Question
I recently left my few indoor house plants in care of a friend for about six weeks without specific instructions, I usually water them once a week, unless it is really hot out - I think that she watered them every two days. Two of four plants seem to be dealing with it, but I have a small cactus which seems to have lost some soil and is going brown from the bottom up and I have a flowering perrenial (I can't tell you the species, but you are supposed to water it down it's leaves into it's core), who's leaves are getting soft and curling up and the big purple flower that comes up from the middle is leaning perilously.

Can I save my plants?

Thank you for your time.

EG Silverman

Answer
Hi Elyakum,

I'm afraid that your information is not specific enough for me to answer very accurately.

Certainly overwatering over a period of time will eventually cause plant roots to rot and then the plant will die. Some plant species can tolerate "wet feet" much better than others, as you have observed. Cacti do not like overwatering at all, nor do Bromeliads, which is what I beleive your other plant may be.

You cannot change what has alreday happened and I cannot accurately predict the future. However, there are two things you can do to increase the odds in your favor.

Make sure your plants are getting lots of light. Light not only helps evaporate moisture, but it increases the growth rate and the amount of water that the plant uses.

Be sure to let the soil of the Cactus and the Bromeliad get very dry before watering again.

Only time will tell if the roots have been damaged beyond repair. Look for signs of healthy new growth.

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]

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