Help me not to kill this (unkillable?) plant!
June 17, 2013 9:31 AM Subscribe
I'm in charge of taking care of a pachira aquatica plant in my office. We moved about two weeks ago, and since then it's been turning yellow at a very alarming rate. All the leaves that are yellow here have only become so over the past few days, and this picture don't even include all the ones that have completely fallen off--please let me know if there's anything that I can do to reverse this, or at least stop it from continuing until there aren't any leaves at all!
Since these things are supposed to like sunlight I originally placed it by a window that gets a fair amount of light, but nothing direct. Since then it's been very unhappy, so last Friday I moved it inside a bit out of the sun, which if anything has made the problem worse. I've also pruned off most of the old yellowed growth (the ones in the picture are the new ones that have appeared over the weekend), but again, that doesn't seem to be doing anything. I've been keeping it watered regularly and there are holes in the bottom of the pot for drainage, so I don't think that the problem is related to water issues.
For what it's worth the new office is quite a bit brighter than the old one, and also fluctuates a lot more in temperature.
Since these things are supposed to like sunlight I originally placed it by a window that gets a fair amount of light, but nothing direct. Since then it's been very unhappy, so last Friday I moved it inside a bit out of the sun, which if anything has made the problem worse. I've also pruned off most of the old yellowed growth (the ones in the picture are the new ones that have appeared over the weekend), but again, that doesn't seem to be doing anything. I've been keeping it watered regularly and there are holes in the bottom of the pot for drainage, so I don't think that the problem is related to water issues.
For what it's worth the new office is quite a bit brighter than the old one, and also fluctuates a lot more in temperature.
BTW holes in the bottom of that kind pot don't really provide great drainage since the attached tray will ensure that any water that drains out will just be wicked back up into the soil.
posted by srboisvert at 9:41 AM on June 17, 2013
posted by srboisvert at 9:41 AM on June 17, 2013
Yellow often means overwatering.
posted by L'Estrange Fruit at 10:01 AM on June 17, 2013
posted by L'Estrange Fruit at 10:01 AM on June 17, 2013
Definitely less water. Let dry up to your first knuckle deep. Often too much sun will create leaf drop before the plant adapts. If it was happy in its former location, then duplicate the original light conditions. You have a type of Schefflera, and they are hardy, but overwatering will do them in.
I let mine get quite dry, then set it in a bucket for several minutes. Tip it to drain the excess water out of the pot bottom.
posted by BlueHorse at 12:38 PM on June 17, 2013
I let mine get quite dry, then set it in a bucket for several minutes. Tip it to drain the excess water out of the pot bottom.
posted by BlueHorse at 12:38 PM on June 17, 2013
Does anyone else think that is a pretty big plant to be in a small pot? Would it benefit by being repotted in a bigger receptacle, or at least by getting some fresh potting soil?
posted by Cranberry at 1:13 PM on June 17, 2013
posted by Cranberry at 1:13 PM on June 17, 2013
Esthetically it would probably look better in a slightly bigger pot, but my rule of thumb is better root bound in a small pot with a bit of fertilizer occasionally in summer than too big.
You could perhaps go up, but I wouldn't do it until the yellowing is under control. If you do repot, I'd choose the next size up, water thoroughly in the pot, then turn out and gently rinse the roots (don't take all the soil off, just what comes easily) and add in good potting soil. Moisten your new soil before potting, and squeeze out the water as you put it in. I'd choose a regular unglazed brown ceramic. You can put it in a basket or a decorative pot if you like, but plants breath better in unglazed.
*Which is not to say I don't have some doing well in plastic, but I put my favorites in unglazed.
posted by BlueHorse at 1:24 PM on June 17, 2013
You could perhaps go up, but I wouldn't do it until the yellowing is under control. If you do repot, I'd choose the next size up, water thoroughly in the pot, then turn out and gently rinse the roots (don't take all the soil off, just what comes easily) and add in good potting soil. Moisten your new soil before potting, and squeeze out the water as you put it in. I'd choose a regular unglazed brown ceramic. You can put it in a basket or a decorative pot if you like, but plants breath better in unglazed.
*Which is not to say I don't have some doing well in plastic, but I put my favorites in unglazed.
posted by BlueHorse at 1:24 PM on June 17, 2013
Don't pot it up! If the yellowing is from overwatering a larger pot will increase the amount of water around the stressed roots. Pachira are usually fine in small pots anyway.
At any rate, it's very normal for this plant to drop leaves after relocation. I wouldn't worry too much about it. Don't remove them because in this case the yellow color is because the tree is pulling nutrients out of the leaves before they dehisce. Let them come off naturally. When you water, water it in a sink or somewhere you can allow water to run out of the holes and out of the saucer. This prevents salts/fertilizer buildup. Allow the top inch of soil to dry before watering again. If you want to make it extra happy spray a few times it every day to increase humiity for a short time and help prevent bugs. It will be fine in the bright light, if you want to move it back by the window.
posted by oneirodynia at 4:13 PM on June 17, 2013
At any rate, it's very normal for this plant to drop leaves after relocation. I wouldn't worry too much about it. Don't remove them because in this case the yellow color is because the tree is pulling nutrients out of the leaves before they dehisce. Let them come off naturally. When you water, water it in a sink or somewhere you can allow water to run out of the holes and out of the saucer. This prevents salts/fertilizer buildup. Allow the top inch of soil to dry before watering again. If you want to make it extra happy spray a few times it every day to increase humiity for a short time and help prevent bugs. It will be fine in the bright light, if you want to move it back by the window.
posted by oneirodynia at 4:13 PM on June 17, 2013
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posted by srboisvert at 9:39 AM on June 17, 2013 [4 favorites]