Question
I have a Chinese Evergreen that is supposed to get moderate light; however I had to move it to a non-lighted area for awhile and it started to look weak. I put it outside on my deck in direct sunlight for a few hours thinking that would help and now many of the leaves are yellowish and wilted and it is not absorbing water.  The plant has never been repotted, is watered once a week with regular tap water(not chlorinated though) and is about 4 years old.  Can it be saved?  

Answer
Hi Amy,

Whether or not it can be saved may depend on how long it was in "a non-lighted area."

Placing it in direct outdoor sun is probably the cause of the immediate damage to the leaves. The yellowed leaves will not recover, so you may want to cut them off. If that leaves the plant looking leggy and ungainly, then cut back the stems to a height of about two inches.

As long as the roots are healthy (and they may not be if the plant was under-lit for a long time), then new growth will emerge at the end of each stem. That new growth should be healthy.

If the roots are badly damaged, then you will not see any healthy new growth and the stems will eventually become soft. If so, discard the plant.

Tap water is fine as long as it is not too alkaline. Chlorinated water is not a problem.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.
   
Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

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

Visit my web site at www.HorticulturalHelp.com

If this information has been helpful, please remember to give me a rating and nomination.


If you would like to e-mail me some photos, I may be able to provide some additional insights.