Troubleshooting
Wide Eye Plant problems — and how to fix them
Wide Eye Plant (Ophthalmophyllum latum) is generally forgiving once you match its basics, but a few issues come up again and again. Here is what each one looks like, why it happens, and the fix.
Dormancy rot
Watering or high humidity during summer dormancy causes the inner developing leaf pair to rot inside the desiccating sheath. The wide, flat tops of this species make it slightly more prone than narrow-leaved ophthalmophyllums. Keep absolutely dry from March through August.
Sheath not splitting
If the new leaf pair does not split the old sheath by mid-autumn, the plant may be lacking light or the soil may have been too wet in summer. Begin gentle autumn watering and increase light; in stubborn cases, very carefully nick the sheath at its natural seam to assist emergence.
Pest infestation — root mealybugs
Root mealybugs can be invisible until the plant fails to grow in autumn. If a plant refuses to respond to autumn watering, unpot and inspect roots for white, mealy colonies. Treat with a dilute systemic insecticide drench and repot in fresh, dry gritty compost.
Prevent wide eye plant problems before they start
Most wide eye plant issues are care-mismatch, not bad luck. Dial in the basics:
Looking for wide eye plant in general rather than its problems? Read the full wide eye plant care guide — light, water, soil and feeding.
Wide Eye Plant problems — FAQ
Why is my wide eye plant dormancy rot?
Watering or high humidity during summer dormancy causes the inner developing leaf pair to rot inside the desiccating sheath. The wide, flat tops of this species make it slightly more prone than narrow-leaved ophthalmophyllums. Keep absolutely dry from March through August.
Why is my wide eye plant sheath not splitting?
If the new leaf pair does not split the old sheath by mid-autumn, the plant may be lacking light or the soil may have been too wet in summer. Begin gentle autumn watering and increase light; in stubborn cases, very carefully nick the sheath at its natural seam to assist emergence.
Why is my wide eye plant pest infestation — root mealybugs?
Root mealybugs can be invisible until the plant fails to grow in autumn. If a plant refuses to respond to autumn watering, unpot and inspect roots for white, mealy colonies. Treat with a dilute systemic insecticide drench and repot in fresh, dry gritty compost.