Anyone know anything about houseplants?

[Pierrot]

I have a lot of houseplants, and I flatter myself that normally I do a good job of keeping them up. Earlier this spring, a friend bought me a Sago Palm as a gift. I read up on how to care for it, and it did well up until about three weeks ago. But recently the fronds are starting to turn yellow.

I think I might have been over-watering it, and the research I've done confirms that's likely. I'm going to try cutting back on how much I water, but I've also been considering putting it outside for a few days to help it dry out a little bit. Should I do that, or just leave it be and water less? Anyone with any insight would be greatly appreciated. :)

[yourockmysocks]

Unless it is completely waterlogged, I would just cut back on watering it.

[Pierrot]

Thanks for the input. :) It's not quite that bad. I was thinking that moving it outside might be better for it in general, at least this summer; apparently it prefers to be dry, and while it's hardy, it would rather be in full or partial sun than shade. In case it's not obvious, I really don't know what I'm doing; this is kind of a crash course, haha. :P

[Isoverity]

I once bought a cactus since I figured it was low maintenance. After owning it a few weeks I had the brilliant idea to leave it outside in the sun. Two months latter I remembered leaving the plant outside - and it was gone lol.

[Pierrot]

Oops!

One of the first plants I ever got was a ficus tree. I kept it outdoors for three years, and never had a problem with it. Then I moved into a second-floor apartment, so I put it inside next to a window. Within a matter of days, all the leaves had fallen off. I couldn't figure out what I'd done to it; the tree itself was green and healthy, just...leafless. I tried everything I could think of to coax it back to life, and was on the verge of throwing it out in defeat when it started leafing out again. Apparently ficus trees just do this; when moved from an outdoor environment to an indoor one, or vice versa, the plant grows a different type of leaf.

I can't say it's the most entertaining hobby in the world, but it keeps me guessing. :P

[Stellata]

Yep, putting plants outside tends to make them go into shock or such. I tried that with a plant of mine, thinking it would help. It didn't.

[Defender Of The Faith]

My brother bought a cactus about 3 years ago now... It's on his bedroom windowsill, and I'm pretty sure he's completely forgotten about it... He hasn't watered it in 2 years, but, it being a cactus and all, it's doing okay

[Isoverity]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scaredandalone

He hasn't watered it in 2 years, but, it being a cactus and all, it's doing okay

Hah - rub it in lol. Dude doesn't water his cactus for 2 years and its ok. Meanwhile my cactus long ago died a forgotten plant in a hostile suburban backyard.

[Pierrot]

I've got a cactus. Last Christmas, in front of extended family, my sister presented it to me with a loud, excited "Look, Gabriel, I got you a Hairy Old Man!"

I had some fun finding care instructions on the internet....

[Isoverity]

Concerning sago palms:

"We get a lot of email asking "my sago palm is getting yellow leaves so what should I do?"

Be aware that the natural course of leaves on plants, including palms and cycads, is first green, then turning yellow, and finally brown and dry

The yellow stage is where the frond is losing its chlorophyll as it is being re-absorbed into the plant. The final brown stage is the completion of the nutrients re-absorption process

So... if you cut off sago fronds too soon, you are actually depriving your sago palm of its natural technique to conserve nutrients. Best is to wait until a frond is totally brown and shriveled up small

The exception to not being worried about yellow or brown fronds on your sago palm is if they are occurring in the center "new growth" area

If new fronds soon turn yellow and head for brown, you have a nutrition problem. You are not feeding properly. Sometimes a sago may take a year or two or more to develop the "quick yellowing" symptom. Don't let that fool you. Food is the answer

Bugs may also be the problem, but not nearly as likely as improper feeding. Poor drainage may also be the problem, but not if your sago palm is well established in its location. Newly planted in your soil or a pot, poor drainage is a suspicion. A final suspicion for a newly planted sago is that you planted it too deep"

http://mgonline.com/articles/sago.aspx

[Pierrot]

Thank you! Since I posted this, I've spent parts of the last couple of days looking through my books, and checking out what they have at the library. I haven't looked online yet; this thread has been the first attempt I've made in that direction, and it turns out to have been a better place for amusing stories. ;)

Anyway, thank you for the link. :) I'll check that out.