Now, over/underwatering, fertilizer????

Hey all I have been having some yellowing leaves dropping off of my Ruthie lately. It really suprises me, I have had nothing but luck with this one. Can you tell what the cause may be? Doesn't seem overwatered. Nothing is mushy.

Oh no... Did you move her recently? I give mine alot of water and alot of sun. But she did drop leaves when I moved her to a brighter window this winter. They don't like to be moved, so I have learned. Other wise she is looking purdy...
Tami

Tami that's interesting about Ruthie preferring not to be moved:-). I have moved mine several times and so far it's doing great. I now have it in the bathroom with a south facing window and sitting on a humidity tray. Mine seems to do better with watering when it's almost dry. Heather is it sitting where there is a draft? The cold air maybe causing the leaves to turn yellow.

Blessings,
Awanda

That is weird. I have mine in a west window, she likes it better in the east window, but I had to put optimistic and black star in there, and well there just wasn't room for ruthie, so she gets the afternoon sun for the winter. I hardly ever let her get dry, as her leaves start to shrivel and krinkle up. That is flip flop of what your doing. Do you have any bloom spurs on yours yet?

Heather...if you start getting lots of yellow leaves I would get worried. Eriostemmas are funny about being indoors....and Ruthie really does better in LOTS OF LIGHT/SUN. I grow mine outdoors in the FULL SUN and she never bats and eyelash. Do you have good air flow. Your picture shows one yellow leaf and a healthy plant.

With Awanda's on a humidity tray, it can stand being drier. Without a humidity tray or without lots of spritzing, she might need more water more often. Mine are happy when flooded with constant rain for a month, and then no rain for 2 or 3 weeks. When we have lots of humidity, I don't water as often... When we have dry winds, I water every other day.

I've noticed that sometimes physical damage (such as caused by kittens) will cause a newer leaf to yellow, all the way down the petiole to the stem, where it stops abruptly, the stem remaining green, and then drop. More systemic problems usually show over the whole plant.

Thanks for the tips, I have recently moved it. I think I will move it back to where it was. South window. Right now it is in my display case, which is right near the front door. Bad drafts. I get fantastic light in my entry way. It is about a 8' by 8' room. That is where my rooting home is. The bottom shelf is closed by glass. Maybe I should cover the top shelf with sliding glass too.
Heather

Heather, I would not worry too much about Ruthie. It is common for Eriostemmas to loose leaves in the winter when grown as a house plant. I tend to cut back on the watering of them as the days get shorter.

Heather here is where I keep several of my eriostemmas during the winter months. They really seem to enjoy the sun (from a south window) and the humidity of the bathroom. They have all put on new growth since being brought inside.

Blessings,
Awanda

Note to self, get bigger bathroom!! Our bathroom is so small, my husband has to relieve himself, standing off to the side, lol!
Heather

Awanda, you'd be happy if you lived in a spa environment, too!! I'd like to live there if I were a plant. Matter of fact, I'd like to live there! What is that silvery, lacy plant outside? It's beautiful.

Barb

Oh Heather that is so funny:-). Barb I'm not sure what that plant is. It was part of the landscape when we moved in. It does bloom small yellow flowas though.

Blessings,
Awanda

I'm gonna guess it is a Tamerak bush. (Not sure if I spelled that right however.)
Marcy

Heather, could it be too cold near your window now? I have had that problem in the winter months here in Las Vegas (yes it does get cold here in the desert). In the winter months I have to move my Eriostemma plants or their leaves will turn yellow and fall off. I learned this lesson pretty late when my affinis was doing great and all of a sudden leaves were turning yellow and falling off leaving long bare vines. The leaves remained at the end of the vines which were hanging away from the glass. I ended up taking cuttings and saved the plant, but I am basically starting over.

Deb

Deb, you might be right, I moved my eriostemma's onto the dining room table. Away from windows. I think the cold air is the most likely culprit!
Heather

Heather...call Ed! Tell him it is an emergency with your eriostemmas...offer a big potroast dinner and he will be out in a flash and find the good spot for them!!!!

Okay Carol, I will call him again. Maybe tomorrow. Hopefully he can find some time to come over. Did I mention I can't cook? I do have a pizza delivery number in my phone. Or I could take him into my bar for some yummp Po' Boys, I'll think of something. I just feel like a chicken calling him again. What do you say to a hoya cultivator! Scary!!
Heather

Heather...he is just like anyone else...just nicer!!!! And great sense of humor and so good looking it makes your bones ache!!!

Carol

I second Carols description of Ed. He is a true sweetheart and the kind of guy that just plain makes you feel good just to be in his space.