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Avatar for spider
Sep 23, 2017 10:23 AM CST
Thread OP
Mesa Arizona
I can't figure out what is wrong with my baby. The leaves are actually turning orange in a v-shape. I water when soil feels dry down to the knuckle of my index finger. I don't have to water very often. She's in a large plastic pot with a saucer attached. The soil is general all-purpose potting soil. I use this with my other philo's and they seem ok. I've had her for a long time. She has done this off and on but now the problem is getting worse. I made magnesium foliage spray but it hasn't worked. Please any help would be greatly appreciated. I am so frustrated.
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Sep 23, 2017 5:40 PM CST
Name: Carol
Santa Ana, ca
Sunset zone 22, USDA zone 10 A.
Bookworm Charter ATP Member Region: California Hummingbirder Orchids Plant Identifier
Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge)
Do you ever flush the soil to rid it of fertilizer salts or water contaminates? How long has it been in that same soil?
Avatar for spider
Sep 24, 2017 12:38 PM CST
Thread OP
Mesa Arizona
ctcarol, No. I've never flushed the soil. She's been in that pot for about a year. She's so big I don't know how I would flush the soil. I do use nasty AZ. tap to water though. Maybe that's a problem?
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Sep 24, 2017 1:09 PM CST
Name: Carol
Santa Ana, ca
Sunset zone 22, USDA zone 10 A.
Bookworm Charter ATP Member Region: California Hummingbirder Orchids Plant Identifier
Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge)
Possibly. Tap water is one reason I don't have house plants. I have 6 35gal. Rubbermaid trash barrels that have been turned into "rain barrels"...now empty, so using RO water for my orchids. The rest get city water, but I always water pots until water runs out the drainage hole.
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Sep 24, 2017 2:47 PM CST
Name: Will Creed
NYC
Prof. plant consultant & educator
When you water, are you putting enough in so that some trickles through into the saucer? Less than thorough watering can cause mineral salts to precipitate out and collect in the root zone. If your tap water is on the hard side, switch to distilled or filtered water. If you are fertilizing, stop.
Will Creed
Horticultural Help, NYC
www.HorticulturalHelp.com
Contact me directly at [email protected]
I now have a book available on indoor plant care
Avatar for spider
Sep 25, 2017 11:47 AM CST
Thread OP
Mesa Arizona
Based on your replies I think it may very well be a watering situation. I don't really fertilize all that much. I have very hard water. My plumbing is always screwed up because of salt accumulation. The pot has a built in saucer which is sealed so I can't even see any run off. Unless it overflows. Maybe I will try and pry the saucer off and place a clay one under it. I can get rid of the excess with a turkey baster. Thank you so much for your help. Hope it works!
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Sep 25, 2017 2:01 PM CST
Name: Will Creed
NYC
Prof. plant consultant & educator
Because you do have a serious hard water problem, then follow Carol's advice and flush lots of filtered or distilled water through the soil. You will have to find some way to allow the excess water and mineral salts flow through and out.
Will Creed
Horticultural Help, NYC
www.HorticulturalHelp.com
Contact me directly at [email protected]
I now have a book available on indoor plant care
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Sep 25, 2017 4:24 PM CST
Name: Carol
Santa Ana, ca
Sunset zone 22, USDA zone 10 A.
Bookworm Charter ATP Member Region: California Hummingbirder Orchids Plant Identifier
Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge)
If it's one of those pots with the attached saucer, try setting the whole thing in the sink or bathtub and pour till the saucer overflows and you can tip it out. You probably should do this several times to get rid of all the junk in the water.
Avatar for spider
Sep 26, 2017 11:25 AM CST
Thread OP
Mesa Arizona
Carol, The pot must look smaller than it is in the picture. Ha! The plant is on a trellis and it touches the ceiling. The pot is actually really large. My spine would shoot out my rear if I tried to lift it. I did this because I read that philodendrons like to climb trees in the forest. Now I'm kind of stuck on how I'm going to give her a good flush. I have 2 walls of climbers on trellises in my home so I might have to figure out a way to flush out the others. Yikes! Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.
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