I treated this epiphyllum with a solution of neem oil and potassium soap but it still looks bad,maybe it was sick for too long…should I maybe cut off some of the leaves? The pot has drainage. I water more or less once a week. It has indirect light, not super bright, probably should be getting more.
I will be grateful for any advice on how to bring it back to greatness and beyond 💚 Hope it's still possible. Thank you
by aureliaeast
3 Comments
What kind of soil mix do you have it in? Can’t tell from the photos. I know they need to retain some moisture but need good aeration around the roots too.
That looks to me like an ongoing insect infestation. I’ve lost epis to a kind of scale that went out of control and looked similar. In my experience neem oil is not sufficient. You could try a systemic insecticide and I’d also take cotton pads and alcohol and wipe it down very thoroughly, wearing gloves. Check the undersides and the crevices of stem joints. (You may need to do this every couple of weeks.) And maybe repot it, as the soil may be infested.
Its not in bad shape honestly. The corking on the older leaves is just gonna happen. You should cut those tall runners. They wont produce blooms, and cutting them will divert energy back into the leaves and promote bushier growth. You can propagated the plant from the cut runners. Also more sun. I keep mine in full louisiana hateful sun. Don’t water it on a scheduled. Theese are tropical and can take being watered often, but you should let the top inch or two of soil dry out between watering. Also the pot is to big. A pot about half that depth will be better. Other wise you are gonna retain moisture too long and could get root rot issues. Theses bois like being root bound in order to get profusion blooms