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I was given a Montsera(?) cutting and I don't really know if this leaf is too wrinkled? It's a minefield trying to read about and understand if I have over or under watered. I just don't know what this plant actually wants.
My usual approach is to assume I have over watered if a plant looks unhappy, but I don't know if these bounce back after a period of under watering, if I hold back on watering more now.
@GreedyYardHippos@kbin.social I can't seem to reply to you.
I received the bare cutting in April as two forked stem, each with one leaf. I placed it into water until there were 2 roots about 3 inches long. I then moved it from water to potting mix about 6 weeks ago, maybe more. Initially this was in a glass jar where I could continue to monitor the roots. Once I was happy with the transfer to soil, I switched from the glass jar to the current pot (which is the same size as the jar).
I can now see the beginning of a new leaf uncurling from the other stem not shown in the picture. I can also see a root through one of the drainage holes in the pot. The plant is growing, but the wrinkly leaf is concerning.
To me the soil does not seem overly dry, it isn't receding from edge of the pot and there is a little moisture below the surface. It is not dry enough, or for long enough, that I would expect the plant to react, however I don't know how needy the plant is. Perhaps they are thirstier than I thought?
If I wait longer before watering, will the plant be damaged by this or do they recover? As a relatively new cutting to soil, I am wary about how resilient the plant is.
Your transition to soil rooting sounds careful and is a good method. I agree the wrinkly leaf is slightly concerning, but the new unfurling leaf is a good sign.
Variegated varieties require more light than their non -variegated counter parts. More light requires more water but I would always err on the side of caution because bouncing back from under watering is much easier than recovering from root rot for overwatering. You might consider raising the humidity instead of opting into more water in the soil and you can use a pebble tray under the pot filled with water instead of buying a humidifier. Make sure the bottom of the pot is above the water line in the pebbles.
It’s inevitable that this plant will lose it’s oldest leaves as it makes new, but also consider the possibility of pests and carefully inspect all the leaves for signs.