Have you ever had that “Oh, yeah. I have plants.” feeling? This usually happens when you come back from a vacation and your poor plant is clinging on to its last few leaves and screaming for water.
Many people give up on their plants and throw it into the dumpster but there are times when a plant can be revived and still lead a long healthy life. Here is a dried Croton: Let’s see what we can do to help him out.
1 – Remove dead material. Remember not to pull the leaves off if they don’t fall freely from the plant when you touch it. There is a good chance you will end up tearing the plant so clip, don’t pull.
2- Once you have the plant clean it’s time to fill up the sink with lukewarm water.
There. About that much: 2-3“
3- Place your plant in the water and pour more water over the top to ensure a thorough and even watering. Allow to soak for 30 min.
4- Drain the water from the sink and allow excess water to run out of the bottom of the pot. When you are certain there won’t be any more water seeping from the bottom you can move your plant to a place with indirect bright light and wait…
5 – Remember that your plant won’t immediately recover from drying out. Fertilize your plant lightly after the leaves appear and keep the soil moist (but not wet). This process works for most plants but I’ve had the most success reviving plants with a hard stem. If your plant has all of its leaves coming from the base it might not bounce back as quickly but it’s definitely worth a shot.
Good luck with yours!