Question
Hello,

I bought an indoor plant about a year ago but lost the tag so don't know it's name.
Just over the past couple of weeks I have noticed that the end/edges of some of the leaves seem drained of chlorophyll.
Could this be a sign of too much sunlight or over-watering? I'm sure it's not a disease. The plant in general is really thriving.
The plant gets a lot of sunshine sitting on a counter top by a window.
I live in Southern Arizona, so when I say the plant gets a lot of sunshine, I do mean a lot. I keep it in my kitchen and water it a small amount every other day, then about once every 3 weeks I give it a drenching and then don't water it for a few days. I was told this is good for it, but I always though this was a deep-watering method only necessary for outdoor plants.

I have added 2 images of the plant to the net which you can see below.

Thank you for any and all advice you can offer, I have a soft spot for this plant.

Paul Allsopp

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/gotcha_crazy/plant_away.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/gotcha_crazy/plant_close.jpg  

Answer
Hi Paul,

In your photos I can see only one leaf that is partially discolored. All of the others look fine. Thus, I am assuming that this occurs only sporadically. If so, it is not a problem of note. Sometimes individual leaves develop imperfections or blemishes. Sometimes older leaves discolor before dropping off as the plant renews itself. It may also result from minor damage to a tiny part of the root system as a result of irregular watering or a root wandering out of a drainage hole.

Excessive sun can cause leaves to turn pale green, but you would observe that on many leaves on the side of the plant facing the light.

Your watering routine is a bit odd and might be a contributing factor. Water your plant when the top inch  of soil feels dry. Then always water it thoroughly until a bit of water seeps through the drainage hole. Frequent light waterings will cause irregular root development and also create nutrient hotspots so avoid these partial waterings.

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

You can E-mail me directly at: [email protected]

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