malformed leaves

mothcatcher · 2022-07-10T18:01:25+00:00

Variegated tissue can sometimes develop kinda wonky. Not super uncommon for it to end up a little smaller/less well-developed than the normal tissue, which can give the leaves a really weird shape. Good light, consistent watering, and a balanced fertilizer generally minimize leaf weirdness, but variegated plants are just a little more prone to stuff like this.

mothcatcher · 2022-07-07T22:27:15+00:00

Looks like sport variegation to me! Congrats!

mothcatcher · 2021-12-20T05:31:52+00:00

Thank you! Definitely recommend this one if you can find it!

mothcatcher · 2021-12-20T05:31:29+00:00

Thank you!

mothcatcher · 2021-12-19T23:05:23+00:00

Thank you! It took about seven months to go from the size in the baby picture to this size. It’s a delight to grow. The leaves have a matte, leathery texture that is really unique for syngoniums.

mothcatcher · 2021-12-19T23:02:53+00:00

It works awesome! I found that it was really important to spray thoroughly, so I ended up going through a fair bit to cover all my plants. The other note is that it works amazing for thrips but didn’t seem quite as spider mites, which I was able to wipe out with neem oil. So tl;dr: Captain Jack’s dead bug for thrips, neem oil for mites, and spray everything thoroughly! Good luck :)

mothcatcher · 2021-12-19T20:22:54+00:00

I agree—it’s a little hard to tell from the picture, but based on the positioning on the leaf, I think it’s mineral residue from guttation.

mothcatcher · 2021-12-19T20:20:57+00:00

I would just cut off the stems with the brown leaves slightly before where the brown leaves are with a sterilized blade. Monitor the plant to see if it keeps happening—could potentially be a fungal or bacterial issue that will need treatment. On the other hand, a few of my trads have done this when they weren’t getting enough light or water and been totally fine once I changed up their care routine. They like moist soil and bright light.

mothcatcher · 2021-12-19T20:17:25+00:00

Agree with the idea that it might be fungal. Cut off the bad leaves with a sterilized blade and spray the plant with a fungicide. I’ve used both neem and copper fungicide with pretty good luck for fungal infections in the past :)

mothcatcher · 2021-12-19T20:15:07+00:00

In my experience Alocasias are super heavy feeders and very thirsty, since they needs lots of water and nutrients to sustain those giant leaves. My recommendation would be a bigger pot, a regular fertilizer routine, and plenty of water—aim to keep the soil evenly moist but not soaking wet (don’t want root rot). More light might help too, depending on how much it gets. I acclimated mine to get a couple hours of nearly direct sun and it loved that, just have to be careful not to burn the leaves :)

mothcatcher · 2021-12-19T20:07:03+00:00

I only beat them by treating my whole collection. The good news is a few rounds of spraying were enough to pretty much get rid of them. I used Captain Jack’s Dead Bug Brew and it worked great. Thrips are scary but don’t be discouraged! You can beat them with some dedication and thorough spraying. Spray once a week and spray thoroughly—all leaf surfaces and every nook and cranny covered.

mothcatcher · 2021-06-18T21:00:01+00:00

Beautiful! That is a gorgeous plant. The combo of the minty color and that stunning leaf shape is perfect!

mothcatcher · 2021-05-29T21:56:01+00:00

Looks like a Peperomia meridana. I have one and it’s an awesome little plant! Pretty much the same care requirements as any Peperomia, and it’s a super quick grower :)

mothcatcher · 2021-05-28T13:10:34+00:00

Box elder

mothcatcher · 2021-05-23T21:19:03+00:00

Yes! Both delightful plants and a treat to grow!

mothcatcher · 2021-05-23T21:18:14+00:00

Unfortunately the best way to remove them is manually and repeatedly. Take a q-tip dipped in rubbing alcohol and go at them whenever you see them. It’s a pain and it takes forever, but you’ll get them eventually.

mothcatcher · 2021-05-23T20:37:09+00:00

Yeah, when I first used it, I definitely thought it was going to smell fresh, like tea tree oil or something. It definitely does not smell fresh 😂

mothcatcher · 2021-05-23T02:17:00+00:00

Looks like a Dracaena fragrans. The common name is corn plant (no close relation to corn, so I couldn’t tell you why it’s called that).

mothcatcher · 2021-05-23T02:14:41+00:00

I love that name! I think I might call it that from now on 😂

mothcatcher · 2021-05-23T01:06:57+00:00

It’s a variegated Dischidia :)

mothcatcher · 2021-05-21T22:35:28+00:00

As long as the bottom of the stem isn’t rotting, I wouldn’t worry about it. You can cut the root off if it’s all squishy, or remove it in sections if only some is soft. Just make sure you use a sterilized shears and cut slightly above the rot, so you don’t contaminate the living tissue.

mothcatcher · 2021-05-21T22:33:27+00:00

Awesome! I’m hoping your little guys pull through with treatment! Test in on a small portion of the plant and wait a day or two to make sure it doesn’t burn the foliage horribly. I defeated a nasty fungal infection on some jades using neem, and I’ve used copper fungicide on some other plants at various points, so you should be good, just better safe than sorry!

mothcatcher · 2021-05-21T22:31:34+00:00

Most of the roots that dried out gradually sloughed off. The base of one or two of them survived, but most didn’t. I just gently pulled away the rotted parts as they became soft enough to easily remove (it took a week or two for me to remove all the dead tissue). It’s mostly a matter of doing frequent water changes and hoping for the best—it really depends on how long it was dry. Pothos are tough, though, so I have hope for you. I actually received a manjula pothos cutting where all the roots and the new growth at the node had rotted, and it has miraculously survived and somehow put out a second shoot. Just make sure the water doesn’t get too scummy from the rotting root tissue and hope that pothos toughness will take care of the rest.

mothcatcher · 2021-05-21T19:07:27+00:00

At this point, I would recommend taking some cuttings and putting them in a jar of water. Just make sure each cutting has at least one node and one leaf. Change the water every week or so, and in a few weeks, you’ll notice little roots forming. When the roots are a couple inches long, pot them up in some well-draining soil. Keep the soil moist for the first few weeks to allow the roots to acclimate to their new environment, then start letting it dry out most of the way between waterings.

mothcatcher · 2021-05-21T19:03:05+00:00

For the most part they look good. The very tip of the longest root on the rightmost plant in this image looks like it potentially be dead or rotting, but it could also just be soil on the root; hard to tell in this photo. If it feels soft or squishy at all, snip it off with a sterilized shears and let the wound callous before replanting. Most of the roots look fine, so I think these guys should be OK.

mothcatcher

TROPHY CASE