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Can you guys help me out. I’m not gonna lie. I have a hard time… | Pests, diseases and problems | Planta community

Evelyn Zarahy

Can you guys help me out. I’m not gonna lie. I have a hard time taking care of this plant. I don’t know what to do with it. I don’t have much time but when I do I make time to take care of my plants, I have a very healthy monstera plant and other little ones I take good care of, but this one I have a hard time. It’s dirty because it rained here in LA for a good couple of days and I left it outside along with my other plants, my Monstera actually thrived. My other plants did too. But this one is so hard for me to take care of. I don’t know much about it either. Can y’all help me out :)

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8 comments

  1. Evelyn Zarahy

    Size of pot is almost as tall as my notebook.

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  2. Evelyn Zarahy

    Soil is dry ngl even tho I watered it 1 day ago. It dries up so fast.

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  3. Evelyn Zarahy

    Here’s a more close up

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  4. Evelyn Zarahy

    I’m not sure if it’s because I tend to leave it outside for many days, I do that so it can get some sunlight and fresh air. It’s a bit hard for light to come in my apartment, so when I water it I let it soak and dry outside and I tend to leave it outside with the sunlight

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  5. Gigglzngreenz

    You might want to use filtered water if you aren’t already. These plants are acid loving and lime sensitive. They don’t like hard water. They prefer part sun part shade. They can handle full sun but don’t prefer it. They have medium water need so let the top layer dry out before watering again. I actually think you’re watering it fine, but you might want to check it for being root bound. I’m not sure why it’s drying out so fast but that can be a sign the plant is root bound. (It doesn’t look root bound to me.) And don’t forget to feed it! 😊 Good luck! You got this!!

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  6. Gigglzngreenz

    I just put that really bad photo through Picture This and it suggested you’re possibly overwatering. Just to be sure, shove a bamboo skewer down into the soil all the way to the bottom and wait a few hours. Pull the skewer out and if it’s really wet (I touch it to above my upper lip if I can’t tell by looking at it), even though the top soil is dry, you could be overwatering. It should only need to be watered every ten to 15 days I think. It’s possible that’s the only thing wrong with it. I leave a skewer in all my plants. That’s how I test the moisture because it’s really hard to tell how wet they are at the bottom even when the top looks dry. You can also tell by lifting the plant. If it’s truly dry it will be pretty light, even in a big pot. You should check for pests and fungus but I bet it’s just getting too much water.

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    • Lynda

      Thanks for mentioning the app called PictureThis; I looked at it and challenged it with one of my sick plants. I think I really this app. Thanks for the update.😃

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  7. Zach

    The soil looks hydrophobic because of a peat moss component. When you water it, the water isn’t being absorbed, it’s just running through. This will cause roots to dry rot. Over and under watering looks the same - both cause root rot. Unfiltered water wouldn’t do this, the light situation you describe is good. The pot size is appropriate. How long has it been in this pot with that soil? As we go into spring, it could be a good idea to repot with a better soil mix and basically continue as you are. The bamboo skewer idea mentioned is great. I use a chopstick. It’s like baking. If the entire chopstick comes out clean, it’s dry and ready for more water. The next time it’s dry, try giving it a good soak. Water from the top, but keep it in a big mixing bowl or bucket so it can continue to soak up what flowed through. After 15 minutes or so you can pull it out and it should be heavier than you’re used to. This is good Remember, overwatering has nothing to do with quantity of water. Frequency is the concern. Quantity should always be high so that you saturate the substrate

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