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Hello one and all,
this is my first time on any forum site, but I come to you needing help! I'm a newby to houseplants, but have always loved and admired them. I bought myself an Ioxora (name on the care instructions) and everything was going fine 'til I went away for chrsitmas and left it in a wee bowl of water so it didn't dry out (as directed in the crare instructions). I am now back and find it's leaves are starting to drop and go a bit dry (a paler shade of green) looking around the edges, yet it was kept watered whilst I was away by the landlady.
I have posted (with any luck) a photo of it, and hope someone can help me. (I also have another plant that is in the same situation, a calendiva... it's not dropping leaves but was left and now the stems seem a bit sodden)
Just so I don't feel bad coming to you all only for help! I hope over time I too will be able to offer advice and knowledge, but I'm new to all this... my room at Uni didn't allow for plants as my new place does.
Hello! That is a very interesting looking plant. I don't think I have ever seen one before. I was wondering if maybe it was a change in the environment. Like when you were gone was the heater off the entire time or something like that...I am grabing at straws here because I am not that knowledgable either.
Dropping leaves can often be a symptom of overwatering. With most plants it's not a good idea to leave them sitting in a bowl of water for an extended period of time so that could be your problem. And if your landlady gave it any additional water on top of what was in the bowl that would have made things even worse. Hopefully though now that you're back you've removed the bowl of water and if you let it dry out a bit it should recover.
Ixora is a tropical shrub and needs direct sun and highly acidic soil to thrive. In addition to too much water, your plant may not be getting it's other needs met growing indoors. Even a short time of exposure to lower temperatures can cause it's leaves to fall. Keeping it slightly moist, warm and in a sunny location should bring it around enough to survive the winter indoors. Then, when the temps. have warmed in the spring, put it outside and it will go back to its original full, healthy state in no time at all.
Wow, thank you one and all for your such swift and accurate responces. I'll set to and put the pot in a blanket, to warm it. And, yes, I did on my return remove it from the bowl and have left it a few days before contemplating watering, I'll now leave it a few more.
I hope you all find yourselves well. Thank you!
I think your plant will survive, it doesn't look bad at all. I think it probably just got a little soggy, sitting in a bowl of water while you were away. I didn't even know Ixora could be grown successfully as a houseplant. Here in Florida they are used as landscape plants in the yard. I have two in containers that remain out on my swimming pool deck year round. Ixora's like full sun, so if you have a window that gets a few hours of sun that would be a good location for it.
