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Drooping Umbrella Plant...

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  • jeremyrose45jeremyrose45 Posts: 6
    Hello
    I recently bought an umbrella plant at my local garden centre. I re-potted it straight away into a pot not much bigger than the pot it came in and it did really well. A couple of weeks ago, however, I noticed that although it was still producing new shoots, the upper foliage was pale and drooping and there is also a little discolouration on three or four of the lower leaves. I re-potted it into a larger pot a couple of days ago. According to which forum you look at on Google, I’m either watering it too much or not watering it enough! Any ideas would be gratefully accepted. Thank you...
  • amancalledgeorgeamancalledgeorge Posts: 2,736
    To me it looks like the difference in colour is due to the leaves being still new, as they mature they turn darker. The lower leaf looks like it's just damage from the GC you can remove it. Ideally you shouldn't be repotting if you haven't let it settle first and thrive in its new surroundings, just keeps on adding stress to an already mildly stressed plant. They tend to thrive on neglect in my experience but they do need bright indirect light to be truly happy. 
    To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow
  • jeremyrose45jeremyrose45 Posts: 6
    Thanks very much for your very swift response. There’s been quite a bit of new growth since I bought it but I haven’t noticed the pale or drooping leaves before. I’ll certainly move it into a brighter corner of the room and give it a bit of loving neglect! I’ve read quite a bit of conflicting advice on watering. Should I let the compost completely dry out before watering? Thanks again...
  • amancalledgeorgeamancalledgeorge Posts: 2,736
    Yes I let mine dry in between waterings, they are tough plants, I bet yours will be fine. 
    To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow
  • jeremyrose45jeremyrose45 Posts: 6
    That’s great. Thank you very much indeed...
  • Blue OnionBlue Onion Posts: 2,995
    edited October 2020
    Did you feed it when you repotted it?  Or did the compost have slow release fertilizer?  It looks a bit like it was given a bit too much food and not enough light.  Best not to feed it until spring, and as mentioned, put it in a brighter location.  
    You have a really lovely specimen there.  Good luck!
    Utah, USA.
  • jeremyrose45jeremyrose45 Posts: 6
    I should have mentioned right at the start that I have ZERO knowledge..! There was no specific houseplant compost at the GC when I bought the plant, so the assistant recommended John Innes No. 2, which is what it’s in now. I did feed it when I first re-potted it but not this last time. It’s now in a brighter spot in the room and I’ll hold off on feeding it again until next Spring. Thanks for your help.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    My houseplants get ordinary multipurpose compost. They mostly don't need anything special (there are exceptions, things like cacti). And I let them get fairly dry between watering. Feeding is a few drops of baby bio or similar in the water, from about April to September. My umbrella plant has been with me since we moved in, in 1988 (it was left by the previous owner) so I can't be doing too badly :smile: . I hope yours does as well for you.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • jeremyrose45jeremyrose45 Posts: 6
    Thank you - that certainly gives me hope..!
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited October 2020
    You have a readymade watering gauge ... Stick your finger in the compost up to the first joint. When it feels dry down there give it a generous watering and allow the compost to drain at the base. 😊 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





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