When tissue cultured plants began to appear in the marketplace, I had this idea that I would buy plants from several different labs. Alan brought seed from South Africa for Aloe polyphylla many years ago, before this plant made the endangered species list, and has produced numerous seed crops over the years. I have had the good fortune to work with Alan Beverly, an expert in the understanding of this plant. Plants that might not come true from seed, or are not easy to propagate from cuttings are also good candidates for tissue culture. For plants that seldom flower, or require many years to reach flowering maturity, tissue culture is used to speed up the process. Tissue culture is the propagation of plants as “test tube babies” or cloning. Aloe polyphylla has become more readily available since the advent of tissue culturing difficult-to-propagate plants. Replacing soil by repotting improves airflow to roots.There is a fair amount of information out there on this very special plant, sometimes referred to as Drakensburg Aloe (or more commonly Spiral Aloe) so I won’t go into all the details. Old potting soil tends to compress over time as organic matter breaks down. Roots that invade this layer have access to air. Make the layer equal to roughly one-quarter to one-third the height of the pot (less for small pots, more for big ones). Consider adding a layer of pea gravel or terra-cotta pebbles to the bottom of pots (ones that already have drainage holes) to create an extra air pocket. Or simply start with pots that have plenty of drainage. It won’t hurt to add drainage holes to pots. Terra-cotta containers breathe through their sides, which helps the soil to dry.Īdd drainage holes. They will not prevent overwatering, especially with indoor plants.Ĭhoose clay pots. Do not use potting blends labeled as moisture control. Add pine bark or perlite to standard potting mixes to make soil coarse and full of air pockets. Look for small papyrus plants, Cyperus (rush), elephant’s ear (Alocasia) or sweet flag (Acorus). If that’s you, trade the plant you overwater for one that loves water. Even terrific gardeners can have an Achilles’ heel houseplant - one they consistently kill with overwatering. Swap drown-prone plants for water-loving ones. Don’t fertilize until you see consistent new growth. Usually within a week to 10 days you’ll start to see signs of recovery. It’s even better to wait until it’s dry one to two knuckles deep on your index finger (yes, shove it into the soil). Do not water until the soil surface is dry to the touch. Use a spray bottle to mist wilted leaves daily to help prevent further leaf damage. Use a commercial mix that has chunky bark pieces, or add some pine bark from bagged orchid mix to create air pockets in the soil. If they’re really rotten, they’ll pull away with the soil. You could even use a gentle spray to wash soil from roots. Remove it from the existing pot, and shake away all excess soil. If the plant isn’t too big to handle, try repotting. Tilting the pot or rolling it gently can help shake up the soil (so to speak) and create needed air pockets. A drowning houseplant needs air in the root zone. ![]() If you need to add drainage holes to your pot at this point, do it over a pan or sink because water will likely come pouring out the minute you create an exit. Having no drainage holes is the ideal set-up for overwatering indoor plants. All pots need drainage holes to let excess water escape. ![]() If plant roots can’t absorb water, the plant may enter a death spiral because its roots can’t support the leaves. In bright light, a plant needs more water because it’s actively growing. If your plant is in a bright window, move it to spot with less light. It’s obvious, but don’t give your plant any more water, no matter how much it wilts.
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