change in variegation over winter

9 years ago

last modified: 9 years ago

I read that AV's with variegated foliage might white out too much when temps are lower. but i got a REAL white-out on this one, 'Rita Hilton'.

i got it about 2 years ago - it had moderate white margin, then it almost disappeared during summer and reappeared again after the 1st winter.

But this winter it got almost white.

this is the pic a few months after i got it, in the beginning of 2016. needless to say ;(...it never bloomed as profusely for me as when i bought it...

this is the pic now

as you can see the leaves are mostly white. I love it, but i am a little concerned if it will green up later or at least will produce leaves green enough to survive?

Featured Answer

irina_co

9 years ago

It will. Never hurts to put a leaf down... the green one though.

Every so often I lose variegated plants to too much variegation.... in the basement in winter... last one was Tiger's Son... grrrr...

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

Hyn Patty, Western NC Mountains (USA)
9 years ago
Beautiful. I agree though, a backup leaf is a good idea. You can always move it back up to a higher shelf and that should help it start greening back up. Some people also water with very dilute epsom salts but I personally haven't found that to be very helpful. Temperature though makes a big difference.
Related Professionals
Miami Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Fort Worth Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Norfolk Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Fort Wayne Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Omaha Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · El Paso Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Terre Haute Landscape Contractors · Wilmington Landscape Contractors · Mason City Landscape Contractors · Hilo Landscape Contractors · Charlottesville Architects & Building Designers · Martinsburg Architects & Building Designers · Mason City Architects & Building Designers · Hempstead Architects & Building Designers · Mission Viejo Architects & Building Designers
irina_co
9 years ago
I think it is about timing. Epsom salt is good once a month anyway - but if there is nothing green left - it is too late. You need to tweak it earlier. I do not think Petrushka's plant is in danger. Summer is coming, it will green up - you want it or not.
Hyn Patty, Western NC Mountains (USA)
9 years ago
Agreed, though I'd skip the epsom salts with AV's myself. Salts build up is a problem and I'm always rinsing pots with clean water and no fertilizer to flush them out. Magnesium is already in any decent fertilizer.
petrushka (7b)
Original Author
9 years ago
i give epsom salts to my aroids (more or less regularly )... but never to Av's. i actually never heard of that...m-m..

however, it's been getting warmer overall - so during the day we're in the 70's mostly (indoors that is).

and it got necky, so i repotted it a week ago and i think (imagining ?!...may be..) it's showing some more green on new leaves. although after i removed some wilting tired greener! leaves ..it looks a bit sparse ;))))...make a pic tomorrow!
Rosie1949
9 years ago
Boy that is certainly a lot of variegation from the original. Someone correct me if I am wrong, but it is true that cooler temps will bring out more variegation. Maybe a little less light and a little warmer location will balance the green/white ratio? Rosie
petrushka (7b)
Original Author
9 years ago
so here it is - you can see that smaller new leaves are greening up - that's after 1 month of warmer temps. on the youngest 2 that showed up since last pic - the green in the middle is going thru the leaf, not just at the base.

as far as the film wrap goes (before you ask :)) - i lightly premoisten the mix prior to planting and cover the surface loosely with wrap - and do not water for some time. started doing this since i had to repot many AV's with very long necks JUST before i had to leave for 2 mo - no monitoring, on wicks. i was afraid to water and leave them soggy and unattended in cooler temps.

so i repotted 1 month before i left and kept them OFF wicks for 1 month, to get some roots going - it seemed to work.

am too busy now too - this lets me forget about it for a couple of weeks.