Let’s not Leaf it to the Last Minute

As we enter another silly season, it is easy to be overwhelmed with your (now excessive) plant collection. You’ve had some of your indoor babies for a few months and with the seasonal change, things start happening that are less Gizmo and more Gremlin-ish. You see some yellowing leaves, some plants are dying back rapidly, leaves are dropping and growing in funny shapes, shame man. But before you Mari Kondo your plant babies, let's save them with some basic plant first aid.

It is important to know that when seasons outside change, light and temperatures inside and close to windows also change. Generally, there will be an adaptation period for your plants; this is when you either change your arrangement to suit the new light or reduce/increase your watering and feeding. Leaf drop is natural during this time, but to a small percentage only.

Decode what your plants are telling you, investigate and remedy as follows:

WILTING AND BROWN TIPS

This is probably the most common indication of too little or too much water. Peace lilies are great at letting you know they are dry by flopping over; when your hardier plants like Ficuses do the same, this is usually a sign of overwatering.

SOLUTION: Check the pot to see if it is dry. If so, bottom-water your plant, allowing it to soak for an hour or more, then let it drip out until no more water comes out the bottom. Only water again when the top 2.5 cm of the soil is dry.

Wet soil causes more problems than dry soil. Allow the plant to dry out by placing it on a dry rack. If the plant remains wilted after excessive water has dripped out, root rot might have set in. Remove the plant from the soil and remove all damaged roots manually. Once the roots have been washed with water only and they are clean, soak the plant in a mixture of 1 part of 3% hydrogen peroxide and 2 parts of water to clean off any excess rot and possible pathogens. Replant in a new sterile plant mixture and you will avoid a loss. Mark Mac Hattie

Landscape Designer

Contours Design Studio

@contours_designstudio @that_other_plant_dad

YELLOW AND BROWN SPOTS ON LEAVES

It gives off the same energy as an avo that wasn’t ripe yesterday and today it looks like it suffers from middle child syndrome (the betrayal!). However, this is most likely a fungal infection, sies... But not to worry, plant daddy has a remedy.

SOLUTION:

Isolate the individual, away from the others. It is contagious! But hou vas...

For leaf fungus: remove all infected leaves, and spray with a baking soda mixture (dissolve 1 tsp of baking soda in 250ml of water). Spray the entire plant, leaves, top and bottom, and repeat as needed.

Other fungus’ live in the soil: You will notice this by the presence of our old friends, thrips, a.k.a. miggies (proudly South African). To remove this fungus, you need to ensure the soil dries out between watering and sprinkle cinnamon on the top of the soil and water it in. Cinnamon is a natural anti-fungal, so it's not only good on your oats.

SCORCHING AND DRYING LEAVES

Since we can’t put sunblock on our plants, they can burn rather quickly with shifting light conditions. Draughts can also burn the tips of leaves as it dries it out too quickly. This is noticeable when a portion of the leaf has gone brown and dry.

SOLUTION:

Move, you should move! Jokes, not yet. Your plants need to be moved further away from the direct light source and the draught. As a rule of thumb, avoid placing plants where they receive direct afternoon light or areas that are common for draughts, like hallways and doors leading in and out of your dwelling.

YELLOW OR SMALL LEAVES AND LITTLE TO NO FLOWERS

(if they are a flowering variety) Ma’am, your plant is hungry. This is indicative of nitrogen deficiency. Nitrogen is a major component in chlorophyll, which gives plants their green appearance - not just the new health craze where everyone is drinking chlorophyll water. Passop!

SOLUTION:

Feed your kids. A good liquid fertiliser with a high nitrogen content will fix the problem. Plants react fairly quickly to this treatment with new growth displaying green and the leaves growing to a normal size. Get a liquid fertiliser that has a NPK ratio of 8:3:6, making sure the first number is the highest.

ELONGATED GROWTH

It looks like your plants are reaching (like politicians during election season). Their leaves are far apart, the colour isn’t quite right and leaves are softer than usual. This is a sign of poor light quality.

SOLUTION:

Move your plant closer to the light source and trim back to the portion where it started going all long and stringy.

POWDERY MILDEW

It looks like your house party went a little wild and some plants have white powdery spots on them. Sit down James, it’s just powdery mildew, caused by poor air circulation.

SOLUTION:

Create a bit more space around your plants and allow for air flow - not a draught, just so that air can move freely. This prevents mildew from settling on your plants. Get some neem oil and spray your plants, give them an initial wipe, then spray as needed.

WHITE BUILD-UP ON SOIL AND OUTSIDE OF CLAY POTS

Your first reaction when you see white crumbs around your plants is to get James some help, but let me help you rather. White crusty build up on the soil is salt accumulation in the soil and pot. Potted plants are often susceptible to this as they are frequently over fertilised and the nutrient build up in the soil does not get washed away.

SOLUTION:

Reduce your fertilisation programme. You should fertilise your pot-bound plants once a month at most, ensuring the solution is as recommended. I know, it often doesn't look enough, and you are tempted to add some more, but plants can only absorb x amount of nutrients at a time. The rest will stay in the soil and poor James will never hear the end of it. For a quick fix replace the soil with new soil and take it easy on the fertiliser, asseblief.

I know you want to be the very best plant parent, like no one ever was. To collect them all is your real quest, to keep them alive is your cause and now that you are educated on how to save your collection, be Nurse Joy to your grass/plant type babies.