Over Fertilized Clivia Plant Turning brown
My grandmother gave me a part of this plant 23 years ago before she died. I have managed to keep it alive through 6 moves. It loved this window until recently Now all the leaves are turning brown. It bloomed yesterday though! And a year ago had a baby. I give it water once a week and put miracle grow in it. Thanks for your help!
Hi Kimberly,
Your plant is called a Clivia Plant. The leaves are turning brown because you are over fertilizing the plant, excess salts from the fertilizer build up in the soil and burn the leaves. You should usually feed a Clivia Plant after it has finished blooming and also monthly from July to October. Use a balanced indoor plant food at 1/2 the recommended strength. Never fertilize your Clivia Plant during the fall and winter when it is resting. Next time you water, rinse the soil well with distilled water several times, allowing it to drain thoroughly each time. This helps leach the salt out of the soil. Do not feed your plant again until next July.
These plants are considered poisonous and should be kept away from pets and children. Read more about common houseplants that are poisonous in my book Don’t Feed Me To Your Cat! A Guide to Poisonous Houseplants.