Post a reply

Image
Jul 26, 2015 12:17 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Angie
Italy
Dracaena, dragon tree or corn plant..

I inadvertently grabbed the wrong spray bottle and instead of misting and watering it with water... I windexed them ... (I know.. stupid, stupid, stupid). Right away I brought the plant outside and tried to flush the soil as much as possible even left it outside for the day hoping it would dry up the soil (seeing the this plant doesn't like alot of moisture). It's been two days and it's pretty wilted .. is there anything I can do save this plant .. it's not looking very well
Thumb of 2015-07-26/qtpai/ad2943
Avatar for Dutchlady1
Jul 26, 2015 12:20 PM CST

Plumerias Photo Contest Winner: 2015 Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Ideas: Master Level Forum moderator
Region: Florida Cat Lover Garden Sages Cactus and Succulents Tropicals Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle
Those are pretty tough plants. I would take it out of the pot and just rinse the heck out of both roots, stem and leaves; you may lose some of the leaves but I daresay the plant will come back.
Avatar for Dutchlady1
Jul 26, 2015 12:20 PM CST

Plumerias Photo Contest Winner: 2015 Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Ideas: Master Level Forum moderator
Region: Florida Cat Lover Garden Sages Cactus and Succulents Tropicals Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle
And I meant to say - your title made me LOL Rolling on the floor laughing
Image
Jul 26, 2015 12:25 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Angie
Italy
Thank you so much ... I'll give it a shot .. I didn't want to expose it to too much water ... don't want to add voluntary drowning to my crimes.... but if it doesnt look better in the morning I'm gonna rinse the roots. .. thanks again Dutchlady1
Image
Jul 26, 2015 12:37 PM CST
Name: Sue
Ontario, Canada (Zone 4b)
Annuals Native Plants and Wildflowers Keeps Horses Dog Lover Daylilies Region: Canadian
Butterflies Birds Enjoys or suffers cold winters Garden Sages Plant Identifier
Part of the problem also might have been leaving it outside for the day if it was used to being indoors. If the soil ball is currently on the dry side I would at least flush it through with more water to try and wash the stuff out but don't leave the plant outside. Can you do that in a laundry tub or something, and also wash the leaves?
Image
Jul 26, 2015 12:43 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Angie
Italy
The only reason I left it outside was cause the soil was soaked ... I panicked when I realize I had windex in my hand instead of the water bottle that I just ran out on the terrace and soaked the plant ... then hoped the sun would dry off the soil a little .. in hindsight I realize that too was a stupid idea .. It seems I'm on a streak ... gonna give it another bath then see how she feels in the morning. Thanks sooby
Image
Jul 26, 2015 2:09 PM CST
Name: greene
Savannah, GA (Sunset 28) (Zone 8b)
I have no use for internet bullies!
Avid Green Pages Reviewer Keeper of Poultry Vegetable Grower Rabbit Keeper Frugal Gardener Garden Ideas: Master Level
Plant Identifier Region: Georgia Native Plants and Wildflowers Composter Garden Sages Bookworm
qtpai said:It seems I'm on a streak ...


Rolling on the floor laughing Rolling on the floor laughing Rolling on the floor laughing I thought Windex was streak free. Rolling on the floor laughing Rolling on the floor laughing Rolling on the floor laughing

Welcome!
I cannot tell you when I have read a more interesting thread. You are a hoot and a half. Normally I say to new people that they will have a good time on ATP, but it's the other way around with you. We will have a good time now that you have joined us. Thumbs up

I am sending you some acorns; please do not throw them at your plant. :whistling:

Edited to add:
Oh look, a dog!
Sunset Zone 28, AHS Heat Zone 9, USDA zone 8b~"Leaf of Faith"
Last edited by greene Jul 26, 2015 2:10 PM Icon for preview
Image
Jul 26, 2015 2:17 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Angie
Italy
lol streak free... that's a good one greene.. Rolling on the floor laughing

Thanks for the acorns ... I'm worried about the plant .. she's looking a bit green ... Hilarious! .... I think if I wet her anymore I don't have to worry about killing her .. she's gonna commit suicide just so I'll stop.... I'm gonna let her be for a couple of days ... she should be windex free now.... if she doesn't do better I'll change the soil all together.... for now I'm gonna pick up my acorns and go have a coffee Thumbs up
Image
Jul 26, 2015 6:40 PM CST
Name: Elaine
Sarasota, Fl
The one constant in life is change
Amaryllis Tropicals Multi-Region Gardener Orchids Master Gardener: Florida Irises
Herbs Region: Florida Vegetable Grower Daylilies Birds Cat Lover
Angie, welcome to ATP and thanks for the fun thread title etc.

Just my opinion here, but I think you may have panicked a bit, and over-reacted. Windex should not hurt your plant all that much. It is mainly composed of ammonia, and while it is probably too strong to use on a regular basis on a plant, as long as you diluted it well after applying it, especially rinsing off the leaves, I don't think it should harm the plant much. Ammonia is NH3 as a chemical symbol, and N stands for Nitrogen which is the first component in fertilizer. H is hydrogen . . . not sure what else they put in that Windex bottle except for blue color but . . I do know a lady who adds Windex to her regular spray to prevent spider mites on her plants.

So I just wanted to encourage you to let the plant have a rest and dry out, put it back where it usually lives and just keep an eye on it for a few days. As Hetty says, they are fairly sturdy plants to begin with and there are worse things you could have sprayed it with, too.

Just so you'll feel better, I sprayed a few squirts of "mosquito bomb" spray that was billed as "safe for children and pets" around outside my patio door the other day. I expected something that was an aerosol, but this was tiny droplets. Turns out it was composed of some aromatic oils, smelled good and nixxed the flock of mosquitoes, but the pretty Swallowtail Plant that I had sitting by the door really didn't like it one bit! The next day it had tiny bleached, burned spots all over the leaves. It is recovering now but I had to cut it back fairly far to get rid of all the ugly burnt leaves.
Elaine

"Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm." โ€“Winston Churchill
Avatar for Dutchlady1
Jul 26, 2015 6:42 PM CST

Plumerias Photo Contest Winner: 2015 Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Ideas: Master Level Forum moderator
Region: Florida Cat Lover Garden Sages Cactus and Succulents Tropicals Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle
Not an uncommon story - I think we've probably all sprayed something we didn't mean to. Not to mention brushed our teeth with something entirely unsuitable for that purpose.... Whistling
Image
Jul 26, 2015 6:42 PM CST
Name: Sandy B.
Ford River Twp, Michigan UP (Zone 4b)
(Zone 4b-maybe 5a)
Charter ATP Member Bee Lover Butterflies Birds I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
Seed Starter Vegetable Grower Greenhouse Region: United States of America Region: Michigan Enjoys or suffers cold winters
Welcome to All Things Plants, Angie @qtpai !

I hope your plant will recover Smiling
โ€œThink occasionally of the suffering of which you spare yourself the sight." ~ Albert Schweitzer
C/F temp conversion
Image
Jul 26, 2015 7:57 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Angie
Italy
Thank you all so much dyzzypyxxy , Dutchlady1 and weedwhacker.

I'm so glad I found this forum ... since I've purchased many plants that I'm not even sure how to take care of them ... I moved to Italy from Canada a few years ago and they don't give you a heck of a lot of information on a plant when you purchase it here much less the name of it... so I spend a lot of time trying to figure out what plant I have and how to take care of it online. Plus try explaining mulch or pine chips in italian when trying to buy potting soil etc ... they look a me like if I were an alien ... My living room now looks like a jungle... plants everywhere ... I've been pretty lucky so far... but like I said its all luck and no skill ... so I will be making alot of mistakes and risking the lives of many a plant Crying ... that's where you guys come in.. Hurray!

Thank You! all again for all your help.
Image
Jul 26, 2015 8:15 PM CST
Name: Lin Vosbury
Sebastian, Florida (Zone 10a)

Region: Ukraine Region: United States of America Bird Bath, Fountain and Waterfall Region: Florida Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Birds Butterflies Bee Lover Hummingbirder Container Gardener
Hi Angie, Welcome! from me too!

I too laughed out loud at your subject line so I just had to read further to see what involuntary attempted plantslaughter took place. Your Corn Plant (Dracaena fragrans) looks pretty good to me and I agree with what's been said, they are pretty tough plants! I think since you've flushed the soil and washed the leaves, it should be okay once it's had time to adjust back to normalcy.

I have a 6' tall Dracaena fragrans that's been on my deck for 4 years and it would make you cry to see how horrible it looks due to lack of proper care ... and yet it still survives. I guess I could be charged with Attempted Negligent Planticide. Rolling on the floor laughing
~ I'm an old gal who still loves playing in the dirt!
~ Playing in the dirt is my therapy ... and I'm in therapy a lot!


Image
Jul 26, 2015 8:52 PM CST
Name: Ann ~Heat zn 9, Sunset
North Fl. (Zone 8b)
Garden Sages Region: Ukraine Native Plants and Wildflowers Xeriscape Organic Gardener I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
Garden Ideas: Master Level Butterflies Charter ATP Member Plant Identifier Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Dog Lover
Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! to ATP Angie! I too am cracking up at this thread. You're a hoot & will fit right in as most of us seem to be nuts here. I think gardening & the love of laughter must be contained in the same genome.

If it makes any difference I agree that your plant will be fine if you can manage to leave it alone for a while. Rolling on the floor laughing Rolling on the floor laughing Rolling on the floor laughing Rolling on the floor laughing All said in fun.
I am a strong believer in the simple fact is that what matters in this life is how we treat others. I think that's what living is all about. Not what I've done in my life but how I've treated others. ~~ Sharon Brown
Image
Jul 26, 2015 9:02 PM CST
Name: greene
Savannah, GA (Sunset 28) (Zone 8b)
I have no use for internet bullies!
Avid Green Pages Reviewer Keeper of Poultry Vegetable Grower Rabbit Keeper Frugal Gardener Garden Ideas: Master Level
Plant Identifier Region: Georgia Native Plants and Wildflowers Composter Garden Sages Bookworm
I'm still chuckling. Rolling on the floor laughing
Oh, and I may read a bit slower than some but I finally got your name...Q T P A I ...qtpai. Even your name has humor. Thumbs up
Sunset Zone 28, AHS Heat Zone 9, USDA zone 8b~"Leaf of Faith"
Image
Jul 27, 2015 8:06 AM CST
Name: Tiffany purpleinopp
Opp, AL @--`--,----- ๐ŸŒน (Zone 8b)
Region: United States of America Houseplants Overwinters Tender Plants Indoors Garden Sages Plant Identifier Garden Ideas: Level 2
Organic Gardener Composter Miniature Gardening Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Tender Perennials Butterflies
Hi & welcome! Good vibes to your plants! TY for the entertaining discussion too.
The golden rule: Do to others only that which you would have done to you.
๐Ÿ‘€๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜‚ - SMILE! -โ˜บ๐Ÿ˜Žโ˜ปโ˜ฎ๐Ÿ‘ŒโœŒโˆžโ˜ฏ
The only way to succeed is to try!
๐Ÿฃ๐Ÿฆ๐Ÿ”๐Ÿฏ๐Ÿพ๐ŸŒบ๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒธ๐ŸŒผ๐ŸŒน
The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The 2nd best time is now. (-Unknown)
๐Ÿ‘’๐ŸŽ„๐Ÿ‘ฃ๐Ÿก๐Ÿƒ๐Ÿ‚๐ŸŒพ๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿโฆโง๐Ÿ๐Ÿ‚๐ŸŒฝโ€โ˜€ โ˜•๐Ÿ‘“๐Ÿ
Try to be more valuable than a bad example.
Image
Jul 28, 2015 5:29 PM CST
Name: Rick Corey
Everett WA 98204 (Zone 8a)
Sunset Zone 5. Koppen Csb. Eco 2f
Frugal Gardener Garden Procrastinator I helped beta test the first seed swap Plant and/or Seed Trader Seed Starter Region: Pacific Northwest
Photo Contest Winner: 2014 Avid Green Pages Reviewer Garden Ideas: Master Level Garden Sages I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! I helped plan and beta test the plant database.
Hi Angie! Thanks for the fun thread!

>> this plant doesn't like a lot of moisture

>> don't want to add voluntary drowning to my crimes.... but if it doesn't look better in the morning I'm gonna rinse the roots. ..

Right! What do we do when we want to flush a pot, but don't want to drown the roots? It's too late to go back in time and use a faster-draining, coarser and more "open" potting mix.

You could pull it out of the pot, prune the root ball, wash it down to bare roots, and re-pot the plant. But who wants to do that?

My suggestion is to "extend" the capillary zone of the pot by setting the pot on top of a towel or folded-over absorbent cotton cloth (like flannel or Tee shorts) that will wick a lot of water.

If the fabric touches the soil through the holes in the bottom of the pot, it will wick water out of the bottom of the pot until that bottom is no wetter than the towel. (Of course water will drain down from the upper layers of soil in the pot to the bottom, as the bottom dries out.)

If you let the towel drape down off the edge of your deck, or dangle down a few feet, and allow it to drip into a tray or something, the potting mix becomes part of a tall capillary column where capillary attraction PLUS GRAVITY pull water out of your pot.

Now you can water it heavily knowing that the water will be mostly wicked away in a few hours, and the roots are less likely to drown.
Only the members of the Members group may reply to this thread.
  • Started by: qtpai
  • Replies: 16, views: 1,032
Member Login:

( No account? Join now! )

Today's site banner is by Zoia and is called "Volunteer"

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.