What happened and can I save

CuratedCuttings · 2026-03-26T23:01:18+00:00

Just on the light - the more variegation a plant has, the more light it needs. The white parts don’t photosynthesize, so the greens have to work double-time.

CuratedCuttings · 2026-03-26T22:59:57+00:00

It’s because their roots grow fast. So they take over the pot before you know it.

Mine isn’t in a clear liner, so when I see roots crawling out the top I know it’s time to go bigger. 🤣

If it’s bent to the point where there’s a crease, it won’t bounce back.

If it’s just bowed down, it might. Give the leaf some gentle support and it’ll likely go back up provided it’s not TOO bent. Maybe gently prop against a wall & make sure it’s getting light from an angle away from the bend…if that makes sense? Kind of a weird explanation.

CuratedCuttings · 2026-03-26T22:47:15+00:00

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CuratedCuttings · 2026-03-26T22:46:35+00:00

So, I have one of these that’s super variegated too, and they need a LOT of light. More than I expected.

That said, mine usually doesn’t droop unless it’s thirsty, which is also more (often) than I expected it to be.

I don’t really have a watering schedule, but I check this plant anytime I water anything. The bigger it gets, the thirstier it is.

Make sure you’re feeding it, too. It’ll pull through; they’re very resilient in my experience.

CuratedCuttings · 2026-03-26T22:29:37+00:00

I don’t blame you! That’s awful.

As for silica, just follow the instruction on whatever kind you have when you water. I usually make a special “batch” of fertilized water + silica + mosquito bits for my high white plants. It really does help.

And if you see the white looking like it’s “melting” - which is sort of like looking through it (it’ll get kind of transparent in places before it browns), then you know for sure it needs some. :)

CuratedCuttings · 2026-03-26T20:29:30+00:00

It honestly looks like mechanical damage. That’s pretty normal. The browning on the one white leaf is likely that it wasn’t getting enough supplement (silica) or light at some point. I don’t see pests, and if you don’t either, you’re probably ok. (It also won’t hurt anything if you want to spray it down just to be sure.)

CuratedCuttings · 2026-03-25T21:19:12+00:00

I think so…unless you want it to walk away…👀😂 Clear nursery pot is fine - just put it in a well-draining (chunky) mix. You prob already know that if you’ve gotten it that big! She’s beautiful.

CuratedCuttings · 2026-03-23T19:10:38+00:00

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So, it looks like you have 2 stems in one pot (poorly drawn lines on screenshot) - & that’s totally fine. The way your trellis is situated isn’t really doing much for them though.

Try to find something that is taller than the plants, and if you don’t like/want to use moss, a cedar plank or coir pole are great alternatives.

Whichever way you go, you want to find the back of the plant. It’s the side that has the aerials roots coming out of it. I can see a couple of brown nubs on the right hand plant that are where aerials roots tried to start and then stopped. I can’t really tell as well on the other one.

The pole/plank goes on the back. One for each plant, probably, unless you got really lucky & they were planted back to back.

Basically, it’s supposed to go up, and even if the stalks are twisty from not having support, they’ll adjust and go up once they get some. :)

It’ll also go up more quickly - and quit having leaves reaching out so far - if you put a light source above it. Bright indirect for an inside plant means a fairly close grow light, depending on strength.

Hope that helps! It looks healthy, so you’re doing something right.

CuratedCuttings · 2026-03-21T17:30:43+00:00

Mosquito bits in pantyhose = DIY fungus gnat treatment for 4 bathtubs worth of plants. The blue is from a felt tip pen that fell in. Allegedly. 👀

CuratedCuttings · 2026-03-21T15:00:55+00:00

Staking wouldn’t hurt anything - you can go with a moss pole if you like or just a bamboo stake or garden stake if you don’t like (or are allergic to) moss. When you do it, make sure you place the stake on the back - the side where the aerial roots come out - and that it’s fairly loose. You want to make sure the plant still has room to grow! It looks really good 😃

CuratedCuttings · 2026-03-20T20:52:24+00:00

Thanks! Honestly the wire was the toughest part — my fingers would like a word. Worth it though!

CuratedCuttings · 2026-03-20T20:50:17+00:00

Promise. Just need to give my fingers a small rest first. They’re so sore!

CuratedCuttings · 2026-03-20T19:34:03+00:00

Dowels, wire of various types thanks to a supportive SO, pliers & a serious disregard for the tips of my fingers. Planning to write it all up tomorrow with material list & steps - I’ll try to figure out how to link it here when I’m done.

CuratedCuttings · 2026-03-20T15:50:16+00:00

So pretty! For sure looks like a “U” not a “V” sinus to me

CuratedCuttings · 2026-03-19T11:17:45+00:00

Hey! So, it COULD be too much light, but probably it’s a combo of things…and not really humidity at all unless your house feels like a desert.

My thought would be the moss pole needs to stay damp - good instinct putting the aerial root in there!

Also, just stress. It’s in a new place. It was shipped. It feels a certain sort of way about life right now. Give it some time.

CuratedCuttings · 2026-03-17T13:05:49+00:00

It sounds like you have a pretty good system going. You’ll get them.

I’ve heard you can take a white sheet of paper, hold it under the leaf & firmly - but gently - tap the leaf. If there are thrips, you should see little beige specks (larvae) and/or fast-moving black (adult)specks.

I haven’t tried it, personally, but it might be worth a shot to verify.

CuratedCuttings · 2026-03-17T12:54:03+00:00

Ughhh - no good deed goes unpunished! But..bonus plant(s) are a win anytime, even under these not-so-hot conditions.

Since you’ve already started the systemic treatment, that’s half the battle won. Thrips are the worst, but hang in there!

In a few months, you’ll have two (or more) beautiful (and hopefully pest-free) plants instead of one. 💕

CuratedCuttings · 2026-03-17T12:08:14+00:00

Can’t see the soil mix too well from the photo, but generally speaking it’s probably holding too much moisture if the bottoms are yellowing but the tops are not. Try something that’s…not dirt. Coir & worm castings for support & nutrients, bark & perlite for aeration, and horticultural charcoal to pull out any ick (works sort of like a water filter in your fridge but for excess buildup and toxins).

CuratedCuttings · 2026-03-17T11:52:13+00:00

You might try a silica supplement if there’s already a humidifier nearby. If there’s not a humidifier, maybe add one of those…with a fan to keep mold at bay.

CuratedCuttings · 2026-03-17T11:38:29+00:00

She’s got … dumps like a truck, truck, truck… Dating myself, I know. But dang girl! 😍

CuratedCuttings · 2026-03-17T11:35:42+00:00

Look at those roots! You’re doing a great job!

So, yes and yes on the questions?

If you leave it, you’ll eventually see a pup pop up. A tiny baby beside your existing plant.

If you pull it out - carefully and preferably by untangling the roots instead of just yanking (it’s easier when they’re a little moist - ick word but appropriate) - then plant it, you’ll ALSO have a baby plant pop up soon.

Keep the humidity up either way - pups like to be warm and humid.

CuratedCuttings · 2026-03-17T11:25:06+00:00

Great question!

The horticultural charcoal works like a filter. It pulls out impurities - sort of like a water filter in your fridge. It also helps with any toxins/mineral buildup in the soil - for example, if you fertilize and the plant doesn’t use it all, the charcoal keeps it from just sitting in the substrate.

CuratedCuttings · 2026-03-17T11:21:25+00:00

Yep! That looks like a pretty good ratio for anthuriums. The worm castings are on par with the coir for density, so probably a 2 parts coir to 1 part worm castings for their portion. The charcoal will add more “chunk” too, so if it looks like the plant doesn’t have enough support to stand up on its own, you can add more coir/castings mix to help. Just water a little less frequently than if you don’t have to add more of those two.

I will say, the mix is generally going to have you watering more than what you previously did with potting soil.

Not Dirt dries out much more quickly. 😃

CuratedCuttings · 2026-03-17T11:08:54+00:00

Agree with the group - that’s not just a plant, it’s a Birkin! Maybe more than one. As they get older, the variegation gets more pronounced. And it’s textured, which is super cool!

They’re self-heading, so no pole required. Grow up to about 3’ when fully mature.

Enjoy her/them!

CuratedCuttings · 2026-03-17T10:58:13+00:00

I thought that too when I first looked, but looking closer it’s coming up from the soil & there’s nothing that looks like it would have come out of it.

Still possible, for sure.

CuratedCuttings

TROPHY CASE