Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

House plant help

Magical MeerkatMagical Meerkat Posts: 311
in Problem solving
Hello.

Meet Bert our house plant. He has been looked after by my Mum for a few years whilst we were renting and moving house etc..

He has finally come home but is looking a little worse for wear. 

What does he need conditions wise?

At the moment he is by a east facing patio door in our kitchen. His leaves are droopy and the tips are yellow. Although Mum trimmed alot of this off....

Please help me restore Bert back to his handsome self. 

Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    One of the dracaenas - https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/31916/Dracaena-marginata-(v)/Details

    When was it last re-potted or fed?   How do you water it?    It may just be hungry or thirsty or have been exposed to cold/draughts/excess sun.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Magical MeerkatMagical Meerkat Posts: 311
    We've only had it for a week, but I doubt my mum has re potted it for a while and she certainly won't have fed it. Eek. 

    I've watered it a bit since it's been here, but didn't want to over water. I'm not sure how often or much I should water it. 

    I think it got too much Sun at my Mum's place. Do they like being by a window or more shady?
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Dracaena marginata - it's pretty tough and tolerant, but ideally (according to my houseplant book):
    Some light but not hot sun is best - near an east or west facing window.
    Keep the soil just damp, not soggy, particularly over winter (more water in spring/summer when it's growing).
    Mist frequently -like most houseplants they prefer humid air.
    Repot every two years in Spring.
    I must admit, I don't repot mine that often (I do feed it about once a fortnight from March to October), and I don't mist it every day, but it is in the bathroom so gets a twice-daily dose of humidity from our baths/showers).


    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    The RHS link I gave you will provide info about temperature and light so check it out.

    If your mum's had it years and it's not ben repotted I'd see if you can see roots poking out of the bottom of the pot.  If so, it needs to be moved up a size and given fresh compost around the existing root ball.   Then add a slow release feed for leafy house plants.  You'll find that at the GC or a good supermarket.

    For watering, the best method - I find - is to take the pot out of its display pot and dunk it gently in a bucket of water until no more air bubbles appear and then take it out and let it drain for a while before putting it back in it display pot.   Repeat when the top inch or so of compost feels dry.   An alternative is to stick it in the bathroom and give it a good cool shower, head to toe to remove dust and pests from leaves, making sure the compost is thoroughly wetted and then leave to drip dry.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
Sign In or Register to comment.