Trouble with h. halophila and 1 more question

9 years ago

Ok, first of all, my halophila:

It has already within a few days, put out roots. My question pertains to its form. Is it a naturally droopy-looking plant? The leaves on mine seem to be drooping, and this is even with it being in my humidity rubbermaid. I even experimented with taking it out today, in case the humidity is what was making it droop.

Here are the roots forming:

Here is its form, showing the drooping I am talking about:

Another view:

My other question pertains to my DS-70 cutting (which I made into several smaller cuttings) from a friend. It does not resemble the DS-70 (purple) from SRQ and seems to have two different types of leaves on it.

First, we have these tubby little leaves:

Then, we have what I think are the typical curled-back-at-the-edges DS-70 leaves:

Another view:

Its flowers, for reference:

Not sure what the spots are on the fat leaves, but they didn't seem to affect the mother plant.

I would like to also add that the medium may seem really wet, but that is because I just put them in fresh medium (which had to be wetted, naturally) because kitty knocked them down and spilled the dirt all over the floor. The silo cups have about 20 holes (each) of different sizes made into the bottom to allow for adequate drainage.

I use a mix of orchid bark (70%), perlite (20%) and organic potting soil (10%).

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Comments (4)

greentoe357
9 years ago
Both your plants look fine.

Halophila is a bit droopy even when it's a healthy plant, in the sense that both the vines and the leaves like hanging, not in the negative sense of being sad- or sick-looking. When it's a cutting just starting to grow roots, the drooping will be even more evident because of the temporary dehydration. Give it some elevated humidity, with air flow, and it'll rehydrate - it's an easy plant to root and care for.

Is there any reason why the cutting is right by the wall of the cup? Roots will be restricted from growing radially in all directions, which is not optimal. Considering there is only that little root nub, I'd carefully pull it out, poke a hole in the middle of the cup and set it there instead.

I do not have the plump leaves on my DS-70s, but it does not look like any sort of health concern for the plant, and it seems like only a few leaves are like that, so I'd just ignore it. Ok, maybe observe it, but out of curiosity more than out of concern.
patrick51
9 years ago
Hello Aurora...your H. halophila looks fine to me...this plant always looks a bit "dumpy"...yours will plump up a bit when it's fully rooted, and the dumpiness will look much nicer when the plant puts on growth. I think you're providing enough humidity..so, as Greentoe said, just sit back and watch your plants grow. Best wishes! Fondly, Patrick
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aurorawa
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks to both of you! I feel less worried! All my other cuttings are doing just fine.

Greentoe, when Yuki (darling kitty in picture) knocked the two over, I noticed the roots and temporarily put the plant at the edge, so I could show them off! It is now in the center of the cup where it belongs.
greentoe357
9 years ago
Frisky feline!