STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

carmenb513 · Coach

Green thumbs and gardeners get in here!!!!!!!!PRONTO!

Suasoria · Chanel

Hmmm. I looked it up and found this

Check for watering weekly... allowing the soil to dry to the touch about 1/3 down the pot. Yellowing leaves can be an indication of over watering, under watering or simply just normal leaf drop.. Under watered plants will shed a large amount of totally yellow leaves from the lower portion of the head, whereas a plant that has been over-watered, the leaf will yellow from the tip towards the stem. Feed only once a year... the Dracaena family does not like to be fertilized.

carmenb513 · Coach

Thanks! I will monitor the watering a little more closely...For now they are in bedroom where it is warmer...I was going to give them plant foo (never have before) maybe thats not a good idea

greendiamond · Marc Jacobs

When I was in an apartment that wasn't very sunny I replaced a few bulbs in my lamps with grow bulbs. My plants did great. I bought them at Franks Nursery, which isn't in business any more, but I am sure you could find them if you looked.

pollyjean23 · Marc Jacobs

What exactly are your dragon plants doing? Are they drooping and looking lackluster, brown tips, yellowing leaves?

I second the grow light thing. Also, think about the moisture level in the air. If it is significantly drier inside, you may want to mist or put out a humidifier.

Before you water, run tap water in bowl and set it on the counter for a half-day or so before using it to water the plants. The fluoride added to water can burn tips. Letting the water sit allows the fluoride to exit/evaporate/dissipate. You can also just use distilled water.

Dracaena's growing season is in spring, so do not fertilize now. When you do, be very careful to use the correct type for the plant and the right amount. Over fertilizing can burn and cause brown tips too.

An orchid we brought home recently called for a couple ice cubes set in the pot like once a week or so.

It's too damn dry for orchids, unless you want to wait on them hand-and-foot every single moment of the day. My husband's grandmother lives in Miami in an apartment that gets unbelievable, spectacular sunlight. She doesn't have to do much to hers, of course. Between the light and the humidity, she's set.

BTW there is a wonderful plant forum on University of British Columbia Botanical Gardens website. You have to register to use it, but it's free.

http://www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org/forums/

-- Edited by pollyjean23 on Sunday 31st of January 2010 11:05:29 AM

wetbandit42 · Marc Jacobs

I have trouble with my orchids too. My apartment doesn't get a lot of light and my phalaenopsis orchid is suffering, while my oncidium is doing great. confuse

Most people overwater their orchids. I use humidity trays for mine - dump some rocks in a shallow dish and cover it with distilled water.

Good luck!

carmenb513 · Coach

greendiamond wrote:

When I was in an apartment that wasn't very sunny I replaced a few bulbs in my lamps with grow bulbs. My plants did great. I bought them at Franks Nursery, which isn't in business any more, but I am sure you could find them if you looked.

oh em gee! thanks

carmenb513 · Coach

Polly! Yeah my poor babies are doing everything you said! Writing all this down...Will update you all soon... Hopefully with progress.

Perhaps I should give up on my Orchids until I ever leave the Northeast. confuse

Thanks everyone