Tight Crown SOS

stamik2004

6 years ago

This is Watermelon Snow which has been the most fussy plant. I moved it to a brighter spot to help it grow better and it is really producing leaves but the crown is so tight?? Anything I can do??

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irina_co

6 years ago

Probably too bright. They react this way on excessive light. Couple more things could cause this scrounging - but this is the easiest one to check. Move it to a spot with less light, may be on the table near the window - where you know it will be light but less than it needs, get it covered with a dome to increase the air humidity, but keep the watering down - so the soil will be barely moist - and let it stretch. You will see the difference in several days.

Advice you didn't ask for - move it to a smaller pot. 2 times smaller pot. Better plastic, not ceramic.

Other causes - overfertilization, mites and virus. If it is mites... you can desinfect and save a leaf. If it is virus - you need to chuck it. When you say it was a problem plant from the day one - watch it. If the spa treatment is not helping...

There is such a difference between old large leaves and small crown - sometimes a crown dies and the plant sends a sucker to replace it - it is good - but hard to tell what it is when the plant is so tight.

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Comments (13)

Jeff Zenner
6 years ago
Watermelon Snow. Its on my list. If I had it, I would definitely try to save it.

Since at this point, it could be just about anything, I would consider everything Irina said and then as soon as possible, do one more thing.

Take a couple of those leaves off the plant and get them started, just in case. For all we know, this is as healthy as that plant will ever be. (Being as its a rather small plant at this point, maybe just take one leaf at a time so as to avoid shocking it and causing new problems along with the old.)

If you are able to isolate the problem and it is not life threatening to the plant, you can wait before propagation efforts. (Don't wait too long.)

I lost a couple of fairly expensive plants to gremlins. I was confident in my ability to bring them back to life. I was wrong, waited too long and lost the whole plant.
stamik2004 thanked Jeff Zenner
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irina_co
6 years ago
Good point, Mr Jeff!

Regarding expensive plants - and just any plants that you want to keep - put a couple leaves down as soon as you get it, I would dip them in alcohol 1:3 solution to reduce a chance of pests. (Chimeras - wait for a sucker).

While the plant is isolated, repotted and gets adjusted to your conditions - babies will continue growing.
stamik2004
Original Author
6 years ago
I actually have a small plantlet of it right now and a leaf down starting mouse ears. So with that said in low light it better get a grip or its going to meet the garbage man! If it wasnt what it is it probably would already be there.
Rosie1949
6 years ago
Oh no,,,,don't do that,,,,give it a chance! Have a little faith! The best plant is the one you can save from the brink of death! What doesn't kill them,,,makes them stronger!! Rosie
dbarron
6 years ago
Irina, I have a better plan. I'll send one of everything I want to "keep" to Rosie, and if I lose mine, she better not have killed hers too....it has the benefits of isolation, huh ? :)

Yes, I'm teasing, though the benefits of sharing are that you can get something back (often), if lost.
Rosie1949
6 years ago
TEASING???? Awwww,,,I was getting ready to wait for a package! sob sob. (Sad) Rosie
irina_co
6 years ago
It is already getting too cold. Though I am packing a box for a friend - he lost his collection in a house fire - his power strips to his plant stands overheated and caught fire. So - if you have old plastic power strips - replace them with the ones from Home Depot - with blue label - and make sure they have "heat resistant" on the label.

No, Rosie - if the plant is on a brink of death - it will look like a dog poop for a long long time - and life is too short. Take a leaf...
Rosie1949
6 years ago
Oh Irina,,,,how awful for your friend! It is nice of you to try to get him going again. If the weather were nicer I would send what I could also but we have freezing temps and lots of frost and wind. I don't think they would survive from my house. Wish I could help. Rosie
irina_co
6 years ago
Rosie - you stay warm, you are the most valuable AV in your collection.
Rosie1949
6 years ago
Irina, you are such a nice person. Thank you. (sincere) Rosie
stamik2004
Original Author
6 years ago
Rosie is the life of this flower party!
Rosie1949
6 years ago
Gosh,,I am blushing! Rosie

Tight Crown SOS

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