Should I repot this dioon edule or just move it? Help!

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

I have a dioon edule in our living room; it is our first house plant. We got it in January or February and since then the tips of a lot of the leaves have turned brown and a couple full fronds are brown. I think it might be too much sun? It sits across the room from a window that gets afternoon sun. I also think I might have overwatered when we first got it; was watering about once a week (looking back that was prob way too much for wintertime) but now water it once every two weeks or so. Maybe I should step up the watering now that it's spring?
The other thing is there is not much space around the base of the plant to water, and I don't think the pot it is in is super well-draining. I am thinking I need to 1) repot it into a slightly bigger pot with better draining soil, 2) begin watering weekly again through the hot season?? and 3) move the plant to a different corner of the room where it won't get direct sun. What are your thoughts? I do not want to kill this plant; I think it must be decades old and would hate to be the one who lets it die.

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Comments (3)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
5 years ago
I think it might be too much sun? It sits across the room from a window that gets afternoon sun.

==>> impossible ... so its not a light issue ...

learn to water by inserting your finger.. and finding out when a plant needs water ... maybe even tip it out of the pot.. to find out how the media ball is processing water ...

i understand you are new to all this.. but it sounds like you are trying to make up water schedules rather than finding out whats going on.. and reacting accordingly ....

the pic is more of a cat pic.. can we see the whole plant.. including the pot.. does the pot drain ... is there a hole in the bottom ...

are you planning on taking it outside into the heat .. do you have a/c ... if not outside .. there would be no need to increase water ... we need more facts to understand if your presumptions are correct ...

if you do take it outside for summer.. full shade ...

more pix please ...

ken

ps: if you do decide to repot.. after others chime in here ... use the correct media.. its not all the same ... put it in the next size pot ... moisten the media before potting ... with plant and media in the pot.. feel how heavy it is .. then water it in.. but dont water again.. until it feels like it did before you watered heavily.. thats a good clue to how much water is in your pot.. that and you finger.. will lead you in the right direction ... and it probably needs more light ...
Sarah Millard
Original Author
5 years ago
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popmama (Colorado, USDA z5)
5 years ago
Whereabouts do you live? The reason I ask is because I live in Colorado which is basically high desert. You would think these plants would be happy here, but they are rarely happy indoors. But when I moved my Sago Palm (yes, I know it's not exactly the same but it's also a cycad) outdoors for the summer in a filtered sun spot, it was happy as a clam. Grew new fronds, greened up, looked pretty!

I also know that dioon edule is not the easiest plant to purchase. It's more on the uncommon side of the houseplant list. So, I'm sure you don't want to do anything to harm it. Do you have a really good, independent nursery nearby? One that has a "plant doctor". If so, you might consider taking it by there and asking them for an opinion also. I know you came here for opinions but it's really hard to actually "see" the plant through this screen. :-)