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Umbrella plant

bamboofirbanksbamboofirbanks Posts: 6
in Plants
Hello. New guy (lady) here. I have an 8 foot Umbrella plant that has been with me for years. It came with me to Cornwall where I am now. It did well for a few months but now looks on the verge of dying. It was once so lush. it has been repotted to a bigger pot with a mix of good composts. The soil doesn't seem too dry or too wet. I water it weekly. It is by a window but not being burned by sun. It has a bamboo cane support. I feed it with a booster once a week. I don't want to lose it. Do you have any ideas please? nb where it was with me before it had a skylight above it but I don't have that option now. Thank you in advance. Laura

Posts

  • strelitzia32strelitzia32 Posts: 758
    Are the leaves floppy and soft, or hard? Is it dropping entire leaf clusters/stalks?

    When you water it, do you stand out in water for a while then let it drain, or do you water it through?

    It really looks thirsty to me. Also, they love lots of light, is there a conservatory or similar you can put it in for a while?
  • bamboofirbanksbamboofirbanks Posts: 6
    thanks. no I just water it, should I put some stone feet in-between the pot and the plate? and let it drain more? you think water it twice a week perhaps? only in the last few days have individual leaves, and one clump been browning and falling off. no conservatory here I am afraid. is it warm enough to put in my courtyard do you think? it is about 19 - 23 degrees over the next few days. 
  • bamboofirbanksbamboofirbanks Posts: 6
    oh and the leaves are floppy and soft
  • strelitzia32strelitzia32 Posts: 758
    Sounds like not enough water or light, and maybe also humidity isn't high enough. Give it a good soak, stand it in water for 10 mins if needed then drain, and put it somewhere bright. If you have a mister, spray the leaves to keep humidity up.
  • bamboofirbanksbamboofirbanks Posts: 6
    thank you
  • bamboofirbanksbamboofirbanks Posts: 6
    I have done all the above but it just keeps getting stragglier and sadder looking! x
  • amancalledgeorgeamancalledgeorge Posts: 2,736
    I have to say that it looks unappealing at that straggly height...maybe time to grow a new plant from a cutting or get a new plant? No plant lasts forever and once you lose the shape they are known for it's not as decorative anymore. So why waste your energy on this when you can start again and even try another variety. 
    To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Could be over-watering rather than underwatering. Most houseplants are best allowed to get reasonably dry between waterings (to the depth of your first finger joint is a good guideline). There are exceptions but that isn't one of them. Or maybe the stem got damaged and it can't take up water properly.
    If you do decide that it's had it, a last ditch kill-or-cure attempt might be worth trying. Cut it down hard (maybe to a foot or so) and keep it quite dry until it starts to regrow (if it does, it will branch out from old leaf nodes). If it hasn't yet filled the pot with roots you could repot it into a smaller one and use the nice big one for something new. If you find any brown soggy rotted roots, trim them off.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • bamboofirbanksbamboofirbanks Posts: 6
    excellent ideas. x
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