---
title: "What am I doing wrong? This is my second painted lady. I unalived my…"
description: "What am I doing wrong? This is my second painted lady. I unalived my first one🥲 The leaves feel thin and flimsy. I only water when top inch is dry, she has…"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/6WjlL_2rTSS00GnYx8UA_g/64e23c35cd5c4b3f2349211f"
community: "Philodendron Parents"
author: "Cindy Asby"
published: "2023-08-20T16:15:49.619Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/jz8GgIcqfV8d1VINjYxyBpfQx49m-rZXoLa8q6pZI90/76077fe4a31142d78a74913170a2dc68.webp?size=large"
---

[Community](https://getplanta.com/community.md) / [Philodendron Parents](https://getplanta.com/community/6WjlL_2rTSS00GnYx8UA_g.md)

# What am I doing wrong? This is my second painted lady. I unalived my…

_Posted by Cindy Asby on 2023-08-20_

What am I doing wrong? This is my second painted lady. I unalived my first one🥲 The leaves feel thin and flimsy. I only water when top inch is dry, she has drainage and humidity is 60.

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/jz8GgIcqfV8d1VINjYxyBpfQx49m-rZXoLa8q6pZI90/76077fe4a31142d78a74913170a2dc68.webp?size=large)

## 9 comments

### Grant commented on 2023-08-20

Probably would like some chunkier soil. My philodendrons have never done well in potting soil. Try incorporating orchid bark, more perlite, and charcoal into a mixture with 20% potting soil and it should hopefully get a little happier!

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/_KJTBtJp8lHgdSF_CTtpYj2rk9hUj-LtItUv-99GkbU/74baf1e85788417b9c72a3fb1a7a3c0c.webp?size=large)

#### Cindy Asby replied on 2023-08-20

Thank you!

#### Cindy Asby replied on 2023-08-20

Would this be a good start if I add charcoal?

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/jz8GgIcqfV8d1VINjYxyBpfQx49m-rZXoLa8q6pZI90/8ae4edef93bd4b15951bb5a0e377f3d5.webp?size=large)

#### Mullein replied on 2023-08-21

Yeah that would be good. Hoffman brand orchid mix comes with charcoal if you don’t want to buy more than one thing

#### Grant replied on 2023-08-22

I think it would be better to find something without moss but that should still be a big upgrade from potting soil still!

### Mullein commented on 2023-08-20

Aw sorry you’ve been having a tough time with these gorgeous plants. Yours might actually be Calkin’s Gold since the stem is yellow-green instead of red. But that’s neither here nor there, they’re basically the same so the care will be identical. I agree with Grant on the chunky soil. That’s what I have mine in. Other than that, your method sounds good. Seems like the lighting is good too based on the leaf color. While you’re repotting, I would check for root rot and remove any squishy roots. I hope that helps and your plant becomes healthy soon!

#### Cindy Asby replied on 2023-08-20

Thank you!

#### Cindy Asby replied on 2023-08-20

This and add charcoal?

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/jz8GgIcqfV8d1VINjYxyBpfQx49m-rZXoLa8q6pZI90/20074663ddb54293864e0f5276d8f977.webp?size=large)

#### Cindy Asby replied on 2023-08-23

Well, I repotted this and found mesh around the roots, bought at a nursery not a big box store🥲

---

_Source: the Planta community (https://getplanta.com). Reading is open to everyone. To post, comment and like, get the Planta app: https://getplanta.com/download_