| My ivy plant s turning yellow but is still growing new shoots; what is the problem, how can I cure it? |
| Based on your description I am not sure why your ivy plant is turning yellow, but here are some possibilities. If the plant has been moved from very dim light to very bright direct sunlight, it may be reacting to that and you might move it back to a darker location and then gradually acclimate it to the bright light. Iftere is a chance it has been overfertilized, try watering it heavily (so that the water runs out the bottom of the pot) several times to flush away the excess. If the plant has never been fertilized and you have had it for while, you might try using a water soluble fertilizer according to the label instructions. Examine the plant very careully for pests, look for small dark round disk-like spots (scale) and for fine webbing or very tiny insects (mites). Both can be treated with insecticidal soapaccording to the label instructions. Scale can also be removed with your fingernail or a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol. Spider mites can also be discouraged by frequently washing the plant with a strong stream of tepid water -- kitchen sink sprayers work well for this. If your house is very dry during the heating season you might set the plant on a pebbletray filled with water (keep the bottom of the pot just above the water) or run a humidifier nearby. Dry winter air can also make it necessary to water more often, as can a needfor repotting if the plant has gown substantially. I hope this helps you figure out what the problem might be. |
