I found something in my yard | How About Orange

March 28, 2014

I found something in my yard


This was hiding by my front step. A crocus! It's spring!

Just kidding. I know this is a daffodil. It's one of the four plants I know. I haven't seen our yard in spring, so I'm curious what will happen. Right now it looks like a dead weed patch.

Speaking of dead, my new potted palm appears to be ailing already. I followed the Home Depot lady's instructions and let it soak up water from the bottom. After couple hours I dumped out the extra water. That was a week and a half ago. Yesterday after seeing it's looking poorly, I watered it again, this time from the top. Today it seems a little yellower yet. It's in a bright room but out of direct sunlight.


Can someone diagnose the problem? Left up to me, I'd do the plant equivalent of seeing someone with a bad cough and concluding their arm is broken. Not enough water? Too much water? Needs plant food? Root rot. More sun. Less sun. Wants to move to Florida. I don't know. Help.

31 comments:

Sarah said...

Too much water for the fern. They can go a while without.

Anonymous said...

Yellowing leaves typically mean too much water, I think.

Denise said...

Normally yellow means too much water. Maybe top water and make sure it drains and dries between watering? I think with bottom watering the soil is always damp and that can be what's causing it. Good luck!

Anonymous said...

From the picture it looks like a lower older frond? I would say this is normal for a new plant acclimating to new conditions (light, temps, humidity, even the ride home). Snip it off and enjoy the green.

Jessica Jones said...

Oh, I hope that's all it is! This big lower frond is yellow and there are a couple small low ones that look like this too now, but the majority are still okay. Fingers crossed! I'll ease off on the watering, too.

Unknown said...

Another thing about ferns... while you shouldn't over water them, they LOVE to be misted a lot. They come from areas where it's humid. Spritz it often.

Grandma G said...

Congrats on the "crocus"! Yay for spring!!

I've never had a palm, so I probably shouldn't say anything... or maybe I should post anonymously ;)... but I'm going to be brave and say that maybe it needs MORE water. It looks dry to me, and a week and a half is a long time... depending, of course on your house temperature and humidity. I think Jan's misting is a good idea.

Grandma G said...

I just looked in my "Green Thumb Garden Handbook". It says under 'problems', "Yellow leaves from poor drainage (although it sounds like you did okay on that), burning at tips or edge of leaves due to hot, dry room or fertilizer injury."

Mum

Jessica Jones said...

Interesting. It's cold and I haven't fertilized. But dry room, YES! I'd better do some misting.

Louise de Pour Toujours... said...

You're lucky. My yard is still covered in snow...

Anonymous said...

My dad was using a spray bottle to water them like makeup setting:) but his plant had also some yellow ends. Sometimes he was cutting 1 cm of these ends calling "manicure":)

h said...

Also, I've found that when abruptly moving a plant from one place to another (i.e., from a store to a home), there tends to be a transition period where it loses leaves. If it still is doing it after a month, then I'd start worrying about my watering methods.

Anonymous said...

Sounds pretty high maintenance. Might as well just get a kid. ;)

Jessica Jones said...

That made me laugh out loud. :)

48 Hour Print  said...

Don't give them too much water.Good luck!

Anonymous said...

You could always Google "care of palm trees"

xo Linda

slkunze said...

My palm loves neglect and I let it totally dry out. It gets watered maybe once a month and goes out on the porch for spring, summer and fall to avoid a nibbling kitteh. Most plants wobble after a move from store or nursery to home, so I wouldn't worry about it right now. After following the water-from-the-bottom rules for some years, I ignore that advice. Um, where is it that rain comes from? Yeah. As Anonymous says, "Enjoy the green!"

Beverly, eastern PA said...

Coldness (draftiness near doorway) and dry air made my palm develop yellow fronds. Mine looks a lot like yours.

I agree with the misting idea. I also agree with the comment about plants acclimating themselves to a new environment. I would not continue to apply large amounts of water. Few plants favor boggy conditions.

It's possible several large branches will be shed by the plant as it gets used to its new home.

Michele @ Moonfield Lane said...

I'm no expert at all, but I do have a month-old Ikea palm that seems to be thriving. After years of killing plants, I think I'm finally on a winning streak. I think the bottom watering idea could result in too much water and is maybe good for plants that have not been watered in a really long time and need some serious hydration. I read somewhere that the biggest mistake most people make is too much water. Most indoor plants, I think, need to dry out completely between waterings, meaning the dirt feels dry and the pot feels light when you pick it up. I'd make sure it isn't getting too much water and also too much light--low light plants don't need direct sunlight. Love your blog!! Good luck :)

Lynn B said...

One more comment about the watering. It also could be your water has too much chlorine in it for this plant. Use a Britta filter or let your water sit overnight to "air" it out like you do for fish bowls before watering your plants. I also agree that the yellow leaves could be from overwatering. You should have a guarantee on your plant from Home Depot if it does die. It just might be the plant too.

Cosmo DK said...

Yellow at the top? Not enough hutrients, or too sunny.

Yellow at the bottom? Too much water.

Keep in mind that that this plant has gone from a greenhouse to a house. Takes a while to adjust.

Anonymous said...

Unrelated: I thought you might like this game:

typeconnection.com

It's a typography matching game

jintyoo7 said...

Ha ha - you got me there! I was busy thinking "no, it's a daffodil" .... :)

Anonymous said...

I accidentally stumbled upon your blog today and just wanted to let you know how happy I am that my unrelated googling landed me here! Your posts have me oohing and ahhing at your awesome projects and designs, and giggling too! I'm in love with what you've done with your home and will be checking in regularly to see whatever new amazingness you've come up with! I'm not nearly as talented as you are but maybe I'll start with a simple origami project and, hopefully, work my way up from there. =) Thanks for the inspiration! -Lauren in NJ

Jessica Jones said...

Lauren, you're welcome!

Okay, I'm going to cut off the yellow fronds, not water for a few weeks, mist occasionally, and see what happens!

Jessica Jones said...

Anonymous, thanks for the typeconnection.com link! Has it been redesigned, do you know? I think I came across it awhile back and it looked different, unless I'm thinking of a different typography "dating" site. It's great!

Anonymous said...

Do you have a water filter that softens your water? Also, if your tap water is chlorinated let water sit out for 24 hrs in a container before watering your palm.
A better indoor palm is the lady palm. I've had great luck with that one than with areca palms.

Jessica Jones said...

Thanks for the palm tip! Yes, I used room temperature water filtered in a Brita thing.

HopNorth said...

If you just bought the plant, it might be going through an adjustment. Most house plants die from too little light or overwatering.

My rule of thumb for watering is stick your finger into the potting soil, if it feels moist then do not water it. If it feels dry, then go ahead and water.

See page 5 of this Extension publication for common houseplant questions. http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/plantsci/landscap/pp744.pdf

HopNorth said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Dewey said...

Too much water.