Aspidistra, cast iron plant, or barbershop plant, is a beautiful plant and a pretty addition to any indoor interior. While aspidistra, or cast iron plant is great for beginners, it can also be hard to grow to bigger sizes. In this post, you will learn possible reasons why a cast iron plant is not growing, or not growing any new leaves and what you can do to solve it.
The main reason why a cast iron plant is not growing is because it’s a very slow growing plant. Other reasons include being potted in a very large and wide pot, lack of water and too much repotting.
Cast iron plant mainly grows though May to September months, and will not show much if any growth through late autumn to winter. During its rest period, avoid doing anything serious with the plant, such as repotting, fertilizing etc.
Reason 1: Cast iron plant is a slow grower
One of the main reasons why a cast iron plant is not growing or not growing any new leaves is because it is a very slow grower in general. Cast iron plant’s root system takes a long time to grow, so this results in slow growth as a result. Sometimes it might also be a reason why finding a cast iron plant for sale is a bit difficult. Or, expensive.
This is of course, provided that the plant has all the optimal conditions that it needs to grow and thrive. If all conditions are ideal, then it might be that your cast iron plant is currently growing its root system. Once the root system establishes, there is a noticeable change in growth. While aspidistras grow very slowly, they also live very long – 50-100 years with minimal care!
Reason 2: Your cast iron plant is not getting enough water
While a cast iron plant can take lots of abuse, it still needs regular watering. The thing is, your aspidistra can survive without water for a few weeks, but it will start showing negative consequences with time.
If you notice any brown tips on your cast iron plant, that can mean that it is underwatered. It can also indicate low humidity, hard water, or an irregular watering technique. However, if you see any brown spots on leaves, it can mean that your aspidistra is overwatered or burnt. Drooping is also sign of overwatering.
When watering your cast iron plant, make sure that the soil is not soggy, as it doesn’t like that. Watering once a week is generally enough during the growth season. In winter, be careful with watering, especially if house is cool. Check that the top of soil is dry before you water your plant again.
Reason 3: You have planted your cast iron plant in a pot too big
Because cast iron plant is in general a very slow grower, it might be hard to say if some other environmental conditions are causing slow growth. However, if conditions are optimal, then it could be that your cast iron plant is in a pot that’s too big for it.
The thing is, cast iron plant doesn’t grow too well when its root system is above the soil. It grows much better if its root system can get ‘established’ inside the pot. Tighter pots are more suitable for aspidistras.
I have experimented with planting small cast iron plants in different pots. One went in a bigger container, and another one – in a smaller and tighter pot. The one in a smaller and tighter pot grew bigger than the other one in the same period of time. However, don’t jump into repotting your cast iron plant straight away – make sure you do it with the start of the warm season, beginning of spring.
Reason 4: Repotting
Aspidistra doesn’t like being repotted too often, so if you do decide to repot it, it will take some time to get settled and continue growing again. Like mentioned in the point above, iron cast plants like being potted in more narrow planters.
In general, you don’t need to repot your cast iron plant more often than once in 2-5 years. Repotting every year, for example, is unnecessary. After repotting, keep your plant away from direct sunlight. While aspidistra normally like being away from direct sunlight, they are even more susceptible to damage after repotting.
Only repot if your plant doesn’t have space in a planter anymore. Otherwise, repotting will only slow down its growth significantly. And not only repotting makes your cast iron plant grow slower, but it might also lose a leaf or two because of repotting.
Having said that, if you don’t repot your plant in over 5 years, its growth can also stall. When repotting your cast iron plant, make sure not to damage its root system. Once your cast iron plant grows to its mature size, there’s no need to repot the whole plant – only replace the top part of the soil in the pot. Cast iron plants can reach anywhere from 30-60 cm (12-27.5″) high and wide depending on the type.
Reason 5: No light
Even though cast iron plants can tolerate lack of light, they do grow better when exposed to some light. Don’t leave your cast iron plant in a dark room – let it get some light throughout the day. However having said that, any direct sunlight will make your cast iron plant unhappy.
Because it doesn’t being in direct light, its leaves can start getting damaged and scorched. That’s why it is better to keep your aspidistra in a partly shaded spot, and avoid leaving it outside with bright light. When it’s not sunny, you can leave your aspidistra on a balcony, for example.
Reason 6: Lack of soil
Lack of soil in the planter can also become a reason why your cast iron plant is not growing new leaves. Make sure the plant has enough soil and sits tight inside the planter.
How to make cast iron plant (aspidistra) grow faster?
So, cast iron plants are very slow growers. Extremely slow. For many aspidistras, it might even take a year just to grow one to two leaves. With good care, you might get 3-4 new leaves a year. But don’t fret, make sure you keep it in right conditions and it will grow over time.
Growth will especially be slow in the beginning, when a plant is still small. Aspidistra starts growing more properly once its root system becomes bigger and more established in a pot. But this takes time.
Make sure your cast iron plant is in a room with some light/shade, water consistently, but don’t overwater (only make the soil moist). Because it is very hardy, temperature ranges of 50–80°F (10–27°C) are tolerated well. However, comfortable temperatures for aspidistra are 59-77 F (15-25 C). Don’t leave outside in winter.
To make your aspidistra grow faster, try the advice mentioned above. Make sure not to plaint it in a very big planter, and let it grow this way. Only repot when the planter gets too small. This will help it grow its root system faster.
What is more, you can try fertilizing your cast iron plant. Only fertilize during the growth season, from spring to mid autumn. Don’t expect much growth during winter, and it’s better to leave the plant alone. Organic fertilizer like this is better for your plant and will be tolerated well. Organic fertilizers are made of manure or animal waste, making them a natural choice of fertilization.
Fresh air also seems to make a positive change to a cast iron plant’s growth. From my own experience, cast iron plants that were on a balcony in a partly shaded area have grown faster. However, be careful – this comes with a risk of pests. Also, regularly check underside of its leaves for mealybugs.
Don’t leave your plant on a balcony or outside if it gets cold at night (below 50F/10C). In winter, you can keep it in cooler conditions, but not lower than 32 F (0 C). If you keep it in cool conditions, be careful with watering – it should be minimal.
Also, to add, you need to wipe your cast iron plant’s leaves with a wet cloth once a week or so. These plants don’t like very dry environments either. In dry environments, they might get attacked with pests, such as red spider mites. You can also mist the leaves once a week or give it a shower in summer.
Conclusion – how to make your cast iron plant grow faster
To conclude, cast iron plants are very hardy, but extremely slow growers. On average, they grow 1-2 leaves a year, sometimes even less. That’s especially true if their root system hasn’t established yet. While cast iron plants can take lots of neglect, the main things that can kill them are overwatering, repotting too often and too much bright, direct sunlight.