It’s close to a west facing window (has a privacy film but still gets quite bright). I realized in his photo the soil was dry which is probably why it’s so droopy, but before that the leaves at the bottom edges were turning brown so I thought I’d overwatered…
Pot has drain holes. I try to water to keep it slightly moist but not sopping. Then I tried letting it dry out more and now this.
by cocoa_mello
9 Comments
Ive noticed they need constant moisture
They love humidity! Mine has thrived in a terrarium and previously with a humidity dome. Definitely needs better upkeep on the watering, with the terrarium i find that it keeps it just damp enough to not he overwatered but keeps it from completely drying out
Get a light meter and a moisture meter to make sure its getting enough water and light. Its hard to tell sometimes even for people with green thumbs! They can be found cheap on amazon
and are very helpful, especially the moisture meter.
We all do.
Ours (we have 3) required a LOT of light. They almost went all green before we moved them to the right place. Took a few weeks but we got their color back.
Idk about moisture, but I get the sense yours could do with more light. Whatever light your privacy film is filtering out might be too much for this guy. I think you might have to find a middle ground between what you have and “sitting in direct sunlight”.
I keep mine outside in full sun in Southern California, and I never let the soil fully dry out. Mine are happy and healthy. I cut them back super hard every year after summer and they’re back to full size by the next summer. Mine are many, many years old at this point. Some of the easiest plants I own.
That’s because they 100% do this shit initially. It doesn’t matter what you do- the second they know you have any hope, they die. It doesn’t matter. I have a polka dot plant stem that has lasted 2+ years- how you might ask? Out of pure hatred. I threw it out of the patio years ago and it’s been a SINGLE stem since then that refuses to die. I hate it so much. Anyway. Cut your losses and learn to love again with another plant.
You deserve a less toxic love, OP!
As has been mentioned these are used as bedding plants outdoors so thrive with a lot of bright direct light, and a lot of water. They can definitely be kept inside with some success if you’ve got a very bright south facing window.
Of course light changes across the season so that window isn’t always going to be enough, but they’re not hard to overwinter and get them going again with increased light exposure.
They are also incredibly easy to trim and propagate to reintroduce into the pot for a bushier plant.
Pruning also encourages them to Branch out and become bushier.