Date: Fri 12-Mar-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: DONNAM

Quick Words:

Suburban-Gardener-Bleach

Full Text:

SUBURBAN GARDENER: Simple Solutions For Sick Houseplants

By Anthony C. Bleach

We have a love-hate relationship with Amaryillis. We have eight that we work

on to make them bloom again, to no avail. They keep growing yards of leaves.

So I decided to try my luck with paper-white narcissus. They have never failed

me in the past. Well these grew three inches in January and then stopped. I

phoned Jan Ohms of John Scheepers, and his daughter looked up the order. It

seems that Soleil d.Or , the yellow one, needs at least 65§ to initiate buds.

So Soleil d. Or has been in the cellar, beside the stove, for two weeks now.

We are still waiting.

On the other hand if you find that your cyclamen is yellowing and the buds are

fading, the cure may be to lower the temperature. Joan Lee Faust of The Times

writes that about 55§ is ideal. "The same goes for cameilias and the little

potted trees that are often hung with ornaments for the holidays. Keep them

cool," the column continued.

A common symptom is browning out of the leaves, usually showing up first on

the tips of the leaves, then on the margins of some of the older leaves. When

some of the new leaves brown it becomes serious. The most likely cause is too

much fertilizer.

There is a solution if the brown tips are noticed early. Wash the salts out.

Take the plant to the sink or bath, water well, until the water comes out of

the drain hole. Repeat this two or three times. Finally cut off the brown

leaves.

If the plant does not thrive, if the leaves fall off without changing color

and the stems begin to blacken -- this could be a classic case of overcare, or

watering too much. It often happens with cactuses, which need bright sun and

very little water.

Some plants, particularly gift plants that have been a long time in a

greenhouse, become rootbound. Their roots are curled round and round in the

pot and continual watering will only rot the roots, which are dying from lack

of soil.

The solution is to repot it. Cut back the root mass and repot with fresh

potting soil in a clean pot.

If the plants just sit there and turn pale and bedraggled, it may be due to a

lack of light. Generally plants that are grown for their flowers need an east

or west window, where they get some sunshine during the day. Plants grown

mainly for their foliage can survive even in a north light.

During the winter, be careful with the south light. The sun is lower now and

can be too strong. It may be a good idea to have a light curtain to act as a

filter.

The best cure for houseplant blues is the great outdoors. But acclimatize them

to the deck with care when temperatures rise to over 65§ F.

(Anthony C. Bleach coordinates the horticulture program at Naugatuck Valley

Community-Technical College in Waterbury.)