Dying rattlesnake plant, please help

[keet]

I got a lovely plant that was labelled as a peacock plant a month or so ago. As I read more about it, I learned that it might actually be a rattlesnake plant. However, its condition has been worsening gradually since I got it. This is how I have been taking care of it:

1. I read that it's better to underwater than overwater, so I have watered it sparingly, checking the soil about daily and watering it only if it feels dry.

2. I spray its leaves with water twice a day because I read that it likes high humidity and my house is a bit dry (usually about 30 to 45% humidity).

3. I place it as close to filtered or indirect sunlight as possible. Since I live in the northeastern U.S.A., my house doesn't get much sunlight, but I put it in the room that gets the most sunlight.

4. My house is usually about 50 degrees Fahrenheit at night and 70 during the day.

I'm not sure what to do. Perhaps it needs better soil? Maybe I am not giving it enough water? I'm terrible at taking care of plants, so I would definitely appreciate advice. Thank you!

 

[Anniekay]

Not a rattle snake plant it resembles a type of prayer plant. Do not water daily. The thing is to water it as nature would: a good deepp soak then let it dry. When the top 1-2" of soil is totally dry, then water deeply again.

I would remove whatever that white stuff is, plastic? and put it in a pot with new soil sized so that you only have one inch of soil outside of the rootball. Too big a pot keeps the soil wet for too long.

 

[oneeye]

I agree with Annie I would remove the plant from the box and plastic to allow the bottom of the pot to get air. Don't spray with water every day or wait too long to water if the soil is completely dry. Since it's a small plant in a small container, you can very gently tip the plant out of the container very carefully and see if the soil is too dry or too wet. After checking, return the plant to a bright sunny area.

If the plant roots have filled up the pot and there's no more room for root growth it is time to up-pot into a slightly larger container. Only increase the pot size 2 inches and not more because a larger pot will increase the water holding capacity too much and drown the plant on watering day. Remember when in doubt tip it out and get a look at the roots and soil. Good luck friend.

 

[cpp gardener]

As it's so young, I mean you've only had it for a month and it's struggling to stay alive so repotting isn't necessary. Anniekay has the right idea on the watering. I think you're letting it get too dry too frequently. Soak it well and let it dry out to about an inch.
Skip the misting unless you want to do it every 10 minutes or so. It evaporates too fast to have a lasting effect. If you want to raise the humidity, get a humidifier.
'Helicopter gardening' causes most houseplant deaths. It's best to choose a day of the week that is "Plant Maintenance Day" and do whatever work needs to be done on that day and then essentially ignore it the rest of the week. Sure, look at it from across the room and appreciate it, but DON"T DO ANY CARE until the next "Plant Maintenance Day". Nothing will kill it in a week other than overwatering it, and that shouldn't be a problem if you took care of it just the other day.

 

[keet]

Thank you for your advice. I watered it thoroughly and put it in a location that gets more sunlight, and it looks much better now, though the leaves still have some brown around the edges. Hopefully it will continue to improve. The white substance is a cloth bag that helped absorb excess water from the watering.

 

[cpp gardener]

The brown edges will stay that way. Just remember how much there is and watch for changes. You can mark the edge of the brown with a marker so you know where it is now and note if it gets worse.