It certainly won't benefit from feeding at this stage. Tomato feed is high potash so it's for promoting flowers and fruit. A general balanced liquid/soluble feed is fine for foliage houseplants that are established and growing.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
Many thanks Jenny, Im sorry, I didn't phrase my question very well, I was just enquiring generally about using a regular garden plant feed on houseplants, Steve
I think as long as it's the right balance (and doesn't have a whiff that you wouldn't want in the house), it'll be fine. There should be N-P-K numbers on the label and you want mostly nitrogen (N) for leafy foliage plants, for example baby bio house plant food is 10.6-1.9-1.4. Tomato food is something like 4-5-10, lots of potassium (K) for flowers/fruit.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
Many thanks Jenny thats really helpful, Ive just checked the N P K on the stuff I was going to use, its just 2 1 3,,doesn't sound like a lot of nourishment at either end of the scale,,Im off to buy some proper houseplant food tomorrow. Im still undecided about lifting the plant Im concerned about, Im very inexperienced but anytime I've ever taken a cutting before its started to show signs of getting going within a few weeks, whether it be new growth or fine roots appearing yet this one seems to be just clinging on,,,and Im not overly keen on the rather muddy lidls compost either,,,, steve
Hi, another update, and hopefully a couple of photos, the plant has been sitting doing not much at all for ever,,however despite its clearly not happy state Ive noticed today a little shoot, now whether there is a root system supporting this I don't know but I will just keep an eye on it. My other tack is a pot of earth wedged in under a lump of the plant which has grown out and is hanging down, and it gives the impression that “in the wild” this bit would be sitting on the ground and take root? Well its an idea and I will just see how it get along, failing all this I will probably split it up. Pictures are of the pot and also another but not quite so big bit that I think becomes a new plant? btw how do I post photos that are not sitting on their sides? steve.
I'm sure the roots are growing, but they probably aren't strong enough to support those leaves. Keeping the plant out of strong light will help, as will putting a cloche over the plant to maintain humidity around it. Failing that you could cut off a leaf or two. Eventually the new growth will take over and the roots will be able to support the plant.
Unfortunately while you want to keep it well watered, there's a risk of root rot if the compost is too soggy.
Sounds like you're doing the right thing using dehumidifier water.
Please don't fertilise, this will definitely do more harm than good. When the plant is established and growing well you can use houseplant fertiliser, but the general rule is to be extremely sparing - half the recommended rate is the usual advice.
If all else fails, you should be able to split the plant fairly easily. In terms of compost, I would mix your MPC with something like Orchid compost and also perlite, to make sure it's nice and free draining.
"What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour".
Thank you for the advice Loxley very kind of you i deed, I will of course keep you all posted.
Im actually using Baby Bio houseplant food now and the big plant seems to be doing well on it, but I also gave a little to the poorly looking one with the new shoot,,so I wont repeat that. The photo above is in fact a few weeks old, somehow I must have got distracted when I was putting the post together and forgot to actually submit it,,it was only when I began to wonder why there had been no replies that I found it still sitting there waiting to go! So a few weeks on and that little shoot is perhaps twice as long now, but still very slow growth and no roots showing themselves under the pot. Im not entirely sure what the plant actually is, but it clearly doesnt do cuttings,,,the big plant with the offshoot sitting on earth might do better,,they must propagate themselves somehow? Steve.
Posts
Steve
Im still undecided about lifting the plant Im concerned about, Im very inexperienced but anytime I've ever taken a cutting before its started to show signs of getting going within a few weeks, whether it be new growth or fine roots appearing yet this one seems to be just clinging on,,,and Im not overly keen on the rather muddy lidls compost either,,,,
steve
My other tack is a pot of earth wedged in under a lump of the plant which has grown out and is hanging down, and it gives the impression that “in the wild” this bit would be sitting on the ground and take root? Well its an idea and I will just see how it get along, failing all this I will probably split it up. Pictures are of the pot and also another but not quite so big bit that I think becomes a new plant?
btw how do I post photos that are not sitting on their sides?
steve.
steve.
I'm sure the roots are growing, but they probably aren't strong enough to support those leaves. Keeping the plant out of strong light will help, as will putting a cloche over the plant to maintain humidity around it. Failing that you could cut off a leaf or two. Eventually the new growth will take over and the roots will be able to support the plant.
Unfortunately while you want to keep it well watered, there's a risk of root rot if the compost is too soggy.
Sounds like you're doing the right thing using dehumidifier water.
Please don't fertilise, this will definitely do more harm than good. When the plant is established and growing well you can use houseplant fertiliser, but the general rule is to be extremely sparing - half the recommended rate is the usual advice.
If all else fails, you should be able to split the plant fairly easily. In terms of compost, I would mix your MPC with something like Orchid compost and also perlite, to make sure it's nice and free draining.
Steve.