Question
QUESTION: I'm a little concerned about these spots on one of my miranda's leaves.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y198/Caelyth/mirandaleaf.jpg

should I be worried about this? Its only affecting one leaf, but usually when a leaf is about to die it goes uniformly yellow and then brown so this is different. Its been that way for about a week on both top and bottom of the leaf.

thanks!

ANSWER: Hi Katie,

That's very normal.  When we received our current batch of plants, we could tell that the plants were originally grown in very high humidity and low light.  We transitioned them in our greenhouse and acclimated them for a couple months to lower humidity and higher light intensity before we released them.  That leaf was probably one of the original leaves because it has the classic signs of a leaf grown in high humidity and then grown in lower humidity.  I couldn't tell from your photograph, but the leaf should be lower down on the plant, below the newer leaves.  As long as the newer growth is healthy, your plant is healthy.  As your plant matures, all of its leaves will be perfectly acclimated to your home.

Good growing!
Jacob Farin

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Yes, the leaf is one of the old leaves. Good to know! Would it be beneficial to get a humidifier for my room where I am keeping the plants? I was thinking of getting one anyway for myself. In the winter the heat is very very dry and I'm concerned this will have an adverse effect on the tropical plants. Is it appropriate to mist them?

Answer
Humidifiers are OK, but they generally don't increase the humidity to any significant degree unless the room is completely enclosed.  Otherwise, use the tray method.  Fill a tray or large saucer with pebbles and add water.  Keep the water level slightly lower as the pebbles.  Next set your plant on the pebbles.  This is a good way to increase the local humidity around your plant.

I'm not a fan of misting since misting only works for the few minutes the mist is on the plant.  Unless you plan to mist your plant every half hour, the humidity will simply drop back down once the mist dries up.

Otherwise, allow your plant to acclimate to lower humidity.  Just make sure the soil is constantly moist and your plant will be fine for the winter.

Good growing!
Jacob Farin