i have houseplant questions and don't know if they apply here, since it's
not gardening per se, but thought i would give it a shot to see if anyone
can help me.

first question:
i overwatered some plants and ended up with actual mold on the top layer of
soil. white hairy mold. i noticed more dropping yellow leaves on the plant
(diffenbachia) than usual. i scooped out the top layer of soil taking the
visible mold away. i was wondering if the mold is very bad for the plant,
and also if scooping off the top layer and letting the soil dry was enough
to take care of it.

2nd question:
i took cuttings from a citronella plant. they have been in water for at
least 2 (maybe 3 months now). the didnt grwo roots right away, but finally
started to. the stalk from which the roots are growing however seem like
they are rotting. the leaves of the plant look and smell fine. the stalks
are still sturdy, just brown and have a gooeyness on them. can i
successfully plant them? is there a specific way i hsould have rooted and
planted this?

On Wed, 13 Aug 2003 02:34:55 GMT, "gingerobyn"
wrote:

i have houseplant questions and don't know if they apply here, since it's
not gardening per se, but thought i would give it a shot to see if anyone
can help me.

first question:
snip
2nd question:
i took cuttings from a citronella plant. they have been in water for at
least 2 (maybe 3 months now). the didnt grwo roots right away, but finally
started to. the stalk from which the roots are growing however seem like
they are rotting. the leaves of the plant look and smell fine. the stalks
are still sturdy, just brown and have a gooeyness on them. can i
successfully plant them? is there a specific way i hsould have rooted and
planted this?

2nd answer: Is this a Pelargonium citrosum (Geranium like plant) or
Cymbopogon nardus (a large grass)? In any case, I'd just plant it and
see what happens. The "gooeyness" is probably (not expert opinion) a
result of the way stuff begins to decay with a lot of moisture. If it
has roots, give it a chance.

1st answer: It is more fruitful to post one question per message.
Inevitably, some will pick up on a single part of the query, and
you'll have to re-post your other question anyhow. :-)

Growing "houseplants" is not gardening? What is it then? Ballroom dancing?

It is very difficult to overwater a Diffenbachia since they like to have wet
feet and will even grow in standing water. Your problem is probably that the
soil has become rancid. Replace ALL the soil and treat with a fungicide.

If by "citronella plant", you are referring to a scented pelargonium
cultivar, you have a real problem. They prefer bright light and to go dry
between watering. If the cutting are rotting, you have been overwatering
them. Remove the rotting part of the stems. Treat the wound with rootone and
try rooting them in moist sand (not soil). Keep the sand moist but not wet.

Bottom line is that you should stop overwatering your plants.

Be sure all your pots have drainage holes in the bottom.


gingerobyn wrote in message
...
i have houseplant questions and don't know if they apply here, since it's
not gardening per se, but thought i would give it a shot to see if anyone
can help me.

first question:
i overwatered some plants and ended up with actual mold on the top layer
of
soil. white hairy mold. i noticed more dropping yellow leaves on the
plant
(diffenbachia) than usual. i scooped out the top layer of soil taking the
visible mold away. i was wondering if the mold is very bad for the plant,
and also if scooping off the top layer and letting the soil dry was enough
to take care of it.

2nd question:
i took cuttings from a citronella plant. they have been in water for at
least 2 (maybe 3 months now). the didnt grwo roots right away, but finally
started to. the stalk from which the roots are growing however seem like
they are rotting. the leaves of the plant look and smell fine. the stalks
are still sturdy, just brown and have a gooeyness on them. can i
successfully plant them? is there a specific way i hsould have rooted and
planted this?

The bottom line to both questions is that she waters her far too much and
that is why all her plants are rotting.

Also it is likely that she lets her plants stand in water or the pots have
no drainage holes so that the soil becomes rancid and moldy.


Frogleg wrote in message
...
On Wed, 13 Aug 2003 02:34:55 GMT, "gingerobyn"
wrote:

i have houseplant questions and don't know if they apply here, since it's
not gardening per se, but thought i would give it a shot to see if anyone
can help me.

first question:
snip
2nd question:
i took cuttings from a citronella plant. they have been in water for at
least 2 (maybe 3 months now). the didnt grwo roots right away, but
finally
started to. the stalk from which the roots are growing however seem like
they are rotting. the leaves of the plant look and smell fine. the stalks
are still sturdy, just brown and have a gooeyness on them. can i
successfully plant them? is there a specific way i hsould have rooted and
planted this?

2nd answer: Is this a Pelargonium citrosum (Geranium like plant) or
Cymbopogon nardus (a large grass)? In any case, I'd just plant it and
see what happens. The "gooeyness" is probably (not expert opinion) a
result of the way stuff begins to decay with a lot of moisture. If it
has roots, give it a chance.

1st answer: It is more fruitful to post one question per message.
Inevitably, some will pick up on a single part of the query, and
you'll have to re-post your other question anyhow. :-)

thank you. i realize that about posting the messages, but i wasn't sure if
my questions applied because they didnt involve outdoor gardening so i didnt
want to post too many semi-off topic things. i know thats silly.

"Frogleg" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 13 Aug 2003 02:34:55 GMT, "gingerobyn"
wrote:

i have houseplant questions and don't know if they apply here, since it's
not gardening per se, but thought i would give it a shot to see if anyone
can help me.

first question:
snip
2nd question:
i took cuttings from a citronella plant. they have been in water for at
least 2 (maybe 3 months now). the didnt grwo roots right away, but
finally
started to. the stalk from which the roots are growing however seem like
they are rotting. the leaves of the plant look and smell fine. the stalks
are still sturdy, just brown and have a gooeyness on them. can i
successfully plant them? is there a specific way i hsould have rooted and
planted this?

2nd answer: Is this a Pelargonium citrosum (Geranium like plant) or
Cymbopogon nardus (a large grass)? In any case, I'd just plant it and
see what happens. The "gooeyness" is probably (not expert opinion) a
result of the way stuff begins to decay with a lot of moisture. If it
has roots, give it a chance.

1st answer: It is more fruitful to post one question per message.
Inevitably, some will pick up on a single part of the query, and
you'll have to re-post your other question anyhow. :-)

Growing "houseplants" is not gardening? What is it then? Ballroom dancing?

well i appreciate your responses regarding the plants, as they are helpful,
but let me expain that i went to a newsgroup with plants in the title and
was redirected to present my questions somewhere else, so i was merely
trying to be respectful of the topic and i saw only *outdoor* gardening
issues here and thought my questions were to be relegated to outdoor
gardening and not houseplants.

"It is very difficult to overwater a Diffenbachia since they like to have
wet
feet and will even grow in standing water. Your problem is probably that
the
soil has become rancid. Replace ALL the soil and treat with a fungicide."

ok. . . if they grow in standing water and if it is dificult to overwater
them how did my soil become rancid? did i or did i not overwater this plant?

regarding the citronella--or possibly pelargonium cultivar--i haven't
overwatered it in the traditional sense of the word. i never took it out of
water. i forgot about it. i will try the sand as you said.

thanks. ginger



"Cereoid-UR12-" wrote in message
...

It is very difficult to overwater a Diffenbachia since they like to have
wet
feet and will even grow in standing water. Your problem is probably that
the
soil has become rancid. Replace ALL the soil and treat with a fungicide.

If by "citronella plant", you are referring to a scented pelargonium
cultivar, you have a real problem. They prefer bright light and to go dry
between watering. If the cutting are rotting, you have been overwatering
them. Remove the rotting part of the stems. Treat the wound with rootone
and
try rooting them in moist sand (not soil). Keep the sand moist but not
wet.

Bottom line is that you should stop overwatering your plants.

Be sure all your pots have drainage holes in the bottom.


gingerobyn wrote in message
...
i have houseplant questions and don't know if they apply here, since
it's
not gardening per se, but thought i would give it a shot to see if
anyone
can help me.

first question:
i overwatered some plants and ended up with actual mold on the top layer
of
soil. white hairy mold. i noticed more dropping yellow leaves on the
plant
(diffenbachia) than usual. i scooped out the top layer of soil taking
the
visible mold away. i was wondering if the mold is very bad for the
plant,
and also if scooping off the top layer and letting the soil dry was
enough
to take care of it.

2nd question:
i took cuttings from a citronella plant. they have been in water for at
least 2 (maybe 3 months now). the didnt grwo roots right away, but
finally
started to. the stalk from which the roots are growing however seem like
they are rotting. the leaves of the plant look and smell fine. the
stalks
are still sturdy, just brown and have a gooeyness on them. can i
successfully plant them? is there a specific way i hsould have rooted
and
planted this?

"The bottom line to both questions is that she waters her
far too much and that is why all her plants are rotting"

this "she" sounds awful.

a plant murderess: slow death by drowning. woe is me.

"all" of her plants are not rotting. only two out of seventeen are. lets
give her a light sentence please.



"Cereoid-UR12-" wrote in message
...
The bottom line to both questions is that she waters her far too much and
that is why all her plants are rotting.

Also it is likely that she lets her plants stand in water or the pots have
no drainage holes so that the soil becomes rancid and moldy.


Frogleg wrote in message
...
On Wed, 13 Aug 2003 02:34:55 GMT, "gingerobyn"
wrote:

i have houseplant questions and don't know if they apply here, since
it's
not gardening per se, but thought i would give it a shot to see if
anyone
can help me.

first question:
snip
2nd question:
i took cuttings from a citronella plant. they have been in water for at
least 2 (maybe 3 months now). the didnt grwo roots right away, but
finally
started to. the stalk from which the roots are growing however seem
like
they are rotting. the leaves of the plant look and smell fine. the
stalks
are still sturdy, just brown and have a gooeyness on them. can i
successfully plant them? is there a specific way i hsould have rooted
and
planted this?

2nd answer: Is this a Pelargonium citrosum (Geranium like plant) or
Cymbopogon nardus (a large grass)? In any case, I'd just plant it and
see what happens. The "gooeyness" is probably (not expert opinion) a
result of the way stuff begins to decay with a lot of moisture. If it
has roots, give it a chance.

1st answer: It is more fruitful to post one question per message.
Inevitably, some will pick up on a single part of the query, and
you'll have to re-post your other question anyhow. :-)

On Wed, 13 Aug 2003 22:52:23 GMT, "gingerobyn"
wrote:

i wasn't sure if
my questions applied because they didnt involve outdoor gardening so i didnt
want to post too many semi-off topic things. i know thats silly.

Not silly. You have to have a thick skin in newsgroups. In some more
so than others. Yes, rec.gardens *does* deal with houseplants, as
you've seen. People will also post replies to questions that more
properly belong in rec.gardens.edible, .roses, .orchids, etc. To test
the (newsgroup, not tap) water, you can check Google groups and look
at topics discussed.

"gingerobyn" wrote in message ...
first question:
i overwatered some plants and ended up with actual mold on the top layer of
soil. white hairy mold. i noticed more dropping yellow leaves on the plant
(diffenbachia) than usual....

ivan and i both watered a decorator urn ( with no drainage ) full of
rabbit ear meandering Christian or wandering jew and it is drowning i
noticed yesterday... what i did and usually do when this happens is
insert a long rolled up bunch of paper towels into the soil allowing
it to drape over the side and allow the water to siphon out. usually
works.

love..granny lee

gingerobyn wrote:

i have houseplant questions and don't know if they apply here, since it's
not gardening per se, but thought i would give it a shot to see if anyone
can help me.

first question:
i overwatered some plants and ended up with actual mold on the top layer of
soil. white hairy mold. i noticed more dropping yellow leaves on the plant
(diffenbachia) than usual. i scooped out the top layer of soil taking the
visible mold away. i was wondering if the mold is very bad for the plant,
and also if scooping off the top layer and letting the soil dry was enough
to take care of it.

Yes, this is bad for a plant. If they aren't in pots with
drainage holes, you should transplant them. [If you have
decorative pots that you'd like to display that don't have
drainage holes, transplant the plants to plastic pots with
drainage holes that will fit inside the decorative ones.] If you
then accidentally overwater a plant, you can set it in a sink or
tub and let it drain thoroughally before rot sets in. You
shouldn't be watering your plants until the top layer of soil is
dry to the touch. Some plants, like cactus, need even less
water; you need to set up a calendar schedule for watering them.

2nd question:
i took cuttings from a citronella plant. they have been in water for at
least 2 (maybe 3 months now). the didnt grwo roots right away, but finally
started to. the stalk from which the roots are growing however seem like
they are rotting. the leaves of the plant look and smell fine. the stalks
are still sturdy, just brown and have a gooeyness on them. can i
successfully plant them? is there a specific way i hsould have rooted and
planted this?

Go ahead and plant the stalks; they may survive. Generally, when
I'm trying to root stems, I put them in sharp sand which I keep
evenly moist by placing the container in a saucer of water the
level of which is lower than the bottom of the stem in the sharp
sand.

Chris Owens


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that is a very good idea. thank you.

i appreciate the helpful hints from all. i have to say that i have been
stubborn about my decorative pots. didn't worry about drainage holes. i do
sometimes put stones in the bottom of the decorative pots to help with
drainage. is that not enough? i suppose i will have to repot them as you
suggested and put the plastic pots inside. that makes sense. i will just
have to make that project a priority. thank you. ginger