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Chenille Plants

Q.Some of my chenille plant’s leaves are starting to turn black. What should I do?

Zone Tampa, Florida | Realdusi added on April 9, 2019 | Answered

I call my chenille plant my high maintenance plant. I do not have a green thumb but have good luck with succulents and cacti since they tend to be pretty low mainetenance. My chenille plant lost all of its poofy cat tails a few weeks after I bought it. It’s in a south facing window instairs (in Florida). I mist in every 2-3 days since I read it likes humidity. I increased my care from watering 1-2x a week and fertilizing every two weeks to fertilizing with a water soluble fertilizer weekly and watering with tap water 2-3x a week since the soil seemed to be more dry than moist and some of the leaves were turning yellow. The plant has started to take on new growth of leaves and I see a few pink wisps that I think are cattails trying to bloom. What concerns me is some of the leaves are starting to take on a black color – usually the bottom half or part of one half of a leaf. I meticulously prune off the yellowed leaves and the parts of the plants that look like they are drying and dying but the leaves with black seems to be pretty strong and sturdy.

What can I do to help this plant flourish?

A.Answers to this queston: Add Answer
BushDoctor
Certified GKH Gardening Expert
Answered on April 9, 2019

It would appear that the plant is receiving too much water, or maybe had received a little too much and took too long to dry out. This can happen from time to time, but you can control the infection quite easily.

Mix peroxide and water at 1/4 peroxide to 3/4 water and water in once. Wait a week, or whenever the soil dries out, and water again with the same treatment. This should take care of the infection.

Now, sometimes, even a southern window isn't enough light, especially though the winter. During this time, you should expect a semi dormant state anyway, but supplementing light during this time may help with the yellowing. I think that you are feeding just fine, even though they can tolerate weekly feeding, just to feed once every two weeks indoors. And as always with watering, water only when the soil is almost completely dry all of the way down.

This article will give you more information on the care of this plant: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/chenille/growing-chenille-plants.htm

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