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Jan 25, 2016 3:35 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Cat or Tabby
Portland OR
Spiders!
Oh this is such a sad little plant, I got the original plant in a large floor planter from my mother in law years ago, I managed to kill the parent plant but had managed to take cuttings and had 4 or 5 that survived for awhile and then died. Now I only have 2 left, this one I took as a cutting from another that grew for awhile so I guess it's a third generation cutting.
And I am a horrible plant mother. It has been in water for about 3 years.

There is a tiny little greener leaf that is coming up out of the center, so I kind of still have hope?? Maybe?

I have some Alaska all natural fish pellet all purpose fertilizer that my husband pick up for me, can I add some pellets right into the water the this plant is in??

Would that help?
The plants name is Monstro.
Cat /Atabby/Tabs

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Jan 26, 2016 8:14 AM CST
Name: Christine
NY zone 5a
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Welcome! I dont think there is anything you can do to save it.. Treat yourself to a new healthy plant
Last edited by Christine Jan 26, 2016 8:14 AM Icon for preview
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Jan 26, 2016 10:34 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Cat or Tabby
Portland OR
Spiders!
Hi Christine,
It does look pretty awful doesn't it. Blinking

What is not shown in the picture is that it has a good amount of roots on the end of the stalk, and there is that little green tip of a new leaf peeking out from the crown.

I am going to pull it out of the juice bottle today and pot it up.

This is it's "sister" I can't remember why I put one cutting in water, probably I didn't have a pot available.

Sister is not doing that great but is at least green! .... and well, been in soil so that makes a difference. Rolling on the floor laughing
I added a teaspoon of the pellet fertilizer to Sister, and watered well and it looks a lot perkier this morning!


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Jan 27, 2016 11:02 AM CST
Name: tarev
San Joaquin County, CA (Zone 9b)
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Hi Cat,

My observation with Dracaenas, they do not respond well to fertilizers. Better to keep off the fertilizers especially in winter, tropicals are in slow down growing due to winter. Application of fertilizer to a very stressed plant will not work either. Got to give the plant some time to recover or get back to its usual growing speed during Spring. Too much fertilizer application will just result in root and leaf burn.

I am not sure if the plant in the plastic container is still alive looking at your photo. How does the stalk feel/look like inside? Is it green or too soft and mushy? Typically if it is a firm trunk, there may be a fighting chance, but a stalk with no green leaves to it, and depending on the condition of the roots it may just be dead roots. Does it seem the roots are growing?

Are these plants growing near a window at least? They are low light plants, but they still need some bright light and warmth.
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Jan 27, 2016 4:03 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Cat or Tabby
Portland OR
Spiders!
Hi Cat,

My observation with Dracaenas, they do not respond well to fertilizers. Better to keep off the fertilizers especially in winter, tropicals are in slow down growing due to winter. Application of fertilizer to a very stressed plant will not work either. Got to give the plant some time to recover or get back to its usual growing speed during Spring. Too much fertilizer application will just result in root and leaf burn.

I am not sure if the plant in the plastic container is still alive looking at your photo. How does the stalk feel/look like inside? Is it green or too soft and mushy? Typically if it is a firm trunk, there may be a fighting chance, but a stalk with no green leaves to it, and depending on the condition of the roots it may just be dead roots. Does it seem the roots are growing?

Are these plants growing near a window at least? They are low light plants, but they still need some bright light and warmth. [/quote]

Hi Tarev, I don't know how to work this editor yet, it's a bit confusing as I didn't see a Reply To just the quote option, so forgive me, I'm not a great typist at my best.

The yellow leafed plant is definitely still alive, there is another small green tip coming out of the crown! I pruned the roots a tiny bit and potted it up yesterday in just some potting soil, watered well and we will see how it responds. The stem is firm and had a lot of green on the stalk below the water line right above where the roots were sprouted. I didn't add any food to the potting mix, just told it to grow.
Now it's up to Monstro.
Sister, the other cutting that was in much better shape, and in a pot, I added a few Very few pellets to the soil, which has been the same soil for about maybe 5 years and topped the container off with some new soil, after aerating a little and watered well.
Sister looks quite good today. She will either make it or throw a fit, If they haven't died by now with my atrocious care, I think they have a fighting chance.
I won't be using that fish pellet stuff anymore though, as it stinks to high!

Lighting, I don't have a lot of room near my windows, and I'm light sensitive so most light coming in is filtered.
Monstro was in the bathroom up on a shelf right next to a north facing window. with frosted glass.
Sister was in the Kitchen on a shelf with a pitiful prayer plant and a pothos in the room that gets the most light but across the room from the only window above the sink. North facing also

Sister had a lot of build up of dust and greasy, being in the kitchen, you know that grime.
Do you have any good tips on how to get the gunk off the leaves? I rinsed and gently rubbed as much of the oily dust off but there is still a coating on Sisters leaves that I would like to remove.

Here is another of my plants that is in the bathroom that I'm going to have to do something about soon I think it's an Umbrella plant but not sure, the roots have broken apart the plastic pot it's in.
I've had this one for over 30 years. I can't believe it's been that long!

Yes it needs a dusting and a bath also.





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Last edited by Atabby Jan 27, 2016 4:31 PM Icon for preview
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Jan 29, 2016 8:30 AM CST
Name: Tiffany purpleinopp
Opp, AL @--`--,----- 🌹 (Zone 8b)
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I'm not sure it's not Cordyline fruticosa/terminalis.
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Jan 29, 2016 10:03 AM CST
Name: tarev
San Joaquin County, CA (Zone 9b)
Give PEACE a chance!
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Hi Cat, I think you have done what you can for now. Just have to wait for the plants to get their vigor back in Spring. As I have earlier suggested, just a little more light would help them, since winter conditions really have much lower light and in a north facing window much lesser too.

The plant that you call Sister, may be due for a repot, since it has been sitting on same soil for 5 years, oftentimes, salt has built up in there and either you totally give it a good flush of water or consider repotting by Spring time, to improve the media. And if you plan to do that, you can also repot the one that looks like an umbrella plant.

My only suggestion for the leaves, is a real thorough shower wash outdoors when temps are better in Spring. Some would use a little soapy water or some very diluted lemon juice to clean the leaves by wiping them off. If you have time you can do it that way, or just wait for Spring to wash the leaves outdoors early in the day so it will dry out nicely before nightfall.
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Feb 6, 2016 8:13 AM CST
Name: Will Creed
NYC
Prof. plant consultant & educator
There are several important things to keep in mind when propagating Corn Plant cuttings. First, start them out in small pots filled with a very porous, peat-based potting mix. Fragile developing roots require some moisture and also oxygen to develop. Large pots and heavy soils tend to stay wet for too long and deprive the roots of oxygen. Monitor the potting mix moisture carefully and water only when the top quarter is dry. Always water thoroughly until a bit runs through the drain holes. If your water is hard, use distilled or filtered water. Skip the fertilizer. Fertilizer is not medicine. It is intended only for healthy plants that are growing vigorously and using lots of nutrients.

Warm temps always help developing roots. Lots of bright indirect light is important. Most folks tend to over-estimate indoor light. Natural light filtered by frosted glass or sheers rarely yields sufficient light for plants to thrive. Likewise, light intensity drops of dramatically with every foot of distance from the light source. Corn Plants must be within a few feet of an uncovered north window.
Will Creed
Horticultural Help, NYC
www.HorticulturalHelp.com
Contact me directly at [email protected]
I now have a book available on indoor plant care
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Feb 11, 2016 8:22 AM CST
Name: Sally
central Maryland (Zone 7b)
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Will, thanks for all the good advice you've been giving.
I really like the statement:
"Fertilizer is not medicine"
That's a great tip that people can understand and corrects exactly what some may misunderstand.
You have a lot interesting looking plant care bulletins available, hopefully some will take advantage of that.
Plant it and they will come.
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