Speaking of plant observations, I could REALLY use some advice here...

[mac]

I don't know what kind of plants these are, but they were given to my husband at his mother's funeral two years ago, and they are the only two plants he has ever managed to keep alive. They have sentimental value, and I'm afraid I've killed them.

About two weeks ago, I moved them outside and set them in the rain while I cleaned off the surface beneath the bay window where their dirt had really piled up. I left them outside over night-- the temperature wasn't extreme-- and brought them inside around noon the next day.

This first one has been struggling for a while, and when I moved it outside I noticed that a long root was growing out of a hole in the bottom of its pot, and that it appeared to have outgrown its container. I bought the container you see here, and transplanted it. I also gave both of them some plant food about 3 days ago. It's still not doing any better.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1439/910814215_356dc3d4bc.jpg

A lot of its stems turned brown and fell off. Now even more of them are following suit, but it looks like there are some new ones sprouting at the base of the plant, as you can see below.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1313/910814203_0ac620ea85.jpg


The next one didn't seem to have a big problem until after I took it outside and brought it back in. It hasn't been transplanted or anything-- just took it outside for 12 hours or so. It looks crunchy and brown. I don't think I am under watering them. In fact, they were mostly ignored for the last two years, except for the occasional watering and Miracle Grow sticks that we pushed into the soil, and they were fine.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1129/910814237_416b9b68ff.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1058/910814261_e3a22b2312.jpg

If these plants die, my husband will not be happy. I would really like to save them. Any ideas???????

[carsalesguy]

you f*****ed up.

leave it to a woman-----

[Michelle]

you f*****ed up.

leave it to a woman-----

tell that to the ferns you killed

[carsalesguy]

you need to go look on the porch- they ok.

i was hoping someone would water them since i was working 100 miles away when i got them-

they ok- they never got killed.

now, michelle on the other hand has a brown thumb. she can kill a silk flower

[carsalesguy]

you need to go look on the porch- they ok.

i was hoping someone would water them since i was working 100 miles away when i got them-

they ok- they never got killed.

now, michelle on the other hand has a brown thumb. she can kill a silk flower

[Michelle]

you need to go look on the porch- they ok.

i was hoping someone would water them since i was working 100 miles away when i got them-

they ok- they never got killed.

now, michelle on the other hand has a brown thumb. she can kill a silk flower

even my brown thumb knows that brown and crunchy leaves are a sure sign of a dead plant.

[mac]

Hawk, Do the pots look too small? I just moved one from a smaller pot.

If I put them outside under the shade, will the heat hurt them??

[daisy]

Call anyone at Heritage Nursery 601 264-6534 and ask them or go by there on West 4th Street.

They have lotsof that first one--split leaf something and any of those people can tell you what to do based on your pictures.

Good Luck and if all else fails buy plants just like them and put them in the same pot with the bow. Hubby will never know unless you tell him.

[eyescene]

Hey thats a good idea Daisy!!! Buy some new ones and hubby will never know!!! if'n you can't save them first!!

[eyescene]

Now that I look @ the pics really close, some of the leaves look burnt! You may have burn them, but they can be saved! They will just look dreadful for a long time. and some look like too much water....so I dunno.

[Ande']

We have the first ones planted outside of our house. The area gets some direct sun, but mostly shade. They have done great. The heat hasn't bothered them at all. Just have to remember to water them when it doesn't rain for 3 weeks. :) Note to self: sometimes I have to remeber to help nature along.

[Baloo]

Hey mac, Hawkeye is right... Too much water... The first one is a split leaf philodendron and the second is what we have always called a corn plant.. The first thing that you need to do is trim the dead and broken stuff off. Take the corn plant out of the pretty foil that it is in, it holds water. When they do get light, morning light is best so that they don't cook in the hot sun... Look in the plant section at your favorite store or nursery for liquid oxygen... Poke some holes in the soil with a small still or butter knife and use the liquid oxygen as directed. It will help offset the overwatering (or drowning) of the plants... Then, also as Hawkeye said, just mist for about a week or so and give them some time to dry out.

They are still beautiful and can be saved... Good luck!

[Hermione]

Thanks for mentioning the paper, Baloo. That paper should come off any plant immediately. It's just for decoration. Somebody sent me a cornplant when I had surgery about twenty years ago and I've dragged it all over creation. It's only been repotted once, seldom gets fed, gets too dry, etc.
Both of those are very hardy plants. I understand how meaningful they are. We still have plants from my sister's funeral and dad's funeral and they are very special to my mom. Actually, she has a couple of plants that belonged to her grandmother -- we're talking plants that are 70+ years old and going strong.

[mac]

Thanks everyone!

I'll take the foil off and deal with them tomorrow. Unfortunately, I watered them today before I read the advice. I thought brown crunchy leaves was a sign of too little water, and that yellow ones are a sign of too much.

I'll try the advice of removing the paper, putting oxygen sticks in, and letting them dry out. There's really nothing to lose if it doesn't work. They're gonna die if I don't change something.

[Guru]

It's like Fotno_ said on the first plant. It's a member of the miniature bulbous Palm family. You can put it outside and it will be ok except in Winter.
The second plant is known as a Corn plant. It's an inside plant but can be put outside on a porch during the Summer but can't make it outside in the Winter.
For the size of them give them about a coke can or so of water about twice a week. That's according to the pot size I saw.
Both of these can live for years and years.
You can also split the plants root base every once in awhile and share, it also helps them live longer and not go dormant, kind of like splitting Iris', etc.
If you are going to keep them outside try to find some styrofoam type pots. You can find some nice looking ones at Lowes.
Plants and heat:
Plants in the ground catch heat from the top.
Plants in a pot catch heat from the top, bottom, all four sides and it's tough on them.