Help with saving this unidenitified houseplant
crushedpurple
5 years ago
I acquired this house plant from somebody who was killing this plant. Since I got it I put new soil but it's lost more than half of its leaves. I'm hoping / wondering if this is normal? The plan is still alive because I scraped some of the bark and it's green underneath.
Is this just happening because of transfer shock? is there anything that I can do to ensure it stays alive? Also does anybody know the name of the plant and how much sun and water it needs?
Thanks!
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crushedpurple
5 years agoRelated Discussions
Houseplant ID/What should I do to save this plant
Comments (13)I would say it's a philodendron, one of the 'pink lady' varieties. It does look kind of like a peace lily (spath), but those don't have aerial roots, which a see a couple of, and also what appear to be stems. First thing is to hydrate - it's severely wilted. Take the whole thing, pot and all (remove the drainage saucer if you can), and dunk it into the sink or tub filled with hot water. Hot water works very well to quickly revive over-dry plants. And I mean really hot, as hot as your hands can stand. Let it soak for a couple of hours, then let it drain for a couple more. You can cut off the dead brown parts now, if you want - you can tell the dead parts, they'll be crispy. I wouldn't do anything else to it until it has recovered from the shock of being in a desert for who knows how long. It should start to stand back up, at least many of the leaves should, though you'll probably have a number of leaves that will turn yellow and ugly. You can cut these off, they will eventually become crispy anyway. When you cut them, cut the leaf stem from the main stem flush with the main stem. At this point, you can go ahead and repot according to the number of good suggestions to be found on this forum, or ask again for more help with repotting...See MoreUnidentifiable creepy houseplant pest help!
Comments (23)Hello, Is this what you are talking about? I had found a bug some time ago, wish I could take a pic of the little stinker!! It curls up when threatened, such as picking it up, and it molts. Meaning you find its old carcase that floats in water. I contacted a bug expert and had a long talk with him as well as looking up such bug species. I am a bug person, I have been fascinated with them since a little girl. I now wished I saved what I had found out about this bug I have but can not find it on my hard drive. I leave most bugs alone. There are good bugs and bad bugs. Because of my birds I do not use chemicals here or limit chemicals. I use cinnamon, or other such things to drive off or kill nasty bugs. Anyhoo the bug I have which sounds like what you are talking about, lay many eggs, so killing one if one wants to do this is not going to help. Pictures of your plant is going to help a great deal. What the article says about the bug up there; House centipedes feed on small insects, insect larvae, and on spiders. Here is another pic I found online; This is a millipede. More like what I have they eat rotten leaves and wood. A beneficial bug. No harm in other words. Hope this helps?...See MoreHouseplant needs help
Comments (7)Thanks, everyone for your responses. And thanks for not scolding me for being an idiot. About a week after we got it home, leaves began falling off and individual stalks were dying. As I cleaned it up, I thought that the florist had added cuttings from another plant to make it look fuller. It was very full to begin with and this is all that's left. I'm just surprised it's still green if all the stalks were just cuttings. The funeral was March 29. One more question - it's on my front porch right now. Should I bring it back inside? (I'm in NC where we're our June is normally much warmer than the 70-something highs we've had lately)....See Moreoblanceolate, whorled houseplant... help!
Comments (6)To me it does not look stressed. This is what they do in winter when brought indoors. ==>> i looked at all the cut branch ends.. and presumed .. that frost damaged ends were cut off... if so.. half the canopy may have been removed.. and that would be one of my definitions of stress ... if those are all old cuts... then my presumption was wrong ... as sunlight goes in decline .. in the north hemisphere ... i do NOT fert plants that are going into slow motion ...; after xmas.. [is that an equinox???... cant recall the term] ...... when the days start getting longer.. perhaps into late january.. that is when a weak dose of fert is given ... in my house anyway .... [though i am going to fert my xmas cactus .. because they are just coming into bloom .. ] and i hope those bowls on food on the floor are for the dog or cat.. and not the plant.. lol .. i also would suggest.. any moving of a plant.. from say outdoor light.. to the darkness of a house.. is stress also ... but i will defer to rhiz.. on how it looks.. because i have never seen one of these in my life ... too many peeps.. think plants rules are entirely specific to a given plant.. they really arent... i am sure you could find a couple billion articles on bringing plants indoors in fall .. and glean all kinds of useful info about such .... and learn way more general info .. that would be very handy .. good luck ken...See More
Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
5 years ago
PROHorticultural Help
5 years agocrushedpurple
5 years ago
Mary heuvel
5 years agoTiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
5 years agoA sudden change from inside to direct sun outside can burn any plant. But once acclimated, Scheffleras can handle being in the sun all day.
crushedpurple
5 years ago
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Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL