Question
Hi, we recently purchased about 6 Janet Craig cane plants, and we've only had them about 3-4 wks. They were recently repotted from the blk buckets they were shipped in. We had them maybe 2wks before they were transplanted. These plants are in a church, 2 of the 3 plants have a floor plant light, the 3rd one which is the most damaged one doesn't. I would like to know what is the proper care for these plants to thrive? the plant that does not have the plant light looks like corn stalks when they are drying out, (HORRIBLE) Can this plant recover or what is the best thing to do it looks horrible. I'm not sure if they watered the plant when they repotted it but I figured something had to happen for this plant to turn as brown as it has in such a short period of time. If the leaves are 12" long about 1-2 inches of the leaves are brown at the end. Some leaves are brown as much as half of the leaf. Please advise.
Sincerely
Sheryl

Answer
Hi Sheryl,

Your Janet Craigs have two problems. The first is that they never should have been repotted. Their fragile root systems do not like to be disturbed and if they were moved to larger pots with added soil, then that added soil will keep the rootball from drying out promptly between waterings. Unnecessary repotting is the most common of all plant-care mistakes.

I suggest that you undo the repotting by removing all added soil and putting the original rootballs back into their original pots. If you don't like the appearance of the black plastic nursery pots, then put those pots inside of slightly larger more decorative planters. Use Spanish moss to cover the space between the two pots.

The other problem is light. Light from underneath a plant is of no value to the plant because a plant's light sensors are in the top surfaces of the leaves. Janet Craigs are low light plants, but they do require bright indirect light throughout the day. That could be within a few feet of a moderately sunny uncovered window or underneath bright overhead fluorescent lights left on for 8 hours each day - similar to an office environment.

You did not mention any overhead lighting. If the plants are in a church where the lighting is normally quite dim, then there is nothing that will allow these plants, or any others, to survive. Without adequate light, nothing else matters.

I'm sorry I don't have better news for you and only wish you had consulted with me prior to the plant purchase. Let me know if you have any follow-up questions or information to add.

I have written articles on repotting and Janet Craig care that I will email for free to you (or anyone else) who sends a request to me at [email protected].

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Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

Visit my website at: A link to HorticulturalHelp.com