Over the past 3 years, I've grown a huge collection of houseplants. Until recently, they have really thrived. A few months ago, however, quite a few of them started to show signs of….something. Basically, the leaves are slowly yellowing off and dying. I know that does happen from time to time, but it's happening to multiple plants in a pretty quick time frame.
It's almost like they are over watered but I feel like that's impossible? They're all in a soil that is coco coir/husk/perlite/pumice and worm castings. It's nice and airy, and I water every 7-10 days with filtered water. The pots are nearly bone dry when I water them. They're in a window that gets moderate light, and I have a grow light on for them as well.
I've taken them out to check the roots twice now, and these pictures are what I find. Healthy roots, or at least what looks like it to me. No signs of pests that I can see. Mainly this has been happening to my philos, but also slowly to my thai constellation and my pothos.
If anyone has any thoughts or advice, I am all ears!! I've watched so many of my plants slowly wither away and I really don't know what them problem could be.
by mightbearacc00n
16 Comments
It might be worth using an insecticide on them or some other form of pest control just in case there’s something going on that you can’t see! Usually when something is affecting similar plant types in this way it is either environmental or it’s pests. I assume your humidity levels and temperature in the room haven’t changed much?
It looks to me like they are underwatered. You might have to bump up the watering
I would assume you have some sort of pest that maybe you haven’t noticed yet. I had a similar issue and couldn’t see any bugs, but eventually when looking really carefully under a bright light I noticed thrip larvae.
I think it would be worth isolating the sick plants if you’re able to, and treating all of the plants for insects just in case.
Some of them also need to be bumped up a pot size 😊
Are they still putting out new growth? Is it just old leaves dying?
When was the last time you repotted the plants with new dirt? Do you ever fertilize?
If they’ve been in the same soil for three years I wonder if they used up most of the nutrients in the soil. It could be cannabilizing it’s old leaves for nutrients.
I agree that the roots look fine and that the issue isn’t overwatering.
How’s the humidity? I’ve had to increase mine bc the extra dry air from using heat in the winter. Could also be why you need to water more frequently.
I would definitely check for pests and see. Thrips can quickly destroy a collection if left unchecked. Systemic granules will help with that.
Also just an observation maybe it’s not overwatering but under watering or a combination of both that’s causing the issue. If you leave the potting medium too dry for too long it can become hydrophobic and won’t retain water as well. The leaves definitely look a little crispy.
The roots look really dry and I think I see some signs of spider mites on the second to last picture. I would treat all your plants for spider mites thoroughly and also water them more.
They all look dry to me. In the winter things get dryer so water more.
how old is the potting mix? How long since worm castings replenished?
This looks kinda like **deficiencies of (Molybdenum & Nickel)** which are needed to turn (Nitrates & Urea) into Ammonium.
Resulting in a Nitrogen deficiency even in plants which have Nitrogen.
Do you fertize because after the worm castings are gone there is nothing left in that soil.
Maybe try to feed them, healthy plants are less prone to infestation. 🤔🤷♀️
More water maybe. Those roots look really really dry. I brought my plants in and the soil gets dry really fast. They may need fertilizer. Less is more
Do you have a humidifier?
The one thing that I noticed is that you have dry rot, which is just as bad as root rot some plants you cannot wait for them to completely dry out. They don’t like it and you definitely can’t let them stay dry for too long. Use a Chapstick stick it in if it comes out clean it’s time to water. Comes out dirty. Leave it alone
When did you last reply them?