Oh boy! Plant talk! I have a desert rose (Adenium obesum) that has never looked good. I know they like it dry. I think I've tried it all. Dry, wet, fertilizer, no fertilizer... it's leaves are always small and dried up at the tips. I recently put him in a different pot with fresh soil. Any advice?

Mine looks the same!
I think they don't like being in the house, maybe they have a kind of dormant spell? Come Spring it'll perk up, mine always does. Careful watering and a Canadian South window and I get a few flowers even.

I wish I could help with that Adeniunm Sophie but I've had absolutely no luck at all with these. I have three little ones that look horrible. Mine are outside but I think they got hit by cold this winter and maybe too wet. We are so humid here almost year round and I don't think they like it .. can't seem to keep them dry enough.

What kind of soil do you have it potted in? Maybe go with something much more light, loose and well draining with a lot of bark content? Or I wonder if they will grow in straight gravel? I bet once the weather warms and it gets lots of sun it will perk up.

I put mine in Hoya Mix...which is really lose with a lot of perlite. They like being pot bound. Grow in the sun and keep it watered....

Houseplant heaven! Thanks for starting the cubit.

I have small desert roses that look exactly like that one. They go dormant like plumerias. They should perk back up with sunshine and warmth. Cool and dry keeps them dormant.

3G's, mine used to perk up a little and then bloom in the winter a little, but that stopped happening. It was never that great. Aloha, I'm gonna try what you suggest. Do you have a recipe for your Hoya Mix? I'll put it in a smaller pot and water it more. Next fall, when I bring the plants in, I'll put it down in the basement next to the plumerias. Thanks!!

I have a question. Hopefully someone can give me some ideas. A coworker recently moved, and his houseplants are suffering. I don't know *exactly* what he has, but know he has some philodendrons. He said all his plants are suffering the same thing, which is that even though his soil is moist, the leaves feel dry, and if he touches them, they fall off.

He said the only thing different is they don't get quite as much light as before, mostly indirect light. He waters with straight from the faucet tap water. Before he let the water sit at least overnight.

I told him to let the water sit. Does anyone have any other ideas? I also instructed him on the proper way to water his plants, but if the only change is the tap water & the light, what else do you think he could do?

Thanks in advance for any advise. Also thanks for starting the cubit!

Oh Goody, believe it or not this horticulture program I am in doesn't even talk about houseplants and I have 3 I can't identify so I will post pics here tomorrow and hopefully I can get names for them. What ever they are I have proagated them great and they love me for sure cause they look really good.

I love knowledgable people.

Smiley Mom...is the air drier in his new place maybe?

Susan, welcome! and please be sure to start a new thread with your photos.

Ahh... maybe. he didn't say. Maybe he should take a spray bottle to them?

Should I have started a new thread? This seems to be a little more detailed than what I am used to at DG. I apologize if that is the case.

No problem! You can post anywhere you like, we'll find you.
Spray bottle might help. He should also keep letting the water sit overnight.

will do Three. Oh heck I will do it now I can't wait this is too exciting!

Thanks for the info, threegardeners. I'll relay it on to him. I look forward to browsing around!

Smileymom, I'd make sure they're not rotting before he goes and mists them. You said their soil is damp? How long ago did he move? Were the plants exposed to cold for a long period of time during the move? Did he check for bugs? Ask him to join!

Harper

Good points Harper!

Hi All,

I put this link on my greenhouse, propagation and floriculture cubit and thought you all may be interested in it too. These are Oasis rooting cubes, there are a couple of different types and I have used them for houseplants but mostly in my greenhouse with woody and herbaceous plants. They are great!


http://www.oasisgrower.com/us/...

Susan

Nice link, thanks Susan!

you are welcom they are a great tool.

Thanks for the info Harper.

I thought of maybe his plants being rootbound, or something along those lines. He told me today it's extremely dry in his apartment, he had to buy hair conditioner (which is funny if you saw him ~ the bottle will probably last for years!)

I gave him some advise, but will ask if he's interested in joining.

I hope he gets it resolved. A humidifier might help during the winter months.