How do I support a large indoor plant

I inherited a HUGE indoor plant (no clue what type it is...I do  not have a green thumb). It's about 7 feet tall with very large leaves. It sprouts new leaves pretty regularly but the stalks (not sure this is the right terminology) are bending. I think it's because they are so tall and the leaves are heavy.  When I got the plant there was twin around the stalks and some poles in the pot. Please help...I don't want to kill the thing (some leaves and stalks have turned brown) it's beautiful.


Could you post a picture? It's hard to tell what kind of a plant you've got there without seeing it. Do the new leaves come from new stalks coming from the bottom of the plant,or do they grow off of already-existing branches?



Looks like this...but mine is bigger and fuller.


Hmmmm, let me try again.


You could get a few green bamboo plant stakes and some green twine at HD and tie up the leaves that are drooping.


That's a gorgeous plant. I would be sure that I keep.the soil moist, but not too wet. Reality is, you may soon need a larger pot for roots, but I'd ask an expert about that. Get a trellis from a Lowes or other garden center and prop it (with twine and nails support) against a wall. Then gently, and loosely tie the central stem to the trellis. You could also.support the base of lateral branches, larger ones, where they meet the stem, so your plant "feels" secure. It will thank you by growing more leafy and lush.


You could take the photo to a good nursery and ask the staff there. They might have some good ideas about what kind of growing conditions it prefers. I would make sure for now that the soil stays moist but not too wet, and put it somewhere that gets plenty of indirect light. A lot of plants can't take the intensity of direct sun through a window. For support, you can also find metal rings at most garden centers that rest on several stakes into the dirt, then connect around the stalks to help them stand upright.

Also, the plant could need to be re-potted. Do you see roots coming out of the holes at the bottom? If so, it's root-bound and needs more space.


Probably Dieffenbachia.  If you have animals, be careful - it's toxic to them.


How does one re-pot a 7-foot plant?!

PeggyC said:

Also, the plant could need to be re-potted. Do you see roots coming out of the holes at the bottom? If so, it's root-bound and needs more space. 

 


Re the brown leaves and stalks--that is normal and it is ok to cut them off.  



A vining plant can be encouraged to wrap itself to the support.

The plant pictured resembles a peace plant -- but bigger. It will support it's own new growth. That said, I think it should be reported into a bigger container for better balance and then placed in a corner -- but out of direct sun.



mtierney said:

A vining plant can be encouraged to wrap itself to the support.

The plant pictured resembles a peace plant -- but bigger. It will support it's own new growth. That said, I think it should be reported into a bigger container for better balance and then placed in a corner -- but out of direct sun.




Oh, I don't think it should be trained to wrap around, just have a little upper level.support following transplant in a larger pot.

 



unicorn33 said:

How does one re-pot a 7-foot plant?!

PeggyC said:

Also, the plant could need to be re-potted. Do you see roots coming out of the holes at the bottom? If so, it's root-bound and needs more space. 

 

There's a technique. You could bring it to an expert or call.an expert in. Or, you could tip it slowly on its side, have a helper hold it there, put a tarp under the pot,  break the pot,  quickly put some biodegradable canvas mesh around the root, pick the canvas up with another person helping you, put some great, slightly fertilized mulch in a pot almost twice the size of that one,  with another person or persons helping, pick up the canvas and place the plant in the new pot, centering with more mulch around it. (Go ahead and revise this as you wish, MOLERS.)


Then go ahead and moisten the soil fairly generously, but not so it's soggy.


springgreen2's method has worked for us. I think I used to use an old plastic tablecloth when I had really large houseplants. I think I just picked the plant up close to where it was coming out of the soil and didn't do the canvas mesh, but that's probably not the best way to have done it.

I've seen plant stands on rollers/wheels, which make it much easier to move a large, heavy plant around a room than trying to lift and carry it yourself.


Definitely lay the pot on its side on top of newspapers or plastic sheeting - with someone helping.. I wouldn't not break that pretty pot.. Make sure the soil is moist before you tip it down, with a spade gently loosen the soil around the top of the pot. You should be able to tug it free. Have the new container prepared for a quick transfer.

Last resort, smash the pot!


Ok just so folks know the plant in the picture it not actually my plan. Mine is bigger and droopier.  Here's a pic of the actual plant I have. The roots seems to be fine/the pot big enough.


I don't know how to turn the pic around..sorry. See how the stalks are bending..,it's like they are breaking from the weight of the leaves.


I repotted this guy by myself. It's a little crooked. I left it that way because once I got it in the pot, I couldn't move it... :wry emoticon: You should have seen me trying to drag it inside last fall. I fear it will be too big comer this fall and will need a new home with high ceilings... 


eta: it's not quite as crooked as sideways...


if the plant were mine, i'd cut off all the bending stalks.  Then i'd give it a big dose of plant food.  And as it grows, i'd keep cutting off the tallest stalk.  Hopefully that will promote a bushier plant.


I wouldn't know where to begin to transplant this guy. (A more immediate problem is that  he's 4 inches from the ceiling!)



Sorry--i don't know how to turn the image either. This plant is actually upright!


Unicorn, the dirt ball is not very large on that plant, so it shouldn't be too difficult to maneuver it on its side to wiggle it out of its current pot, then lift into a new, larger one. One person to support the root ball, the other supporting the rest of the plant midway along its height. But I can see the problem regarding the height! Might need a taller ceiling. ;-)


Marylago, that plant is a Norfolk Pine -- it looks like my plant which is over 5 feet tall. What makes it hard to relocate are the very long branches which can break. Mine has been repotted twice in the 15 years I have had it. I am intrigued with the notion of giving it an outdoor vacation, never considered it. Lots of shade, right?

Does your plant get browning at the tips? It seems a seasonal thing.


Yes, it is a Norfolk Island Pine. I got it from new207040 because of the brown tips--it was 5' tall or so. I cut or pinched each and everyone one off. It started growing like crazy and now it's taller than I can reach--at least 8'. Last winter it was fine and I didn't lose any branches but I had it in a window. This year it was not happy with the spot and did lose a few lower ones :-( but no brown tips. I am sure it will be happy to go out. I leave it in my front yard all summer and then drag it back in.


Here is mine.. Do you use fertilizer? Shades place outdoors?


When you bring it in it's going to lose some leaves inevitably, but will restore itself in time.


Or cutting a hole in the ceiling... JK

PeggyC said:

Unicorn, the dirt ball is not very large on that plant, so it shouldn't be too difficult to maneuver it on its side to wiggle it out of its current pot, then lift into a new, larger one. One person to support the root ball, the other supporting the rest of the plant midway along its height. But I can see the problem regarding the height! Might need a taller ceiling. ;-)

 


I'm wondering if any of my MOL friends have a cathedral ceiling AND want a giant plant come fall... ;-)

unicorn33 said:

Or cutting a hole in the ceiling... JK

PeggyC said:

Unicorn, the dirt ball is not very large on that plant, so it shouldn't be too difficult to maneuver it on its side to wiggle it out of its current pot, then lift into a new, larger one. One person to support the root ball, the other supporting the rest of the plant midway along its height. But I can see the problem regarding the height! Might need a taller ceiling. ;-)

 

 



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