Hi all, I’ve had this flapjack plant for a while and it’s...
0ft to light, direct
Last watered 2 years ago
4
Have you checked on the roots? @PrimoAntplant
Perhaps it has never fully developed a decent root system. Sometimes the plant doesn't have enough roots to support the amount of growth it is trying to push. To me, your leaves look wrinkled and deflated, like they aren't getting the appropriate amount of water. This doesn't necessarily mean you need to drown it. It means the roots may not be absorbing sufficiently. This can be a problem with the plant itself (disease, root bound by a cloth death trap around the roots) or it is possible that your soil has become hydrophobic and even though you think you are watering, the water is going straight through to the bottom by channeling or down the sides of the pot.
If you top water,you can test this by watering and then using your finger or a stick to scrape across the top of the soil. If the top 1/4" is wet but everything underneath is dry, well then your plant isn't getting any water to the roots.
If you bottom water, you should be able to tell if your plant is up taking much. If you leave it for 10 minutes and there's barely any change in the water level, then your soil is likely hydrophobic.
You can correct this through a good bottom soak. Fill a bowl so the water goes at least 1/2 way up the outside of the pot. Leave it for about 20 minutes. The water is forced up into the pot at that level and the soil will succumb under pressure, and will become hydrated again. Then make sure you drain really well (I even put the pot on top of a dish cloth for a few minutes to suck some of that water back out), and put little Sproutacus back on the sill.
Perhaps it has never fully developed a decent root system. Sometimes the plant doesn't have enough roots to support the amount of growth it is trying to push. To me, your leaves look wrinkled and deflated, like they aren't getting the appropriate amount of water. This doesn't necessarily mean you need to drown it. It means the roots may not be absorbing sufficiently. This can be a problem with the plant itself (disease, root bound by a cloth death trap around the roots) or it is possible that your soil has become hydrophobic and even though you think you are watering, the water is going straight through to the bottom by channeling or down the sides of the pot.
If you top water,you can test this by watering and then using your finger or a stick to scrape across the top of the soil. If the top 1/4" is wet but everything underneath is dry, well then your plant isn't getting any water to the roots.
If you bottom water, you should be able to tell if your plant is up taking much. If you leave it for 10 minutes and there's barely any change in the water level, then your soil is likely hydrophobic.
You can correct this through a good bottom soak. Fill a bowl so the water goes at least 1/2 way up the outside of the pot. Leave it for about 20 minutes. The water is forced up into the pot at that level and the soil will succumb under pressure, and will become hydrated again. Then make sure you drain really well (I even put the pot on top of a dish cloth for a few minutes to suck some of that water back out), and put little Sproutacus back on the sill.
@UltraKoreanfir thank you so much! I wanted to make sure I wasn’t over watering it but yes I think that the soil has become hydrophobic. Going to try the bottom soak now. Thanks again!
@PrimoAntplant Anytime. Let me know how it goes. After the "emergency," bottom soak, subsequent waterings do not need to be nearly as deep, & you'll see the plant soaking it right up.
