ouseplants
In the wild, these intriguing plants grow attached to other plants. Grow them without compost at home, such The H
as nestled in a glass globe or on a piece of driftwood.
HOW NOT TO KILL IT
NO FLOWERS?
It can take years for your air plant to
LOCATION
be mature enough to flower.
A bright kitchen or bathroom can
SAVE IT Do nothing! Some plants
be good as an air plant likes high humidity.
turn red before flowering. After it has
Don’t let it get too cold (below 10°C/50°F),
flowered, your plant will produce “pups”
or expose it to draughts, especially if it is (new plants at the base) and the parent
damp from watering.
plant will die.
LIGHT
Provide bright, indirect light. Avoid
sunny windowsills as the plant may be burnt
SOFT BROWN AREAS OR
by summer sun, and get too cold in winter.
PLANT FALLING APART?
A build up of water between the leaves
WATERING + FEEDING
has lead to rot.
Water the plant by dipping and
SAVE IT It’s too late to save your plant.
draining (see Water it, pp.18–19). Soak it for Next time, shake the plant lightly after
30 minutes, or up to 2 hours if underwatered.
watering and allow to drain upside down.
Water about once a week in summer or if
your home is heated. Use distilled, filtered, or rainwater. You can also water by misting
thoroughly several times a week. Once a
CURLING LEAVES OR
month, add a quarter dose of plant food to
CRISPY LEAF-TIPS?
Crispy
the water. Feed all year round.
They are not getting
leaf-tips
enough water.
CARE
After watering, shake your plant
SAVE IT Water and mist
your plant more regularly.
lightly and let it dry upside down for around 4 hours before returning it to its position.
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Tillandsia
melanocrater
tricolor
Height &
spread: up
to 30cm
(1ft)
Tillandsia
tectorum
Height &
spread: up
to 30cm
(1ft)
Tillandsia
juncea
Height &
spread: up
to 30cm
(1ft)
Tilla
a
n
e
d
ra
si
n
a
th
H
o
e
s
i
s
g
p
h
r
t
e
&
a
t
d
o
:
3
u
0
p
SHEDDING LEAVES?
c
(
m
1ft)
It’s normal for plants to shed some of their
outer leaves. If lots of leaves are being lost, this is a sign that something is wrong with
your plant's environment.
SAVE IT Gently pull away the outer leaves.
Check the light, humidity, and temperature levels around your plant are correct (see left).
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134
INCH PLANT
Tradescantia zebrina
ouseplants
These unfussy, variegated plants are
very easy to care for and look great
The H
in a hanging planter.
HOW NOT TO KILL IT
LOCATION
Place the plant in a room that
UNVARIEGATED
is 12–24°C (54–75°F).
LEAVES?
Your plant is not getting
LIGHT
enough sunlight.
Provide bright, indirect light.
SAVE IT Remove the
It can take some direct sun.
unvariegated leaves and
move your plant to a
WATERING + FEEDING
brighter spot.
Water freely when the top
2–3cm (1in) of compost dries out;
don’t allow it to get waterlogged.
Feed once a month during spring
and summer.
CARE
Remove any shoots that have
LIMP
plain, green leaves; these grow more
STEMS?
strongly than variegated leaves and
The stems trail naturally, but
are less attractive.
if they look especially limp, this is
probably due to underwatering or root
rot, which is caused by overwatering.
Prone to aphids
SAVE IT Ensure you only allow the BUG
and red spider
top 2–3cm (1in) of compost to dry out
ALERT!
(see pp.24–27)
mites on the
between waterings. Check for root rot
foliage.
(see Plant diseases, pp.28–29).
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SHARE
THE CARE
FLAME NETTLE
Solenostemon
Flame nettle, with its bright
leaves, is easy to grow and
has the same needs as an
inch plant. If it becomes
leggy, take stem cuttings.
Tradescantia
zebrina
Height: up to
15cm (6in)
Spread: up to
20cm (8in)
BROWN LEAF
SPINDLY GROWTH OR LOSING
TIPS?
LOWER LEAVES?
The air is too dry, or your
This could be due to too little light, not enough plant is suffering from a
water, or not enough feed. However, it’s more lack of water.
likely that your plant is a few years old – inch plants become spindly with age, shedding their
SAVE IT Mist the
lower leaves.
leaves every 3–4 days.
Check that you’re giving
SAVE IT Check your care regime (see left). If your plant enough water.
your plant is old and past its best, try taking stem cuttings and potting them up to make fresh plants.
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136
YUCCA
Yucca elephantipes
BUG ALERT!
ouseplants
With its spiky leaves and trunk-
(see pp.24–27)
like stems, this shrub brings a
Prone to scale
The H
touch of the exotic to your home.
insects and
mealybugs on
the foliage.
Whole plant
HOW NOT TO KILL IT
BENDING LEAVES?
This could be due to under- or
overwatering, or some kind of
LOCATION
shock to your plant, such as
Provide temperatures of 7–24°C
moving or repotting it.
(45–75°F), but not lower. A yucca is
not
SAVE IT Check you allow the
fussy – it can tolerate fluctuations in
top 5cm (2in) of soil to dry out
temperature and doesn’t mind dry air.
between waterings, and water more
Keep the plant away from children,
sparingly in winter. If you need to
though, as the leaves have sharp ends.
move your plant, move it gradually
towards the new position over a
LIGHT
week to allow it to acclimatize.
Place it in bright light; it can even
take some direct sun. If moving your plant
into direct sunlight, acclimatize it gradually.
BROWN OR BLACK
WATERING + FEEDING
SPOTS ON THE
Water moderately from spring to
FOLIAGE?
autumn, whenever the top 5cm (2in) of
compost has dried out. Water more sparingly
This is leaf spot, caused
in winter. Feed it every 2 months in spring
by bacteria or fungi.
and summer.
SAVE IT Remove any
affected leaves and treat
CARE
with fungicide. For more
Wipe the leaves occasionally with
information see Plant
a clean, damp cloth to keep them shiny and
diseases (pp.28–29).
free of dust.
Black spots
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SHARE
THE CARE
YELLOWING
LEAVES?
This is normal if it is only
happening on the lower leaves.
If it’s happening all over your
plant, you are probably under-
or overwatering it.
SAVE IT Simply pull away
or cut off the yellowed leaves.
Adjust your watering regime
CABBAGE PALM
if necessary (see left).
Cordyline australis
Care for this architectural
shrub as you would a yucca.
You could put it outside
BROWN LEAF TIPS?
in summer.
This is probably due to
erratic watering.
SAVE IT Water your plant more
frequently – when the top 5cm (2in)
of compost has dried out.
ROTTING STEM?
If the bark is peeling and the stem is
rotting at the base, your plant has
been overwatered, which is especially
Yucca
likely in winter.
elephantipes
SAVE IT Reduce watering and
PONYTAIL PALM
Height: up to
2.5m (8ft)
don’t allow your plant to sit in cold, wet
Beaucarnea recurvata
Spread: up to
compost. If the problem has spread too
This eye-catching tree has
1m (3ft)
far, you may not be able to save it.
similar needs to a yucca. It
stores water in its trunk, so
be careful not to overwater.
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138
ZZ PLANT
Zamioculcas zamiifolia
ouseplants
This striking, upright plant is
easy to grow and doesn’t mind
The H
being underwatered.
HOW NOT TO KILL IT
YELLOWING
LEAVES?
Your plant has been
LOCATION
overwatered, or is sitting in
Keep the plant in a warm room
wet compost. This can lead to
(15–24ºC/60–75ºF), all year round. It
root rot.
will tolerate dry air.
SAVE IT Allow the
compost to dry out. If the plant
LIGHT
looks very sickly, check for signs
For a lush plant, place it in bright
of root rot – brown, mushy roots.
light, out of direct sun. However, it will
Remove any affected areas and
tolerate lower light levels.
repot. For more information,
see Plant diseases (pp.28–29).
WATERING + FEEDING
Water so that the compost is just
moist and allow the top 5cm (2in) to dry out
between waterings, all year round. Don’t let
the plant sit in wet compost. Feed once a
MANY DROPPING
month from spring to late summer.
LEAVES?
You may have shocked your plant by
CARE
moving it, perhaps from a shaded to
Wipe the leaves with a clean, damp
sunny spot. Alternatively, it may be
cloth to keep them looking shiny and to
too dry or too wet at the roots.
allow enough light to reach them.
SAVE IT Acclimatize your plant
gradually to a new position. Check
whether the compost is too dry or too
BUG
Prone to mealybugs
wet, adjusting your watering
and red spider mites
regime accordingly.
ALERT!
(see pp.24–27)
on the foliage.
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BROWN PATCHES
SHARE
ON LEAVES?
THE CARE
This is sunburn.
SAVE IT
Brown
Move your plant
patches
out of direct
sunlight.
SAGO PALM
Cycas revoluta
This ancient plant has been
around since the dinosaur
era. Care for it in the same
way as a ZZ plant.
Zamioculcas
GUIANA CHESTNUT
zamiifolia
Pachira aquatica
Height: up to
This plant is often sold
1m (3ft)
with a braided trunk and
Spread: up to
has similar care needs
60cm (2ft)
to the ZZ plant.
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140
INDOOR BONSAI
Various
ouseplants
Bonsai are young trees trained to look like mature trees in miniature. The bonsai featured here, Chinese elm, is The H
one of many trees you can buy grown like this.
HOW NOT TO KILL IT
SPINDLY GROWTH,
PALE LEAVES?
Your tree may not be
LOCATION
getting enough light,
In the growing season, keep the
especially in winter.
tree at 15–21°C (60–70°F). Move it to a
cooler spot during winter (at least 10ºC/50ºF).
SAVE IT Move
Avoid placing in draughts or near radiators.
it to a brighter spot.
Specialist growers
use grow lights in
LIGHT
winter to boost
Place it in bright light, but avoid
light levels.
direct summer sun.
WATERING + FEEDING
In a shallow tray, the compost can
dry out quickly. Keep the compost moist,
CRISPY
but not wet. Ideally, use rainwater. Provide
LEAVES?
with bonsai feed once a month from spring
Dry, crisp
y
to mid-autumn.
leaves are a
sign of underwatering.
CARE
SAVE IT Check your
Grow in a specialist bonsai mix.
watering regime.
Stand the tree on a pebble-filled tray of
water and mist the leaves for humidity.
Repot in spring if the roots have filled the
pot. Place the tree outside in the summer.
BUG
Prone to scale insects,
ALERT! mealybugs, powdery mildew, (see pp.24–27)
aphids, vine weevils, and red spider mites.
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YELLOW LEAVES?
TREE LOSING
The leaves of deciduous bonsai turn yellow before LEAVES?
falling in autumn. In other seasons, or on evergreen Deciduous bonsai drop
bonsai, yellow leaves could be due to over- or their leaves in autumn.
underwatering or incorrect feeding, temperatures, or Some leaf-loss may also
light levels. These can also occur after repotting.
occur in spring. Leaf-loss in
SAVE IT
other seasons or in
Ensure the compost is kept moist, not wet evergreen trees can be
and check for root rot (see Plant diseases, pp.28–29).
caused by a change in
Check you are giving your plant the right care.
conditions (such as
repotting) or incorrect care.
SAVE IT Check the
location is suitable, and that
you are providing the correct
care (see left).
CRISPY LEAVES?
BLACK OR BROWN
TIPS ON LEAVES?
Dry, crispy leaves are a sign
of underwatering. Dark
leaf-tips are due to
overwatering or cold.
SAVE IT Move your
tree to a warmer spot and
check your watering regime.
TREE BECOMING
LEGGY OR LOSING SHAPE?
Your bonsai will need to be pruned and trained
Ulmus
in order to manage its size and shape.
parvifolia
SAVE IT Remove one third of the roots Height &
each time you repot your bonsai. Pinch or prune spread: up to
out the growing tips and trim new shoots back to 50cm (20in)
one or two sets of leaves in the growing season.
Use bonsai wire to train the branches.
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142
INDEX
x
Inde
Adiantum raddianum 32–33, 86
bromeliad, blushing 46, 49
diseases 15, 21, 28–29
Aechmea fasciata 34–35
butterfly palm 85
see also pests
aeonium 73
buying plants 14–15
Dracaena fragrans 68–69
African milk bush 115
D. marginata 47, 69
African spear 47, 115
cabbage palm 137
How Not to Kill Your Houseplant Page 13