h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

How hot is your conservatory? The conservatory in my old house managed to severely damage a rubber plant it was so damn hot in there at times.
I would advise removal of any obviously dead and/or diseased bits to prevent poisoning of the tree. Secondly, simply try and look after it as it should be. Usually this simply means watering regularly but allowing it to *completely* dry out (the compost that is) between watering. If it's kept too wet then the roots rot and it dies.
Feed occasionally (The tree too if you like )

Alternatively, is it possible it is pot bound? If so there will be roots coming out of the bottom of the pot and it should be easy to pull it out and see more root than compost. If so, just repot it and it should be OK


BTW, how did you get a bay tree for less than £10?

The most common cause of plant death is over or under watering.

Another problem that is on the increase in the UK are weevils that live in the soil and attack the roots.

Thanks Orcus, you could be right about the temperature, I have a feeling it fluctuates wildly, especially on hot days. I might try moving it somewhere a bit more constant.

It looked a little pot bound when I bought it, nothing too drastic but I gave it a new pot just in case so that should be ok. As for the leaves, I've been trying to remove all the brown leaves but I'm afraid that it will be bald if I carry on at this rate! It cost me £5 for a medium sized tree so I have a feeling that might have something to do with the dropping leaves and brown spots. Guess I should have thought about that before I parted with the cash
Still IF I can nurse it back to health then it will have been a bargain

weevils ?? don't like the sound of that. how can I tell if my plant has them?

By taking the pot off and seeing if there little bugs running around. Even good nurseries have been known to pass them on.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/news/2002/10/new_pest.shtml

Thanks for the link. Had a look and am happy to report there is nothing crawling in the pot! It would have had to go straight in the bin otherwise.

Is that leaf shine stuff any good? or is spit just as effective?

My gran used to use a mix of milk and water.

I'm afraid I don't use anythng bar a quick flick with a duster or very gentle suck with the vacuum cleaner, life is too short!

But then I don't have any plants with big glossy leaves.

I find that Spit gets the dust off but dulls the leaves somewhat.
Would WD40 work better?

I would definitely avoid that!

I've got a pot of leafshine and it's good stuff. However I suspect you could just get away with a damp cloth really. I think it's just IPA (isopropyl alcohol or old cassette cleaner fluid) from the smell of it.

I keep meaning to try putting mine out in the garden when it's warm & raining.
Otherwise I find I need to dust then wipe with a damp cloth or I just smear the dust around

My plants don't seem to like coca cola, perhaps its the bubbles, should I let it go flat before feeding them.

Only if get fries with that

If the brown bay leaves aren't actually diseased, I hope you're using them in your cooking.

Thanks that's a fine point M, I hadn't thought of that <cheers.. The leaves do smell wonderful but they don't look very nice. Pity it's not exactly the time of the year for stews that stick to your ribs! Can I freeze them? Can they go in salads . In any case I'm not sure if they are diseased or not. How can I tell?

Another thing. I can't seem to get any rubber out of my rubber plant,I cut the stalk in a V like you are supposed to but it only seems to have made the leaves go brown,any suggestions?

Here's , there's a machine in the gents

You can do that with rubber plant trees - not so sure about potted ones, the stem probably isn't mature enough. Or you've cut so deep you've severed the nutritional tubes to the leaves.