My plant is dying - What should I do?

[sonta8]

Hi,

I got a lovely indoor plant from patch plants. But it seems to be dying and becoming sadder and sadder. Can someone please suggest what can I do to salvage it?

It’s in my bathroom close to the window. But we don’t get direct sunlight here. And it’s winter now so I get only little bit of light. We keep the window closed. I spray it with little water and mist daily in evening before I sleep. I am new to taking care of plants so a bit clueless on what to do. Any advice would be helpful. Thanks!

The soil looks dry. Try placing it in a bowl of water first for an hour or 2. Research next. What is it and what does it like. Poor thing. I'm only learning about plants. 🪴

Could be:
Too much water - don't water / spray until the soil is completely dried out, and make sure water is not collecting at the bottom of the pot thus rotting the roots
Not enough light - move closer to the window or to another window
Pot too small - repot
Not enough nutrients in the soil - put fertiliser in
Too cold - move somewhere warmer

Looks like a type of palm? Soil looks dry, try watering & see if it picks up.
How warm is your bathroom? It might not like the cold or humidity?
Do you know what it is?

It's a parlour palm. Not seen one flop before. Either cold or rotten roots from too much water. If it were dry it would have crispy leaf tips, but could be inconsistent watering as the soil is bone dry. Pot is definitely not too small.

Move him somewhere warmer for winter for a start :) Mine have just relocated for winter, lower light means low growth and less water needed, but I don't want them freezing.

Do the roots smell? If so perhaps too much water/root rot. Move it to a different (warmer?) windowsill for a while and see if that helps.

Thanks everyone!

@Blessedbethefruitz when I touch the leave it does feels a bit crispy and not moist. I assume it would be under watering then?

@EasterMummie Roots don’t smell at all.

@APurpleSquirrel Not sure what it is. Bathroom is not toasty but not too cold either

I will try to move it to a warmer spot and increase watering for a bit then.

How much should I water it though? A tea cup a day?

Is it right next to a heater? Houseplants vary widely on watering, but mine don't get more than twice a week in the summer, 3x max, and those are the calathea!

The leaves will go dry if the roots are super rotten, as they won't take in water. I mention this in response to your tea cup of water a day question - how much water is it actually getting?

Moved it closer to my south facing window as well. Hopefully it works 🤞🏽

Ah okay @Blessedbethefruitz - how much you suggest watering this? It wasn’t close to the heater btw. Now I have moved it to my work desk which is on other side of the room vs the heater.

It won’t care about your bathroom being cold. But it needs repotted with the crown of the plant a bit below the surface. Press the compost firmly .

it might need some support ( these little green sticks with a loose circle of twine ).

it will also enjoy being misted, although usually the air in a bathroom is moist.

Here are the full care instructions

https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-grow-parlour-palm/

Thanks! @N0TMYIDEA I was spraying it a bit on leaves as well. I will try to buy maybe a bamboo stake to support it?

I wouldn't water more than once a week in winter.

A parlour palm shouldn’t need staking, so don’t bother with that.

it does look really dry. There isn’t a formula for watering, you need to go by touching the soil and the weight of the pot.

Firstly, get a bowl filled with water and leave the plant in that for a few hours. If the soil has dried too much, it may not absorb water at all, so you may need to pour water in the top too. Your aim is to get the soil soaking, all the way through.

Then leave it to drain for an hour.

This may help it perk up - you’ll see in a day or so.

What @PlatinumBrunette says .

Before you do that, lift the pot and remember how heavy it feels. With practice you can tell whether a plant needs watering by the weight of the pot.

once you have the soil rewetted, wait till the top 1-2 cm or so is dry. Fill the pot to the top with water, and after half an hour drain away any water remaining in the saucer.

When a plant label tells you to mist the leaves of a plant, in most cases it means as well as watering, not instead of.

The compost in that pot looks absolutely bone dry to me.

I would say reposition in a lighter area and check the roots. Most plants like being fed from underneath, so once a week pot out and into water for a drink. Then leave alone for a week. My plants also absolutely love banana skins. I put them into the soil and remove after a few days. Other people soak them into the water.