I just noticed this, what should I do? Sorry for the vague question but I can’t find any good articles on what this is.

Everything I find starts the same way “top 8 reasons for brown leaves”. Then says too much water, not enough water, too much light not enough light too much fertilizer not enough, wrong kind of fertilizer and so on and so on. That isn’t helpful! Do I just have to guess? Why is all plant knowledge basically voodoo?

I’m tempted to take a cutting so I have a spare to try again if it all goes wrong, but the plant only has 5 leaves, so I’m stressing out.

  • The_v@lemmy.worldEnglish
    14·
    11 hours ago

    Please do not cut off the leaf. Removing a leaf before it is completely brown inhibits it’s growth. Plants relocate mobile nutrients from older/dying leaves to newer ones. Be patient and let the plant do its thing.

    Browning in the middle of the variegation is usually due to a drastic change in light. This causes what is essentially a sunburn.

    A few tricks from way to many decades growing them. They like direct morning or evening sunlight for 3-4 hours. Watering - completely saturated the pot then allow it to dry out (I water mine only once a month or two). Fertilizer - they do best with a fertilizer with a 3:1:2 NPK ratio. You can give them a bit extra K when they are putting out a new leaf.

    Do not move the plant if possible. Rotating them is a great way to mess them up and get sunburn.

    • Luvs2Spuj@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
      1·
      4 hours ago

      Thank you so much. I wasn’t going to remove the brown leaf, but some healthier ones higher up. I’ll hold off doing that as well though.

      I think it must be too much light then, in which case I know where its new home will be for 3-4 hours light. I have to move the plant tomorrow, as there is some decorating taking place.

      All other things you say seem to be in order.

    • K4mpfie@feddit.orgEnglish
      1·
      7 hours ago

      Hi, quick question about the light and fertilizer: Is that all year round? I recently got a Monstera and on the QR Code it came with, it said to not use fertiliser in Winter or Summer, only in Spring

  • growsomethinggood ()@reddthat.comEnglish
    6·
    13 hours ago

    I don’t know much to be useful in id-ing on sight, but can you describe the conditions it’s been in? Is the soil well-draining? How long does it take for the top inch of soil to appear dried out, and how often are you watering? Did you repot it recently, and/or is the pot the right size (just a bit bigger than the roots)? How often are you using fertilizer? Is it getting any direct light? How many direct and indirect light hours total do you think? Is it autumn where you are and it’s adjusting to less light, or vice versa?