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Avatar for carriedessi
Apr 14, 2024 6:13 AM CST
Thread OP
New Jersey
I picked up this sick beauty this morning. I've never owned one and I'd like to bring her back to life. She is turning yellow and a couple stems are mushy. Any help would be great!
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Apr 14, 2024 6:41 AM CST
Name: Gina
Florida (Zone 9a)
Tropical plant collector 40 years
Aroids Region: Florida Tropicals
OOF. Typical Costa Farms. The soil mix they plant their stuff in is horrible. Its holds way too much water. I think they do it because they know that the stores they ship to will either water very infrequently or never water at all. If they get a store that actually does water, the plants can get overwatered easily.
Birkin is tough. Unpot that and shake off as much of the old mix as you can. DON'T wash the roots. Snip off any obviously dead roots.
Repot it onto a much smaller pot (only as large as the root system needs to be container plus an inch). Make a mix of good quality potting soil (1/3) orchid bark (1/3) and perlite or pumice (1/3). repot and water once, then water maybe once a week if you are keeping this int he house. It should bounce back. If you start to see any leaves like this, don;t fret. That is the natural genetic expression of the Philo Rojo Congo parent
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I bought this Birkin about 4 years ago, it has done pretty great in the soil mix I shared above. I'm currently training it to climb this pole (which is unnecessary, I just want to do it LOL)
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Apr 14, 2024 11:26 AM CST
Plants Admin
Name: Suzanne/Sue
Sebastopol, CA (Zone 9a)
Sunset Zone 15
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I agree, looks like dense peat based soil, staying too wet, choking those roots.
I water mine even less than Gina recommended and it has been a great looking easy care plant, I'm very impressed by it!
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Apr 14, 2024 11:28 AM CST
Name: Gina
Florida (Zone 9a)
Tropical plant collector 40 years
Aroids Region: Florida Tropicals
They are tough. So are both parents
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