this post was submitted on
4 points (100% like it)
4 up votes 0 down votes
shortlink:
to anything interesting: news article, blog entry, video, picture...

reddit is a source for what's new and popular online. vote on links that you like or dislike and help decide what's popular, or submit your own!

3
4

Can someone help me take care of these plants? (self.gardening)

submitted ago by adngalaxy

Hi,

I bought these plants and I think they are slowly dying as one of them is turning yellow. I am not sure whether or not they need sunlight, fertilizer, etc. I just water them everyday. I don't even know the type of plants they are so I can look it up on the internet.

Please help me take care of them. I don't want them to die.

http://imgur.com/4xVDf

all 17 comments
sorted by:
best
hot
new
controversial
top
old

[–]freeseasyUS Zone 8b Riverside, CA 2 points3 points ago

Stop watering them every day. This is the best advice I can offer to anyone who is a beginning gardener.

[–]green-light 2 points3 points ago

You have an assortment of 3" tropical foliage including syngoniums and possibly a peperomia and a tiny philodendron. They all want bright diffuse light and warm temps. I'm suspicious of those containers and that soil; don't drown your plants. A little water goes a long way with such a situation.

[–]adngalaxy[S] 0 points1 point ago

Hi,

Can you explain exactly what you mean by bright diffuse light. They are in the kitchen where there is no direct sunlight. There is a CFL bulb on top of them. The temp. isn't really warm but it isn't cold either. Right now , I've put them in sunlight for sometime. Don't know if it's a good idea. Should I put them outside in the sun everyday?

[–]freeseasyUS Zone 8b Riverside, CA 1 point2 points ago

If a CFL is the only source of light your plants are getting, they will have a miserable existence. As light is your plants main source of "food," your starving them. They need to be near enough a window that they get at least an hour or two of direct sunlight each day, but are still in a well (naturally) lit room.

Putting them into direct outdoor sunlight has the potential to burn them. Plants are just as susceptible to UV radiation as you and I are and when they have not built up a tolerance to unfiltered sunlight, they can burn.

[–]green-light 1 point2 points ago

No don't put them outside in the sunlight. That's more than they could probably handle so young. Some sun filtered through a window will probably be fine but your CFL will be adequate for those species. Room temps (70 F-ish) are also fine.

[–]adngalaxy[S] 0 points1 point ago

Also, I think you are right about the soil. I don't even know what it is. Here is a picture of the soil. http://imgur.com/InNCk

And another one http://imgur.com/c7Ukq

Should I change it? I don't know what type of soil is suitable for these. Thanks a lot for your help.

[–]freeseasyUS Zone 8b Riverside, CA 1 point2 points ago

That "soil" isn't soil at all, it's just sphagnum moss which is commonly used to dress up the top of the soil layer, as well as providing a mulch to slow down water loss to evaporation. Under a layer of the sphagnum, you will find the soil. If you purchased the plants like that, in those containers, chances are that they are in the correct soil. If you ever attempt to replant those, the soil you need will be labeled "potting soil" and will be available at any home center.

[–]adngalaxy[S] 1 point2 points ago

Well, apparently their is no soil below the lair of sphagnum moss. I don't think the guys I bought it from had any idea what they are doing. Their is no drainage for plants in the plastic pot and no soil. How the heck are they supposed to survive?

http://imgur.com/4mm2K

[–]freeseasyUS Zone 8b Riverside, CA 2 points3 points ago

Wow. It looks like they just sold you rooted clones. Get yourself to the local home center, buy a bag of potting soil, plus pots of a similar size that have drainage holes (there should be plain terra cotta pots as cheap as .50 available), and plant everything that is inside of that small plastic basket into a pot full of good ol' soil. Keep some of the sphagnum to dress up the top layer of soil and you got yourself a stew going baby!

[–]TrememeticGardening nurtures me 0 points1 point ago*

UGH!!! No wonder your plants are dying!!

Edit: I just noted the horrific Nested Russian Doll version of planting! A Pot within a Pot within a Pot! Without Drainage? I am now speechless!

Edit 2: One of your plants looks like a pothos. Except for exposure to cold and drowning, they are fairly indestructible.

[–]green-light 0 points1 point ago

No, don't repot them. They'll probably be fine where they are as long as those pots have good drainage. Just remember they are small plants and you want them to stretch out their roots. Water only when the soil feels dry under the surface; this is a learned skill. Eventually you'll need to learn their nutrient needs as well. You might consider a gentle plant food, like fish emulsion, or a tiny pinch of Osmocote or half-strength Miracle Gro.

[–]adngalaxy[S] 0 points1 point ago

Any advice on what should I do since the pot is just filled with sphagnum moss and no soil?

[–]green-light 0 points1 point ago*

If it's all long fiber sphagnum that's not the worst thing. It's nutritionally sterile and low ph but nice and airy. I would maybe buy a small bottle of fish emulsion and feed them at the rate recommended on the bottle. Alternatively, and this is probably best, you could buy some commercial peat-lite potting mix with lime and nutrients and add a bit to the surface when you water and lightly water it in. Something like this maybe: http://www.scotts.com/smg/catalog/productTemplate.jsp?proId=prod70332&itemId=cat50154

[–]pussyham 1 point2 points ago

Your post is sort of unclear as to whether they are currently getting any sunlight? If not, they definitely need it.

[–]phanasonicSouth Texas. Zone 8b. 1 point2 points ago

Make sure there are drainage holes on the bottom of those containers. Otherwise the roots will drown and just rot.

[–]TrememeticGardening nurtures me 1 point2 points ago

It looks like they are in plastic cups inside of either plastic or ceramic pots. I agree that drainage appears to be an issue here; none of those plants require constantly moist soil to survive. Think of the roots needing to breathe. Good drainage holes at the bottom, or something like a clay pot and allowing the soil to dry a little between waterings will allow the roots to breathe better.

[–]adngalaxy[S] 0 points1 point ago

Thanks a lot everyone. I will make drainage holes and make sure I allow time for it to dry a little between watering.

Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy. © 2012 reddit inc. All rights reserved.

REDDIT and the ALIEN Logo are registered trademarks of reddit inc.

π Rendered by PID 13581 on app-139 running c21fb21.