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House plants struggling

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  • 14-12-2018 12:38pm
    #1
    Ol' Donie
    Registered Users Posts: 19,582 ✭✭✭✭


    Hello there,

    I wonder can someone help me.

    I have two house plants, I believe they are ferns, which have suddenly started struggling badly in the past 2-3 weeks.

    I've had them for more that 6 months, and have not changed how I treat them. Water every week or two, and feed with the spray I got from the garden centre.

    Anyone know what I can do to save them?

    Or do they struggle at this time of year? Is it cos the heating is on more?

    Thanks a million for any help.


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    #2
    New Home
    Moderators, Arts Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators Posts: 76,446 Mod ✭✭✭✭New Home


    If they're near a heating source, they'd definitely suffer. They also need light, maybe not direct sunlight, but if they're in a dark corridor I don't think they'd thrive.

    Would you be able to post a picture, please?


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    #3
    Ol' Donie
    Registered Users Posts: 19,582 ✭✭✭✭Ol' Donie


    Tried to before but file was too big. Hope this works!

    Thanks, I'll bring them down in front of the window for a few days.


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    #4
    Ol' Donie
    Registered Users Posts: 19,582 ✭✭✭✭Ol' Donie


    The other one

    Thanks again


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    #5
    New Home
    Moderators, Arts Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators Posts: 76,446 Mod ✭✭✭✭New Home


    Poor things! :( They almost look burnt, I can see why you'd be worried.

    What's the soil like, moisture-wise? They could also have had too much/not enough water.


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    #6
    New Home
    Moderators, Arts Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators Posts: 76,446 Mod ✭✭✭✭New Home


    BTW, I found this, it may help.

    http://www.howtocareforit.com/how-to-care-for-ferns
    Over-watering kills more plants than anything else. Only give your fern water when the soil is starts to look dry. Don’t use a plant mister on your fern. It can cause the fronds (leaves) to brown and wilt.

    The soil of your fern should be moist, but never wet. Over-watering a fern is a common mistake. Over-watering can damage a plant’s roots, and once the roots are damaged the plant may not survive.

    Because ferns like humidity, fill a tray with pebbles and water (enough water to cover all the pebbles) and place the potted fern on the tray.


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    #7
    Ol' Donie
    Registered Users Posts: 19,582 ✭✭✭✭Ol' Donie


    New Home wrote: »
    Poor things! :( They almost look burnt, I can see why you'd be worried.

    What's the soil like, moisture-wise? They could also have had too much/not enough water.

    They were fine for ages, I feel like I'm mistreating the poor yokes!

    The soil is damp, I try to give them a good soak every 10 days or so. Sit them in the sink for an hour or two, that sort of thing.

    :(


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    #8
    Ol' Donie
    Registered Users Posts: 19,582 ✭✭✭✭Ol' Donie


    New Home wrote: »
    BTW, I found this, it may help.

    http://www.howtocareforit.com/how-to-care-for-ferns

    Super, thanks a million.

    I have been using that bloody spray more since it started!

    Will follow this, thanks again.


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    #9
    New Home
    Moderators, Arts Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators Posts: 76,446 Mod ✭✭✭✭New Home


    Hope they recover... and don't forget to talk to them! :)


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    #10
    looksee
    Registered Users Posts: 28,111 ✭✭✭✭looksee


    Ferns are difficult enough indoors, especially when the heating is on. Stop feeding them, give them a break till the spring. Keep soil moist but definitely not soggy, they do not need as much water in the winter, but confusingly they need extra moisture to compensate for heating - as was suggested, stand over a tray of pebbles and water to keep the atmosphere moist.

    Anything that has shriveled and changed colour is dead, I suggest you take a scissors and carefully cut out all dead fronds, you will then be able to keep an eye on new growth. You don't really get two goes at ferns though, if enough fronds shrivel its hard to bring them back.

    Its sometimes a bit helpful to regard house plants as semi-disposable - the common ones do not cost much more than a bunch of flowers that you get a week or two out of. Be philosophical about them, hint for them as presents and enjoy them as long as they are happy and plumptious.


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    #11
    dickidy
    Registered Users Posts: 159 ✭✭dickidy


    i hope you dont mind if i jump on this ,

    i bought a small indoor plant (tree thing ) from woodies and all the leaves are falling off ...
    i spray the leaves and soil most days , just a small bit mind you .


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    #12
    New Home
    Moderators, Arts Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators Posts: 76,446 Mod ✭✭✭✭New Home


    What kind of plant is it? Would you post a picture, please?


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    #13
    dickidy
    Registered Users Posts: 159 ✭✭dickidy


    Hope this works


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    #14
    baaba maal
    Registered Users Posts: 772 ✭✭✭baaba maal


    As far as I know, if the leaves are still green when falling off a plant, this usually indicates overwatering- but I am open to correction.


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    #15
    roper1664
    Registered Users Posts: 228 ✭✭roper1664


    dickidy wrote: »
    Hope this works

    It looks like a Ficus benjamina Bonsai.

    I wouldn't be too concerned about some minor leaf drop, especially at this time of year, and if it's recently been moved to a new environment. Be careful not to overwater it.

    Focus benjamina don't like be moved and will drop some leaves.

    Watering is challenging with a bonsai in Ireland in the winter.


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    #16
    dickidy
    Registered Users Posts: 159 ✭✭dickidy


    thanks guys, its about a month in my house and i use a spray on the leaves and soil.
    ah i suppose it trial and error at the moment
    thanks again.


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    #17
    dickidy
    Registered Users Posts: 159 ✭✭dickidy


    Hi is there anyway to bring fresh growth to Ficus Bonsai. i over watered it and lost a lot of the leaves.
    thanks


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    #18
    looksee
    Registered Users Posts: 28,111 ✭✭✭✭looksee


    Not sure about ficus bonsai, but I stopped buying ficus plants because they were so enthusiastic and random about dropping leaves. At a guess I would suggest it will not do much about new growth at this time of year, give it a while and see if it improves. Daylight is usually important to promoting new growth so maybe ensuring it has enough light would help.


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