck in the past with tropical houseplants.

1647544-dsc00030.jpg
 
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