Help for my bat plant

10 years ago

last modified: 10 years ago

I bought this bat plant a few months ago. Looked very healthy but was was root-bound so I repotted it. Shortly after I brought it home it started making lots of new leaves and many of the old ones died. They all looked good - those are the big lower leaves you see on the top photo. A couple weeks ago is when the problem started. The new leaves coming in (2nd photo) look perfect. But some of them - about a1/3 of them - after they get just about to the opening flat stage, their edges start drying up (pix 3 & 4). The dry part spreads as the leaf grows (pic 4).

Pix #2 was taken after the room lights went out that's why it looks dark.

Bat plants don't like to be dry, they like lots of water which I give it. There are no bugs. I even checked with my magnifier. This was a new pot aa fresh soil. It's in my plant room so no outside creepy crawleys.

Any ideas? Jane you have a bat plant, has yours ever done this?

Featured Answer

sultry_jasmine_nights (Florida-9a-ish)

10 years ago

last modified: 10 years ago

Too much water..and perhaps not enough humidity. I would ditch the saucer. Mine hate being in the house and I don't water them all that much. I let them dry out a little in between waterings. They love warmth and humidity in the air. I give them filtered light in the afternoon. A little morning sun. I also add perlite to my potting mix to lighten up the soil for better drainage.

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Comments (6)

linda_leaf _z10a_southwest_fl
10 years ago
I agree with Sultry. Mine are outdoors in large pots in a plant stand under shifting shade/sun. They like heat, humidity, and air circulation but not windy conditions. I killed a really nice bat plant by keeping saucer under the pot. You will be amazed at how fast the roots grow, so check them from time to time.

Linda Leaf
bea (zone 9a -Jax area) thanked linda_leaf _z10a_southwest_fl
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sultry_jasmine_nights (Florida-9a-ish)
10 years ago
Bea, are you able to slip the plant out of the pot and check the roots? If the roots are brown, mushy, or smelly it could indicate root rot. Sometimes the problem occurs at the roots even before showing up on the leaves. I find that sometimes looking at the roots of my plants can give me clues on whats going on.
bea (zone 9a -Jax area) thanked sultry_jasmine_nights (Florida-9a-ish)
bea (zone 9a -Jax area)
Original Author
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
SJN you're so right about roots. As an orchid grower with about 25 of them I learned a long time ago to pay attention to roots. They tell you so much.

Anyway, today I took two leaves to my nursery lady who is dynamite on everything plants & she suggested that I look at the roots. So I did. The roots look fine luckily. But what I realized when I lifted the plant out was that the pot was too deep and I noticed that there was away too much soil below the roots, so much so that it was REALLY wet so the roots didn't have a chance to breathe down there. Even plants that like a moist environment need a respite from moisture from time to time. Of course I repotted it in a shorter pot and will give it a rest from water for a few days. She agreed with all of you and me that since we eliminated all other parameters and the plant was healthy originally it had to come down to water. And BTW I remembered after I potted it that this whole thing didn't start until AFTER I originally repotted it. Sigh…after 40 years gardening you'd think I'd know better.

And BTW humidity and heat are great (70% and 80-85 cause it's my orchid room).
sultry_jasmine_nights (Florida-9a-ish)
10 years ago
I'm glad you got it figured out. I still kill plants lol. I graduated from killing tropicals to killing roses LOL!
bea (zone 9a -Jax area) thanked sultry_jasmine_nights (Florida-9a-ish)
jane__ny
10 years ago
Bea, I agree with all the advice given. Make sure the pot drains well and if you can put it out on your patio it will be happier. I mix Miracle Gro with orchid bark and perlite when I repot...which I need to do now.

I do not use a saucer and let the pot drain on the patio.

Good luck,

Jane
bea (zone 9a -Jax area) thanked jane__ny