I rescued a plant and now it may need rescuing from me, please help!
Got this umbrella plant from a friend 4 months ago where it was just a leggy main stump and then half a dozen top leaves. Since then she has settled in and put out a bunch of new growth all around the bottom but slowly gave up and dropped top leaves.
The top of the plant seems to be also suffering from something causing black tips and spots to form. This has not appeared on the bottom new growth. I'm not sure if this is a fungal issue or simply the plant is choosing to kill off old leaves to prioritize new growth.
This plant is positioned a little bit further back from a window than i would normally, but its right next to my snake enclosure which has full spectrum lighting running. I have also been thinking the top isnt growing because the snake enclosure grow light is not quite high enough hence only bottom growth.
Here's the question.
would you chop and try to propagate the top leggy stem leaving the new growth to continue thriving alone.
If I leave the old growth on is there a way i can encourage it to make new leaves up there? (More light/ different environment, notching, cloning pastes, or pruning)
do you think the black dead spots on the old leaves are fungal? If so do you think the home remedies (ie; bicarbonate soda, soap and water) will save it or will it need something stronger like neem oil.
Thanks in advance! The Araliaceae family is completely new to me so any tips will be amazing!