Polka Dot Plant Is Dying
Polka Dot plants thrive with a combination of well-draining soil that holds moisture and dappled to partial shade to protect their vibrant colors and leaf patterning. Although these are very basic requirements, if the plants are allowed to dry out for any length of time they will show signs of decline. Left in a state of decline they become easy prey for pests and diseases, especially when in an artificial environment indoors.
Providing the right amount of moisture in the potting medium, keeping humidity levels in the room it is growing around 50% or above, and placing the pot in bright indirect light are the best ways to have a healthy plant that is less likely to be bothered by common houseplant problems.
Figuring out what is ailing your plant is key to treating it correctly. Signs like brown or yellowing leaves can mean both over-watering or underwatering and need to be investigated further by inspecting the root system or drainage situation of the pot and planting medium.
Insect pests need to be treated as quickly as possible for both houseplant and outdoor-grown Polka Dot plants since they are typically common to most plants and will spread quickly when the conditions are right. Diseases that affect Polka Dot plants are also very common in other houseplants and are often a result of poor drainage or bad air circulation.
Polka Dot Plant Leaves Turning Yellow
Typically Polka Dot plants do not drop their leaves on a regular basis and if they start to turn shades of yellow or brown, watering issues should be the first problem explored. Polka Dot plants that still have good color but drooping leaves or stems will revive with a good soaking watering. Place the plant still in its pot in a large basin or sink filled with water the height of the pot.
Watering from the bottom helps to rehydrate the potting mix while reviving the root system. Leave the plant to sit until all of the potting mix is thoroughly dampened. Typically from 30 minutes to an hour depending on the size of the pot. Let all of the excess water drain away before replacing it on its saucer or in a cache pot. Within a few hours, the plant should appear revived and be back to its perky self.
Crispy and discolored leaves almost always indicate a lack of water or environmental humidity that is too low. Regular watering so that the potting mix stays moist between sessions is the best remedy. Daily spraying around the plant with a fine mist sprayer will also help humidity levels Leaves that are discolored but have a wet or mushy feel always indicate too much watering and is most definitely a problem with the drainage of the pot or potting mix.
Emptying saucers and cache pots after watering is an easy way to keep the drainage good on houseplants. Look at the root system of the plant for roots that have turned brown or black indicating that they are dead. Prune out any affected roots and top growth before repotting in fresh potting mix and/ or a pot with better bottom drainage.
Polka Dot Plant Pests
Insect pests on houseplants are very common and can spread quickly when the plant health and indoor conditions are right (or wrong?) Polka Dot plants can be bothered by the usual suspects and are almost always salvageable when the infestation is caught early. Mealybugs, Aphids, and Whitefly thrive on plants that are weakened by overwatering or are growing in a spot without good air circulation.
Light infestations can be easily cured with a quick hosing down in a shower or outdoors in a sheltered location out of direct sun. Large infestations that last longer may need treatment with a soft soap spray on the tops and bottoms of the leaves. Quarantine the patient in a separate area from your other houseplants until it has recovered fully and shows no more signs.
Fungus gnats are a common pest that tends to strike right after repotting or when the potting medium stays wet continuously. These small insects are more of a pest than disruptive to the plant but having any pest indoors is not optimal. Often repotting with a reputable and fresh potting mix is recommended as fungus gnats lay eggs in the top of the damp soil, making it likely they were brought in with bagged potting mix.
A mulch with fine gravel or ‘horticultural grit’ on the top of the pot is a good deterrent to keep any remaining fungus gnats from laying eggs. They prefer damp soil and stay away from dry or sharp materials.
Polka Dot Plant Diseases
Diseases that are encouraged by high humidity and consistently damp soil are common for tropical houseplants like Polka Dot plants. Fungal root rots occur naturally in outdoor soils and are more likely to be activated when drainage is bad or the plant suffers from cold and wet conditions for too long.
For potted Polka Dot plants, using premixed potting soil specifically for houseplants is crucial to keep the fungus out of the pot in the first place. Using garden soil from your yard not only is too heavy to allow proper root growth in a pot, but it is likely to contain all sorts of bacteria and fungi, not all of which are friendly for houseplants.
Powdery Mildew appears on leaves when plants are not allowed enough space between each other and the humidity is high indoors. Simply using a very gentle table fan to move air is sufficient protection. Pick off any affected leaves as soon as powdery mildew is diagnosed to keep it from spreading. Fungicidal sprays only protect the leaves that don’t already have the fungal spurs on them, it does not cure the plant and is not recommended for use indoors.
Increasing air flow and proper watering help to slow the spread. Large outbreaks may result in having to get rid of the plant altogether. Do not compost the plant in a home composting system. Dispose of the plant in a green waste bin for commercial composting or (if this is the only option) in the regular trash.
Polka Dot Plant Not Blooming
Even though Polka Dot plants are grown primarily for their festive and colorful foliage they do produce flowers when grown as a perennial in their native habitat or even USDA growing zones above 10. The natural flowering period is late summer to early fall as the days are getting shorter which triggers the plant to flower and possibly set seed if it is pollinated properly.
Getting Polka Dot plants to bloom when grown as a houseplant comes down to restricting the day length. Using a grow light set on a timer for less than 10 hours of light and a darkened room or specialized grow tent gives the plant the right conditions to possibly send up a flower shoot. The flower is small and not overly impressive but it could be a fun experiment that doesn’t do any long-term damage to your plant.
Sources:
“Diagnosing Houseplant Problems” Iowa State University Extension, www.yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu
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Author Robbin Small - Published 12-27-2024 |