posted
my medusa fern is fading! everything seems alright except it is no longer that dark, beautiful green. I was feeding MiracleGro, that did not help. Tried fish emulsion, no help. Any ideas as to how to get the deep color to return? thanks for any ideas!
Plants: 2 | From: Chicago | Registered: Oct 2003
| Seeded: 64.109.251.11
Jiffymouse
guest
posted
pv_alan, it sounds like you might be "burning" your plant with too much fertilizer. I am not familiar with that particular plant, but I do know too little fertilizer is MUCH better than too much. somehow, overfeeding the plants is like eating too much ice cream for us. gives them a headache! (and if continued, will kill them)
Seeded: 12.165.32.4
Will Creed
guest
posted
Medusa Fern or Nephrolepis Obliterata needs an acidy soil. If your local tap water is on the hard or alkaline side, that will raise the soil pH and make the nutrients unavailable to the plant. If that is the case, use only filtered, distilled or rainwater.
Overwatering can also cause leaf yellowing. Wait until the surface of the soil feels almost dry before watering thoroughly.
Curiously, both too much sun and too little light will cause leaf paling. Direct sunlight will bleach the leaves. Too little light will cause th older leaves to turn pale and die. Bright indirect light, such as a north windowsill is the best light for your fern.
Finally, I would note that if it is just a few of the older leaves that are affected, then that is normal and you should just prune them off.
Seeded: 24.239.134.109