why the brown leaves

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pc34 Fairfield, CA Nov 02, 2013

My HOREHOUND -- MARRUBIUM rotundiforium in a pot. Why the brown leaves underneath? Temp in N Ca has been 80's. I water 2x/week. Trim back to crown?

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Metrosideros Keaau, HI Nov 04, 2013

Looks like just aging. Maybe give it a larger pot and more fertilizer. It likes to creep and form a groundcover.

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/53565/

http://navigate.botanicgardens.org/weboi/oecgi2.exe/INET_ECM_DispPl?NAMENUM=7074&DETAIL=1

http://www.perennials.com/plants/marrubium-rotundifolium.html

Post #9701779
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WeeNel Ayrshire Scotland, United Kingdom Nov 05, 2013

Looks a close relative of our plant known here in UK as "Lamb's Ears" or Lambs Tongue" but the name varies depending on what part of UK you live in.

These plants do shed or grow leaves that either turn brown or turn dry. it appears to be a natural part of the aging process and when the longer stems are removed where most of the damaged or discoloured leaves are, the new shoots get thrown out and are perfect. IF you make a wire horse shoe type pin, (looks like a ladies hair grip) use this wire bent pin to hold the longer shoots in place along the soil, they will root and once this happens, you can cut the rooted stem away from the parent, either replant somewhere else or pot it up and care for it till you want to expand the planting area.

Hope this helps you out a bit and you can enjoy your plant more.
Kindest Regards.
WeeNel.

Post #9702733
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pc34 Fairfield, CA Nov 06, 2013

Thanks to both. Much appreciated

Post #9703479
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SavvyDaze Lady's Island, SC(Zone 8b) Nov 08, 2013

I have a type of succulent plant called Trailing Mezoo. Looks very much like your plant except the leaves on mine are smooth and shiny and maybe a tad thicker.However, the habit of my plant looks very much the same as yours. When mine starts getting brown, shriveling leaves and stems become bare, much like yours, it is always due to over-watering. I just remove the dead and dying leaves and new ones start growing on the bare stems pretty quickly.Sometimes I trim the bare stems back a few inches if I don't want to look at bare stems for a few weeks. WeeNel mentioned Lamb's Ears....the Lamb's Ears I have seen have much bigger leaves, BUT their dying leaves looks do look similar to yours when dying. And Lamb's Ears have fuzzy leaves like yours and they do not like water on them at all.

Both the Trailing Mezoo and Lamb's Ears don't like a lot of water and prefer to dry out between watering. So, if I had to make a guess, I am thinking too much moisture in the potting soil might be the problem with yours. What I would do is trim back any stems that are bare, or close to being bare, about 3-4 inches, remove all of the brown leaves that are left, and water only when the soil is dry. Your could also use a potting soil made for cactus and other succulents to help with drainage and because it isn't a heavy soil that would retain moisture for a longer periods. And when you water, try not to get water on the leaves.

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