With its charming rounded leaves resembling tiny green peas, the artillery plant (Pilea microphylla) is a uniquely appealing houseplant. But even the best plant parents can occasionally end up with a struggling specimen.
Maybe you unknowingly overwatered or disease crept in undetected. Perhaps the plant endured stressful conditions during shipping. Whatever the cause taking quick action at the first signs of decline is key to saving your artillery plant.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover how to diagnose issues, treat common artillery plant ailments, adjust care practices, and nurse your plant back to vigorous growth. With some TLC and the proper interventions, you can revive your distressed artillery plant.
Early Signs Your Artillery Plant Needs Help
Catching problems early is critical so know what to watch for
- Wilting or drooping leaves
- Leaves turning yellow or brown
- Leaf drop from lower leaves first
- Few new leaves emerging
- Stunted growth
- Mushy, foul roots
Don’t hesitate to intervene at the first symptoms. Immediate troubleshooting gives your plant the best chance of recovery.
Step 1: Stop Watering
If you suspect overwatering, cease watering immediately. Allow the soil to dry out completely before resuming a conservative watering routine. This gives the roots a chance to recover from excess moisture.
Step 2: Address Root Rot
Root rot from wet soil is the number one killer of artillery plants. Carefully remove the plant from its pot and inspect the roots. Trim off any brown, mushy roots with clean shears. Discard the old potting mix and wash the container with soap and water to remove pathogens.
Repot in fresh soil mixed with extra perlite to improve drainage. Avoid watering again until the soil is partly dry to prevent further rot issues.
Step 3: Give the Roots a Soil Break
If the roots seem very damaged from overwatering, you can take a more drastic step. Remove all the soil and repot the artillery plant in sphagnum moss or vermiculite instead. Keep it evenly moist but not soaked.
After a few weeks, transition back to potting soil amended with extra perlite. This “soil break” allows the roots to recover before exposing them to moisture-retentive soil again.
Step 4: Improve Soil Drainage
The artillery plant needs soil that drains quickly. Regular potting mix often stays too wet. Add amendments like perlite, pumice, bark chips, or horticultural sand to improve drainage.
A cactus/succulent soil mix also provides excellent aeration for the roots. Or you can create your own custom blend tailored to your plant’s needs.
Step 5: Find the Right Light Levels
Too much direct sun can scorch artillery plant leaves and cause decline. But insufficient light also weakens the plant. Assess the light exposure and move the pot to a spot with bright, indirect sun.
South or west-facing windows offer ideal light levels. Rotate the plant periodically so all sides get even illumination.
Step 6: Monitor Watering Habits
Even after drying out, artillery plants should only be watered when the top inch of soil becomes dry. Always pour off excess water in the saucer after watering. A moisture meter takes the guesswork out of deciding when to water next.
Step 7: Raise Humidity
The artillery plant thrives in humid air like its native tropical habitat. Increase ambient humidity by misting the plant daily or setting a humidifier nearby. Create a pebble tray by placing the pot on a bed of pebbles with water in the tray.
Step 8: Apply Fertilizer
Nutrient deficiencies weaken plants and leave them prone to decline. Feed distressed artillery plants with a balanced liquid fertilizer like fish emulsion or compost tea every 2-3 weeks in spring and summer. This nourishes the plant and powers recovery.
Step 9: Treat Pest Infestations
Spider mites, mealybugs, and other pests can attack weakened artillery plants. Treat any infestations immediately with neem oil or insecticidal soap sprays. Isolate affected plants to prevent spreading.
Step 10: Be Patient!
Saving a dying plant takes diligence, care, and above all, patience. With consistent TLC, your artillery plant will show signs of new growth and regain its vigor. Celebrate the small wins and enjoy nursing your plant back to health.
What Causes Artillery Plants to Decline?
Understanding what stresses these plants helps you prevent issues in the future:
Overwatering
Excess moisture is the most common artillery plant killer. Their roots are prone to rot if soil stays too wet.
Underwatering
On the flip side, allowing the soil to completely dry out too often can cause wilt.
Poor Drainage
Letting plants sit in waterlogged soil provides the perfect conditions for diseases like root rot to take hold.
Too Much Sun
The delicate leaves of artillery plants scorch easily in direct sunlight. Filtered bright light is ideal.
Low Humidity
These tropical plants thrive in 50-70% relative humidity. Drier air causes leaf stress.
Temperature Extremes
Artillery plants grow best with daytime temps of 65-85°F and nights above 50°F.
Nutrient Deficiencies
Lack of nutrients due to inadequate fertilization weakens the plant over time.
Pests
Spider mites, mealybugs, and aphids can infest stressed plants.
With attentive care and smart preventative measures, you can keep your artillery plant thriving for years. But even if disaster strikes, don’t lose hope! Follow these rescue tips to revive and rehabilitate your plant. With time and TLC, you’ll watch your artillery plant bounce back more beautiful than ever.
Spotting the Signs: When Your Plant’s Leaves Start to Droop
When leaves resemble crispy autumn foliage, your plant is parched. If the soil is pulling a disappearing act from the pot edges and feels drier than a stand-up comedians wit, your plant is sending out an SOS for water.
Getting to the Root of the Problem: Causes of Leaf Droopiness
Overwatering is plant sabotage. Its the silent killer that invites root rot to the party, turning robust roots into mushy messes. This breakdown in the plants foundation leads to a loss of leaf stability, causing them to droop dismally.
How to Save a Dying Plant! | last ditch effort houseplant care
FAQ
Why is my artillery plant dying?
How do you revive a dying plant?
How often should I water an artillery plant?
How do you care for an artillery plant?
Part of your artillery plant care includes keeping the soil moist, but not soaked. Water when the soil is dry to the touch. Fertilization every few weeks promotes growth. Artillery plant info recommends feeding with a balanced houseplant food every five to six weeks. Artillery plant care also involves grooming the plant for desired shape.
Can artillery plants survive winter?
Winter hardy to USDA Zone 11-12, growing artillery plants in these zones may remain evergreen or die back in winter. However, growing artillery plants is not limited to those zones alone, as this specimen can be overwintered inside as a houseplant. A well draining soil or houseplant mixture is necessary to keep the plant happy.
Where should artillery plants be planted?
When considering where to grow artillery plants inside, choose a southern window, away from drafts. Artillery plant care includes placing the plant where day-time temperatures remain at 70 to 75 F. (21-24 C.) and 10 degrees cooler at night. Part of your artillery plant care includes keeping the soil moist, but not soaked.
What is an artillery plant?
Artillery plants can also provide fine succulent-textured, green foliage for containers as the flowers are not showy. Related to the aluminum plant and the friendship plant of the genus Pilea, artillery plant info indicates this plant got its name from its dispersal of pollen.