Question
Please help me.   I bought a moses plant a couple months
ago and several of the large leaves are turning brown
and curling too.   Looks awful and don't know if I should
cut them off or what.  Has many beautiful shoots and boats
and is an adult plant.   Is in large pot already and it
does not feel wet......should I clip the leaves or let
them die slowly......I do have it in the house and use
distilled water only.  Thanks for any help you can
give me.   I love the plant and spent good money on this
large plant.      Marge

Answer
Hi Marge,

It is common for Rhoeo spathacea to lose some of its older, lower leaves as new ones are added on top. If you suddenly lose many of them all at once or you seem to be losing more than you are gaining, then that is an indication of improper light or watering. I'm not sure which category yours falls into, but I will tell you what your plant does need and let you decide.

This plant really requires lots of direct sunlight all day long. As an indoor plant it should be right on a south or west windowsill. In less light, it loses much of its purple color and new leaves are thinner, smaller and less sturdy.

It does best when kept potbound. Large pots have excess soil that retains moisture around the roots too long and causes root rot. Your comment that yours is in a large pot concerns me because if the pot is more than 8-inches in diameter, it is probably too large and the roots may have already started to rot. If you purchased it in a pot more than 8 inches, then it is probably okay. If you have a good photo, I can help you with this.

When properly potted, water thoroughly as soon as the top half-inch of soil is dry. It should reach this level of dryness in 7 days or less. If not, the pot is too large.

Discolored leaves should be trimmed off just to make the plant look better. It will not affect the plant's health one way or the other.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

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Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

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