Any advice on brining these unhappy plants back to life?

It is possible that they could be saved, but it will take a lot of time and effort. The plant in the first pic should be checked for signs of life (scraping the stalk to see if it is still green). If it is brown, it is probably dead. With the hanging plant, are there any signs of green growing from the soil? It looks like some kind of philodendron, so you might be able to root the pieces that are still alive.

I know how attached we get to our plants, but unless these have sentimental value, I'd just start over with new plants. I'm sorry.

Julie

Hi April, and welcome to ATP

Yikes, those puppies got seriously forgotten, didn't they? Can't even tell what the first one is, but you can just scrape at the bark on the stem with your thumbnail to see if there is any green in there. If there isn't, toss it and buy something else for that nice pot. If there is, set the pot into a bucket or large bowl of water for maybe an hour, until all the potting mix is wetted again. You may have to "till" it or stir it up a bit as the potting soil sometimes dries to a solid brick when it gets that dried out. Once you have the soil re-hydrated, all you can do is wait a week or two, and see if any new growth starts up.

The hanging plant looks like a Pothos, and there's still a little bit of life there. Again, sit the pot in water for an hour or so, until the potting medium is completely wet again. (you can tell by the weight of the pot when you pull it out). Let it drain, then set it in a spot with medium light, no direct sunlight. Then wait. Once you see some new growth, you could start watering it on a regular basis, and give it some very diluted fertilizer every couple of weeks. Pothos like some humidity, too so if you can keep a spray bottle near it, and give it a spritz or two every day, that will help it recover.

Keep us posted if anything happens! Good luck.

Hi April,..your first plant i am sure is a ' One Stem Yucca ',..these plants require very little water though it appears yours may have not being given enough,..water it very slightly and leave it in a sunny position but not in full sun,..this is mine of the same below.


Your other plant i am unable to identify but i see some greenery there,..a cutting will grow roots in water or try find a healthy piece of root and do the same,..many of these type do die back and start again but i would go for the cutting or root in water,..it may take three weeks or more to root so be patient

Sometimes you should cut your losses and call it quits. I do this when I get a mealy bug infectation or when my plants look like yours. Sometimes its easier and more economical to start again.