By careful observation and questioning, you should be able to narrow the cause of the problem down to one or two possibilities. In some cases, nothing will help the situation. However, there are some things you can recommend. While not guaranteed to improve the condition, they won't hurt. The plant owner often will feel better if he has something he can do for his ailing plant. The fol lowing are some examples of what you can recommend.
- Leach If you suspect too much fertilizer or a root problem such as root rot or overwatering, then leaching can be very beneficial. By leaching, we mean pouring enough water in the top of the pot or container so that it runs out the bot tom. Wait a few minutes and do this again. This should be done four or five times. This washes the excess soluble salts out of the bottom and in some cases washes some of the root rot organisms out also. This can't hurt any plant, and all plants should be leached at least every other month.
- Provide More Light Many indoor plant problems occur because the plant is not growing very strongly. The plant is more susceptible to problems if it is not receiving enough light to grow and manufacture its food. Have the plant owner move the plant to a location where it will receive more light. Plants in dark corners should be rotated every two weeks with plants that are in bright loca tions. If impossible to rotate, then provide more light by artificial means. However, do not put plants in direct sunlight.
- Increase Humidity Most plants are in low-humidity conditions and increas ing the humidity in many cases helps the plant. Increase the humidity by filling the tray or saucer with gravel and placing the plants on the gravel. The moisture will evaporate up and around the plants and provide a humidity of 60 to 100 per cent, which is ideal. Another method of increasing humidity is to group plants together and hang some hanging baskets over the grouping. Plants transpire and give off some moisture, thus increasing the humidity. Misting also helps increase humidity, but after the mist dries, the humidity is back as low as it was to start with. If misting is done, it should be done often enough to maintain a higher humidity for a longer period of time.
- Water Less Often Most people water their plants too frequently. There fore, the soil never has a chance to dry out properly. Roots require air to grow and if they stay wet all the time, they will suffocate and rot. Remember, every time a plant is watered, it should be watered until water runs out the bottom of the pot. Wait until the soil dries out about 1-1-2 inches deep before rewatering.
- Repot in a Sterilized Soil and Pot Although there are no good fungicides that can be recommended for a root-loss problem, the owner may try the follow ing. Take the plant to a water spigot, wash the old soil and rotten roots off the plant, and repot the plant in clean, loose, sterilized soil in a clean, sterilized pot. The plant has a chance of starting new growth and overcoming the root-loss problem.
- Add Extra Lime Most of the soils used to grow interior plants have a low pH. Most of the fertilizers we use on interior plants have an acid base and will eventually lower the soil pH. Adding extra lime will not hurt the plant. Even ferns benefit from the extra lime. Do not recommend "hydrated lime." Do recommend dolomitic or agricultural lime. For a 6-inch pot, recommend one tablespoon. This can be done at least twice each year. This rate will not harm most interior plants, unless the water source has a high pH.
- Spray Foliage With Magnesium Sulfate If the foliage is a light green or seems to be turning yellow, a light foliage spray of "epsom salts" (magnesiumsul fate) will sometimes green the plant up. This is not permanent and usually after a couple of weeks, the plant will fade out again if the problem has not been solved. This should be applied at the rate of one teaspoon in one gallon of water and sprayed onto the foliage. If this low concentration is applied, no burn should oc cur.
If these recommendations are carried out, the plant will not necessarily be cured. These are some things the plant owner can be doing. If they feel they are doing something for their plant, they are much happier. In most cases, these pro cedures work but don't guarantee them. I hope this will be of help to you in solv ing a few of the many interior plant problems you will be faced with.