I cut off dead brown yellow leaves but that normally is only on my variegated peacy lily now and then. I really don't fuss over them and they all look fine. Scheffs once in a while drop a set of leaves but is rare.

If I wanted a plastic plant I'd get one... I no more expect a plant to look 100% all the time (if ever) than a person. Yes I trim off dead leaves and clean up fallen ones from underneath, maybe even help a one-off branch to bend in the direction of others instead of being off by itself in some other direction, but I don't polish leaves with anything and I don't constantly trim them. Tip - many plants react badly to your cutting off brown tips (use more humidity!) by just growing new ones where the cut was made.

meyermike 1micha, it depends upon many factors and I can only relate my own experiences. When I was 7 going on 9, we kids had a daily chore which took us into the rice fields at about daybreak. And while we waited for the cows to be milked I could stand there and see every leaf covered in morning dew glistening in the rays of the rising sun. The image is on instant recall and the word that comes to my mind is "luxuriance". I had no idea if or how those plants would fare in a comparison with a "Grades and Standards" text but that is my tapestry of perfect.
Fast forward a number of years and the principle, "to determine whether a plant is in ill health, you first must know what a healthy specimen looks like". So I started looking and it is perhaps a comment on my powers of observations that I can recall only two examples. One was a spider plant in a (not my) Probation Officer's work station. He owned up that his mother took care of it. Symmetry for me is defined in the image of that plant. The other is a Dracaena 'Janet Craig' in the waiting room of an HR Dept. That one represents 'Technical Perfection'. It was clean (scrupulously so); there was no trimmed leaf but there were spaces that indicated the total removal of leaves; it was hydrated - each leaf was subtended at the correct angle and the curvature of the laminae indicated 'positive pressure and tension' as against 'negative....
I once read that human beings prefer order to disorder; clean over grimy and other similar comparisons. I believe them to be true and that is why a well grown plant in good health and presentation will always appeal to me.
As for plastic plants, they now come with blemishes: art imitating life, I guess.
Indulge me as I quote a verse of an old song that express a particular sentiment a gainst things impersonal.
"You do not go to nightclubs and..
You do not care to dance.
You have no time for silly things
Like moonlight and romance.
You only think of dollar bills,
Tied neatly in a stack.
But when you kiss a dollar bill...
It doesn't kiss you back!"

Or is it a constant process of trimming brown tips, cutting off yellow leaves and so on. Is this the nature of plants even though the growing conditions are perfect for them?

Yep, pretty much. A young plant that is given good growing conditions has a good chance of looking good for quite a while, but there is always the dead leaf here and there or the leaf that got nicked here or there. Most people who have good collections spend time with them. It's kind of you reap what you sow.

I hope this helps.

Larry

The people who make a career of doing this meticulously ALL the time tend to be folks preparing for a show which I could certainly understand.

Otherwise to become unduly concerned w/ this borders on that burdensome, obsessive, overkill that I personally will not engage in lest it turn my pleasureable hobby into a burdensome chore which is not my idea of a pleasant hobby.

The leaves plants form are perfect...who's to say the plant doesn't know how to make a leaf according to its genes.
Its the conditions that man gives the plant that causes the brown on the tips and edges.
If you want to see the plant in all its splendour then give it back to its natural home.

Otherwise, enjoy what the plant can offer and you be the perfect host and keep watch over it.
You clip your toenails....nobody is suggesting your feet aren't perfect so don't put up a fuss when the plant wants its nails clipped.

I usually remove dead leaves, but I don't trim leaves, unless I think it might help the health of the plant overall.

For some of my aloes, I'll leave the dead leaves on, kind of give's it more character. I have another plant, whose name I don't remember, that I leave the dead leaves on until they're completely shriveled because they're a nice fall color.

Either way, I don't sweat it if I don't have time, etc.

I leave mine to fall off or at least shrivel up. I used to trim mine and make them look perfect because I am, by default, a perfectionist. When I was in the Hort program I learned that dying leaves dry up because the plant is taking all the nutrients from the leaf to use it for its own good. So, just because it may not be going through the photosynthesis process for the plant doesn't mean it's not still benefiting it. BUT they're not very pretty either!

Hort lvr, that's odd. I can't recall which book, but the author stated the oppoiste of what you said, 'dying leaves dry up because the plant is taking all the nutrients from the leaf to use it for its own good.'
He or she stated, it's important to remove dying leaves because nutrients focus on the dying growth instead of healthy. Hmm, that's odd.

I'm sure not a perfectionist, but I honestly dislike yellow or brown foliage.

I've also read, leaving dead/dying and felled leaves on soil invites insects. It makes sense..dying/dead leaves is a nesting fungus gnat haven.

Whenever I get lazy, to the point I don't fill water containers, instead use tap water on Spider plants, their tips brown. One or two isn't a bother, but if/when an entire plant browns, it looks terrible. I admit, out come the scissors, clip clip clip.

Everyday I spend a little time with plants. They're misted, inspected for insects and marred leaves are removed. It really doesn't take long.
If dying leaves are left on a plant, and continue to yellow or brown, and nothing is done, there's a chance a plant is infested with insects or disease. It's much easier ridding bugs before they have children, grand-children, and great-grand-children. Or catching a disease before it's allowed to spread.
My point is it's easier getting to the source of a problem before too late.

I'm anti-leaf polish though..Toni

Hi Pirate Girl,

Otherwise to become unduly concerned w/ this borders on that burdensome, obsessive, overkill that I personally will not engage in lest it turn my pleasureable hobby into a burdensome chore which is not my idea of a pleasant hobby.

Actually, some people find it restful to groom their plants. I wouldn't exactly put my wife in that category, but she does get a lot of pleasure out of "getting in there" and cleaning things up.

Jeannie,

You clip your toenails....nobody is suggesting your feet aren't perfect so don't put up a fuss when the plant wants its nails clipped.

You are so poetic. You certainly have a way with words. ;o) lol

Hi Larry, welcome back!

I tend to groom depending upon the time of year. Spring is the perfect time to remove dead leaves and such, since winter is a bear on some plants. Tomorrow is going to be repot day for a lot of my plants, which means the clippers are goimg to be busy. I do not groom in the fall, since most of my plants are outside all winter.

It also depends upon the plant. I don't groom my pothos as much as my epies. My spider plant stays outside all year long and goes dormant during the winter, so spring is the time to remove the dead leaves.

I need to go out and clean up quite a few plants. I also am happy to say that my easter cacti are still alive outside & they will be coming inside soon after they are groomed. Other plants will be composted. I tend to have an attitude that if the plant can't survive on the minimal care, then it will either have to die or learn to like it.

Hey Larry,

I agree that grooming plants can be restful & relaxing, but if one looks at the original post where it talks about perfection, seems that's not the way that's going to be going.

Actually what you said is so true. The last person to share my apartment pointed out that I had become that way. I rarely live w/ anyone so hadn't realized it. He pointed out that over time he learned not to try & engage me in much conversation when I came home from work until I'd had time enough to have some coffee as I walked around checking all my plants, pulling a leaf here, repositioning another plant there, etc. I had no idea. Apparently, it had become part of my process of unwinding & starting to relax.

I do a lot of outdoor gardening so am probably not that fussy with my houseplants. But I find when I am upset I do groom them. I dont do it consciously, it just seems to happen. It does calm me down, I seldom do it otherwise. There are times when IÂm "trapped" on the phone; I find without even thinking about it, I go get a sharp scissors and trim away while IÂm "uh-huhing" and waiting for the opportunity to exit gracefully. Ditto for being on hold.

How true, Karen,

I think we all have our golf game, even if we don't play golf. lol

Larry

Yes, leaving the dead and dying leaves to lie on the soil is breeding grounds for mold, pests and disease. However, the ones that aren't touching the soil are perfectly fine to leave on. I think I'll continue to do that since the dead/dying leaves no longer transpire (release moisture and gasses), thus does not take from the plant. The plant takes what stored energy and nutients from the leaf and dries it up. That's why leaves shrivel from the outside edge to the petiole then to the node. Then it falls and needs to be picked up or needs to be cut off.

I still, however, like to have my plants looking nicely. When it starts to really bother me I do cut off the dead/dying. When I get stressed it's a nice relief.

Hi all,

There are some plants that can benefit from leaaving the leaves on to dry up until the plant has sucked all of the nutrients out of them. This is a specially true of tubers that go dormant. Examples would be tulips, amarillys and voodoo plants. And even with some of these plants it is marginal how much benefit the plant gets. I know people who grow wonderful amarillys and they always cut the tops off before putting the tuber into dormancy. So there you are. If a leaf is dying on a philodendrum, pothos, palm or christmas cacuts, it is extremely minimal (and I mean extremely) the benifit that may be had to keep that leaf on until it falls off.

Hort, this isn't really for your benefit. You've decided how you are going to treat your plants and that's fine. If you want to go au natural with your plants that's fine. I think that Pirate Girl made this point in another thread not long ago. It doesn't matter what one person does with their plants. It does matter what we are conveying to people who are new to plants. There are newbies out there who cling to every word we say on this forum. I don't want any of them having the idea that they need to leave unsightly leaves on their plants because it is the best thing for their plant. Again if you don't mind unsightly leaves on your plants that's OK, but I don't want people thinking that they are doing their plants harm by taking off those dying leaves. Plants are here for our enjoyment, that's why we have them. Granted I don't think we should abuse them, but there is no reason for anyone to have to put up with unsightly leaves and in my opinion an unsightly plant. My advice to any newbie here is, if you don't like the leaves, cut them off.

Larry

Yeah, I did make it sound like "life or death" for a plant to be trimmed. I really didn't mean to make it sound so terrible. After all, I do trim mine up occassionally; especially if I neglect a plant for a while and several are dead/dying. My apologies. Really, it's all about personal preference. I just trimmed my [perfectly healthy] Philodendron scandens micans a few weeks ago so it'd get less leggy and more bushy. I even tossed out a lot of the healthy cuttings because I had so much. I did all that before I found this forum otherwise I'd have shared. Again, I apologize for making myself sound like such a jerk.

Maybe it's time for me to apologize. I didn't mean to make you feel bad. You didn't sound like a jerk. I guess I was trying to stress a point and maybe came off a little strong.

I did want to stress the point about newbies who read this stuff though. You and I can have a discussion about the merits of leaving dying leaves on plants. I think you know my opinion on regular houseplants. Actually I agree with you when it comes to tubers. I always let my tulips and other spring bulbs die back after they're done blooming. I think it's a good thing to do. I also do the same with my amaryllis. And when it's all over with we both don't get too carried away with it.

People who are new to the plant hobby are another thing. I remember when I bought my first pothos. I watched that thing like a hawk. I knew what every leaf and bud looked like. I worried about everything with this plant. The same goes for my first African violet. I called everyone for advice on that thing. I worried that there was a spot among the leaf and so on. I was completely anal about the thing. And I know that I was not unique. We get similar questions from newbies all the time here.

So after our discussion is over, what a newbie remembers is that hort lover says leave the leaves on and Larry says take the leaaves off. Since we didn't agree on it the newbe will probably error on the cautious and be afraid to take dying leaves off his/her plant. That's the point that was trying to make.

So I apologize for being a little too strong. You sound like you know quite a bit about plants and will be a very good addition to the forum as well as a good resource. Welcome!

Take care,

Larry

WHAT A GREAT FORUM...Isn't it everyone?

The help, the ideas, and the experiences from others astounds me. Everyone here has so much in common with their love of plants.. It is very interesting to see how others feel and what you do...

Larry b, your concern for hurting others was noticed. And yet you are discrete in sharing the truth of it all...You are a good person, as is all the rest of everyone here..

I will say this.. Everyone made me think alot about the way I view my plants. Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.
I think my plants look great, and that's whats important. Toni will vouch for that...:-) I am sure that most of our plants feel the same about themselves too...lol

When that experienced plant friend of mine came over that day and said, "most" my plants were telling me they have issues, need help, more attention to manicuring, because a "few" of their leaves were anything but perfect, some with even a little mark on them,it bothered me. He even called my soil anything but good for my tropicals, partly to blame for the way a few looked. But He didn't get me to question that one though!!

I almost believed that I was not doing enough for them to look perfect, after I felt I was doing the best I could do for them, and having fun at it too..
I wanted to continue to experience the JOY of this hobby.
So I came here for the right view of how our plants should look, and what each of you do to their imperfect look if any, and why? Isn't this a purpose of these forums?

You have all picked me up. Encouraged me.. Showed me a balanced view.

I personally LOVE to look at my plants everyday, I mean everyday.. I am one of those that does not ignore them, not for one day.
I spend huge amounts of time in my plant room, everyday, because it is there where I find great peace for many reasons.
I CAN and will still look past their blemishes, their defects, because beyond that, they are beautful, at least to me.. Some here have seen them. I never heard a bad thing of them, not yet anyways...lol.
If there are any plants not "perfect" in shape and in every leaf color or form, it is not do to our failing our plants as my nursery "friend" suggested..
They are a reflection of our love for them, even if they have a few flaws, not manicured as often as suggested. I thought I was failing them and that their leaves were a sign of that. I am not perfect, so they will never be too I guess.. If there is a true health conditon that needs to be fixed, then I will accept. I think there is a balance between a sick plant that suffers for many reasons that we strive to find out why, and yet, as to one that just gives us an imperfect leaf or shape ,a blemished look, once in a while, no need to be overly consumed.

A few of you continue to show me how to look at my plants in a balanced view, in ways I not thought of once before.I appreciate it.
You are always learning something new in this hobby for sure.

Yes, jeannie7 said something that really stuck a cord in me, and put a huge smile on my face. She made me see the reality of it all...
To quote:
"The leaves plants form are perfect...who's to say the plant doesn't know how to make a leaf according to its genes.
It's the conditions that man gives the plant that causes the brown on the tips and edges.
If you want to see the plant in all its splendour, then give it back to its natural home."

It is the "nature" of plants, even in the outdoors, and I am going to continue to "ignore" their flawed leaves, unless it is a sign of negligance on my part..:-)

I am not aiming for flawlees plants, just happy healthy ones!

This is what my nursery friend should have appreciated in mine, or even his, but didn't. I guess I let his experience in nurseries almost change my view.. I hope he doesn't look at peoples flaws like this. Oh boy!
Oh, just yesterday he told me he no houseplants of own..I wonder why...lol.
He just asked for a couple of mine though. Why? He says they are so much more unique than the ones he sees at the nursery. What's wrong with this picture? lol

I am going to agree with what Pirot girl said....

"I personally will not engage in lest it turn my pleasureable hobby into a burdensome chore which is not my idea of a pleasant hobby."

Except for the insects, which I have accepted that comes with the territory and takes diligance, I find that when I do what I can for them when I can, it is a great source of joy! This is the nature of houseplants...

We can do what is best to make them happy and healthy, and in turn they will do their best to make us happy too.
If they show signs of pest infestation or fertilizer problems, that is a different story. But this is not what this thread I started is about. Thanks for seeing my point.

Thanks, for making this encouraging forum happen.:-)

Larry B, no offense was taken whatsoever. In fact, I re-read my postings (attempting) from the eyes that were not my own to try to assess how others might feel about my postings. I tend to focus in one area of things too strongly (not just with plants) which causes me to lose sight of the true topic.

Before we have company over I do a once-over on my plants to make sure they don't have a lot of dead leaves etc., but noone else I know (at least those involved in our lives here) grows plants or even has the slightest idea (really just afraid of them) how to grow plants.

Mike, (may I call you Mike?) *beautifully* written! I would like to encourage you a bit. While a HORT major we were each given the security code to the greenhouses and were given permission to take cuttings, offsets, layer/graft and have anything from the greenhouses we wanted with the exception of the Orchids (due to licensing). All of the plants in those greenhouses were absolutely perfect, flawless and breathtaking. I took many, many cuttings. Most did very well. Some, not so well (died). Even the ones that grew well had spots here and there, some were asymetrical (heavier-looking on one side than the other) and others had longer internodes than those I took the cuttings from...hmmm..."Why can't I do it right? Why can't I get these plants sold in even Wal-Mart to look like I bought them?" I would think to myself. The answer?: I didn't buy them and, although they technically came from a greenhouse, they weren't started and grown in the perfect greenhouse conditions. I even had the access to the professional-grade rooting hormones and EVERYTHING. I just didn't have the greenhouse or the 5/15 nozzles (spray for 5 sec. every 15 minutes). Your nursery friend, like a manager in a grocery store looking at the shelves that are to be "faced" for functional and aesthetic reasons, he has to be critical about how his product(s) look. Some people just have a harder time turning their "work brain" off outside of work.

I once wrote a "How to Care for Your Plants" note to a coffee shop I frequented in college because, rather than being relaxing, it was more stressful to visit; all I did was focus on the slow-dying plants the whole time. Silly, huh.

Hort,

Sure you can call me Mike.
Well put. You are so right! I think you just put the frosting on the cake on this thread!! Maybe some one will add another flavor still....

Thankyou for the way you expressed it.....I am glad everyone understood where I was coming from..You said what needs to be said perfectly!!! I hope others that felt as I did, can read this thread and feel a sense of balance too...

Bravo.

I bet alot of us here will be learning a few other things from you as well as from each other. I 'll be watching your posts. I appreciate it when you add your comments! Please keep coming back here. You are another genuine asset!:-)

Mike

Recently at the dentist I noticed a large ficus which I recalled as looking a bit ragged now looked much better. Upon closer examination I noticed that someone had taken an artificial ficus and sort of wove it into the living one adding some artificial lushness here and there where the real one needed some help.

After figuring it out it was obvious but at first blush the artificial plant was unnoticeable. If I had not been familiar with the previous live one I might not have noticed the artificial cosmetics.

Lets just say the novicane some how reached your brain before you noticed the plant!!....LOLOLOL

That poor Ficus! I bet it's offended to be lowered to such standards. Someone should take it home, give it lots of love and then put it back on display so it can show off it's great leaves!

It's just like having a *bad* haircut. Everyone sees it and it makes you feel rediculous. You just want to sink into your soil (figure of speech; no defocating) and not be seen.