| Subject | Date Asked |
|
| cat palm | 11/22/2009 |
Q: i bought a cat palm for my wife last spring and it was not doing so well, so we put it outside and ...
A: Kevin, Build a greenhouse around it or beg a greenhouse to keep it for you for the winter. Or hire ...
|
| Song of India Plant | 11/21/2009 |
Q: I bought a Song of India Plant several months ago from Home depot I water it every 10 days and it ...
A: Sharon, No, but the overwatering that is causing the root rot that is attracting the fungus gnats ...
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| cactus houseplant do not know type | 11/21/2009 |
Q: the plant is about one foot high with a flat main stem and several medium sized flat sections and ...
A: Doris, You can try rooting a still green section of this plant. Cut or break it off of the main ...
|
| Song of India Plant | 11/21/2009 |
Q: I bought a Song of India Plant several months ago from Home depot I water it every 10 days and it ...
A: Sharon, After you water it you should wait an hour and empty the drain tray so the plant is not ...
|
| pothos | 11/20/2009 |
Q: I have two of these plants & one hangs in a large picture window that faces east & gets the direct ...
A: Linda, Rest assured this is not uncommon. Let’s look at those - crying leaves - and try to stay ...
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| Plant ID | 11/20/2009 |
Q: Could you tell me what kind of plant this is and what kind of care it needs?
A: R, A little difficult with just the picture of the flower especially when this plant is not ...
|
| Fica tree | 11/19/2009 |
Q: I know they loose their leaves when moved. My tree is almost bare. Some of the leaves are turning ...
A: Tina, You are watering it too much and the roots are rotting and the soil is molding. You should ...
|
| Pony Tail Palm (has out grown ceiling ht) | 11/19/2009 |
Q: How to trim or graft palm back so that I can keep it in the house over the winter months, without ...
A: Dean, This is the wrong time of year to do anything to it. It is best done in the spring when the ...
|
| problem with my jade plants | 11/18/2009 |
Q: I own two jade plants that seem to be dying. The leaves are shriveling up and then fall off. The ...
A: Bev, Root rot will not be resolved by stopping watering for a couple of days. It will take 6 months ...
|
| Mass cane plant | 11/18/2009 |
Q: It was a clearance plant so I am trying to whip it back into shape. The leaves are green but have ...
A: Ashlee, The 2' planter sounds very large for 1 plant. The pot should not be much bigger around than ...
|
| what kind of house plant? | 11/17/2009 |
Q: It didnt have a name on the tag. Could you help me identify it? It has several long main stems and ...
A: Jamey, Your plant is a yellow flower one is a Dizygotheca elegantissima or commonly known as False ...
|
| whats the name of my plants? | 11/17/2009 |
Q: so i dont know the name of it also. Thank you so much ,Jamey
A: Jamey, It is a Ficus palmeri or a Ficus petiolaris. They are almost the same and their care is the ...
|
| trimming a night blooming cereus | 11/16/2009 |
Q: I have a night blooming cirrus which has some brown leaves and is a bit leggy. How do I safely cut ...
A: Dibs, Simply take sharp scissors or pruners and cut of the brown parts. You can also cut back ...
|
| arborea | 11/16/2009 |
Q: I have five 7' tall Arborea's in my home. They are planted in non draining ceramic pots. Over the ...
A: David, There are at least 2 plants known as Arboreas so I am not sure which one you are talking ...
|
| weak flowers on peace lily? | 11/15/2009 |
Q: My peace lily is growing like mad at the moment (springtime); recently it's grown a few blooms! My ...
A: Kay, I think the flowers are weak because the plant is crowded and needs repotted and needs ...
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| weak flowers on peace lily? | 11/15/2009 |
Q: My peace lily is growing like mad at the moment (springtime); recently it's grown a few blooms! My ...
A: Kay, Spring is the best time to repot, it will only encourage more and stronger blooms. You should ...
|
| Goldfish Plants | 11/15/2009 |
Q: I have had a Goldfish plant for about six months now. It seemed to be doing well. Recently, the ...
A: Ally, The symptoms sound like it is dying from being too wet. Does the container it is in have a ...
|
| Identification please | 11/14/2009 |
Q: Can you help me identify the plant in the attached photo? I have forgotten what it is, but from my ...
A: Laura, I beleive that you have a Dracaena deremensis ‘Warneckii’. It is more commonly called a corn ...
|
| chocolate plant (pseuderanthemum) | 11/14/2009 |
Q: I recently bought this lovely plant at our local Orchard's Supply. It is beautiful, and I want to ...
A: Reina, There are many varieties of pseuderanthemum but I suspect yours is pseuderanthemum altum ...
|
| African Violet | 11/12/2009 |
Q: I just planted a violet that was a clipping from another one I have. I rooted it in water (in a ...
A: April, I'm not sure exactly what a violet pot is. Maybe you need to talk to whereever you got the ...
|
| pruning a palm tree | 11/11/2009 |
Q: someone recently gave me a tall palm tree. I don't know what kind it is. It has 3 seperate cream ...
A: Carol, I cannot answer your questions without knowing exactly what kind of plant you are talking ...
|
| corn plants | 11/11/2009 |
Q: I read your answer regarding a corn plant flowering. I just noticed today that ours is also ready to ...
A: Amalie, It is happening because your plant is mature enough for it to happen. It never happens ...
|
| Repottig mistake | 11/10/2009 |
Q: I just repotted my cactus (it is a flowering one; bright pink in November) but the pot is three ...
A: Sheilagh, That is just fine. Just keep it in a very sunny location and it should be fine. Be ...
|
| Repottig mistake | 11/10/2009 |
Q: I just repotted my cactus (it is a flowering one; bright pink in November) but the pot is three ...
A: Sheilagh, You would be best off to go buy another cactus or 2 and move the one to one side of the ...
|
| Rose problems | 11/9/2009 |
Q: I have had a potted miniature rose in my window. The tips of the leaves have been turning brown, but ...
A: Mackenzie, A rose is a very touchy plant to try to grow indoors. It needs at least a 10 degree ...
|
| False Aralia | 11/8/2009 |
Q: I planted a seed given to my about 10 months ago (outside on patio in Tampa, FL) and the attached ...
A: Douglas, It is not a bamboo, it is a "False Aralia" or Aralia elegantissima/Dizygortheca ...
|
| Root Rot in Desert Rose. | 11/8/2009 |
Q: I just acquired an adenium from a friend. It was planted in her patio in the ground by the beach. It ...
A: Wanda, Yes, but if there is no sand in the soil I would put some sand on top of the soil and as you ...
|
| Overgrown umbrella plant | 11/7/2009 |
Q: I live in the south of England, UK and I have 11-12 foot ceilings. My umbrella plant reached the top ...
A: Suzanne, New branches will come out of buds at the base of a leaf stem and the can come out ...
|
| Sad Purple Passion | 11/7/2009 |
Q: My mother's purple passion had been doing well, then a couple of leaves turned brown and fell off. ...
A: Robin, You said she was watering like she was told to, how was she told to water it? It should be ...
|
| papyrus plant | 11/6/2009 |
Q: A renter neighbor moved leaving an outdoor papyrus plant. The unit remained vacant and the plant ...
A: Phyllis, It is a plant that needs sun. Do you have a friend that you might want to give it to who ...
|
| Root Rot in Desert Rose. | 11/6/2009 |
Q: I just acquired an adenium from a friend. It was planted in her patio in the ground by the beach. It ...
A: Wanda, If the caudex is white it sounds like it is fine, however the cut may be a problem. That ...
|
| Overgrown umbrella plant | 11/5/2009 |
Q: I live in the south of England, UK and I have 11-12 foot ceilings. My umbrella plant reached the top ...
A: Suzanne, You didn't say whether it has leaves growing all the way up the trunk or any side ...
|
| Mass Cane | 11/5/2009 |
Q: I live in S W Florida, but grew up in the midwest. Many of the outdoor landscape plants here were my ...
A: Linda, Try to figure out which end of each cane goes down and get a pot of soil then dip the ...
|
| house plant | 11/4/2009 |
Q: I was given a house plant as a gift about a month ago but don't know how to care for it. It looks ...
A: Anna, I am sorry, you will have to send me a picture for me to identify it for certain. I think it ...
|
| Money Tree pruning | 11/3/2009 |
Q: I had an accident with my money tree and all of the branches have broken off the trunk. :-( It is ...
A: Gracie, A money tree is a Tree just like a Maple tree or an oak tree. I would keep the trunk in a ...
|
| brown spots on aloe plant | 11/3/2009 |
Q: My aloe has small brown spots on two of its outside leaves. I think it may have bugs (I saw a small ...
A: Katherine, The brown spots on your aloe plant are most likely a sucking insect called scale that ...
|
| Ornamental orange tree | 11/2/2009 |
Q: Help! I live in Massachusetts. I have an ornamental orange tree which is, truly, about 50 years ...
A: Arleen, The mold is most likely due to being too wet and because we have had a very wet year there ...
|
| Basil Plant | 11/1/2009 |
Q: A few months ago, I had a friend give me one Indian Basil Plant (Ocimum sanctum) and it had numerous ...
A: Kritka, You should keep the house much above 70 degrees because too hot can kill them also. The ...
|
| Chinese Evergreens | 11/1/2009 |
Q: Mine is several years old and has been in the same pot (smallish). It is healthy, loves the spot ...
A: Linda, Earlier today someone sent me a picture of the largest Chinese Evergreen I have ever seen. ...
|
| Scale treatment | 11/1/2009 |
Q: I believe the big aglaonema I have at home has gotten scale (very sticky). I bought "Ced-O-Flora" to ...
A: Angela, The instructions from Logee's website for Ced-o-flora are as follows: Directions for Use: ...
|
| Basil Plant | 10/31/2009 |
Q: A few months ago, I had a friend give me one Indian Basil Plant (Ocimum sanctum) and it had numerous ...
A: Kritka, Your spindly little plant is in way too large a pot. It should be in a pot no larger around ...
|
| I think my plant has chicken pox! | 10/30/2009 |
Q: Do you know what these things are that suddenly appeared on my plant stems?
A: Linda, I can't tell exactly what your plant is but the "things" are an insect called scale. Under ...
|
| plam tree | 10/30/2009 |
Q: My tree leaves are turning brown and dry. New growth is coming in from the bottom of the pot but the ...
A: Billy, You need to kind out exactly what type of palm it is and what it's needs are and care for it ...
|
| Dracaena cane | 10/29/2009 |
Q: I recently cut down my 10-year old dracaena (itself a cutting from a much older plant). About a ...
A: Debbie, Because this has been such a wet year there is a lot os mold and fungus spores in the air ...
|
| christmas cactus & atomic grow | 10/29/2009 |
Q: I have a old christmas cactus - it was my mom's - it always bloomed prolificaly (sp) but mom has ...
A: J. A., You have over or under watered it. During the summer and before blooming you should give it ...
|
| Peace Lily | 10/28/2009 |
Q: Why would the leaves on my Peace Lily curl downwards and it will not bloom either
A: Cheryl, The leaves are turning down either because you are keeping it too wet or too dry. Feel the ...
|
| Philodendron | 10/28/2009 |
Q: I am researching my philodendron after a science experiment. I re-potted my plant in gravel instead ...
A: Hannah, I am surprised that it did not do just fine. It actually gets as much from the sun and ...
|
| Mass Cane? | 10/26/2009 |
Q: I was gifted with a plant that I believe is a mass cane. One of the stalks just recently lost all ...
A: Cindy, First I would check to see if this cane is well rooted. If it pulls out of the soil easily ...
|
| Ficus Benjamina | 10/25/2009 |
Q: I have 2 ficus benjamina - 1 has been in my house for the past 8 years and is ~10feet tall and I ...
A: Muna, I beleive that you are probably right and your hard yellow clusters are fungal growths. If ...
|
| House Plant Identification | 10/23/2009 |
Q: The tall houseplant in the picture is the one I am concerned about. First, what is it? Second, it ...
A: Todd, Your plant is a dieffenbachia. The trunk is tall and flimsy because the plant did not have ...
|
| Houseplant Lighting | 10/22/2009 |
Q: I don't have many areas in my townhouse where plants can get a good amount of sunlight. I want to ...
A: Scott, The compact flourescents would provide the best light and since they need to be on for 14 ...
|
| type of house plants that need none or mininal sun | 10/21/2009 |
Q: I live in Minnesota in a townhome that only has sunlight on one side of the house for only a few ...
A: Kate. The only way you can grow houseplants in that location would be if you use flourescent ...
|
| ???sugarcane plant | 10/20/2009 |
Q: i'm not sure if i'm pronouncing the name of my plant correctly, but my question is how do you take ...
A: Dominique, I cannot be sure what plant your are talking about. The sugarcane plant is not a ...
|
| sensitive plan prunning | 10/19/2009 |
Q: do you have any video on trimming a sensitive plant.
A: Carol, No, I am a volunteer Master Gardener. I am not a professional horticulturalist. It is my ...
|
| 3-Season Room Plants | 10/18/2009 |
Q: I have a 3 season room addition on my house. I live in Westchester, NY. I wanted to put some nice, ...
A: Carolyn, No tropical house plant will survive if the temperature drops in the the low 40's. Plants ...
|
| yellowing of bougainvilla leaves | 9/9/2009 |
Q: My 6 plants are potted outside in Houston,Texas. They are well drained in non-black containers. I ...
A: Melissa, I too raise bougainvilleas in northern IN and I love them dearly. I have learned that youu ...
|
| Potting a plant after rooting in water | 9/8/2009 |
Q: I have a Schfelerra cutting that I rooted in water. I know its not the preferred way. My question is ...
A: Carol, I use potting soil with extra perlite mixed in for all my plants. It puts more air in the ...
|
| propagating dumbcane | 9/7/2009 |
Q: i have a dumb cane that has grown tall and the steam is becoming to thin at the bottom to hold it ...
A: Mohammad, It is rooting hormone and you could buy it online from ebay or another mail order ...
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| Heartleaf Philodendron (Philodendron scandens) | 9/5/2009 |
Q: I live in southern Louisiana (Zone 8 borderline 9). I recently purchased a home, and the previous ...
A: Paul, I know of know short cuts for you other than a bull dozer. Maybe concentrated Roundup and ...
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| purple/burgundy mini calla lilly | 9/3/2009 |
Q: My question is because the roots still look good will my flowers and leaves grow back? I watered it ...
A: As I explained, the Calla lilly is not dead, it is a bulb and it is dormant, it will come back to ...
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| scales on houseplants | 9/3/2009 |
Q: I have a sunroom with three plants/trees. I brought a ficus into the house last summer and I think ...
A: Michele, The little worms had nothing to do with the scale now. They were probably from fungus ...
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| Dracaena fragrans mass. help | 9/2/2009 |
Q: One of them looks top dead and is growing new leaves from the bottom. Should I cut off the top ? I ...
A: Esha, That answers the whole question. Your pot killed your plant and I recommend that you move the ...
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| yellow peace lily | 9/2/2009 |
Q: I've been given care of a peace lily with a lot of big leaves which look scorched and yellow. It ...
A: Miranda, Yes, if it has been overwatered so long that it is all yellow the roots may be nearly all ...
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| Dracaena fragrans mass. help | 8/31/2009 |
Q: One of them looks top dead and is growing new leaves from the bottom. Should I cut off the top ? I ...
A: Eshra, If the cane is brown and not green it is dead. A living cane will be green. Should you cut ...
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| substitute for sphagum | 8/30/2009 |
Q: Darlene.....I live in a country which has no sphagum, and I need to cut back my diffenbacchia as ...
A: Carol, My guess would be to try half soil and half shredded paper. The paper will act as a binding ...
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| zebra ornamental grass | 8/29/2009 |
Q: We purchased a new home this year and there was a zebra grass already planted. We figure that the ...
A: Barbara, My specialty is houseplants. However I have a zebra grass and it has been wet here lately ...
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| purple/burgundy mini calla lilly | 8/28/2009 |
Q: My question is because the roots still look good will my flowers and leaves grow back? I watered it ...
A: Jabulile, Calla lilly plants are bulbs that must go dormant and rest in the winter. Allow it a 3 ...
|
| detect indoor plants | 8/27/2009 |
Q: i want to grow indoor plants that require low sunlight. is there any way to detect fully indoor ...
A: Sabrina, There are no plants that will grow if the light is not bright enough for your hand to make ...
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| antifungal plants | 8/26/2009 |
Q: i want to buy indoor antifungal plants. what is the best house plant which could reduce the fungi ...
A: Kelvin, Neem oil from the tropical neem tree is an antifungl as is lavender oil but the plant by ...
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| Repotting my antherium | 8/25/2009 |
Q: I have a great red antherium. I have had it about a year, and it is still in the original plastic 6 ...
A: Rick, No, if you just change to a nicer 6 inch pot just run a butter knife around the outside edge ...
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| Fruit on a Christmas Cactus | 8/25/2009 |
Q: I have enjoyed my Christmas Cactus plants for many years, one of which came from my mother and is ...
A: Susanne, You had the plants hanging outside and the flowers wer polinated by insects. The "fruit" ...
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| Repotting my antherium | 8/24/2009 |
Q: I have a great red antherium. I have had it about a year, and it is still in the original plastic 6 ...
A: Rick, Antheriums actually don't mind being root bound and your plant would be quite happy in a 6 ...
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| Sick ficus tree | 8/23/2009 |
Q: I am very new to the world of plants! We recently bought a ficus tree (I don't know what type). ...
A: Heather, Don't worry about the eaten leaves, that probably happened in the nursery long before you ...
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| minature pepper plant | 8/22/2009 |
Q: i have a minature pepper plant that has red, green, purple and yellow peppers on it. can i put it ...
A: Norma, Yes, your pepper would love it outside for the summer in the sunniest location possible. ...
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| spathiphyllum | 8/21/2009 |
Q: This plant is about 3 feet tall in a ten in pot. The soil has moss on it. The plant gets indirect ...
A: Shirley, No, it is not time to repot. The fact that the soil has moss on it and the leaves are ...
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| Propogation of Dwarf Umbrella Tree. | 8/20/2009 |
Q: I have a Dwarf Umbrella Tree that I got from a co worker about a year ago. She had it amongst her ...
A: Emily, If you do cut them off and dip them in rooting hormone and replant them you have a 50/50 ...
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| Identifying Plants! | 8/16/2009 |
Q: I just purchased a pot of assorted plants. I although I was able to identify some of them online,I ...
A: Susan, The blooming one is a kalanchoe. Pronounced “collin-co-wee,” this plant genus from ...
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| Aloe Vera | 8/15/2009 |
Q: I keep getting white crystals on my Aloe Vera plant, what is it? ANSWER: Billie, Are you watering ...
A: Billie, OK, after more research at the sites below it seems that some aloes just do this. It is the ...
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| sick dieffenbachia | 8/15/2009 |
Q: I hope you will be able to offer me some advice for my sick dieffenbachia. Some of the leaves look ...
A: Theresa, The moisture control miracle grow potting mix and the aqua globe are keeping the plant ...
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| bugs on ficus tree | 8/13/2009 |
Q: I work in a garden center & have noticed a bug on the leaves of our ficus tree..also, a customer has ...
A: Peggy, On an indoor plant I do not like using pesticides in my home becaus I have severe allergies. ...
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| Indoor Plants | 8/12/2009 |
Q: Good Morning- I have a basement apartment so not only do I have problems with low sunlight but it is ...
A: Michael, As you can see from the 2 charts below only Cast iron plant (Aspidistra elatior) is on ...
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| What kind of plant do I have? | 8/10/2009 |
Q: I need to know what kind of plant I have. It is in real close resemblence of an Aphelandra Zebra, ...
A: Stephanie, Your plant is Aphelandra squarrosa variety "Red Apollo". There are many hybrid varieties ...
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| Mandevilla | 8/9/2009 |
Q: My mom has 2 Mandevillas planted outside in Central Florida. They are against the house on the ...
A: Robin, Since her plants are in the ground I would apply a cup of Epsom salts on top of the soil ...
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| Umberella Plant?? | 8/6/2009 |
Q: I have what I believe is an umberella plant although there are only 5 leaves to a stem and they hang ...
A: Diane, Umberella Plants or Scheffleras are usually very resilient. It should be fine if you move it ...
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| mandeville pink flower | 8/5/2009 |
Q: My mandeville is planted in a pot located on my patio.I had a problem with mealy worms but have ...
A: Jean, Does your plant get full sun? It loves and needs the sun all day if possible. It also sounds ...
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| problem with houseplant | 8/4/2009 |
Q: I was recently given a house plant (a small tree like plant). I noticed one day when I was watering ...
A: Kim, I find it interesting that you are telling me what the insects are not but you have no idea ...
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| Dracaena Janet Craig | 8/3/2009 |
Q: My dracaena is over 6 feet tall and I was wondering if I can top it off and replant the top in ...
A: Lindsey, Yes, pick up a bottle of Rooting Hormone at a garden center and when you cut the top off ...
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| Zebra plant | 8/2/2009 |
Q: I purchased a beautiful, thickly-curled zebra plant with huge and brightly-contrasted leaves several ...
A: Ms. T, You have it in very low light. In its native Brazil, Aphelandra is a woody shrub in full ...
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| Grafting a Dracaena Fragrans Massangeana | 8/1/2009 |
Q: Due to an upcoming office move, I brought my Dracaena Fragrans Massangeana home. Recently, this ...
A: Calvin, I have never seen one successfully put back together. What you can do is root the top and ...
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| germinating seeds | 7/31/2009 |
Q: what is the best way to germinate prickly pear cactus seeds and how long to germination. Any help ...
A: Michael, Opuntias may be started from seeds, and will sprout readily if they are simply scattered ...
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| Schefflera dropping leaves | 7/30/2009 |
Q: I have had my schefflera for a year and have never had a problem. It was a beautiful houseplant that ...
A: Barbara, You did mention leaves (some with whitish spots). If these whitish spots look like little ...
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| ants on plants | 7/29/2009 |
Q: I outside plants that have bloom on them but they get infested with ants. We live in southwest ...
A: Vickie, Ants on your plants outdoors indicates that they most likely have aphids and need to be ...
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| Cane Yucca plantlet question | 7/28/2009 |
Q: I have an Ikea bought cane Yucca plant like Chini has with a tall and short trunks. It's been 5 or ...
A: Peter, A yucca is a desert plant so do not put a plastic bag over it, too much humidity will ...
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| Schefflera dropping leaves | 7/28/2009 |
Q: I have had my schefflera for a year and have never had a problem. It was a beautiful houseplant that ...
A: Barbara, If at all possible move this plant outside immediately into a full sun loocation. It loves ...
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| Cane Yucca plantlet question | 7/27/2009 |
Q: I have an Ikea bought cane Yucca plant like Chini has with a tall and short trunks. It's been 5 or ...
A: Peter, Go to a garden center like at Lowes or Home Depot and pick up a bottle of Rooting Hormone. ...
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| Banana Tree Care | 7/26/2009 |
Q: I recently purchased a dwarf cavendish banana tree. Can I keep it in a sunny, unheated south-facing ...
A: Alexandra, Yes you can keep you banana tree in the sun-porch as long as the sun porch is above 40 ...
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| too much rain: mold on plants | 7/25/2009 |
Q: I live in SW CT near too far from the shore-and closer to a river. This June it rained 26 days out ...
A: Peggy, I answer houseplant questions, your questions would be better submitted to a person who ...
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| Spathiphyllum clevelandii (peace plant) | 7/24/2009 |
Q: Help! My wife has had a peace plant for the past ten years and it sucked. Her brother died ten ...
A: Daniel, Keep it in the shady location and devise a wire basket of some type to cover it. It was ...
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| Plant Identification | 7/23/2009 |
Q: I have a plant that's tall, cactus-like, long leaves about 2 inches wide with pricks on the edges, ...
A: Diana, I will need a picture to identify it. You can attach it here or email it to ...
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| Sap on palm | 7/22/2009 |
Q: I'm having a similar problem as the person with the yucca. I have an indoor 6' palm that gets ...
A: Diane, Yes,they can spread to other plants however most insects have certain plants they favor and ...
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| Mass Cane | 7/22/2009 |
Q: I was reading your help for others that have browning or root rot on their plant. I on the other ...
A: Kyle, Water the plant with rubbing alcohol. Do not dilute it with water. It will kill the worms on ...
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| Sap on palm | 7/21/2009 |
Q: I'm having a similar problem as the person with the yucca. I have an indoor 6' palm that gets ...
A: Diane, There are 3 palms that are consistantly good as house plants. They are: Howea forsteriana ...
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| White Mould on China Doll Plant | 7/20/2009 |
Q: I purchased a china doll plant for our reception desk at work. The plant has been in the ...
A: Jeannette, The mould and leaf dropping indicates that the plant is being overwatered and needs to ...
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| Spathiphyllum blooms/flowers | 7/19/2009 |
Q: When I purchased my plant it always had white blooms/flowers. In the last few months, many of the ...
A: Kay, Then you have or had 2 plants in the pot, they look nearly the same, a spathiphyllum and a ...
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| Spathiphyllum blooms/flowers | 7/19/2009 |
Q: When I purchased my plant it always had white blooms/flowers. In the last few months, many of the ...
A: Kay, They turn green as they are fading. You are better off clipping them off at the base of the ...
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| house plants | 7/18/2009 |
Q: how should I leave my plants without water while I am on vacation for 10 days
A: Strasko, It would be best to have a friend or neighbor water them well for you while you are gone. ...
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| worms in plant soil | 7/17/2009 |
Q: I bought a lovely anthurium about 1 month ago from a flower shop with very healthy looking plants. I ...
A: Kirsten, You can kill the worms by watering the plant with a bottle of rubbing alcohol. It will not ...
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| Ficus Figs | 7/16/2009 |
Q: We have a large ficus tree (about 20' - 25' tall) that I recently noticed was producing a yellowish ...
A: John, Your ficus is in the Microcarpa family, probably a benjamina unless it has a lot of aerial ...
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| Soil Mold | 7/14/2009 |
Q: I have a terrible mold problem. I get the common mold that grows on the top of the soil. This I can ...
A: Melina, Do your pots all have drain holes and a drain tray under the pot? An hour after you water ...
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| love or parlour palm care | 7/13/2009 |
Q: I recently bought a love palm for indoor but now the leaves are turning a pale green. It is in a ...
A: Susi, I would do it outside but not inside. Outside I do not think they foster insects. They do ...
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| plant ID | 7/13/2009 |
Q: A friend bought a plant at a grocery store & I've never seen anything like it. It's an indoor plant, ...
A: Beth, Without a picture I cannot identify it for you. You can email a picture to me at ...
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| love or parlour palm care | 7/12/2009 |
Q: I recently bought a love palm for indoor but now the leaves are turning a pale green. It is in a ...
A: Susi, Take it back inside. Pale leaves indicate it's suffering from iron deficiency. You can revive ...
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| china doll | 7/11/2009 |
Q: do china doll's have an invasive root system when planted in the ground because i am wanting to ...
A: Belinda, The plant is a tropical tree and can become as tall as 40-50 feet. The roots will spread ...
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| Indoor Fern | 7/10/2009 |
Q: What am I doing wrong and how can I fix it? My fern has leaves are turning brown at the end, dying ...
A: Joanne, You are running your air conditioner and it is keeping the humidity too low for your fern. ...
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| plant ID and shorten height | 7/10/2009 |
Q: Age- 25years, pot diameter 12inches. Watered twice weekly. I think window faces south. City ...
A: Susan, Your plant is commonly known as a Corn plant or Dracaena Massangeana. The Corn plant ...
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| Outdoor yucca very sick | 7/9/2009 |
Q: I've had an outdoor yucca for nearly 14 years, and as of late it seems to have been infected with a ...
A: Lisa, Fungal infections can be very frustrating. Try to keep your yucca as dry as possible and ...
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| 35 year old money plant dying. | 7/7/2009 |
Q: I think I might of given my 35 year old money plant to much baby bio. All the leaves have dropped ...
A: Annette, You can try to take a cutting and get it to root but the chances of it rooting are very ...
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| Yucca Tree | 7/6/2009 |
Q: I have a large and very healthy Yucca tree in the back garden, please see the photo. I am a bit ...
A: Michael, It appears to me that there are 4 trunks above the split. Start by removing the one you ...
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| My plant has a disease...please HELP!!! | 7/5/2009 |
Q: I had a plant (palm tree like)for the past 8 months and it had not been watered for over the past ...
A: Keisha, Both of your plants must be in pots with holes in the bottom for drainage. An hour after ...
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| Huge Christmas Palm Tree- indoor- help | 7/4/2009 |
Q: WEhave a very large indoor pa;m that we purchased form the nursery. They said not over water it but ...
A: TJ, A palm tree does not use 5 gallons of water a week. You are overwatering it. Does the pot it is ...
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| Identification | 7/3/2009 |
Q: I am trying to figure out what kind of plant this is. A friend gave it to me and Im not sure I am ...
A: Marsha, It's common name is Prayer plant because it folds up it's leaves at night. The Latin name ...
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| hi. | 7/2/2009 |
Q: Greetings from Norway. I "adopted" a bonsai tree a couple of months back, which I managed to nurse ...
A: William, If you were a cat you would love that strong smell and it would cause you to go a little ...
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| Transplanting Date Palm | 7/1/2009 |
Q: I have some date palm trees that are from about 12 inches to 3 feet high, growing in a pot. I ...
A: Walter, It is best to transplant it now. Spring and summer is the best time to transplant any ...
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| dieffenbachia - spontaneous water droplets | 6/30/2009 |
Q: I just purchased a Dieffenbachia - placed it under a north window - next to a floor register with ...
A: Pamela, It is a normal occurence in the summer with high humidity. It should not be next to the ...
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| apentia hearts and flowers | 6/29/2009 |
Q: While helping a friend in her garden, a long piece of the ground cover, apentia, hearts and flowers ...
A: Uma, Yes, you can root it in the ground. You can cut it in 3 or 4 pieces but you need to make sure ...
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| may have burned new growth-- how do I save my plant-- and what is it? :) | 6/28/2009 |
Q: I bought a plant because honestly I thought it looked cool, but it didn't have an identifier in it. ...
A: Erica, It should only go out in the morning or evening for 2-3 hours. It would love to be out 24 ...
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| may have burned new growth-- how do I save my plant-- and what is it? :) | 6/28/2009 |
Q: I bought a plant because honestly I thought it looked cool, but it didn't have an identifier in it. ...
A: Erica, Your plant is an Zamia integrifolia, it is in the cycad family. The following site hasmore ...
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| indoor lighting for houseplants | 6/27/2009 |
Q: I have houseplants placed in front of an east window that faces alot of trees which block the sun. ...
A: Susanne, Your plants need the additional light during the day time hours. The lights should not be ...
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| identify house plant please | 6/26/2009 |
Q: I had a house plant given to me a few years ago and don't know what it is called. Since it has been ...
A: Angie, It took me awhile but it is Haemanthus albiflos or 'White Blood Lily'. The following ...
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| SPIDER MITES | 6/25/2009 |
Q: WE HAVE NEVER HAD SPIDERS IN OUR HOME HOWEVER NOW THAT WE HAVE PLANTS I HAVE WEBS ALL OVER AND HAVE ...
A: Doris, I would sray the begonia with a light stream of water so it is not damaged. You will have to ...
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| SPIDER MITES | 6/25/2009 |
Q: WE HAVE NEVER HAD SPIDERS IN OUR HOME HOWEVER NOW THAT WE HAVE PLANTS I HAVE WEBS ALL OVER AND HAVE ...
A: Doris, For starters literally hose them off. Take your plants outside and use the hose with a ...
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| pleomela, Song of India plant | 6/24/2009 |
Q: I have a pleomela that is 5 ft tall, 6lst many years old and have rooted numerous plants from it's ...
A: Amy, You are not letting it get dry enough between waterings. It likes to get very dry before you ...
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| false aralia | 6/23/2009 |
Q: The plant wants to grow and shoots out new leaves rapidly. These small tender leaves cannot open ...
A: Samantha, Yes, the sticky stuff is caused by the bugs. What you see in the soil is the immature ...
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| Peace Lily | 6/22/2009 |
Q: I have a Peace Lily in a very huge pot. I wanted to plant another plant or flower with it in the ...
A: Jill, You want to look for another plant that doesn't need a lot of sun so it would need the same ...
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| corn plant | 6/21/2009 |
Q: My plant's window faces north north west. I'm not sure how old it is, I water it once a week, ...
A: Therese, You should not be watering your ficus plant once a week, it should only be watered when it ...
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| new leaves of wax malphigia are turning black | 6/20/2009 |
Q: My wax malphigia was v much healthy, but recently it lost all its leaves and new leaves are also ...
A: I'm sorry, I am assuming that your plant is in a flower pot and has a round tray under it that is ...
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| jade | 6/20/2009 |
Q: I've had a jade plant for 5 years and it has done well even though it was in a plastic pot with ...
A: Lee, How much larger is the diameter of the new pot than the old pot? If it is 2 inches or less ...
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| new leaves of wax malphigia are turning black | 6/19/2009 |
Q: My wax malphigia was v much healthy, but recently it lost all its leaves and new leaves are also ...
A: Priyanshi, Your plant needs to be misted or sitting on a humidity tray if the air is very dry in ...
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| plant pots | 6/18/2009 |
Q: I'm a total newbie and was wondering the proper size of <a ...
A: Josh, Those pots are a whole system for growing plants in water and a fiberglass media. You need to ...
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| Marginata drooping | 6/9/2009 |
Q: My son brought home a marginata plant from college - it sat in the car for two full days (warm) and ...
A: Kathy, Just set it in front of an east facing window and water it when it gets dry. The leaves ...
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| beefsteak begonia | 6/8/2009 |
Q: I received a cutting from my grandmother's hearty beefsteak begonia plant in January and have been ...
A: Maisie, The SUCCESS WITH HOUSE PLANTS by Reader's Digest Editors..., ILLUSTRATED ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ...
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| Sheffelera | 6/8/2009 |
Q: Our sheffelera leaves are turning white and becoming paper thin. It is spreading to all the plants. ...
A: Kim, Neither have I and I could not find anything on it on the web. Unless you recently moved all ...
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| Gardenia-spider mites (?) | 6/7/2009 |
Q: In the last month, I have lost over 7 buds. They just fall off. I have recently gotten about 4 new ...
A: Kim, If you see more Pam try adding 1/2 cup 70% isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) to the Dawn and ...
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| Peace Lilly | 6/7/2009 |
Q: While moving a very large peace lilly it broke at the soil line removing it from the root. Is there ...
A: Todd, If it is just a flower that broke off no, you cannot root a flower. If the entire plant broke ...
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| money tree care | 6/6/2009 |
Q: I received a money tree a few years ago and the tree is growing pretty good ...
A: David, I have never seen a money tree in just water. I would not leave it that way. I would plant ...
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| angel wing | 6/6/2009 |
Q: The leaves on my angel wing have become light green and the edges are bright red. What causes this ...
A: Renate, Move it to a shadier area. That is what happens when it is growing in a bright sunny ...
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| banana palm brown edges | 6/5/2009 |
Q: My indoor banana palm sprouts every new leaf with brown edges even before they open. I water it ...
A: Diana, If the soil is moist and the pot is heavy for it's size when you water it you are ...
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| azalea tree | 6/5/2009 |
Q: I have received an azalea tree which is full of flower buds, but the buds, instead of opening, are ...
A: Diane, Do not keep the soil moist or wet just keep it not dry. Never allow any water to be sitting ...
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| beefsteak begonia | 6/4/2009 |
Q: I received a cutting from my grandmother's hearty beefsteak begonia plant in January and have been ...
A: Maisie, The gnats are fungus gnats, they are like fruit flys. They have attacked your plant because ...
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| Kentia Palm | 6/4/2009 |
Q: I've had a 5-6ft Kentia Palm for a about 18 months, and the leaf tips always seem to be brown. The ...
A: Zach, Kentia (Sentry, Thatch Leaf) Palms are not tolerable to severe dryness or continual over ...
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| Gardenia-spider mites (?) | 6/3/2009 |
Q: In the last month, I have lost over 7 buds. They just fall off. I have recently gotten about 4 new ...
A: Kimberly, Yes, a cool mist humidifier will help. Dry air is a huge problem. With out a humidifier ...
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| Clivia, soil insects | 6/3/2009 |
Q: I have a young Clivia. When watered today, we saw many tiny white insects. They are very thin and ...
A: Cob, Without having a picture of the insects or seing them it is impossible for me to identify ...
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| Magic bean plant soil/gravel | 5/31/2009 |
Q: I bought a magic bean plant and the soil has a layer of gravel on the top, the kind that is glued ...
A: Landra, Take a screw driver and very carefully pry the gravel out while holding on to the base of ...
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| Wilting,withering corn plant | 5/25/2009 |
Q: I have a corn plant( I think) that I have had for about 6 years. It is in the same pot that it ...
A: Kristee, Are you sure that no one else is giving it any water between you watering it? It sounds ...
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| Hibiscus leaf problems | 5/25/2009 |
Q: I have had a Hibiscus 'Holiday' houseplant for about 15 years. It has always flowered well and I ...
A: Anne, I looked up Phostrogen on line as we don't have it here in Indiana and found there are ...
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| Anthurium Red Hot | 5/24/2009 |
Q: I have an anthurium red hot in the bathroom window sill. It bloomed and blossomed wondefully for ...
A: Neal, Is it in a pot with a drain hole in the bottom and a drain tray under it? Yes, you can repot ...
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| palm tree not growing well | 5/24/2009 |
Q: I hope you can help me. For absolutely years, I have had a palm tree, very slow growing. It has ...
A: Philomena, You can feed it every 2 months but not during the winter months with an acidic water ...
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| Name my houseplant?! | 5/23/2009 |
Q: I bought a houseplant, but there was no tag in it and I have no idea what it is or how to best care ...
A: Gillian, I believe it is a young Cordyline, either terminalis, fruiticosa or compacta. The ...
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| palm tree not growing well | 5/23/2009 |
Q: I hope you can help me. For absolutely years, I have had a palm tree, very slow growing. It has ...
A: Philomena, I have a couple of questions for you that I think will get you on the right track. Palms ...
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| peace lilly | 5/22/2009 |
Q: can i put the plant outdoors for the summer?
A: Jan, Not unless you have a place that gets no direct sun but is bright and gets no wind what so ...
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| dumb cane | 5/22/2009 |
Q: My plane is about 8 feet tall, touching the ceiling and starting ot lean over and the leaves are ...
A: Dawn, I would get another pot that is about 12 inches wide and fill it with a mix of 2 parts of ...
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| ficus tree | 5/21/2009 |
Q: The leaves are falling off. Some are yellow and some look healthy. Maybe underwatering, but this ...
A: Mary Jane, Ficus trees can loose leaves because they are too dry, or because they are too wet, or ...
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| Ponytail problems | 5/21/2009 |
Q: I have a pony tail that has developed a brown rusty color ring on the edge of the plant where it ...
A: Marilyn, A self watering pot is not good for a beaucarnea recurvata or ponytail palm. It keeps the ...
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| what is this flowers name? | 5/20/2009 |
Q: i have a plant that i grow at home, which i don't know what the name is. so would you please look at ...
A: Munkhtselmeg, I beleive that your plant is a vining Hoya carnosa that is usually grown as a hanging ...
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| Cat palms | 5/20/2009 |
Q: I very recently purchased 2 cat palms from a Lowes. I planted them in the ground and they get ...
A: Gale, Cat palms do not like full sun and they like lots of water and high humidity. You did not ...
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| plant identification assistance - ok for kitties to nibble? | 5/19/2009 |
Q: Today I received a full flat of "palm grass" left over from a local garden store's Mother's Day ...
A: Andrea, Your palm grass is I suspect, a Dwarf Egyptian Paper Plant Latin Name: Cyperus papyrus ...
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| noah's ark houseplant | 5/18/2009 |
Q: I was searching on the net to find Noah's Ark houseplant. I came across this posting by Shelly on ...
A: Janna, I tried to contact Shelly and she has not answered, she may have changed her email address. ...
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| house coconut palm plant | 5/17/2009 |
Q: Help! My mother has bought me a cocnut palm plant, the only problem is it has come with no ...
A: Gemma, The best care instructions I can give you are move to Miami and plant it in your yard in ...
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| mass cane floor plant | 5/17/2009 |
Q: I live in Dayton, Ohio and I put my mass cane outside during the summer on my front porch which is ...
A: Angie, Are you saying that you want to put it in the ground for the summer with other plants? Yes ...
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| umbrella tree | 5/16/2009 |
Q: a branch has broken off the plant and it is just sitting in water. How do I save these branches and ...
A: Donna, You can leave them in the water and you have a 50/50 chance that they will root. You can ...
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| Indoor Elephant Ear (Brown Leaves) | 5/15/2009 |
Q: I have a beautiful elephant ear indoor grown from a small plant, now large. I water it regularly, ...
A: Jonathon, This plant likes lots of sun. There are several things that could be causing your brown ...
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| massangeana cane | 5/15/2009 |
Q: I received massangeana cane was sent to me as a gift. I recently noticed worms in the pot at the ...
A: Kathy, You don't say what size of worms. I suspect they are the larva of fungus gnats and that your ...
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| Plant ID and Facts | 5/14/2009 |
Q: I purchased this plant a few months ago and it has been doing fine. Recently, however, the edges of ...
A: Rebecca, Your plant is a Beaucarnea Recurvata also known as a Ponytail Palm. It loves the sun and ...
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| Yucca Plant Agony | 5/14/2009 |
Q: I bought a Yucca almost a month ago. It was in a small pot, had 3 biggish trunks and two other ...
A: Chinni, Yuccas are desert plants. They love the sun. They hate being wet. Put it back in front of ...
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| Indoor Azalea Tree | 5/13/2009 |
Q: Portland Oregon: New Azalea Tree that I need to put in a pot. How would I determine size and shape ...
A: Dee, I checked the winter temperatures in Portland and the lows do fall below 32 degrees. In ...
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| Indoor Azalea Tree | 5/13/2009 |
Q: Portland Oregon: New Azalea Tree that I need to put in a pot. How would I determine size and shape ...
A: Dee, What makes you think that you need to repot it immediately? If it is in bloom now is ...
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| peace lily | 5/13/2009 |
Q: I have a peace lily that got way to much sun and now it just droops. I made sure it has enough water ...
A: Tammy, Drain as much water as possible off as quickly as possible. If it is drooping it is probably ...
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| planting a baby aloe plant | 5/12/2009 |
Q: i recieved a baby aloe leaf with the root attached im planting it in new soil and pot. Should i put ...
A: Angela, Since it is a baby start it in a small pot with not more than a 3 inch diameter. Aloes do ...
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| Hen & Chickens | 5/12/2009 |
Q: Can this plant be kept in the house by a window or should it be kept outside in the sun?
A: Katherine, It depends, where did you get these hen & chicks? There is a tropical variety that you ...
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| Yucca plant | 5/11/2009 |
Q: I recently bought a home that has numerous yucca plants. I'm not sure what type they are. They were ...
A: Deb, You did not ruin them. From your original question I was assuming the trunks were 2 feet to 5 ...
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| Saw dust | 5/11/2009 |
Q: Pls be so kind as to explain what the following Ailment could be :: My Yucca is potted and indoors, ...
A: Sean, You have a yucca cane borer that is a butterfly or a moth that has laid an egg on your yucca ...
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| Yucca plant | 5/10/2009 |
Q: I recently bought a home that has numerous yucca plants. I'm not sure what type they are. They were ...
A: Debbie, If you send me a digital picture of your yuccas I will figure out exactly what type of ...
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| Yucca plant | 5/10/2009 |
Q: I recently bought a home that has numerous yucca plants. I'm not sure what type they are. They were ...
A: Debbie, Yucca leaves do not grow a second time. They grow out from the top as the plant grows then ...
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| Rozalea | 5/9/2009 |
Q: I just received a Rozalea today as a memorial. It is important for me to keep this alive, being ...
A: Jay, Rozalea is the variety name, not the type of plant it is. Ohio-based ...
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| Ming Aralia | 5/9/2009 |
Q: I have a small tree in a 4 inch pot I purchased at a nursery back in winter. I used to water it once ...
A: Gail, You need to move it to where it will get direct sun. A lack of sun can cause the leaf drop ...
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| Plant I.D. | 5/8/2009 |
Q: I need help I.D.ing a houseplant. When I bought it last year, it had 3 nice stalks, the leaves are ...
A: Millie, I believe that your plant may be a Purple Passion Plant (Gynura aurantiaca). At the ...
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| Yucca Cane Plant Troubles | 5/8/2009 |
Q: I have 2 Yucca Cane Plants. Both of them are approximately 5' tall. They have not been repotted in ...
A: Hope, Unless the night temperatures are below 50 degrees keep them outside in full sun. If it is ...
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| dracaena fragrans flower | 5/7/2009 |
Q: My draceana fragrans to my surprise has just flowered what shold i do when the flowers die off?
A: Terry, Cut off the flower stalk and keep doing exactly what you have been doing. You must be doing ...
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| plant | 5/7/2009 |
Q: i am trying to figure out what i can do to help this plant. it wont stand up straight and i dont ...
A: Tiffany, Yes, it is a fiddle leaf fig. You have 3 trunks there and it is in a fairly small pot. I ...
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| hibiscus | 5/6/2009 |
Q: hai, i stay in southern part of India. i have many plants at home. i have got hibiscus also at ...
A: Usha, Your problem is either scale or mealy bugs, they are very similar insects and the same ...
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| Bright Screen that will withstand cold/shade | 5/6/2009 |
Q: Howdy, we recently lost some cedar trees that were providing privacy from our neighbours. We are ...
A: Mike, My expertise is in house plants and I don't think they would help you much. Go back to ...
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| Ponytail Palm | 5/5/2009 |
Q: I have a pony tail palm that I bought from Canadain Tire, I have discovered that is has some wormy ...
A: Christie, Actually cenitpedes are good insects. They are predators that eat bad insects. The ...
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| nats/larvae killing my plants | 5/5/2009 |
Q: there is gnat like insect invading all of my potted plants, ornamental and vegetable alike. upon ...
A: Sherry, The gnats are fungus gnats, they are like fruit flys. They have attacked your plants ...
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| yellow mushrooms in my houseplants | 5/4/2009 |
Q: ive read several websites on these mushrooms that have all of a sudden appeared in my avacado tree ...
A: Christie, Whether it is a mushroom that is edible or a toadstool that is not it is a fungus. I ...
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| rooting hormone and herbs | 5/4/2009 |
Q: I recently was advised by an employee at a garden center to use a little rooting hormone powder in ...
A: Mary, Rooting hormone is a chemical that has an effect on plants but is not a true hormone that ...
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| diplandia | 5/3/2009 |
Q: Mine have quit blooming. How do I get them to produce flowers again? ANSWER: Ellen, You have not ...
A: Ellen, Cutting them back will prevent them from blooming but lack of sun while they are indoors ...
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| plam tree plant | 5/2/2009 |
Q: i was giving a plam tree plant, in the move to my house, we had the plant in the back of the truck, ...
A: Brenda, For starters next time you move a plant in an open pick up truck you have to wrap it with ...
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| Madagascar Dragon Tree | 5/2/2009 |
Q: I recently purchased a Dragon Tree. I'm in the process of re-potting it, but need to know what type ...
A: Barbara, You can use the pelletized timed released fertilizer on it or you can give it regular ...
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| Jade Update | 5/1/2009 |
Q: I hope you can advise me about my plant. My jade has developed some kind of disease- I thought it ...
A: Polina, As long as the stems are firm and green I would repot it. Use a soil mix of half cheap ...
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| Lucky Bean | 5/1/2009 |
Q: I was given a Lucky Bean plant on Mothers day two yrs ago. I had transplanted it over the winter and ...
A: Mellissa, Chances are when you transplanted it in the winter you put it into too large an pot and ...
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| Poinsettia plants | 4/30/2009 |
Q: I have a poinsettia from Christmas which I put in a corner after it lost most of it's red flowers. ...
A: Harriet, It sounds like this one really wants to live if you haven't watered it and it is still ...
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| Jade plant is sick | 4/30/2009 |
Q: I hope you can advise me about my plant. My jade has developed some kind of disease- I thought it ...
A: Polina, STOP IMMEDIATELY WITH THE INSECTICIDAL SOAP! That can kill a jade as it clogs the leaf ...
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| Schefflera arboricola leaf drop | 4/29/2009 |
Q: I bought a schefflera arboricola from a local B&Q store about 9 months ago to put in my south ...
A: Sue, Stop moving it around, all the moving and experimanting stresses it. It needs sun for as many ...
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| china doll | 4/29/2009 |
Q: Would it be okay to place small pebbles or decorative stones of some sort atop the soil in the pot ...
A: Malisa, It is fine to put pebbles atop the soil. You might want to put cayenne pepper on the soil ...
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| Yucca Repotting | 4/28/2009 |
Q: I acquired a 7ft tall, 27 year old Yucca plant some months ago. I was advised by the previous owner ...
A: Dave, It looks like you have an inside pot and an outside pot. I am assuming that it is tne outside ...
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| small plants starting in pot - not attached to aloe verra | 4/28/2009 |
Q: I'm using store bought soil with a bit of sand that has sat for the winter without anything in the ...
A: Kathyn, Sorry to tell you they are weeds. Probably seeds that floated in on air currents. Your aloe ...
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| Fica Plant | 4/27/2009 |
Q: Can Fica plants be moved outside for spring and summer? If so, what exposure is optimum for them? ...
A: Gloria, Yes, you can transplant it into a clay pot with a drainage csaucer, that would be best but ...
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| blooming or flowering palm plant? | 4/27/2009 |
Q: has even sprouted new shoots from the base of the trunk, up from the soil. It stands in a very ...
A: Tanya, Your plant is not a palm, it is a Dracaena deremensis 'Janet Craig'. The shoots you have are ...
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| Sick yucca cane | 4/26/2009 |
Q: I bought my yucca cane about one year ago from Home Depot. There are two stalks, a taller and one ...
A: Shanti, I suspect that at times your yucca has been overwatered and other times underwatered which ...
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| burros tail (donkey) | 4/26/2009 |
Q: my burros tail seems to be wilting in places. Some of the tips are turning light green or a pale ...
A: Willie, I suspect someone else may be giving your burros tail a drink when you are not looking. ...
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| plant identification | 4/25/2009 |
Q: i have had this plant growing in the house for years. i think it is a "W" but can not say for sure. ...
A: Sue, I believe that your plant is a Tolmiea menziesii, commonly known as a Piggyback plant. Your ...
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| over fertlized potted tomatoes | 4/25/2009 |
Q: I mixed 4 parts potting soil to 1 part deodorized manure for my patio tomatoes, now the leaves are ...
A: Clarissa, The only other things I can think of would be to remove some of the soil in the pot and ...
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| yucca gloriosa | 4/24/2009 |
Q: I have a spanish dagger. Do I need to cut the nice center growth in order for the outer shoots to ...
A: Gary, No, You just have to be patient. It is a slow growing plant and those outer shoots grow best ...
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| ZZ plant | 4/23/2009 |
Q: I rescued a ZZ plant from a house where renters had left it. I know nothing about them but have ...
A: Terri, I am growing my first ZZ plant now so I am not an expert on it but I would probably remove ...
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| ZZ plant | 4/23/2009 |
Q: I rescued a ZZ plant from a house where renters had left it. I know nothing about them but have ...
A: Terri, No you should not repot your ZZ but I would encourage you to keep it in that original pot ...
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| Fertilising Houseplants | 4/22/2009 |
Q: i have just bought a peace lily and a flamingo flower from a shop, both are in full bloom at the ...
A: Yes, I reccommend that you fertilize the plants while they are flowering. I would use Miracle Grow ...
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| pruning | 4/21/2009 |
Q: would like to know how to prune and shape established hard wooded dracena plants, and if cuttings ...
A: Lorraine, You simply take either a sharp knife or sharp pruning shears and cut the stem you want to ...
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| Light conditions for plants | 4/20/2009 |
Q: I have two newly acquired plants - an anthurium andreaneum and a croton. Both appear to need ...
A: Haldee, Your anthurium is from Hawaii and loves the humidity of tropical islands. It would also ...
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| Prayer Plant Roots | 4/19/2009 |
Q: Regarding the roots of a prayer plant. I dug a prayer plant from the pot. I noticed that there are ...
A: Brenda, No, it is not normal and I suspect that your plant has Meloidogyne incognita — Southern ...
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| Mother in Law's togue fell over | 4/18/2009 |
Q: I have a Mother in Law's Tongue that I keep on my desk at work. It has been growing quite well, ...
A: Natasha, Usually sansevieria plants are connected to each other with their roots connected in a ...
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| banana trees | 4/17/2009 |
Q: i received a gift of 2 trees in 10 inch pots last week. Will they grow well if i repot them in ...
A: Phyllis, They will grow just fine in large pots. I reccommend that you use potting soil with some ...
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| mass cane plant | 4/16/2009 |
Q: I just purchased a corn plant and it's staring to get brown and yellow tips on the leaves. I have ...
A: They require being in a room that is bright enough that your hand will make a shadow without having ...
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| White circles | 4/15/2009 |
Q: I have a few grape vines that I am trying to grow. They are currently still inside since it is a ...
A: Stephanie, Young grape vines are very touchy. Over watering can cause then to become droopy or ...
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| White circles | 4/15/2009 |
Q: I have a few grape vines that I am trying to grow. They are currently still inside since it is a ...
A: Stephanie, Where did these grape vines come from? How long have you been growing them indoors? It ...
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| diplandia | 4/14/2009 |
Q: Mine have quit blooming. How do I get them to produce flowers again?
A: Ellen, You have not said how long you have had them or where you are located. I am going to assume ...
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| Schflerra Dwarf | 4/13/2009 |
Q: I have a 21 year old Schflerra that used to be full and beautiful. It is dropping leaves daily and ...
A: Denise, Let it get dryer between waterings and move it to where it will get direct sun. ...
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| white calla lilly indoor | 4/12/2009 |
Q: I have an indoor white calla lilly that I bought a grocery store. It was doing great, but the leaves ...
A: Jen, Is your plant a calla lily or a peace lily? If it is a peace lily you should be careful not to ...
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| Anthurium - Dark Edges | 4/11/2009 |
Q: You described "fertilizer burn" on an Anthurium. I am wondering if that is what I have on mine. My ...
A: Ann, That burn could come from fertilizer or from over watering or from too much sun. So if you ...
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| Palm houseplant | 4/10/2009 |
Q: I recently bought a palm houseplant from the local grocery store (i am not sure to which variety it ...
A: Julia, Watering every other day is too often. You cannot keep the plant that wet or the roots willl ...
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| deifinbaccia, dumb cane | 4/9/2009 |
Q: dumbI have a huge diefenbachhia/dumb cane, I have been growing from a stem, for about 3 years now. ...
A: Dawn, Air layering is the safest way to take the top off the plant if you want to guarantee you can ...
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| Asparagus Fern | 4/8/2009 |
Q: How do you propagate Asparagus Fern?
A: Steven, If it is very large you can divide it but it usually doesn't like that. Otherwise growing ...
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| SCHEFFELARA | 4/7/2009 |
Q: I have a root bound scheffelara in a pot under my patio. I would like to plant it in my flower bed ...
A: Lou, I have no idea where you live so I can't come help you. You don't have a question here. Remove ...
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| old aloe plant | 4/6/2009 |
Q: I live in NC and received an aloe plant from my granddaddy today that he brought back from Florida ...
A: Christie, Treat it like a cactus. Indoors give it lots of sun. Mine sits in the corner of an ...
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| Lilly Plant | 4/4/2009 |
Q: I have a peace lilly and I would like to know if I can sit it outside in the sun. And if so how long ...
A: Anette, The only way a peace lily should be outside is if the lowest temperature at night is above ...
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| Dying Guzmania Grand Prix | 4/3/2009 |
Q: I really want to save my Guzmania Grand Prix plant (I think its this species, tall green leaves ...
A: Samantha, I assume that it was in bloom when you bought it and that it bloomed for some time after ...
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| amaryllis bulbs | 4/2/2009 |
Q: I have 2 amaryllis bulbs that are starting to grow again, after wintering in the basement. Both are ...
A: Irene, You need to feed them more than just bone meal. Amaryllis are heavy feeders and the bulbs ...
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| indoor yucca plant from ikea | 4/1/2009 |
Q: I bought a yucca plant from ikea last weekend and make the mistake of already watering it. I looked ...
A: Stephanie, It appears to be some type of toadstools growing in very acidic heavy soil. Yuccas ...
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| Houseplants and kids | 3/31/2009 |
Q: I am getting ready to move into a new house, and was planning on getting an air purifier because I ...
A: Julia, The first list of air filtering plants was compiled by NASA as part of the NASA Clean Air ...
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| aloe plant in house | 3/30/2009 |
Q: I have an aloe plant and the root is curved , and the pot is 6 " ! I can't seem to get it to plant ...
A: Jennifer, Aloes do not like to be repotted. It should be groing in a sandy cactus soil. If you ...
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| Should I repot my dracaena lisa? | 3/29/2009 |
Q: I bought a new dracaena lisa today and don't know if I should repot it. It is in a 3 gallon ...
A: Angela, No, I would not repot it unless I thought it had really bad soil for some reason. If the ...
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| worms in the dirt of my Cat Palms | 3/28/2009 |
Q: I have three small Cat Palms. I bought them in the spring of 08, all summer they were outside. In ...
A: Cindy, You are overwater and keeping them too wet so the roots are rotting which is causing the ...
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| majestic palm | 3/27/2009 |
Q: I live in the Panhandle of Florida. My majestic palm leaves are covered with a black sticky ...
A: Brigette, You have an insect attacking your majestic palms. The black sticky residue is their ...
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| Olive Trees | 3/26/2009 |
Q: Good Day, I was recently at a nursery in the UK and noticed olive trees (olea europea) for sale. I ...
A: Arthur, I have a bonsai olive tree here in northern Indiana and it is very happy outdoors in the ...
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| Pothos | 3/25/2009 |
Q: I went through the answers you have given for Pothos but my question is about drying or wilting of ...
A: Jerry, The usual reason that new leaves on pothos dries is because it is getting too much water. ...
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| air plant | 3/24/2009 |
Q: i have a question about a blooming air plant. Right now it is in its blooming stage, but i dont no ...
A: Danny, Actually I had a friend that brought me one from Florida and gave it to me as a gift. It ...
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| air plant | 3/23/2009 |
Q: i have a question about a blooming air plant. Right now it is in its blooming stage, but i dont no ...
A: Danny, In nature these plants would get watered by the rain. You did not say if the plant is ...
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| rabbits foot fern | 3/21/2009 |
Q: my fern has the rabbits foot on the outside of the container and it has broken out of the bottom of ...
A: Deb, If you mean roots are coming out of the bottom of the container I wouldn't worry about it. I ...
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| Peace Lily | 3/20/2009 |
Q: I received this last July when our daughter passed away. I was 6-8 inches in a larger pot that did ...
A: Patricia, I am sure that your original plant was a peace lily. It is very common to send peace ...
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| Peace Lily | 3/20/2009 |
Q: I received this last July when our daughter passed away. I was 6-8 inches in a larger pot that did ...
A: Patricia, In Hawaii I would keep a peace lily outdoors in a shady location on a lanai or under ...
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| Frost Bitten House plants | 3/19/2009 |
Q: I have a few different types of house plants and thought they needed some fresh air and sun. well i ...
A: Sean, Houseplants are tropical plants. They should never go outside until night time temperatures ...
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| Can I save my corn plant? | 3/18/2009 |
Q: I have a corn plant and it was doing excellent until it was left outside on a cold winter night. The ...
A: Ravan, If the stubs that are sticking up out of the soil are green then you can keep the pot in a ...
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| question on house plants | 3/16/2009 |
Q: I have geraniums that are indoor and I have a problem with a white colored moss or bacteria that ...
A: Frank, It is mold. It is from the soil or fertilizer that you are using or could even just be from ...
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| jasmine plants | 3/15/2009 |
Q: how do you prune a jasmine plant. I'm completely new to plants so use uneducated plant language ...
A: Jasmine, Do not prune your jasmine plants until just after they have stopped blooming then cut them ...
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| cocoa palm house plant | 3/14/2009 |
Q: I have been given a coco palm (with large 'nut' in a pot) I placed it in my bedroom which is quite ...
A: Jayne, A cocoa (coconut) palm tree's natural environment is outdoors in Florida in full sun in ...
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| Helpless case of the fungus nats | 3/13/2009 |
Q: I have been trying the potato trick and although it must be working to some degree I am going ...
A: Angela, To start with empty the water out of the drain trays of all of your house plants ...
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| about my umbrella tree | 3/12/2009 |
Q: It's one of those you find in any store for $5. They say they're perfect beginner plants because you ...
A: No just use wire clippers or toenail clippers and clip the skewer off just above the surface of the ...
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| about my umbrella tree | 3/12/2009 |
Q: It's one of those you find in any store for $5. They say they're perfect beginner plants because you ...
A: Michael, Your umbrella tree loves and needs the sun. Move it to a south facing window with window ...
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| cat palm plant | 3/11/2009 |
Q: It looked real good when we bought the cat palm plant, now I put it in a different pot and the ...
A: LENNY, Yellow leaves on a repotted cat palm indicates it may have spider mites. shine a very bright ...
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| Peace Lily | 3/10/2009 |
Q: I've got some other questions on maintaining my peace lily: When a leaf or flower dies / turns ...
A: Kyle, You should cut flowers or leaves off at the base of the stem with sharp scissors where the ...
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| Florida Red Scale | 3/9/2009 |
Q: Please help me!This is urgent!I am from Malta, a little island in the middle of the Meditterenean.I ...
A: Vanessa, 70% Isopropyl alcohol known here as rubbing alcohol, usually sold in a drug store or ...
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| Florida Red Scale | 3/9/2009 |
Q: Please help me!This is urgent!I am from Malta, a little island in the middle of the Meditterenean.I ...
A: Vanessa, FRS is an insect, not a disease and it is not dangerous to humans. Under that hard scale ...
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| Scale on Palm | 3/8/2009 |
Q: I have a major scale problem on my palm. I've heard that one shouldn't use insecticidal soap sprays ...
A: Andrew, You can also use rubbing alcohol mixed with water 50/50 and put it in a spray bottle. Spray ...
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| Need to find out what kind of house plant that I have | 3/7/2009 |
Q: Good Evening, I was given an indoor house plant today and I have a concern. First I do not know what ...
A: Candace, I beleive that it is a variety of a zamia or a cardboard palm. Yes, it is poisonous to ...
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| Gold Capella Schefflera | 3/6/2009 |
Q: I believe it is the umbrella kind. It has one trunk which is nearly 2 ft. tall between the soil and ...
A: Jennifer, You should never repot a plant until it has been in your home for at least a few months ...
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| Dying peace lily? | 3/5/2009 |
Q: I've recently inherited a peace lily, which doesn't seem to be doing too well. It's leaves have ...
A: Kaylee, Your peace lily can sit near an east or north window but no other windows. It will not do ...
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| LOTS of Yellow leaves | 3/4/2009 |
Q: I have a Dracaena Marginata, green variety. She is producing an insane number of yellow leaves on a ...
A: Emily, How new is it? If you have just had it for less than 2 weeks then I suspect something ...
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| Ming Afralia | 3/3/2009 |
Q: Darlene, My husband used to have a Ming Aralia and we lost it in our move from west to east. For ...
A: Dorothe, If you are anywhere near north eastern Indiana I know where there is one in a Meijers ...
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| plant question (ID) | 3/2/2009 |
Q: My plant lost 2 leaves by accident (I knocked into it :( ). I don't know what its called but know ...
A: Lori, It appears to be a ficus elastica or variegated rubber tree but it is difficult to tell for ...
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| Amarylis | 3/1/2009 |
Q: My partner had an amarylis bulb given her for christmas and it grew rapidly with six leaves and ...
A: Brian, You do not cut the leaves off to make the flower last longer. The reason the plants in the ...
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| cat palm | 2/28/2009 |
Q: I just bought a cat palm a couple weeks ago and it has leaves turning yellow and kind of curling up. ...
A: Jennifer, Your problem could either be watering too much or too little. You may not be watering it ...
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| Need to find the name of this plant | 2/20/2009 |
Q: I need your help in knowing the name of this flower. I was given to me as a gift 4 years ago and it ...
A: Enrique, It is an Allium bulb or a flowering onion. I cannot tell you exactly which variety and I ...
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| lighting | 2/19/2009 |
Q: I asked this question to another expert but they didn't know the answer. I'm trying to get some ...
A: Brandon, The bulbs that came with the lights are designed to be grow lights with light that is ...
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| cataractarum palm | 2/18/2009 |
Q: Is the cataractarum palm poisonous to cats? I have bought two palms and would like to have them in ...
A: Karen, It is safe for cats. Most house plants are safe for cats except for lilies. So you can rest ...
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| is a corn plant poisinous to a iguana | 2/17/2009 |
Q: i have a iguana who loves to climb. so i decided to get a corn plant tree and he climbs on it all ...
A: Christina, Most websites I consulted said no it is not but one said the following regarding cats ...
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| indoor azela plant | 2/16/2009 |
Q: i got an azela plant. for valentines day. can i repot and keep inside? does it need a certian ...
A: Janie, NO! You should not repot it until it is done blooming and not until after April 1st when the ...
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| massangeana-flies | 2/15/2009 |
Q: i have noticed lately little fruit fly type flies. i noticed today that the trunk has little flies. ...
A: Linda, The flies are fungus gnats because the plant is being overwatered and the roos are beginning ...
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| Repotting | 2/14/2009 |
Q: Okay, I have 2 questions. First, is it possible to repot a Pothos in the middle of February without ...
A: Summer, Yes but you need to slip it out of the pot without the drainage hole and put it into a pot ...
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| cut corn plant trunks | 2/13/2009 |
Q: My potted indoor corn corn plant came with four trunks in one pot. I cut 2 of the trunks close to ...
A: Stella, The roots of the 2 trunks you cut will probably send out new shoots and grow whole new ...
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| Chilly Plants | 2/12/2009 |
Q: I prefer keeping my house cool in the winter time (around 50 degrees). Am having problems finding ...
A: Gwen, You don't mention the sun but you did mention cactus so I assume that you have plenty of ...
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| yucca cane plant | 2/11/2009 |
Q: we recently bought a yucca cane plant, it was so healthy when we got it and it is now not looking so ...
A: Dee, You are either giving it too much water or not enough sun. A yuccca plant should be treated ...
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| CARE OF YUCCA PLANT | 2/10/2009 |
Q: my plant is as shown in photo given at i59.photobucket.com/.../ g317/JEAE/Botani009.jpg. my plant ...
A: Vicky, Your plant is not a yucca, it is a corn plant or Dracaena deremensis 'Janet Craig'. This ...
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| Kimberly Queen fern | 2/10/2009 |
Q: I have a Kimberly Queen fern that I brought inside last fall and placed near a south-facing window. ...
A: Neil, The sap like substance you describe is the excrement from insects. It is called honeydew. It ...
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| CARE OF YUCCA PLANT | 2/8/2009 |
Q: my plant is as shown in photo given at i59.photobucket.com/.../ g317/JEAE/Botani009.jpg. my plant ...
A: Vicky, The link to your picture didn't work but a yucca is a desert plant. It is to be grown in a ...
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| peace lily | 2/7/2009 |
Q: I repotted a peace lily, when i repotted it i cut the roots to loosen them thinking this would help ...
A: Katrina, For starters you repotted it at the wrong time of year. The days are too short so the ...
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| triming a selluam | 2/6/2009 |
Q: I have a large selluam. My guess it is ft by ft. there are leaves sprouting from the bottom side of ...
A: James, The tenacles are aerial roots. If the plant has 2 separate crowns or central points with ...
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| Peace Lilly | 2/5/2009 |
Q: I have had my plant for several years. It is on my dinning room table. There is no windows in the ...
A: Ann, Your garden soil is too heavy and holds too much water for your plants so it's roots are ...
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| getting a hoya to flower | 2/4/2009 |
Q: I have tried every piece of advice given me on making a hoya produce flowers. I keep it dry in the ...
A: Dorothy, Is it rootbound? This and many other plants bloom luxuriously when they are kept in small ...
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| Zizi plant | 2/3/2009 |
Q: I transplanted it to dry out the soil and since it was rootbound I thought that was the problem. I ...
A: Celeste, If the stalks were soggy you were keeping it too wet. This plant needs to be kept dry like ...
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| Jasmine house plant | 2/2/2009 |
Q: Would you please give me some simple steps in caring for my Jasmine house plant? I have no idea ...
A: Phillis, You should keep it in the sunniest window available with the drapes and miniblinds open ...
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| Areca Palm | 2/1/2009 |
Q: I have an indoor areca palm and I've noticed that some of the leaf tips are brown and also some of ...
A: Sharon, You could be overwatering. The soil cannot be constantly wet. You should get some bamboo ...
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| 'mass cane' | 1/31/2009 |
Q: I have just purchased two 'mass plants for my home. One is placed in the corner of my livingroom, ...
A: Norman, Yes, It does not like the drying heat, it needs humidity. It also needs bright light but no ...
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| yukka house plant | 1/30/2009 |
Q: do yukka trees in a pot in the house shed their leaves in the winter
A: Colin, Only if they are not getting enough sun and they are getting too much water. They need full ...
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| propagating a prince of orange phildendron | 1/28/2009 |
Q: I have what I believe is a prince of orange phildendron. At least it looks like this picture from ...
A: Jesse, I find plants root much easier in soil. Get a bottle of rooting hormone at your nearest ...
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| Pachira aquatica | 1/27/2009 |
Q: I have this lovely bonsai money tree and it has about 12 leaves on it. I just noticed two baby ...
A: Danielle, Pachira aquatica is a tree and cannot be rooted from cuttings in water. It may be able to ...
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| ficus losing leaves | 1/26/2009 |
Q: I have 2 ficus plants which I've had for about 3 years. They were both doing great but about 6 ...
A: Neli, Move them both to a location where they get as much actual sun as possible all day long and ...
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| outdoor jade plant | 1/25/2009 |
Q: My large jade 5" diameter trunk and about 3.5 feet tall is outside under a very small covered porch ...
A: Mary, That would be wise, it neeeds protection from too much rain and definitely from frost but it ...
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| corn plants | 1/25/2009 |
Q: 14 years ago my little cousin planted a corn plant from a corn kernel in pre-school. Now it is a ...
A: Khalliah, You should not do anything until after April 1st when the days are longer then it will be ...
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| outdoor jade plant | 1/24/2009 |
Q: My large jade 5" diameter trunk and about 3.5 feet tall is outside under a very small covered porch ...
A: Mary, Great, it is good that there is no scale or mealy bugs. The spots are coming from the frost ...
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| outdoor jade plant | 1/24/2009 |
Q: My large jade 5" diameter trunk and about 3.5 feet tall is outside under a very small covered porch ...
A: Mary, It cannot be transplanted right now, it should wait until after April 1st when the days are ...
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| hibiscus tree | 1/23/2009 |
Q: We have a hibiscus tree, about 5' tall. Was outside all summer, grew well, lots of flowers. We ...
A: Kris, You are probably not far from me. I live near Fort Wayne, IN. Hibiscus can be difficult to ...
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| azaleas | 1/22/2009 |
Q: I love outdoor gardening, but am horrific with houseplants. I asked another expert here how to ...
A: Sara, They need very bright light but they don't need to sit in hot direct sun. You said you water ...
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| peace lily woes | 1/21/2009 |
Q: I've been the green thumb on indoor plants in our family for some 15 years. Last year I was given a ...
A: You are welcome. I use it on all my plants. It costs about $20.00 for a bottle but you only use 2 ...
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| peace lily woes | 1/21/2009 |
Q: I've been the green thumb on indoor plants in our family for some 15 years. Last year I was given a ...
A: Tammy, It can hitch hike in on fruit you bring in or in soil or on clothing from another plant. The ...
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| peace lily woes | 1/20/2009 |
Q: I've been the green thumb on indoor plants in our family for some 15 years. Last year I was given a ...
A: Tammy, The spots are most likely scale, also an insect. Scale can attack a wide range of plants and ...
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| Potted palm | 1/19/2009 |
Q: When is a good time to buy a potted palm tree? I live in NJ. What is the kind of care it requires, ...
A: Maya, Most potted palms are very difficult plants to keep alive. I have killed several myself even ...
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| House Plants are dying in the winter. | 1/18/2009 |
Q: I have a palm and it was doing really well during the summer. I would put it outside when it rained ...
A: Ann, Whether or not it is getting enough light depends on what kind of palm it is. It could also be ...
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| Philodendron care | 1/16/2009 |
Q: I got a philodendron plant (with 7-8 leaves) from a friend who grew these in a pot very ...
A: Maya, If this plant was already growing in soil you should not remove it from the soil and put it ...
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| my plants dying :( | 1/15/2009 |
Q: Okay so i have a dracaena plant and i love it so much.I keep it in my house and it was doing really ...
A: Briana, Draceana plants do not like direct sun. You should not set it in the sun on a sunny day. ...
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| jade plant | 1/14/2009 |
Q: I have ajade plant that i have had for many many years. I have started others from this plant as ...
A: Gaile, Does the new window face the same direction so the plant gets as much light as it did ...
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| poney tail palm | 1/13/2009 |
Q: we have a pony tail palm at work that is about 25 Ayers old. It is growing a new frond just above ...
A: Roseanna, It is strictly a matter of taste. If you do not like the look with the new frond cut it ...
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| help | 1/12/2009 |
Q: What is the pollinator for the heliconia?
A: Joshua, Hummingbirds. Reference: http://cloudbridge.org/heliconia_pollination.pdf ...
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| diffenbachia | 1/10/2009 |
Q: my diffenbachia has outgrown the pot, but also is bent way over. will it root in water if I cut it ...
A: Amber, This is not the right time to repot it yet or start it from cuttings. After April 1st to ...
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| Cactus gardens in SW Florida | 1/8/2009 |
Q: I live in Punta Gorda and have had some surprising luck in growing beautiful cacti and succulents ...
A: Sharyn, Sorry, I live in northern Indiana. It's 21 degrees here, I envy you. Actually I am only ...
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| ming plants | 1/7/2009 |
Q: I'm relatively new at house plants. I received a beautiful Ming aralia and I've read about putting ...
A: Vera, These plants need high humidity. Therefore unless you have 200 plants in your home that keep ...
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| Light question | 1/6/2009 |
Q: I am a little bit confused with the light needs of the plants. I am planning to buy some plants as I ...
A: Maria, With those screens I would keep low light plants within 3 feet of the east or west windows, ...
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| Pruning fig indoor fig tree | 1/5/2009 |
Q: My tree is in a pot approx. 12"x10". It has become pot bound and I am wondering if I can prune back ...
A: Jim, Yes,you can prune off about 30% of the top and 30% of the roots each year. Never put the tree ...
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| Schefflera tree | 1/4/2009 |
Q: I bought a beautiful variegated schefflera tree (about eight feet tall) a couple of months ago. It ...
A: Stan, The nursery gave you incorrect instructions. This tree loves the sun. It needs to be moved to ...
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| Norfolk Island Pine | 1/3/2009 |
Q: My wife bought me a Norfolk Island pine tree for christmas. It is about thirty inches tall. The tree ...
A: Paul, It's a little early to be repotting plants yet. Yes, it would be good to separate them but it ...
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| coconut plant | 1/2/2009 |
Q: i repotted my plant as it had black fly in soil, it was looking wonderful, but now leaves going ...
A: Christine, A coconut palm is very difficult to grow indoors in a pot without a greenhouse. It ...
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| Norfolk pine | 12/31/2008 |
Q: Good Evening Darlene, I have a Norfolk pine that the so-called-leaves are turning brown on the end ...
A: Julia, Your plant is suffering from too little humidity and too little or too much water. Brown ...
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| Coffee + plants | 12/30/2008 |
Q: I am in the tenth grade and was getting worried about my science fair project; I was watering four ...
A: Jennifer, You may have planted your seeds too deep. They should be planted just barely under the ...
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| what to plant at base of palm | 12/29/2008 |
Q: I have a palm that is potted inside in a corner that gets bright light. It is doing very well. Can ...
A: Bethany, Tradescantia (Wandering Jew), Cyclaman, Agave, Aloe, Kalanchoe, most Bromeliads, cactus, ...
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| Yucca | 12/28/2008 |
Q: Both my multi headed yucca trees in the lounge have brown dying tips to their leaves. My lily is the ...
A: Des, You are watering them too often. Both plants need to be very dry for several days before ...
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| fiddle leaf fig with a sunburn | 12/27/2008 |
Q: Last summer I put my six-foot fiddle leaf fig, which is normally indoors, outside on an east-facing ...
A: Carolyn, You will need to wait till spring when you can put it back outside to do anything. At that ...
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| Dracaena Janet Craig plant | 12/26/2008 |
Q: I believe I have a Dracaena Janet Craig plant, actually 3 in all. They all came from the same pot ...
A: Steve, Dracaena Janet Craig plants do not like water with fluoride and chlorine in it. Many cities ...
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| What is the name of this house plant? | 12/24/2008 |
Q: I got an adorable young succulent (I think) from my aunt last spring. She had no idea what its name ...
A: Cara, I love succulents and have a lot of them. I am pretty sure I can figure out what it is but I ...
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| House Plant | 12/23/2008 |
Q: I received a house plant from a friend. I don know what it is called but The older leaves are about ...
A: Asia, Your plant is a Dieffenbachia seguine. That leaf will not heal. You are best off removing ...
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| aloe | 12/19/2008 |
Q: I have an aloe plant and it is so heavy that the bottom is falling out ! How deep should i bury it ...
A: Jennifer, I am not sure what you mean by it is so heavy that the bottom is falling out? The bottom ...
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| Leatherleaf Fern | 12/18/2008 |
Q: I believe I have a leatherleaf fern, but I'm not 100% sure. It's growing well, but just this past ...
A: Kevin, It sounds like sand or fertilizer to me. I don't think it is anything to worry about. The ...
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| 30 year old pothos needs help | 12/17/2008 |
Q: I have a 30 year plus old pothos that has been amazing up until a month or so ago. It's a massive ...
A: Mike, It sound like your pothos vine is in a pot without a drainage hole and a drain tray under it. ...
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| Frozen Peace Lily | 12/16/2008 |
Q: I know its winter time but i decided to take out my mothers peace lily outside for some fresh air ...
A: Anais, Peace lilies do not like the sun. They get sunburned easily. In 10-15 hours the roots would ...
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| Jade tea? | 12/15/2008 |
Q: I have a Crassula ovata plant that is of medium size and I was wondering if this plant can be made ...
A: Wanda, I have heard it called jade tree but not tea. It is not poisonous. If you want to try it in ...
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| peace lily | 12/13/2008 |
Q: My peace lily has small leaves in the middle and longer bigger leaves growing as well. I didn't know ...
A: Charlene, No, they are just the older mature leaves. Actually the flowers are more likely to grow ...
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| Dirt | 12/12/2008 |
Q: I have a few plant, and the dirt smells strong all the time and when I water them it get even ...
A: Wenona, Are you using potting soil that you have purchased in a store? It sounds like you may be ...
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| indoor Yucca plant | 12/10/2008 |
Q: my question is regarding my indoor yucca plants. I have 3 of them and they were doing great when i ...
A: Ginger, It appears that your yucca may have a fungal infection that I have never seen on yucca ...
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| rubber plant possibly dying?? | 12/7/2008 |
Q: I have a rubber plant that I am concerned about. It appears to be losing normal looking leaves and ...
A: Shelly, Is it in a pot with a drainage hole in the bottom and a drain tray under it? It must be. ...
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| Slug in new houseplant | 12/5/2008 |
Q: I just brought a large heart leaf philodendron home from a garden center and while it was sitting on ...
A: Melissa, DON'T USE BLEACH!!!!!!! Use rubbing alcohol mixed with water 50/50 to water the plant. ...
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| Dracaena Massangeana Cane | 12/4/2008 |
Q: I plan to cut one of the canes in my plant to attempt to get new leave growth. I noticed that the ...
A: Sandy, The only time canes are dipped in wax is when the are canes that are totally detached from ...
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| Yucca and/or Dracaenas trees | 12/4/2008 |
Q: I have a 12' or so tall, what I call a palm tree that is growing taller and taller. It is in a 14" ...
A: Barbara, If you cannot send me a picture go to Google.co and put in yucca then click on images and ...
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| over watered plant | 12/3/2008 |
Q: I accidently over watered one of my plants and gnats started showing up inside. How can I help dry ...
A: Nea, Remove the drain tray under the plant and set it in the sink overnight so as much water as ...
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| Aglaonema Root Pruning | 12/2/2008 |
Q: do we need to prune the Aglaonema's root when it's already fully root bound ? I live in tropical ...
A: Ari, You did not say if you are north or south of the equator. I would not do anything unless you ...
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| Pruning "trunks" of Monstera | 12/1/2008 |
Q: I have pruned my Monstera Delicosa quite effectively for years but have never seen an answer to this ...
A: Carroll, You must be living in a very tropical area to have hard, gnarly "trunks." The answer is ...
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| caterpillar eggs? | 12/1/2008 |
Q: Recently, I bought a Dieffenbacchia at a nursery. For a while, something was voraciously eating the ...
A: Sandra, The balls may also be slow releas fertilizer. Caterpillar eggs usually in clumps. The ...
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| plant question | 11/30/2008 |
Q: I am taking (trying to) take care of a shefflera, but the leaves are falling off and turning yellow. ...
A: Vicki, The sticky leaves mean it has insects attacking it. You need to mix a pint of rubbing ...
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| frozen crown of thorns plant | 11/29/2008 |
Q: My crown of thorns plant was left out and we had a freeze. How can I revive it? Thanks
A: Carol, Probably not. Depending how long it was out in freezing temps it could send new growth up ...
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| potted orange tree | 11/29/2008 |
Q: I have inherited a potted orange tree it bears lots of fruit. Pot 8" dia. & 16" deep clay. Tree 24" ...
A: Mary, Bend the bare branches,if they break easily they are dead and you can trim off the broken ...
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| indoor plants | 11/28/2008 |
Q: i have two plants in my room it could be dangerous for my health?
A: Claudia, Absolutely not! Plants breath in carbon dioxide and breath out oxygon. They help clean ...
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| zebra plant | 11/27/2008 |
Q: zebra plant dropped leaves. Iwas wondering if the leaves will grow back in spring.
A: Elle, It depends on why it dropped it's leaves. If it was overwatered and the roots have rotted it ...
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| cut yukka stems??? | 11/27/2008 |
Q: i work at a florist and we have made some gorgeous vase arrangement with cut yukka tops, rock and ...
A: Kate, Yucca are desert plants so I would not put water in the vases constantly. If I were doing no ...
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| Need Name of plant | 11/26/2008 |
Q: I have a small ivy plant with soft almost fuzzy leaves. It has small purple blooms. I have been told ...
A: Kathryn, It is tradescantia sillamontana. http://www.gardentia.net/commelina_008.htm Scientific ...
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| Alocasia | 11/25/2008 |
Q: How do you get the best out of Alocsia grown indoors? We have forced air heating and large windows ...
A: Christopher, These are typically outdoor plants that grow in full sun and prefer rain on a weekly ...
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| Plant is losing leaves | 11/25/2008 |
Q: My 6 yr old talked me into getting an India Rubber Plant. I have no experience with them at all. ...
A: Deb, The most common causes for this plant to loose leaves is not enough sun and too much water. ...
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| fuzzy white bugs | 11/24/2008 |
Q: I had a jade plant and during the summer I had to take it outside and wash it. It was covered with ...
A: Carol, They are called mealy bugs and I have problems with them myself. They attack some plants ...
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| braided money tree plant | 11/24/2008 |
Q: I sure hope you can help me. My mother( the plant killer ) has this braided money tree plant that ...
A: Debbie, The dead trees in the braid will not come back to life. Tell your mother( the plant killer ...
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| Prayer Plant | 11/23/2008 |
Q: I hope all is well. I have a Prayer Plant, the pretty red-and purple kind. It has been doing ...
A: Tamika, Prayer plants have root that are rhizomes ant in winter with the cooler temps and shorter ...
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| hope philodendron plant | 11/23/2008 |
Q: I purchased a hope philodendron 1this past summer, it's been outside in a pot. The temperature has ...
A: Melissa, I assume that you live in a warmer climate if it is just now getting cool enough to take ...
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| thinning dracanea | 11/16/2008 |
Q: My 3 year old Dracaena fragrans, which is kept in indirect light outside, has recently stopped ...
A: Eva, You can cut it back but you have to figure out what the problem is first. It may be a watering ...
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| ficus tree | 11/15/2008 |
Q: picked this up and it's almost dead, the woman had it outside until it got cold here in minnesota. ...
A: Lissa, You don't have to cut anything back yet. Give it a couple of months and let it go. Once it ...
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| stephanotis | 11/14/2008 |
Q: In a resent letter you idenified that Stephaotis has a seed or fruit pod. Can you tell me; can you ...
A: Ree, Stephanotis, or Madagascan jasmine has the most wonderful starry white blooms and an ...
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| house plant | 11/14/2008 |
Q: i have a plant that has jagged edges and it curls as it grows. It also grows little ones on the ...
A: Lisa, The only plant I know that has babies on the edges of it's leaves is kalanchoe ...
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| Kumquat tree | 11/13/2008 |
Q: I brought back from california to the washington state a kumquat tree and had it inside for over a 1 ...
A: Tad, The stickiness indicates it has insects, either scale, mealybugs or spider mites. These ...
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| identification | 11/13/2008 |
Q: I don't at the moment have a photo but if you don't know from my description I'll try to get one. ...
A: Martha, The plant that comes to mind when reading yur description is Hoya carnosa, also known as ...
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| Maid of Orleans Jasmine | 11/7/2008 |
Q: My jasmine plant became heavily infected with scales. In order to try to save my plant I cut off ...
A: Maria, If you cut off all of the green off of the plant it will probably not regrow. Most of the ...
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| Yucca | 11/7/2008 |
Q: I have had yucca as house plants for years in London, England. Now in CA they are thriving in the ...
A: Jeannine, The sticy sap is callled honey dew and it is the excrement of insects that are attacking ...
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| calla lily | 11/6/2008 |
Q: i have a calla lily and the leaves keep going yellow the soil is only moist not wet,i keep cutting ...
A: Mark, Calla lilies are bulbs. It may have been blooming for some time before it was purchased for ...
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| Orange Tree's | 11/6/2008 |
Q: This is the second time I am attemting to have these tree's and they appear to be doing the same ...
A: Tammy, It sounds like the trees are getting too much water and not enough sun. To help you better I ...
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| Prune Desert Rose | 11/5/2008 |
Q: I live in tropical country, Indonesia, and planted Adenium Obesum seeds two weeks ago. After a week, ...
A: Ari, As long as the seedlings are growing in full sun no pruning should be needed. The plants ...
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| kalanchoe plants | 11/4/2008 |
Q: What type of potting soil is the best to use when I replant my plant? I also have bad luck with ...
A: Maggie, Do not repot your kalanchoe until after April 1st when the days are getting longer. This ...
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| plant identification | 11/3/2008 |
Q: I got a plant from my grandmother who has ahlzeimer's and would like to know what it is. It is ...
A: Chris, I have the same plant and have had it for 15 years and have not been able to identify it. I ...
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| dracaena ID and care | 11/3/2008 |
Q: I have a plant that I bought at an outdoor nursery that I believe is in the Dracaena family. It ...
A: Janice, Your plant is Common name: "Spikes" Latin name: Dracaena indivisa - synonym Cordyline ...
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| Jade Tree Fertilizer | 11/2/2008 |
Q: I have read all this information on jade trees. Everyone says use a general "Fertilizer". Is Miracle ...
A: Jeff, Miracle Grow is fine for Jade plants. It is a good general fertilizer. I use it on a monthly ...
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| sweet potatoe house plant | 11/2/2008 |
Q: After growing these beautiful plants all summer, I was cleaning out the containers and found these ...
A: Catherine, I wondered the same thing and when I checked on it I was told the taste lousy. Of ...
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| Ponytail Palm | 11/1/2008 |
Q: This was once a beautiful plant with a "full head of hair." We had to leave in the care of my DD ...
A: Kathy, I hope that window it is sitting next to faces south and the window covering is open all ...
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| Dracaena | 11/1/2008 |
Q: I was told that you can keep dracaena through the winter by 'sticking them in a pot and bringing ...
A: Barbara, Dracaena are normally house plants that do not go outside. I need to know what type of ...
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| Ponytail Palm | 10/31/2008 |
Q: About 4 months ago , I bought a small Ponytail Palm plant. The plastic pot it was in was broken so ...
A: Carol, It will be fine until spring. If you want you can trim those roots that are coming out the ...
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| rhynchospermum jasminoides | 10/30/2008 |
Q: I live in St louis missouri, and I just purchased the above plant from a local chain store. They ...
A: Jane, There are many varieties of jasmine and they are often confused. It could be that you have 2 ...
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| Ponytail Palm | 10/30/2008 |
Q: I have a ponytail palm and just re-poted it. within 1 week all the leaves had 'rotted?' off! there ...
A: Melissa, You should never repot any houseplant in the fall when the days are getting shorter. You ...
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| majestic palms | 10/29/2008 |
Q: We bought three majestic palms and are not doing so well indoors. I wanted to know if we planted ...
A: Liseth, Yes, they would probably die, they do not like direct sun. Watering is probably your main ...
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| Sad Corn Plant. | 10/29/2008 |
Q: I found this plant on the street in the alley. At the time it seemed to look pretty good except for ...
A: Dunia, It was the wrong time of year to repot it. You needed to not repot them, this is the wrong ...
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| fiddle leaf fig | 10/28/2008 |
Q: I have a fiddle leaf fig that has the brown spots indicative of not being well acclimated to a new ...
A: Erica, I suspect that the marbling on the fig is also the result of insects, not a lack of ...
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| Hibiscus | 10/27/2008 |
Q: I have two hibiscus tree plants that spent most of the summer outside. I prepared them for indoor ...
A: Christine, How did you prepare them for indoor living for the winter? Mold on top of the soil ...
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| Jasmine | 10/26/2008 |
Q: . My husband bought a Jasmine for my daughter that is named YASMEEN after the flower. Since he got ...
A: Jamila, Put it in a pot that is a little bigger than the root ball but not much bigger. I imagine ...
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| my house plant problem!!! | 10/26/2008 |
Q: I have 2-questions please, 1~my wandering jew was in a hanging pot & it was beautiful, seemed like a ...
A: Angelina, Your wandering jew needs lots of sun. When you have it in the hanging basket I suspect it ...
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| Goldfish Plant (Nematanthus) | 10/25/2008 |
Q: My plant is doing well, but currently in a resting period. It's nice and full, and the leaves are ...
A: Pam, It has nothing to do with watering. That stickines is called honey dew which is the excrement ...
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| kalanchoe | 10/25/2008 |
Q: (I live in CT so I keep it indoors). When I got it, it was COVERED with blossoms. I did some ...
A: Lisa, Yes, unfortunately, flowers do not last forever. The flowers do generally last a couple of ...
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| Leaf spots on Dracaena Fragrans 'Massangeana(Mass Cane) | 10/24/2008 |
Q: Please help me save this beautiful plant! I have bought it ~3-4 weeks ago and it was in great ...
A: Maria, You should be giving it about 2 quarts of water when you water it. That should make all the ...
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| Norfolk Pine | 10/24/2008 |
Q: I bought a potted Norfolk Pine for Christmas last year. It was doing just fine until summer. Now the ...
A: Maura, The parts of the tree that have dry needles and limbs falling off are dead so yes, the tree ...
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| My Schefflera Plant | 10/23/2008 |
Q: Why is it losing leaves?
A: Juanita, Any time a schefflera is not doing well I suspect that it is getting too much water and ...
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| potted orange tree | 10/23/2008 |
Q: I have had this orange tree for years. It now shows sign of scale--and the leaves are turning ...
A: Wilma, Yes, you can kill the scale. Use rubbing alcohol with Q-tips and flick each scale off the ...
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| Scheflera | 10/22/2008 |
Q: My sheflerra plant that i've had for 5 months is not doing too well. It's still a wee bit young, ...
A: Arlene, Any time a schefflera is not doing well I suspect that it is getting too much water and not ...
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| problem ficus | 10/22/2008 |
Q: I received a rather large (10-12') ficus house plant for Mother's Day 1 1/2 years ago, it was so ...
A: Amy, Give it less water. If it is growing mold on top of the soil you are keeping it too wet. It is ...
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| texas rose | 10/21/2008 |
Q: I bought a hpuse plant 2 years ago the card said it was a texas rose. In the winter in looses all ...
A: Michelle, I know of no house plant called Texas Rose. I suspect that you are talking about a plant ...
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| plant ID | 10/20/2008 |
Q: Please could you tell me what this plat is.It has heart shaped leaves with a smaller heart shaped ...
A: Wendy, It is called a Piggy Back Plant. The Latin name is Tolmiea menziesii. The following sites ...
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| Cutting back a plant | 10/20/2008 |
Q: I am inquiring about cutting back a "corn plant". I am unsure of its name,however it looks like a ...
A: Kathy, You should have done it in the spring between April 15th and June 15th, that is the best ...
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| anthurium dividing/repotting | 10/19/2008 |
Q: I've read your thoughts about anthuriums and need just a little more info. I've owned my a. for ...
A: Janice, No, it is not the best season. in the fall as the days are shortening the roots of tropical ...
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| spider plant | 10/19/2008 |
Q: i have had my spider plant for 4 months now and after a few weeks i noticed it had been bending and ...
A: Sandra, Yes, actually I feel you should NEVER repot a spider plant. They hate for their roots to be ...
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| spider plant | 10/18/2008 |
Q: i have had my spider plant for 4 months now and after a few weeks i noticed it had been bending and ...
A: Sandra, This plant needs lots of sun, preferably full sun all day long by a south of west window ...
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| Peace Lily houseplant | 10/18/2008 |
Q: When I bought this plant there was an abundance of white flowers which the plant carried on ...
A: Avril, No, those flowers are just done blooming and need to be cut off so they don't try to make ...
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| umbrella tree | 10/17/2008 |
Q: My poor umbrella tree has not handled our move to a new house very well. The last time I moved, all ...
A: Coralea, First you need to put your plant in fron of the sunniest south or west window in your new ...
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| Dracaena Margenita - yellowing | 10/17/2008 |
Q: I have a beautiful Dracaena Marginata that has yellowed considerably. The leaves at the bottom ...
A: Danielle, The symptom sounds like overwatering. Is the Dracaena Marginata in a pot with a drainage ...
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| scheffelera leaf drop | 10/16/2008 |
Q: I recently moved to an apartment with low lighting and my scheffelera is dropping leaves yet new ...
A: Julie, This plant loves the sun. You have to get it as much sun as possible. It needs to be in ...
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| white pouches with ants | 10/16/2008 |
Q: I have these little white pouches all over my large indoor plant. These little black ants come ...
A: BethAnn, You have mealy bugs and the ants are "nursing" them. You can spray them with rubbing ...
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| Night Blooming Cereus | 10/10/2008 |
Q: I have read about how to take care of my cereus with fertilizers, etc. but I am having a different ...
A: Sarah, It is the nature of the beast. It will produce the round branch and the aerial roots no ...
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| Dracaena and rooting hormone powder | 10/10/2008 |
Q: I have different kinds of Dracaena (Marginata, Deremensis 'Bausei', Deremensis 'Lemon/Lime', ...
A: Lorcan, The roots that are grown in water ar succulent and crisp and break easily. They also rot ...
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| indoor palm care | 10/9/2008 |
Q: We just purchased 2 palms from our local Lowe's. They were outside in their garden center all ...
A: Mary Beth, It is not something you need to add to the soil. You needed to not repot them, this is ...
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| houseplant id | 10/8/2008 |
Q: up and died after 6 years in the same pot, hardly grew in all that time. seemed to thrive in it's ...
A: Lisa, If you get another one and put it in a window with more light it will look more like the one ...
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| Philodendron | 10/8/2008 |
Q: This plant grows in my yard here in Oklahoma. Last year it bloomed with a white-hooded flower and ...
A: Linda, Your plant is not a philodendron, it is an Arum italicum 'Pictum' (Araceae)(A-rum ...
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| peace lily | 10/7/2008 |
Q: My peace lily was given to me over a year ago it was skinny but lively when i got it , this year i ...
A: Geral dine, Brown leaf tip on peace lilies indicates that the plant is getting too much watering. ...
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| Sun Parasol Mandevilla | 10/6/2008 |
Q: I have a beauty. I live in Indiana in an apt. can't leave it in it's container outside below 45 ...
A: Linda, It is not necessary to keep it right at 45 degrees. Your cool bedroom should be just fine. ...
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| Purple Passion Vine | 10/6/2008 |
Q: I would like to purchase seeds or cuttings for this plant.Have had serveral in the past. Because l ...
A: Tammy, As for getting one locally, I would sit on the phone and call every local grocery store that ...
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| ficus tree | 10/5/2008 |
Q: I have rescued a ficus tree from my office. It hadn't be watered in over a month and had many dead ...
A: Lisa, Yes, it is very possible to overwater a ficus. You cannot let it sit in water constantly. ...
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| schlefera | 10/5/2008 |
Q: I have a big schlefera -- about 7 ft tall which I bought about a month ago. It is sitting near a ...
A: Kathy, Open the blinds all day, this plant loves the sun and needs as much as possible especially ...
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| Calandiva Loosing | 9/26/2008 |
Q: I have 2 pots yellow calandivas, condition 5 months old after last blooming. Followed instruction ...
A: Ari, Yes, I suspect that you are watering your calandiva frequently or giving it too much water ...
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| schefflera | 9/25/2008 |
Q: we got a schefflera plant in the office However now leafs going brown I have noticed a lot of fruit ...
A: JR, You are overwatering it. Allow it to dry out totally before you water it again. Also move it to ...
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| peace lilly with brown leaf tips and won't bloom | 9/24/2008 |
Q: I've had a peace lilly for about 3 years now. I keep it close to the window but not under direct sun ...
A: Naoum, You are not giving it enough water when you water it. When you water it all the soil in the ...
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| what plant is that? | 9/24/2008 |
Q: I got this plant from a friend of mine who moved abroad but she didn't know what exactly it was. I ...
A: Naoum, Your plant is a ficus tree. It likes lots of sun when it is indoors and partial sun ...
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| leaves turning yellow | 9/23/2008 |
Q: I have 2 house plants with long leaves and parts of the leaves are turning yellow
A: Nelda, Leaves turning yellow indicates either too little water or too much water. Without more ...
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| leaves of the Lily plant geting dark | 9/23/2008 |
Q: i bought a Lily plant and it bloomed this year for the first time. for the last 2 weeks i noticed ...
A: Lovy, This is not a good time of year to repot the plant. You should not have planted the plant in ...
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| Yucca's suddenly going sour, new growth | 9/22/2008 |
Q: I have several Yucca inside that have always done very well. Now I notice the new growth at the top ...
A: Gareth, I have not had or heard of a yucca with a fungal or bacterial problem. Their problems are ...
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| spathiphyllum | 9/22/2008 |
Q: I got my plant at my grandmothers funeral and about 4 months ago and it recently started to hang low ...
A: Kita, You have overwatered it. Remove the drain tray and set it in the sink overnight to drain off ...
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| Fiddle Leaf Fig Houseplant | 9/21/2008 |
Q: We have a Fiddleleaf Fig houseplant approx. 8' tall in the corner of our Bedroom. It has windows on ...
A: Suzanne, Fiddle leaf Figs love direct sun. If at all possible move it to in front of one of those ...
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| spider plant cuttings | 9/20/2008 |
Q: I am a volunteer in one of the other ask the expert catagories (stamp collecting), and with ...
A: Terry, This is an easy one, snip the "babies" at the end of the long stalk and plant them in well ...
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| Asparagus Fern | 9/20/2008 |
Q: I placed my Asparagus Fern (4 yrs. old) on the patio this year and it is huge. We could get a ...
A: Brenda, Yes, I do it every year. Just start on the outside edge and trim off the outer fronds at ...
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| areca palm | 9/19/2008 |
Q: I recently bought two areca palms (about two feet tall). They arrived in nursery pots and I was ...
A: Janet, There is no reason that you "need" to repot them. If you feel you have to in order to get ...
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| leaves of the Lily plant geting dark | 9/18/2008 |
Q: i bought a Lily plant and it bloomed this year for the first time. for the last 2 weeks i noticed ...
A: Lovy, Peace lily plants get black leaves because of root problems. Root problems are generally ...
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| Oriental Pepper Plant | 9/18/2008 |
Q: I bought a small oriental pepper plant today. I ASSUME this is what it is. There were no ...
A: Jan, For hot pepper plants thik New Mexico! Lots of sun, no water till it is dry on the surface. ...
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| Toxicity of Lisianthus | 9/17/2008 |
Q: I recently bought a Lisianthus. Ever since I brought it into the house, my cat won't leave it alone. ...
A: Lorna, It is not on any lists on the internet as being toxic to cats but it is also not on any ...
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| purpleleaf shamrock | 9/17/2008 |
Q: Where can we buy seeds or bulbs to grow this beautiful plant called "purple leaf shamrock
A: Prakash, There are several sellers on ebay selling those bulbs or the following site has them for ...
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| When is it OK to repot a dragon tree? | 9/16/2008 |
Q: I have a 3 ft. high dragon tree consisting of three stalks of different heights in a 10 inch pot. ...
A: Kris, It would be much better to do this between April 15th and July 1st. However since you have ...
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| house bamboo plant | 9/15/2008 |
Q: where can i prune bamboo since it is almost to the ceiling. also, can i start a new plant from the ...
A: Pat, There are many types of bamboo and some cannot be pruned. I need to see a picture of you plant ...
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| White bugs in soil | 9/15/2008 |
Q: My mom has little tiny white bugs in the soil of her houseplants. They are only in the soil and ...
A: Cyn, The white bugs in the soil are the larva stage of fungus gnats. They are attacking the roots ...
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| Hibiscus | 9/14/2008 |
Q: I bought a hibiscus a few weeks ago I left it in the pot and suddenly it quit blooming but it was ...
A: Karen, It needs lots of sun to bloom, set it in full sun all day long, fertilize it with a ...
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| corn plant | 9/14/2008 |
Q: What kind of corn plant do I have? Here is a pic of it and I think my pot is to large for it as you ...
A: Virginia, You have a dracaena massangeana and the thing on top is a flower stalk. The flowers are ...
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| zizi and bamboo houseplants | 9/13/2008 |
Q: Can I keep zizi and bamboo plants in water? I see bamboo plants in water in the stores, as one ...
A: Nancy, Good news and bad news. The bamboo that you see in stores in water is one specific type of ...
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| leaves are falling off | 9/13/2008 |
Q: my girlfriend and i have fiddle leaf tree inside our house. we love it, but it seems that we may be ...
A: Marcos, Your tree needs sun. Leaves falling off can indicate not enough light or too much water. I ...
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| Identify | 9/12/2008 |
Q: What type of plant is this (see pic)? The card that came with it didn't name the plant. It only ...
A: Tamika, It appears to be Rhoeo. It is a very close up picture but I am pretty sure that is what it ...
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| Need to know what kind of plant I have | 9/12/2008 |
Q: I e-mailed you a photo of the plant to which i am unsure of the name. I have asked several people ...
A: Krista, Your plant appears to be a Haworthia fasciata. It is definitely a Haworthia and there are ...
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| sticky palm tree | 9/11/2008 |
Q: amI have a palm tree I bought at a local store. It is large at about 6 ft tall. I have noticed that ...
A: Cathy, Your palm has insects and the sticky stuff is their excrement. You need to treat it to get ...
|
| RE: Indoor Hibiscus | 9/11/2008 |
Q: I have a large potted 6' braided trunk hibiscus that I moved indoors last fall. I now notice that ...
A: Dee, You must have very large windows where your hibiscus gets lots of sun. Usually when you move ...
|
| bamboo plant from Madagascar | 9/5/2008 |
Q: I recently inherited a Bamboo plant from my Mom who passed away in April. It was given to her by a ...
A: Carolyn, The Madagascar Bamboo that I have been able to find on the internet is a large size bamboo ...
|
| Chicks and Hens | 9/4/2008 |
Q: I am finding conflicting answers concerning some chicks and hens I recently planted that I found at ...
A: Njoki, Most hen and chicks will survive outdoors year around. There are a few tropical varieties ...
|
| bromellaide garden | 9/3/2008 |
Q: i just received this plant, and would like to to know if cats can be around this plant and if it ...
A: Ginger, There are many different varieties of bromeliads but I do not know of any that are ...
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| Ficus Tree; Cactus environment | 9/2/2008 |
Q: .. We are moving to a much smaller place, and would like to know if I can place a fichus tree, ...
A: Jeff, Your ficus tree will only survive and stay healthy in the basememnt under flourescent ...
|
| spider plants | 9/1/2008 |
Q: We have several spider plants one lg. and a small one. My daughter was watering them and noticed on ...
A: Doris, I do not totally understand your question. You have half inch spider webs on the bottom of ...
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| PHILODENDRON | 9/1/2008 |
Q: I HAVE A PHILODENDRON SELLOUM AND IT HAS LIGHT SPOTS GROWING ON IT ALL OF A SUDDEN, IT IS OUTSIDE IN ...
A: Janet, I suspect that you are in a location with high temperatures and high humidity and the plant ...
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| I need help with my Gloxinia | 8/31/2008 |
Q: I bought a lovely gloxinia plant two years ago, and it was low to the pot. The first time it came ...
A: Jesse, Basically, their care is the same as that of African violets. Gloxinias need cool night ...
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| Schefflera Question | 8/30/2008 |
Q: It is a foot tall and potted in a 5 inch pot. There are four main stems and the roots are crowded ...
A: Dom, You might be able to repot it into two 6inch pots with 2 plants in each pot but no larger pots ...
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| Leaf spots on Dracaena Fragrans 'Massangeana(Mass Cane) | 8/29/2008 |
Q: Please help me save this beautiful plant! I have bought it ~3-4 weeks ago and it was in great ...
A: Maria, Those spots are caused by watering the plant with water that has flouride & chlorine in it. ...
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| Soil problems with houseplant | 8/29/2008 |
Q: I am new to houseplants. I may have bitten off more than I can chew! My rubber houseplant has ...
A: Christine, Does your 4 gallon ceramic antique bucket have a drain hole in the bottom of it? If not ...
|
| Strelitzia | 8/28/2008 |
Q: I have an approximate 3 year old strelitzia and it seems healthy but it has outgrown its pot. Long ...
A: Helen, There are several varieties, orange flowering ones get about 5-6 foot tall eventually, white ...
|
| Plant leaves fold up at night | 8/27/2008 |
Q: I have a plant in my yard this year which I have never seen before. There are 6 oblong leaves on ...
A: Bette, I answer houseplant questions. This is definitely not a houseplant. In fact I suspect that ...
|
| aloe | 8/27/2008 |
Q: i got a aloe plant a few weeks ago and i have watered it to much i didn't know they are dry plants. ...
A: Ashley, Remove the drain tray and let it dry out as quickly as possible. Then set it in the ...
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| Thread like worms in house plant | 8/22/2008 |
Q: I recently moved into a large home and decided to decorate my house with some house plants. I ...
A: Linda, I have no idea what the name of the worms are, they will not hurt you, and to kill them just ...
|
| Care for a Cat Palm Plant | 8/22/2008 |
Q: I purchase a Cat Palm Floor Plant about two months ago. After I repotted the plant, it started ...
A: Denise, No, you are not watering it enough and fertilising it enough and it needs very high ...
|
| Bug Infested Dracaena | 8/21/2008 |
Q: I have a 2ft. tall Dracaena and it has 3 main stalks. the smallest stalk of the three lost ALL of ...
A: Denver, Chances are you overwatered the plant causing tissue damage and possible root rot. Insects ...
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| mushroom Question??? | 7/27/2008 |
Q: In the soil of one of my plants I've just notice mushrooms growing(this is in an INDOOR plant pot). ...
A: Freddy, Is this a new plant? Was the plant recently repotted? Have you brought any nearby new ...
|
| Bromeliad problem... | 7/27/2008 |
Q: .. I bought a bromeliad from the local nursery... It has beautiful variegated leaves so I realized ...
A: Mohsen, Bromeliads in nature do not normally grow in soil. They grow in crotches of tree branches ...
|
| gynura aurantiaca | 7/26/2008 |
Q: Okay so i am doing a project for AP biology and using the purple passion plant(gynura aurantiaca). I ...
A: Evelyn, Most houseplants grow relatively slow even if they are described as growing fast. ...
|
| orange tree | 7/26/2008 |
Q: After my orange tree blossomed this spring, all the pea sized developing oranges fell off. I counted ...
A: Sherry, I am offended that you rated my knowledge quite low. I told you I only raise orange trees ...
|
| Umbrella Plant dropping leaves | 7/25/2008 |
Q: I have an Umbrella plant in a pot in my flat. I've had the plant for a few years now. Lately some ...
A: Elizabeth, In winter the plant should be dry before you water it again. You can insert a bamboo ...
|
| Syngonium leaf curling | 7/25/2008 |
Q: I have a dusky pink syngonium which I bought maybe two months ago. Since then, some of the leaves ...
A: Jayme, I haven't seen your picture so I'll go ahead and answer. There are 2 reasons for curling ...
|
| watering indoor varigated shifolero or chifalero | 7/24/2008 |
Q: it's in an office with 2 plant lights and has been watered and sprayed almost every day and then ...
A: Nanette, How long has your office had this shefflera? Are there no windows anyplace in the office? ...
|
| re-rooting a philodendron | 7/23/2008 |
Q: My philodendron suffered from, I think, over-watering about one month ago. So, I cut some starter ...
A: Nancy, Do not use fertilizer. If you want to use anything go to a garden center and get starter ...
|
| Peace Lily | 7/23/2008 |
Q: I was away for about 5 days and left my plant in the care of my daughter. Big mistake. I found my ...
A: Phyllis, Chances are she watered it heavily and left if sit in a drain tray full of water because ...
|
| Candy Corn plant | 7/22/2008 |
Q: I bought a candy corn plant last year and it bloomed all summer. I kept it alive all winter but had ...
A: Gloria, I have a few, is it in the same location it was in last year so it is getting the same ...
|
| croton plant care | 7/21/2008 |
Q: I have a croton plant I brought home from work after I retired. When I received it, the leaves were ...
A: Mary, What direction does your 10' window face and are there trees close to the windows? Do you ...
|
| Transporting a 7 foot palm | 7/21/2008 |
Q: I am able to acquire a ponytail palm that is a little over 7 feet tall. What is the best way to ...
A: Rose, It will break fairly easily so if you lay it down it must be supported fully. Totally upright ...
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| croton plant care | 7/20/2008 |
Q: I have a croton plant I brought home from work after I retired. When I received it, the leaves were ...
A: Mary, Your croton is not getting enough sun. This plant is a sun worshipper and needs full sun all ...
|
| Jamaican Song Plant | 7/20/2008 |
Q: I have a Jamaican song plant( with me the last 10 yrs) repotted it 5 yrs ago. recently ( last month ...
A: Erin, Your Pleomele Reflexa or Song of Jamaica should love the conditions you say you are giving ...
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| Money Tree Plant | 7/19/2008 |
Q: I have had my money tree plant for a little over 5 years. We went through a hard period a few years ...
A: Gabe, You can try rooting the broken top in water, there is maybe a 10% chance that it will root. ...
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| new to dracaenas & cacti/ succulents | 7/18/2008 |
Q: i have inherited some cacti and some succulents, also, i am trying to ensure the healthy growth of ...
A: Pippa, Clay pots are actually better for plants because the roots can breath through the porous ...
|
| Little black flying gnats? | 7/18/2008 |
Q: I have a problem with real tiny black flying gnats. I set out apple cider vinegar w/ soap. When I ...
A: Glenda, They are fungus gnats. They are attracted by over ripe fruit, rotting vegetables or ...
|
| Peace Lily | 7/17/2008 |
Q: Darlene, I need help. I was given a peace lily about 4 years ago when in the hospital. It was ...
A: Carol, Peace lilies hate to be divided into individual plants, at most you should just split them ...
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| Ponytail Palm Bonsai Trimming | 7/17/2008 |
Q: I have a ponytail palm bonsai that is approx 18" tall and is doing well- so well it is bushing out ...
A: Jennifer, Your palm looks quite healthy. The more sun the plant get and the less water you give it ...
|
| Indian Jasmine | 7/16/2008 |
Q: I bought a lovely Indian Jasmine plant because of it's wonderful fragrance. How should I care for ...
A: Milly, The Belle of India Jasmine is a controllable vining shrub. It needs some pruning to keep a ...
|
| Plant Propagation | 7/16/2008 |
Q: it's Tamika again. Hope you had a good Holiday. My question today is simple: What's the best way ...
A: Tamika, It was my husbands 40th class reunion out of state, we had fun, thanks. I would dip it in ...
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| what is it? | 7/10/2008 |
Q: I received a potted plant at the hospital, large green thick scalloped leaves with shoots of small ...
A: Jo, It is a kalanchoe blossfeldiana. Kalanchoes are easy to grow, need warm temperatures and ...
|
| China Doll leaves turning brownish colour | 7/10/2008 |
Q: I have a china doll plant and just the past few days the leaves have started to change from a nice ...
A: Matt, I suspect that you are overwatering it and it may be getting a fungal infection that China ...
|
| Abyssinian Red | 7/9/2008 |
Q: I recently went on vacation and left the care of my plants to my sister. When we returned home much ...
A: Mackenzie, Is this plant a Musa plant? In other words, a type of banana plant that doesn't grow ...
|
| about palm trees | 7/8/2008 |
Q: i recently bought a chinese fan tree for indoors .the first few days i had it .; the fans started ...
A: Beatrice, You did not tell me anything about how you are caring for this plant so the best I can do ...
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| china doll health?! | 7/8/2008 |
Q: I have a China Doll in my work office that no one looked really looked after nor watered ...
A: Ash, I suspect it is very root bound in that small pot and because of that itcontracted a fungal ...
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| Fig Trees, Inside Our Out? | 7/7/2008 |
Q: Can I put my fig tree outside on shady patio?
A: Michael, It would be very happy out there. You will need to water it more often while it is ...
|
| fiddleleaf fig propagation | 7/6/2008 |
Q: I took a leaf from a fiddle leaf fig plant that my boss had grown from a single leaf 14 years ago. ...
A: Nina, Since it has roots you can remove it from the heating pad and put it in a semi-shady location ...
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| Potted Palm | 7/6/2008 |
Q: I have a potted Palm in direct sun on a deck. the end of the leaves are turning yellow - what do I ...
A: Troy, Sorry, I thought you wanted to know how to stop them from turning brown and get it to grow ...
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| Potted Palm | 7/5/2008 |
Q: I have a potted Palm in direct sun on a deck. the end of the leaves are turning yellow - what do I ...
A: Troy, Without knowing exactly what kind of palm it is I suspect you are keeping it too wet or too ...
|
| Yucca cane | 7/5/2008 |
Q: The leaves on my yucca look like they are rotting and they are also yellowing, what is this caused ...
A: Misty, If you are watering it more often than once a week you are watering it to often and that is ...
|
| bird of paradise | 7/4/2008 |
Q: I bought this plant about 3 years ago and after initial problems with it the first year (bugs and ...
A: Eva, These plants are generally at least 7-10 years old before they bloom and rather large. Don't ...
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| Jasmine houseplant | 7/4/2008 |
Q: I have a cheap houseplant I bought at a discout store that I think is a jasmine. It is potted as a ...
A: Toni, I read that you couldn't use my link. Just go to Google and put in Madagascar Jasmine fruit ...
|
| hybiscus | 7/3/2008 |
Q: I have my hybiscus indoors. The leaves are turning yellow and the plant is shedding it's leaves. ...
A: Janae, Move it outdoors in the sun and heat. This is a tropical plant from south Florida and ...
|
| croton plants | 7/3/2008 |
Q: Can a croton plant be planted outside? and what kind of treatment do you prefer for killing spider ...
A: Rebecca, The answer to the 1st question is it depends on where you live and the 2nd question it ...
|
| Want to know the name of a house plant | 7/2/2008 |
Q: I recently bought a house plant on sale at my local grocery store. I want to know the name and how ...
A: Anna, I suspect it is a persian violet. You can go to the following site to see a picture of a ...
|
| Hibiscus not flowering | 7/2/2008 |
Q: We have a Hibiscus plant which flowered beautifully last year. During winter, we brought it indoor ...
A: Abhijit, It needs to have fertilizer for blooming plants, that will help it bloom faster and have ...
|
| yucca plant | 7/1/2008 |
Q: i just bought a yucca plant yesterday. Two spines in one pot. I took it home, replanted it and ...
A: Jo, Yes, you may drown it. It should only have been repotted in a pot with a diameter no more than ...
|
| arboricola | 6/30/2008 |
Q: I brought this plant 6/29/08 and high light only. Would that direct sun. I have a pouch but no shade ...
A: Darlene, Arboricola is the dwarf sister of scheffleras. High light indoors means sitting by a south ...
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| Plant is dying due to overwatering or something else help? | 6/30/2008 |
Q: I have one of those plants that run all over the house, I don't know the name of it, but it is dying ...
A: Sandra, If you have had it for 10 years what have you changed? It is either a pothos vine or a ...
|
| Fungus Gnats | 6/29/2008 |
Q: I would like to know if you have ever heard of fungus gnat stinging/biting humans. I have tried ...
A: Judy, No, I have not heard of them biting humans but it really doesn't surprise me. Many insects ...
|
| China doll plant | 6/29/2008 |
Q: This plant keeps dropping leaves,and sometimes a branch. There is new growth. I use a moisture meter ...
A: Joyce, Your plant needs some sun. In California it grows outdoors in the ground and becomes a 50 ...
|
| spider plant | 6/28/2008 |
Q: I have my spider plant in full sun light and the tips of the plant are turning brown what am i doing ...
A: Debra, Brown leaf tips indicate overwatering. This plant has succulent roots and doesn't like to be ...
|
| Corn Plant with Flower | 6/28/2008 |
Q: I have a small corn plant (Dracaena) that is about 1 year old, and it is planted outdoors in the ...
A: Alicia, Yes, I have heard of corn plants, dracaena fragrans blooming a dark pink flower stalk out ...
|
| plants unknown | 6/27/2008 |
Q: I don't know if you got both pictures so here the other on again dawn
A: Dawn, This is a pretty ragged looking peace lilly. It looks like it has been outdoors and been ...
|
| Unknow plants | 6/27/2008 |
Q: I need help identifying these 2 plants. Thanks Dawn
A: Dawn, This vining one is a Sweedish ivy. It makes a great hanging basket plant. The following site ...
|
| RUBBER plant leaf turning color | 6/26/2008 |
Q: one of the leaves on my small rubber plant has turned a light green color,while the rest are all ...
A: Kandee, Yellow leaves on a rubber tree usually occur because of over watering. If you don't let the ...
|
| massangeana cane | 6/26/2008 |
Q: i have a massangeana cane and its growing well. i've had this plant for a good long time. this year ...
A: Gene, It is normal for it to produce a flower when it gets several years old and it is rootbound ...
|
| lemon grass | 6/25/2008 |
Q: We have leaf cutter ants walking away with my flowers. I have never dealt with them before. I read ...
A: Brooks, It sounds like you are talking about flowers planted outdoors in the ground. Lemon grass ...
|
| hibiscus | 6/24/2008 |
Q: I live in chicago, i have a red flower hibiscus,bring it inside for winter. Its in a very large ...
A: Jim, Is it getting full sun all day long? It needs as much sun as possible to get that deep green ...
|
| Bougainvillea | 6/23/2008 |
Q: I have replanted two pots of Bougainvillea to the ground about 4 feet apart. Now after 10 months, ...
A: Hanson, To have planted bougainvillea in the ground you must live in a very warm area. The key to ...
|
| Lipstick plant curiosity | 6/21/2008 |
Q: We have had a lipstick plant (Aeschynanthus radicans 'Crispa') and it bloomed normally after about ...
A: Falguni, The plant that is blooming now is a hoya plant, (Asclepias carnosa). It must have been in ...
|
| eucalyptus | 6/20/2008 |
Q: Can you stop dried/dyed eucalyptus from dripping?
A: Beth, I think that is more of a florist question, fortunately I do some flower arranging as another ...
|
| Household Plants and Parrots | 6/20/2008 |
Q: I have a parrot and I recently gave him his own bedroom and I am trying to fill it with plants. I am ...
A: Tiffany, Burgundy Robusta is not the name of the plant it is just a description the nursery gave it ...
|
| House plat | 6/19/2008 |
Q: I purchased a house plat,(Sorry not sure about the name) from Home depot about a year ago.It grew ...
A: Roger, The brown leaves can indicate that it is not getting enough water or it is getting too much ...
|
| geraniums and scheffeleras.... | 6/19/2008 |
Q: I have a large, straggly scheffelera that I put outside each summer. Can I plant geraniums around ...
A: Michelle, You could but when it coes time to take it in the geraniums will most likely die and you ...
|
| money tree (pachira) | 6/18/2008 |
Q: From what i have been reading,this is a fairly easy plant to care for.Good news to me. My questions ...
A: Sunny, If you want it to grow larger you should not prune it at all until it is as large as you ...
|
| crown of thorns | 6/18/2008 |
Q: I just got a crown of thorns plant. I have no clue on how to take care of it. I would appreciate any ...
A: Corabell, The latin name for it is Euphorbia splendens. If you cut or break a branch be careful. ...
|
| Goldfish Plant | 6/17/2008 |
Q: I purchased a goldfish plant from a reputable nursery last month, just to try something new. The ...
A: Tamika, It sounds like you are doing everything right. The only other things I would try is giving ...
|
| Yucca palm with sticky stuff | 6/17/2008 |
Q: I read an answer you gave a year or so ago about a sticky white substance on a reader's bamboo ...
A: Kelsie, If you set it outside it needs to be in a place it will be shady in the hot afternoon but ...
|
| Yucca palm with sticky stuff | 6/16/2008 |
Q: I read an answer you gave a year or so ago about a sticky white substance on a reader's bamboo ...
A: Kelsie, It has insects of some type. The sap is called honeydew and it is the excrement of the ...
|
| Money Tree | 6/16/2008 |
Q: Our Money Tree is suffering from root rot. We are dealing with the problem but our question is ...
A: Stephanie, Only if these offshoots you are referring to have roots. They will not easily grow roots ...
|
| Rabbits foot fern help! | 6/15/2008 |
Q: My Rabbits foot fern keeps loosing it's leaves. I got it several months ago and it was doing rather ...
A: Brittany, I suggest that you take it outside and hang it in a tree. It will like the brighter light ...
|
| Spineless Yukka | 6/15/2008 |
Q: I have a spineless yukka on my south facing porch. I have had it for almost a year and had no ...
A: Amy, Yes, eventually it will get roots, it might be helpfull to go back to Lowes and pick up a ...
|
| bugs in tropical houseplants | 6/14/2008 |
Q: I was given several orchids, kalanchoe, bromalaides and some other tropical plants that a guy I know ...
A: Sabrina, They are probably fungus gnats and you can kill them by spraying the water and the plants ...
|
| Aloe Vera PLant | 6/14/2008 |
Q: How much should we water our Aloe Vera plant
A: Lindsay, I absolutely must be in a pot witn a drain hole in the bottom and it must be in sandy ...
|
| dracaena marginata | 6/13/2008 |
Q: I am writing in refence to my dracaena houseplant. It has no leaves left and I am pretty sure that ...
A: Lori, You are correct, your dracaena has or had mealy bugs. They do frequently attack plants when ...
|
| flying nats | 6/12/2008 |
Q: Recently I replanted all of my house and office plants. about 3 weeks later I have flying nats ...
A: Leslie, I suspect that when you repotted you moved your plants to too large of pots and that you ...
|
| Lucky Bean (castanospermum) | 6/12/2008 |
Q: I bought a lucky bean plant two weeks ago and now the leave are drying out. What can I do to save ...
A: Lee, Lucky bean plant (Castanospermum australe) should be kept in a small pot (no larger than a 4 ...
|
| yucca clippings | 6/11/2008 |
Q: Just wondering How I can clip a yucca tree to reproduce? And how do I plant a yucca tree clipping?
A: Pauline, You need to clip 12-36 inches off the top of the yucca plant. Then dip the part you cut ...
|
| Mold | 6/11/2008 |
Q: I got a white mold growing on top of the soil. I read on another site to just scoop out the top ...
A: Laura, No, it is not usual. It indicates you have poor soil and you are keeping your plant too wet, ...
|
| Gardenia Bonsai | 6/10/2008 |
Q: My husband bought me a young gardenia bonsai for Mother's Day. It recovered very well from the ...
A: Carla, Gardenias do well in the heat and high humidity in the south. I suggest that you put it ...
|
| GOLDFISH PLANT(Nematanthus) | 6/9/2008 |
Q: I'm Vietnamese.I'm planting some goldfish plant(nematathus). Wuold you please help :- The Component ...
A: Quang Lee, I would use a mix of compost, peat moss and perlite or vermiculite in equal quantities ...
|
| Kalanchoe | 6/8/2008 |
Q: I have a kalanchoe that I previously overwatered. I stopped overwatering it and cut back the dead ...
A: Heather, Go to the grocery store and buy a package of bamboo skewers, they look like long ...
|
| Alocasia Polly | 6/7/2008 |
Q: The tips of the leaf are dropping tears, the leaves appear to have a few brown spots but not ...
A: Gina, No, it is fine, it is a natural phenomenon that some plants do.I have had a lot of plants ...
|
| peace lily | 6/6/2008 |
Q: I have three peace lilys in my house, about a month ago my largest one became very droopy I gave it ...
A: Melanie, You didn't say but I suspect that when you repotted the 2 sick plants they had very few ...
|
| dirt in house plants | 6/6/2008 |
Q: Kittle, I would like to know how often I should change dirt in my house plants. I really have a ...
A: Sherri, Changing the soil is not necessary as long as you are using a fertilizer on a monthly ...
|
| Dracaena Fragrans Leaf Curl | 6/5/2008 |
Q: I've had this Dracaena Fragrans for 2 years. It's a medium sized plant with a nice firm stem and ...
A: Lana, Your symptoms indicate overwatering. This plant should never sit with any water in it's drain ...
|
| jade tree | 6/4/2008 |
Q: I recently purchased a small jade tree, and the leaves are beginning to fall off. Am I ...
A: Karen, You only need to water it if it is bone dry. Water it well then let it get totally dry ...
|
| Guzmania `Rana` | 6/4/2008 |
Q: The bloom has faded and is turning brown. Should I remove it; will it encourage the pups to appear ...
A: Loretta, Yes, cut the bloom off. Then go to the following google list of sites and check out all ...
|
| Just bought this plant.Wat is it? | 5/22/2008 |
Q: the lady at the store just said it was a "DISH GARDEN" plant.LOL.(obviously she didnt know wat it ...
A: SUGARFREEKANDEE, They are all dracaenas, the one on the right with the cream colored edges is a ...
|
| ivy plant- black leaves | 5/22/2008 |
Q: I have an ivy plant that just yesterday was extremely happy- I've had it for a year and its grown ...
A: Shelley, Causes for black leaves are usually too much water and too little light or too cold of ...
|
| Lucky Bamboo Gnat Infestation | 5/21/2008 |
Q: My lucky bamboo plant recently has become overrun with gnats. I've read the q&a's about the fungus ...
A: Lindsey, Carefully remove the lucky bamboo from the pot and inspect the roots. I am afraid you will ...
|
| white chalky substance on my clay pots. | 5/20/2008 |
Q: I have all of my household plants in clay pots. After I have watered them a white chalky substance ...
A: Voni Zoubi, The white chalky substance on the pots is from the lime and other minerals in the ...
|
| Norfork Pine Tree | 5/19/2008 |
Q: Can a norfork pine tree that has been a houseplant for about 5 years be planted outdoors ...
A: Louise, Only if you live where the temperature never drops below 40 degrees. A norfork pine tree is ...
|
| gardenias | 5/19/2008 |
Q: CAN I KEEP A GARDENIA PLANT AS AN INDOOR PLANT? IF SO, HOW DO I CARE FOR IT? THANKS FOR YOUR ...
A: Shiela, You can but it is difficult. It needs full sun all day long sitting next to a south facing ...
|
| Peace Lily - Tons of Blooms | 5/18/2008 |
Q: Not that I'm complaining, just wondering what I did. Last Spring, I split my Peace Lily into to two ...
A: Mike, No, it should be fine. I suspect you kept both halfs in small pots so they became fairly ...
|
| Sick Patho's???? | 5/17/2008 |
Q: I have a patho's plant and have had it for years. Recently it has yellow leaves with black spots on ...
A: Colleen, It appears to be a combination of a watering problem and a light problem. This plant needs ...
|
| Can I do this... | 5/17/2008 |
Q: I have a Dracaena Janet Craig that has dropped a lot of bottom leaves. Unfortunately, it got pretty ...
A: Su, If you are not talking about burying 3 feet of stem then yes you can. If it has too much bare ...
|
| fungus ??? | 5/16/2008 |
Q: i have plants in every room of the house so they face every direction but north. i have an aloe ...
A: April, Your problem is not a fungus, it is insects. If you look at the backs of the leaves of the ...
|
| boston ferns | 5/16/2008 |
Q: I have 3 gorgeous Boston Fern hanging baskets on our front porch. Have had them for 3 weeks now. ...
A: Barbara, They are being wind burned along with overwatered and chilled. We really need warmer less ...
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| unidentified palm | 5/15/2008 |
Q: I live in Brooklyn NY and recently purchased a very tall (@ 8 ft) palm which we adore. It does not ...
A: Melissa, I believe it is unfortunately a Majesty Palm. Majesty palm (latin name: Ravenea ...
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| rubber tree plant | 5/15/2008 |
Q: I have an outside rubber tree plant in a 12" pot doing very well on my patio. I live in Phoenix and ...
A: Kim, If you move it indoors you need to mist it once or twice a day to keep it humid since you will ...
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| New Gardenia plant wilted overnight | 5/14/2008 |
Q: My daughter sent a gardenia pant to me for Mother's Day. I received it 3 days ago and the leaves ...
A: Tina, I suspect it is too wet. These plants grow outside in semi sunny locations in the south. The ...
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| Confused about ID of plant | 5/14/2008 |
Q: My friend bought a plant (see attached photo) labelled a Tiger plant, with no other information or ...
A: Dave, It is a patented plant that has only been on the market a few years. The latin name is ...
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| ficus plant | 5/13/2008 |
Q: i have a plant indoor and its getting brown spots i dont know why and i would like to know why and ...
A: Irma, I suspect that your brown spots on your ficus are an insect called scale. They appear to be ...
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| Pineapple Plant | 5/13/2008 |
Q: I google searched info about a Pineapple Plant and read a question you answered in 2007. The plant I ...
A: Tiffani, A pineapple plant will grow at least one and after that maybe one or two more plants. You ...
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| Ponytail palm brown leaf | 5/12/2008 |
Q: I have a pony tail palm that has been in my possession for about two years. The plant is ...
A: Rob, You have said nothing about the amout of light it was receiving. It has been my experience ...
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| plant gave to me | 5/12/2008 |
Q: I got this plant from a lady who was downsizing and I have no clue what it is. I was wondering if ...
A: Dawn, It is an Aluminum Plant aka. Watermelon Plant and the Latin name is Pilea cadierei. The ...
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| root bound rubber tree | 5/11/2008 |
Q: my rubber tree plant is very large and very heavy the roots are growing out of my pot how can i ...
A: Theresa, You & your husband need to get it outside or in the garage and carefully remove it from ...
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| Grandma's houseplants | 5/11/2008 |
Q: As a young kid in the late 60's early 70's My grandma always had a plant she called the redbird ...
A: Andy, I believe that the plant you are looking for is Devil’s backbone or Pedilanthus ...
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| white bird of paradise plant | 5/10/2008 |
Q: Hey Darlene, I have a 6 ft. white bird of paradise plant which separates my dining and living ...
A: Jeannie, It could be caused by any one of the following: 1 Too much water causing the roots to ...
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| Calandiva - Diseases | 5/9/2008 |
Q: when I bought red calandiva flowers 3 days ago, I found some unusual brown spots on leaves. Could ...
A: Ari, I had not received the pictures the first time around, sorry, sometimes when I am not loooking ...
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| Schefelera tree | 5/9/2008 |
Q: This tree, about 6 feet tall, is losing its leaves on a daily basis. I'm wondering if its root ...
A: Ilima, Being rootbound generally does not cause a plant to loose leaves and this plant typically ...
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| Sago Palms | 5/8/2008 |
Q: I purchased a Sago Palm from Home Depot today. It appears that it is "glued" in a pot with NO ...
A: Beth, They are glued together stones but the pot usually is a bonsai pot with drainage holes in ...
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| Be Careful When Treating Plants for Gnats | 5/8/2008 |
Q: it's Tamika again. Quick comment; I've noticed a lot of questions regarding gnats. One of your ...
A: Tamika, When you repot the bulbs mix extra perlite in with the new soil for better drainage. Use a ...
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| Calandiva - Diseases | 5/7/2008 |
Q: when I bought red calandiva flowers 3 days ago, I found some unusual brown spots on leaves. Could ...
A: Ari, Chances are it is a case of sunburn if it is large spots. If it is small circular spots on the ...
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| Phalaenopsis amabilis (Moon Orchid) | 5/7/2008 |
Q: I have an orchid that I thought was blooming but it looks like it is making babies? What do I do ...
A: Cristina, I am not an orchid expert. I suspect that they are seed pods forming from previous blooms ...
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| house plants | 5/6/2008 |
Q: I have a plant called Noah Ark can this plant be taken out side or is it just a house plant. Thank ...
A: Shelly, I have never heard of a houseplant called Noah's Ark nor can I find any referance to one on ...
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| money plant | 5/6/2008 |
Q: my money plant is growing well, and was outside in its pot last summer. When is it safe to stand it ...
A: Anita, It is safe to put it out when the night temperatures are not falling below 50 degrees. Also ...
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| Majestic Palms | 5/5/2008 |
Q: I recently bought a Majestic Palm and planted it outside. I water it everyday. The leaves are ...
A: Laurie, If you planted it in the ground in South Carolina I hope you realize it will not survive ...
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| flying insects | 5/5/2008 |
Q: PLEASE HELP ME OUT ON HOW TO GET RID OF THESE LITTLE FLYING BUGS THAT ARE IN MY DIRT. I REPOT MY ...
A: Linese, The insects are fungus gnats. The soil you used to repot your plants is poor quality soil ...
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| 'House' Palm | 5/4/2008 |
Q: My Areca palm has developed lots of white fuzzy fungus on it (it stands outside on our terrace in a ...
A: Marjorie, I need you to describe the "fungus" a bit more. Is it like a mold all over the plant or ...
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| anthuriums | 5/4/2008 |
Q: 14 months ago I purchased an anthurium plant in a 6 inch pot with two blooms. I have kept the plant ...
A: Gary, Anthuriums as a rule (indoors) will take about as much light as you can provide them with-but ...
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| umbrella house plant | 5/3/2008 |
Q: please can you tell me why my umbrella plant leaves are going from green to yellow and dropping off
A: Wendy, Insects, not enough sun or too much water can cause leaf problems. First examine the front & ...
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| peace lilly blooms don't open | 5/3/2008 |
Q: I have two and three large plants in 10 " pots indoors during the winter and on a shady patio during ...
A: Laura, Peace Lilly blooms are not the same as typical lillies. You can see the blooms at the ...
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| Yucca cane pruning | 5/2/2008 |
Q: I have had a yucca cane for about 8 years and it's become way too big. The shoots at the top are ...
A: Voicu, The definitive answer is probably! If the temperatures are above 50 degrees at night in your ...
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| Kalanchoe Blossfeldiana | 5/2/2008 |
Q: I'm from Indonesia, temperature 30şC (day) and 27şC (night). Have Kalanchoe Blossfeldiana in 3 ...
A: Ari, Then put them where they would get dappled sun so they get some sun during the day, or where ...
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| Yucca cane pruning | 5/1/2008 |
Q: I have had a yucca cane for about 8 years and it's become way too big. The shoots at the top are ...
A: Voicu, I suggest that you prune the shoots off entirely and use them to start another plant in a ...
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| Sago Palm turning yellow | 5/1/2008 |
Q: I have a Sago Palm we acquired 3 years ago. It produced a new set of "leaves" the first year and ...
A: Dawn, It is either over or underwatered. It can't sit in too much water but it can't be allowed to ...
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| Kalanchoe Blossfeldiana | 4/30/2008 |
Q: I'm from Indonesia, temperature 30şC (day) and 27şC (night). Have Kalanchoe Blossfeldiana in 3 ...
A: Ari, Your Kalanchoe need more sun and more water. When you water you need to give them enough water ...
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| re-potting a fiscus plant | 4/29/2008 |
Q: i recently re-potted my fiscus tree, i cut the roots back, and put in a bigger pot, the leafs are ...
A: Annetta, You severely shocked it. You either cut the roots back and put it back in the same pot or ...
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| schefflera | 4/22/2008 |
Q: i was given a schefflera plant that is 14" tall in a 4" diameter 3" depth plastic pot and has to be ...
A: Jessica, Because it is spring and the roots are actively growing you can repot it in a 10 inch pot ...
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| My night blooming cirius | 4/13/2008 |
Q: I've had this plant for 4-5 years now and it was large when I got it; sending up runners as ...
A: Kim, Cactus should be bone dry before you water it, you should be able to insert a bamboo skewer ...
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| peace lilly? | 4/13/2008 |
Q: Kittle, I have what looks to be almost exactly the same as a peace lily growing outside of my house ...
A: Nate, You must live in a tropical area because the plant would not survive the winter in a frezing ...
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| peace lily | 4/12/2008 |
Q: I have a peace lily that my friend gave me 3 years ago about 2 years ago i moved it to a larger pot ...
A: Amy, After you cut the root ball in half you should have just planted each half in each pot and not ...
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| How to re-pot adesertrose | 4/12/2008 |
Q: We were given a Desert Rose. Its been 3 months and the plant is very loose in its pot now,so we were ...
A: Debbie, You said you only gave me an 8 because I did not tell you how to cut it back. Please review ...
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| Plant lights | 4/11/2008 |
Q: Is their a plant light that would fit into a table lamp, for a few African Violets on the table ...
A: Steven, Yes, there are grow light bulbs. They need to be in a lamp directed directly at the ...
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| Dying jasmine plant | 4/11/2008 |
Q: I have managed to keep my jasmine alive all winter indoors, by providing lots of sun and good ...
A: Gigi, It sounds like you are doing the right things. When you water it empty the drain tray a few ...
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| repotting ivy | 4/10/2008 |
Q: my husband has a very large ivy that was given to him almost 30 years ago. he wants to replant but ...
A: Connie, I have'nt seen any of those plant poles myself in years. A cedar slab may be the closest ...
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| Scheffleras planted outside? | 4/10/2008 |
Q: Can Scheffleras be planted outdoors successfully, and if so, under what specific conditions? And, ...
A: Debbie, Yes, it can if you live in south Florida or Southern California and the temperatures NEVER ...
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| Pothos Plant | 4/9/2008 |
Q: I have a Pothos plant about one year old, I recently moved houses and it used to sit in front of a ...
A: Dana, It is overwatered. This plant loves the sun but it needs to be totally dry before it gets ...
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| eucalyptus | 4/9/2008 |
Q: I live in Florida and during the warmer months the flies are horrible. I read somewhere that flies ...
A: Laura, I live in northern Indiana where eucalyptus will not grow outdoors and it is too large to ...
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| house plant identification | 4/8/2008 |
Q: I'm trying to identify a plant that my daughter has. It looks like an aloe plant but is smooth and ...
A: Deb, It is a different variety of aloe. There are over 200 varieties of aloe from 2 inches tall to ...
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| What is this? | 4/8/2008 |
Q: I hope all is well. I have acquired another plant from a co-worker. Her complaint is she couldn't ...
A: Tamika, It has the appearance of a rubber tree but I get the impression that it is much smaller ...
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| ficus lyrata | 4/7/2008 |
Q: I bought three 4" ficus lyrata about 6 mo ago. They are now planted together in a 10" pot and doing ...
A: Anne, Just growing them together in the same pot you will end up with a large shrub. This plant is ...
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| Dying Yucca | 4/7/2008 |
Q: My name is Derek and I have a 3 foot Yucca plant. I've had this plant for about 3 months and it has ...
A: Derek, To start with of course dry it out as quickly as possible. Remove the drain tray and set it ...
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| lucky bean plant | 4/6/2008 |
Q: recently my mom passed away and a friend gave me a lucky bean plant in mom's memory. It had been ...
A: Yolanda, I am not sure exactly what a lucky bean plant is, however the symptoms you describe ...
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| Parsley Aralia | 4/5/2008 |
Q: I have had this parsley aralia for 5 to 6 years now, and so far, it has not giving me much trouble. ...
A: Noelle, Something has changed to cause this color and texture change on your aralia. Did you change ...
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| Unknown succulent | 4/5/2008 |
Q: I bought a succulent plant a few days ago, and I really like it, but I don't know exactly what it ...
A: Jenna, Your plant is commonly known as a Ghost plant. The Latin name is Graptopetalum ...
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| Adenium obesum...how to prune? | 4/4/2008 |
Q: How should I prune my adenium obesum, which has grown leggy. And also What is it when a succulent is ...
A: Liz, Etiolated means when a succulent turns white because it is being grown without sunlight. Do ...
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| UMBRELLA PLANT | 4/4/2008 |
Q: I received a umbrella plant when my grandma passed away 9 months ago. It was really doing well & now ...
A: Jodie, It likes lots of sun. Something has changed. Tell me what has changed? Did you repot it? ...
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| sticky residue | 4/3/2008 |
Q: I was given this plant, i am not sure what it is. It is large, in a medium pot. Each stem has 6 to ...
A: Mitra, The removable spots are an insect called scale. The stickiness is it's excrement. The black ...
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| zz plant | 4/3/2008 |
Q: I have a plant that I just repotted and the leaves are turning yellow and brown around the edges. ...
A: Pat, Yellow leaves indicates the plant is too wet. You have it in too large a pot so it cannot use ...
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| the effect of concentration of chlorine on plants | 4/2/2008 |
Q: im doing a review of lit. on this but i cant find many sources can anyone help me please!!?
A: Domanique, I cannot give you any literary sources on it but I can tell you that concentrations ...
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| BLACK SPOTS | 4/1/2008 |
Q: I live in urban areas in a block of flats on the third floor. I have some potted plants on my ...
A: Afiq, Okay, you are saying "black spots" and I am assuming insects. Are the "black spots" ...
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| little black ants in and on my houseplants | 4/1/2008 |
Q: I noticed recently upon watering my jade plant that their were little black ants on the vase/dirt. ...
A: Cindy, WAIT! don't trans plant it is not the soil. Your plants have scale or aphids, another insect ...
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| Ivy Plants | 3/31/2008 |
Q: I have 3 Ivy plants all on top of my kitchen cabinets. They do not get a whole lot of sunlight, but ...
A: Daphne, You should be watering them when they are dry but do not allow them to sit in a tray full ...
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| dumbcane plant | 3/31/2008 |
Q: I made the mistake of twisting the stem of a dumbcane and my hands r still in bad shape. what can I ...
A: Gina, I'm not sure whether you are asing for a solution for your hands or the plant. I am not a ...
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| Gardenia indoor | 3/30/2008 |
Q: I would like to buy Gardenia to be place indoor because their fragrance and beauty. I leave in ...
A: Erica, You need a humidity tray under it. First it has to be in a pot with drainage holes and you ...
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| BLACK SPOTS | 3/30/2008 |
Q: I live in urban areas in a block of flats on the third floor. I have some potted plants on my ...
A: Afiq, I suspect that your black spots are an insect called aphids. Spray them with rubbing alcohol ...
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| Mystery Plant | 3/29/2008 |
Q: I am unable to identify this plant which was a gift. Can you help?? It flowers alot, loves ...
A: Judith, I can normally answer quicly but yours was a real challenge and took suggestions from 2 ...
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| question about my boston fern | 3/29/2008 |
Q: I have a boston fern that was huge, beautiful & full in the summer, but after this winter it looks ...
A: Melissa, The root system is still there. Take it to an area where you can clean it up and the dead ...
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| toxic & nontoxic plants for cats | 3/28/2008 |
Q: Some questions i was just wondering on.... Is the pothos plant nontoxic or toxic to cats??? On two ...
A: Katelyn, For the most part cats are intelligent enough to not eat plants that are poisonous, they ...
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| peace plant | 3/28/2008 |
Q: I received this plant as a gift and now the flower is dead what should I do? Thanks
A: Robin, Trim the dead flower off at the base of the stem. Then fertilize the plant with fertilzer ...
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| fichus hedge fungus treatment | 3/27/2008 |
Q: my outdoor ficus hedge is losing its leaves. there are white halo like lesions on them and I believe ...
A: Mark, Since it is outdoors I would go to the nearst garden center and discuss fungicides with the ...
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| issues with my money tree | 3/27/2008 |
Q: I am having some problems with my money tree that i have had for a little over a year. It still has ...
A: Sean, Yes, it can be getting too much water and it sounds like that could be the problem. How often ...
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| Flamingo Lily | 3/26/2008 |
Q: I had this plant for a month and the leaves got brown spot and also on the end of the leaves, I know ...
A: Josephine, It is not overwatered if you empty the drain tray after watering. If you allow it to sit ...
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| Ponytail palm leaf drop | 3/26/2008 |
Q: The plant is potted in a clay pot about 8 inches in diameter. The plant is about 8 - 10 inches tall, ...
A: Michael, If the bulb is not soft and mushy there is every chance it will come back. Just treat it ...
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| Problem with Pontail Palm | 3/25/2008 |
Q: I have 2 of thes for 3 years - in a bonsai pot. Had a problem with fungus gnats and finally ...
A: Betty, You should be watering these like cacti and they should be planted in very sandy cactus ...
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| Majestic palm | 3/25/2008 |
Q: I have had several majestic palms and all have gotten this fungus that starts at the tips of the ...
A: Diana, Are these majestic palms house plants? What size pots are they in? How old are they? Where ...
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| dropping leaves on hibiscus plants | 3/24/2008 |
Q: We have 5+ hibiscus plants in our garden window above the sink. It faces west. Some leaves on the ...
A: Rebecca, Overwatering can cause the roots to rot then the plant can no longer take up water and the ...
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| Rubber plant very sad | 3/23/2008 |
Q: I've had my rubber plant for more than 20 years and it's always been a healthy plant and has moved ...
A: Julie, In it's normal location how much sun does it get? This plant needs lots of sun and I ...
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| House Plant | 3/23/2008 |
Q: I have a hanging house plant I would like to know the name of if you can help me identify it. it ...
A: Susan, It is a variety of tradescantia and there are many varieties of tradescantia including ...
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| Cat Palm/spider mites and yellowing leaves. | 3/22/2008 |
Q: I purchased a cat palm about 5 foot tall after a week or so I had to repot if, as the original ...
A: Jerry, Cat palms are difficult indoors because they need to be kept constantly moist but not left ...
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| Peace Lilly | 3/22/2008 |
Q: I have had my peace Lilly for the past years and in that first year had beautiful white flowers and ...
A: Loren, You need to be using fertilizer labeled specifically for blooming plants. It will be higher ...
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| cutting | 3/21/2008 |
Q: My corn plant is about 6 ft. tall and my home ceiling is not high enough for this plant. I want to ...
A: Teresa, What you need to do is air layer the 2 arms off and pot them up in the same pot you have it ...
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| Drac. Massangeana | 3/21/2008 |
Q: I just received a beautiful tri-stalk potted Drac. Mass. about 5 feet high as a gift, and while it ...
A: Michelle, The light needs to be bright enough that your hand will mae a good shadow where the plant ...
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| Ming plant | 3/20/2008 |
Q: I bought a Ming plant from a friend. Initially, I over watered it with the leaves turning yellow ...
A: Roben, Your aralia is a beautiful plant but can be touchy about water. It should never sit with ...
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| Hibiscus | 3/19/2008 |
Q: The leaves on my hibiscus turn yellow as soon as they sprout. What am I doing wrong?
A: Carol, I have one with a similar problem. You are either over or under watering or you have an ...
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| Ming tree | 3/17/2008 |
Q: My Ming tree is about 20 years old. It is in a pot about 10"diameter, 10"deep. About 5 feet tall. It ...
A: Dr. Oskamp, If the stalks have turned soft and mushy the problem is a watering problem and you need ...
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| ornamental orange tree | 3/17/2008 |
Q: my ornamental orange tree keeps getting flaky white bugs, they are flat and can be wiped off with a ...
A: Gabariella, We are having unusual weather and milder winters and insects have become a worse ...
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| How can I help my peace lily? | 3/16/2008 |
Q: About two weeks ago I repotted what was then a very healthy 8-year-old but small-sized (about 8 ...
A: Amy, If I were there with you I would reccommend that you very carefully repot it back into the ...
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| Fiddle Leaf Fig | 3/16/2008 |
Q: I was hoping you can provide some help with our Fiddle Leaf fig tree. We've had it since last July ...
A: Jena, I suspect that your ficus has a fungal infection. The 3 below are common in fiddle leaf figs ...
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| droopy neon | 3/15/2008 |
Q: I don't know the technical name for this plant, but it's called a neon and it's a cousin to a ...
A: Leeanna, I don't know of any plant called a neon nor can I find anything online called that. I am ...
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| Unidentified plant needs help! | 3/15/2008 |
Q: My husband brought this plant home about a year ago and I have no idea what it is or what to do with ...
A: Summer, It is a dracaena, probably a dracaena warneckii or corn plant. The light it is getting is ...
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| Canela tree | 3/10/2008 |
Q: First of all, I love reading your q&a's, I am learning so much! I bought a Canela tree about 2 ...
A: Marilyn, Your info saying no direct sun is wrong. It,like the ficus tree,will do much better with ...
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| ponytail palm | 3/9/2008 |
Q: We have a rather large ponytail palm in an atrium. Recently, while washing the window behind the ...
A: D, This plant is on every safe plant list there is so I suspect that is is like a paper cut that ...
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| Dracaena Fragrans:Corn | 3/9/2008 |
Q: I have a 6 ft. tall corn tree that has to be 15 to 20 years old. It has hit a few rough spots along ...
A: Courtney, Your dracaena problems come from (at least in part) it being in way too large a pot. This ...
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| Lucky Bamboo | 3/5/2008 |
Q: I have a dilemma! My boyfriend bought me a lucky bamboo plant for Valentines Day. It was two bamboo ...
A: Sadie, Your black specks are an insect called scale. They had to be on there when he bought the ...
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| Cold | 3/4/2008 |
Q: I have a two-part question. I have a beautiful Dinner Plate Aralia that is starting to drop bottom ...
A: Tamika, This plant is just fine in the window even in Michigan. It can handle temperatures down to ...
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| Sap from Braided Money Tree | 3/4/2008 |
Q: We have a braided money tree that we have noticed lately ahs sap under almost all the leaves and ...
A: Christina, It has insects of some type. The sap is called honeydew and it is the excrement of the ...
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| House Plant | 3/3/2008 |
Q: I recently purchased a discounted house plant it wasn't looking very well I just have no idea what ...
A: Teri, It is probably a Serissa foetida. If they go totally dry they can be very very difficult to ...
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| north fork pine | 3/3/2008 |
Q: my north fork pine is not drinking, and it is dying, told by florist to put it in the bath tub, and ...
A: Irene, I suspect that you have actually watered it too much and that last soaking done it in. The ...
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| Vinegar and plants | 3/2/2008 |
Q: I've just finished a science experiment and have a few questions to ask. One of my plants was ...
A: Jasmine, The vinegar you buy in the grocery is diluted so for a brief time the soil would have ...
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| magnesuim sulfate and house plants | 3/2/2008 |
Q: hope you can help me with this one. what house plants should i use magnesium sulfate for their good ...
A: Leta, It should be used on any plant that blooms. It's purpose is to promote more and stronger and ...
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| best pot for ficus trees | 3/1/2008 |
Q: I have a fichus tree that is 7.5 ft. tall, 4 ft. wide and has the trunk is about 2 inches wide. It ...
A: Vilma, I do not feel that a self watering pot is the best pot for a ficus tree. When you first ...
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| anthurium blooms | 3/1/2008 |
Q: The blooms on my anthurium have very short stems, not even growing above the leaves. In the past ...
A: Cherry, Have you changed the location of the plant? Is it getting a lot more sun? If so the plant ...
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| Umbrella & Jade Trees | 2/29/2008 |
Q: I have recently started bringing plants to work with me. They absolutely love the lighting at my ...
A: Carrie, Yes, I would very much encourage you to prune them. Get a good pair of pruning shears, I ...
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| peace lily | 2/29/2008 |
Q: i am moving across the country and would like to know best way to prepare my peace lilies for moving
A: Don, You didn't say where you are moving from and too. If it is across freezing areas you cannot ...
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| Christmas Cactus | 2/28/2008 |
Q: Darlene. I pride myself in knowing quite a bit about gardening, but have ran into a problem. I was ...
A: Steve, No, it will not harm the plant. Rubbing alcohol is the only insecticide I have ever sprayed ...
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| Christmas Cactus | 2/28/2008 |
Q: Darlene. I pride myself in knowing quite a bit about gardening, but have ran into a problem. I was ...
A: Steve, Fill a spray bottle with rubbing alcohol and spray the surface of the soil daily until the ...
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| plants & soils | 2/27/2008 |
Q: My 8 year old son wants to do his science project using 2 to 3 different soils to grow one kind of ...
A: Karen, I would suggest using soil dug up in the yard or garden in one pot, maybe from an area with ...
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| Gnats | 2/27/2008 |
Q: and welcome back Darlene! I've got fungus gnats, and they particularly like my polka dot plants! I ...
A: Tamika, Fungus gnats are very similar to fruit flys. I would not use any of the remiedies you ...
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| Palm problems | 2/26/2008 |
Q: I just bought a 3 and a 1/2 foot palm from the grocery store about 3 weeks ago. It looked healthy ...
A: Michelle, It cannot be constantly wet, nor can it sit in a tray full of water all the time. It ...
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| indoor palms | 2/26/2008 |
Q: I have a palm tree that has been turning brown,haven't been over watering what could be a cause for ...
A: Darrell, A palm tree turning brown is caused by either too much or too little water or too little ...
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| aloe vera | 2/21/2008 |
Q: We are looking for the best place to buy aloe vera seeds. We have several of the regular indoor aloe ...
A: Lisa, http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Aloe+seed&btnG=Google+Search The google search above ...
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| Pruning madagascar palm. | 2/20/2008 |
Q: I was given this palm 10 years ago, and it's now about 12 ft tall. I have lots of cathedral ...
A: Hanna, You can cut it back to the lower branch using a very sharp knife and heavy duty pruning ...
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| gardenia | 2/19/2008 |
Q: The plant seems to be in very good health. It is luscious and green and produces many buds, ...
A: CarolJean, Gardenias like a acidic soil and need to to be fed with an acidic fertilizer regularly. ...
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| epiphyllum | 2/18/2008 |
Q: i had my first eppy bloom this winter of all the strange times and im not sure what type it is, if i ...
A: Mary, They normally bloom in the winter, they are from the tropics in central and south America and ...
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| unknown plant and fertilizer questions | 2/16/2008 |
Q: You helped me a lot, and still have questions! I bought a little cute plant couple of days ago but I ...
A: Betul, You have so many questions. Your first plant is a "Moon Valley" Pilea, Latin name: Pilea ...
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| Shamrocks in the mail | 2/15/2008 |
Q: A dear friend of mine sent me three small newly grown shamrock plants each in their own zip lock ...
A: Liza, Just get a new pot for the broken one and replant it and the others. Shamrocks are growing ...
|
| Pachira aquatica, | 2/15/2008 |
Q: I have a Pachira aquatica or money tree with all the trunks that intertwine. I am not a gardner and ...
A: Rachel, First of all, do not repot the tree until after April first when the days are longer and ...
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| my plant is loosing all of it's leaves | 2/14/2008 |
Q: I bought a plant I don't know the name of, it's leaves are about 5 inches kinda dark green shiny and ...
A: Jessie, It is commonly known as a rubber tree, the latin name is ficus elastica. I suspect it needs ...
|
| my corn plant needs help! | 2/13/2008 |
Q: I've had my corn plant for about 4 months. Initially the plant was placed in a south facing window ...
A: Nicole, Corn plants cannot be watered with water that has flouride in it and they also need to be ...
|
| Kenti Palm | 2/12/2008 |
Q: I understand that a kenti palm will grow in a darker room. Where may I buy this plant
A: Shirley, The common name is Kentia Palm, the latin name is Howea forsteriana. As spring arrives you ...
|
| Rhoeo | 2/12/2008 |
Q: Would you like a cutting of my Rhoeo? I would trade for a cutting of something you have. Let me ...
A: Eric, I have Rhoeo and I am costantly starting new plants from it and givimg them away. Are there ...
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| Peace Plant | 2/10/2008 |
Q: I'm so glade I found this site! I have a Peace Plant and it was very big and bloomed very well it ...
A: Angela, You repotted it at the wrong time of year, you need to wait until after April 1st at the ...
|
| coral cactus | 2/10/2008 |
Q: I was just handed a coral cactus that has one side all dried up looking dead and the other half ...
A: Sondra, Yes you may trim off the dead part. Provide lots of bright light for your coral cactus by ...
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| Pachira aquatica | 2/5/2008 |
Q: I'm in a need for your advice, I would like to shorten my 'Pachira aquatica' , that has one single ...
A: Andreja, You cannot cut all the leaves off your plant. Cut off just the tip of that long branch ...
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| Probelm | 2/4/2008 |
Q: I have a plant which has recently begun to shed its leaves after they have turned yellow making it ...
A: Jan, I suspect you have a ficus tree that has been attaced by spider mites. They have been ...
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| transplanting | 2/3/2008 |
Q: Darlene, I have a ponytail palm that is about 1' tall and relatively healthy. It has been in the ...
A: Mike, For starters your ponytail palm needs direct sun, not indirect sunlight. Most folks assume it ...
|
| climbing plant | 2/3/2008 |
Q: I have what I think is a pothos and just noticed that it is climbing up my wall and is attaching ...
A: Marsha, It is probably a philodendron. If the leaves are solid green it is a philodendron. If they ...
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| Help with identification and edge of leaves turning brown | 2/2/2008 |
Q: My sister recently bought me this plant as a present. However, I have no idea what it is? Please ...
A: Calvin, It is a dracaena marginata. It needs bright light near ab east or west window with drapes ...
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| A Yukka owner with a few concerns | 2/2/2008 |
Q: I have a large yukka that I keep outside, it getting good morning sunlight up till about 12pm. I ...
A: Nicola, Since you are growing it outdoors you must live in a tropical area. It may be carpenter ...
|
| palm w/ bugs | 2/1/2008 |
Q: I have a palm plant with white web like material on the leaves near the stalk. It's moving out ...
A: Brandy, The webs are from bugs, spider mites. Put rubbing alcohol in a bottle and spray the entire ...
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| jasmine sadness | 2/1/2008 |
Q: I have a jasmine plant and it was doing really bad. I gave it water and saw little bugs in the soil. ...
A: Jen, Your plant has aphids, I can tell that by the sticky substance on the leaves, it is the ...
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| How to Take Care of My Majestic Plant | 1/30/2008 |
Q: I just purchase a majestic palm plant. My plant is dying. The leafs are benting. How can I take ...
A: Danny, I do not undertand what you mean by "The leafs are benting." It is probably not getting ...
|
| can I save my Codiaeum Croton | 1/29/2008 |
Q: I have a Codiaeum Croton and its lost all of its leaves, and now only has two stems (that look like ...
A: Alison, This is a plant that loves the sun. My best advice would be to put it outside in full sun ...
|
| Anthyrum | 1/29/2008 |
Q: My Anthryum is doing great, but I have had it for several years. The plant appears to have 5 ...
A: Christine, It can be divided if there are definitely more than one crown. Each crown should have ...
|
| Weird plant | 1/28/2008 |
Q: I have "adopted" some strange plants from a friend who moved away. Can you help me identify this ...
A: Cristina, I believe that it is a Climbing Onion, Sea Onion (Latin name is Bowiea volubilis). It is ...
|
| African Violets / Compact Fluorescent | 1/27/2008 |
Q: I have some 23w compact fluorescent bulbs, that give off 100w. Can I grow my African Violet babies ...
A: Amanda, It should do fine as long as the light is within 6-12 inches of the african violets such as ...
|
| Orchid- phalaenopsis | 1/27/2008 |
Q: The beautiful orchid I received as a gift a few months ago has lost the flowers at the top of the ...
A: Stephen, Orchids are a great hobby to get into. The following 3 sites have compleat info on caring ...
|
| Recovering houseplants after a freeze | 1/26/2008 |
Q: I am so bummed out! I travel often for my work and left my houseplants on the back porch (where ...
A: Michelle, All you can do is keep them warm and put them in the sunniest location possible indoors. ...
|
| Cut-leaf Philodendron, Selloum (Philodendron bipinnatifidum) | 1/26/2008 |
Q: I have had a Cut-leaf Philodendron, Selloum (Philodendron bipinnatifidum) for about 8 months now and ...
A: Aditi, A tropical plant such as this will grow as larg as you allow it to. By repotting it into a ...
|
| Cold jade plant | 1/25/2008 |
Q: I have an indoor jade plant, about two feet wide and two and a half feet tall, a tough old gal, who ...
A: Nadia, I live in northern Indiana near Fort Wayne so I am familiar with the temperatures. Jades are ...
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| What kind of plant is this??? | 1/24/2008 |
Q: I am having a hard time finding out what kind of plant this is, and how to properly take care of it. ...
A: Rochelle, After looking at your picture I am certain it is a Hoya but it has not been getting ...
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| Brown leaves on my Yucca Cane | 1/23/2008 |
Q: I have a Yucca Cane and have had it for a few months, I water it weekly. The leaves have just ...
A: Michelle, The simple answer is give it more sun and less water. This is a desert plant, it needs to ...
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| What kind of plant is this??? | 1/23/2008 |
Q: I am having a hard time finding out what kind of plant this is, and how to properly take care of it. ...
A: Rochelle, It is a hoya carnosa, krinkle kurl also known as Hindu Rope Plant. It needs very bright ...
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| Problem with Ctenanthe Setosa - permanently rolled leaves | 1/22/2008 |
Q: I am trying everything I can think of to help out my poor Ctenanthe Setosa - it started letting me ...
A: Denise, No, I have not had this problem becaus I have only raised this particular plant once and ...
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| cestrum nocturnum | 1/21/2008 |
Q: I have been reading this website, and found it incredibly informative. I was wondering if i could ...
A: Anirudh, There are varieties that do bloom in fall and early winter just as that days are ...
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| cestrum nocturnum | 1/21/2008 |
Q: I have been reading this website, and found it incredibly informative. I was wondering if i could ...
A: Anirudh, It depends on whether you are trying to grow it or getting it to bloom. To grow it long ...
|
| sick peace lilly | 1/20/2008 |
Q: I received a peace lilly in a vase with a betta fish in the bottom as a gift for my classroom. The ...
A: Lara, Roots that grow in water are more succulent and have a different texture than roots that grow ...
|
| house plant dirt | 1/11/2008 |
Q: the dirt in my house plants has white fuzz on the surface I do not see it on the plant it self . ...
A: Debbie, It is mold. You are keeping your plant too wet, you may have some root rot. You need to dry ...
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| Yucca that seems to be giving up... | 1/11/2008 |
Q: I have what I think is a Yucca plant (three stems ranging 8-32") in a 9.5" pot. It is a few feet ...
A: Stephanie, Yes, your plant is a yucca and yes you are overwatering it. Mine is about the same size ...
|
| Tillandsia Cyanea | 1/10/2008 |
Q: I have a tillandsia cyanea that does not have a flower at the moment. Some of the leaves get brown ...
A: Lynn, I would not trim the leaf for as long as most of the leaf is grean. If possible put it in an ...
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| Yukka plant | 1/10/2008 |
Q: We have a large Yukka plant in our lounge that has done very well for about a year now. Just in ...
A: Susan, What size pot is it in? How often is it being watered? How much water is it given? It ...
|
| Brown spots on Mass Cane Dracaena | 1/10/2008 |
Q: I was on vacation for 3 weeks and when i came back noticed these brown spots on the leaves of my ...
A: Praneeta, When you are going to be gone for 3 weeks you need to have someone water your plants for ...
|
| Umberella Plants | 1/9/2008 |
Q: My house plant is losing leaves why? i live in the UK
A: It is my experience that it is most likely not enough sun, they love the sun. Other causes could be ...
|
| Alocasia Polly | 1/9/2008 |
Q: The leaves on this plant keep turning brown; starting at the edges and expanding towards the middle ...
A: Maryla, In the winter they prefer to be kept dryer and they need lots of light. It needs the ...
|
| Money plant - mites | 1/9/2008 |
Q: I have a money plant and my house mate has another succulent and both plants have little white mites ...
A: Katie, I suspect that the mites are young fungus gnats. Do they fly at all? If so they are there ...
|
| My orchid is death. | 1/8/2008 |
Q: I bought an orchid fourth months ago, it is my first plant and it was beautiful, the flower fall two ...
A: Miguel, Your orchid may have already been blooming for awhile when you bought it. It needs bright ...
|
| strawberry and angel begonia plants | 1/8/2008 |
Q: I have problems in growing these plants please help I have them in my bay window they get some sun ...
A: Bernice, You should water them when the surface of the soil feels dry. An hour after watering you ...
|
| Plant I.D. | 1/8/2008 |
Q: I have this plant in my home. I have no idea what it is. The leaves have started turning brown ...
A: Tamika, Your picture is very small and it was difficult to see but I think it may be a young corn ...
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| BEGONIAS MOLD INFESTATION | 1/7/2008 |
Q: mY bEGONIA HAS A MOLD GROWING ON SOME OF THE LEAVES AND ON IT'S STEMS. tHE LEAVES HAVE A CIRCULAR ...
A: Ron, Your begonia is getting mold because you are keeping it too wet and the soil is too heavy. ...
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| cactus | 1/6/2008 |
Q: I found a cactus in my apartment trash 2 years ago, its living but not growing. I think it is a zygo ...
A: Debbie, The fact that you beleive it is a zygo cactus tells me that you have done some research on ...
|
| Droopy croton :-( | 1/6/2008 |
Q: I've had my indoor croton for roughly 4 weeks now and it's been doing so well, growing and sprouting ...
A: Suzi, Crotons are sun lovers, here in the states in Florida where it doesn't frost they are planted ...
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| Ficus Tree | 1/6/2008 |
Q: We have a beautiful ficus tree about 6 feet tall. I rescued it from some very ill treatment, brought ...
A: Bonnie, If the temperature gets below freezing at all it will not survive. It can be outside in a ...
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| Brown spots on Mass Cane Dracaena | 1/5/2008 |
Q: I was on vacation for 3 weeks and when i came back noticed these brown spots on the leaves of my ...
A: Praneeta, Was someone taking care of your plants while you were gone? If one of the stems is ...
|
| Droopy croton :-( | 1/5/2008 |
Q: I've had my indoor croton for roughly 4 weeks now and it's been doing so well, growing and sprouting ...
A: Suzie, It is either too much water or too little water. If the soil is dry water it. If the soil ...
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| need to id a plant | 1/5/2008 |
Q: i have a plant that is pretty much dead and would like to identify it and possibly purchase a new ...
A: Suzi, The common name is string of pearls and the Latin name is Senecio rowleyanus. An excellent ...
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| Pothos-Part 2 | 1/4/2008 |
Q: Happy New Year! Darlene, when I returned to work fortunately my pothos was not dead, but she was ...
A: Tamika, You need to repot her into a pot with a drainage hole and a drain tray under it so that is ...
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| Jasmine plants | 1/4/2008 |
Q: Do you need to prune the jasmine plant, and if so How?
A: Tracy, Has your jasmine plant bloomed yet? They usually bloom in December/ January. If it has not ...
|
| Anthurium - is it dying??? | 1/3/2008 |
Q: Darlene! I have never been good at keeping houseplants alive, but I recently bought a red anthurium ...
A: Stephanie, Your plant is not dead but it is threatened. The film on the leaves is not a big problem ...
|
| Lyrata Leaves Reddening | 1/2/2008 |
Q: I've got something interesting happening to my ficus lyrata. The leaves facing the sun, and in fact ...
A: Seth, The leaves of this plant naturally turn red in the sun during the winter months. If they turn ...
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| Dipladenia | 1/2/2008 |
Q: I'm still working on the black spots on my Dipladenia. You recommended either baking soda (what ...
A: Jonathon, The one I have used succesfully is the Lysol with a long chemical Alkyl (C12-C18) ...
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| Fig Plant | 1/1/2008 |
Q: We got this plant from our work, we replanted it. It started to come to life, now the leafs are ...
A: Cheree, I have not received your pictures. Does the container it is in have a drainage hole with a ...
|
| ugly worms | 1/1/2008 |
Q: A few of my plants have short white scarry looking worms on the top soil. There are a bunch of them ...
A: Kizzysue, I suspect that your worms are the larva form of fungus gnats that attacked the plants ...
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| Dracaena Mass. (corn) plant | 12/31/2007 |
Q: Have had my plant for about 12 yrs. Both branches growing from the main trunk of the plant are too ...
A: Sherrie, I am a little southeast of you near Fort Wayne, IN. I highly recommend that you wait until ...
|
| sheflera overwatered | 12/31/2007 |
Q: What can I do to save a large sheflera that I overwatered? All the leaves are drooping low.
A: Sue, The only thing you can do is drain it as much as possible immediately, make sure it is in a ...
|
| Idea temperature for cylamen plant | 12/30/2007 |
Q: I was given a cyclamen plant for Christmas and was told that the plant needed little water and was ...
A: Viki, It should not be left outdoors at night when the temperatures are below freezing. It should ...
|
| Help with hyacinths | 12/30/2007 |
Q: This is the 3rd time I am writing to you and am sure you will be able to help me. The other day I ...
A: Vicki, Basically your forgotton bulbs are "forcing" themselves. That is what it is called when ...
|
| Pothos | 12/29/2007 |
Q: I returned from Christmas break to find my beautiful pothos looking "sick". The leaves are soft and ...
A: Tamika, The only problem is she is too dry. Water her and she will perk back up within a couple of ...
|
| indoor ivy plants | 12/29/2007 |
Q: I have an ivy which is very happy. I sprouted babies from it in water about 6 mounts ago. Now, the ...
A: Gloria , This is not the right time of year to do anything. Right now because of the shorter days ...
|
| my money plant needs repotted | 12/28/2007 |
Q: my money plant is looking a bit disheveled. i ve had the plant since it was only 2 leaves old. it ...
A: Marc, Because of the short days of winter this is not a good time to repot your tree. If you are ...
|
| peace lillies | 12/28/2007 |
Q: I have several peace lillies, variety of ages and sizes. I water all once a week. They all do the ...
A: Laurie, Yes, you are watering them too often and too much water. Below are my in depth care ...
|
| Plant Identification | 12/27/2007 |
Q: we have had this plant for a couple of years. We were once told it was some sort of orchid. It ...
A: Buz, I have not seen anything like it and I have spent 2 hours looing through a large book called ...
|
| Plant lights | 12/26/2007 |
Q: First off, can you use any lights as long as they are flourescent and at least 40+ watts? For ex: ...
A: Dustin, I use a 2 bulb flourescent fixture with 1 warm white bulb and 1 cool white bulb. I have ...
|
| Hibiscus | 12/26/2007 |
Q: Are they poisonous? I have five trees I had to bring inside for the winter. We are going to have ...
A: Thomas, The flowers are not poisonous, in fact they make a wonderful tea. However the leaves are ...
|
| Antherium | 12/25/2007 |
Q: My husband, from Hawaii, gave me a beautiful Antherium for our Christmas centerpiece. I live in ...
A: Denise, Yes, it would prefer both warmer temperatures and maybe a little brighter light, such as ...
|
| money tree | 12/24/2007 |
Q: good afternoon. i have a 3 feet money tree. my cat ate all of the leaves. The trunk is still green ...
A: Wanda, There is a good chance that the brown one is already dead but the green ones may come back ...
|
| Zygo Cactus | 12/23/2007 |
Q: I bought this plant about a week ago and on the label that gave instructions on the care of this ...
A: Donald, I assume it is in a pot with a drainage hole and a drain tray under it. When you water it ...
|
| japanese peace lilly | 12/23/2007 |
Q: i was thinking of getting a peace lilly for my brother for christmas i wanted to know if they are ...
A: Leah, I am in Indiana in the US,I have no idea if peace lilies are available in Australia but since ...
|
| Coconut house plant. | 12/22/2007 |
Q: We purchased a coconut palm about a year ago and have done a really good job of killing it. Our ...
A: Chuck & Trina, I live in Northern Indiana so I haven't had any experience with a coconut palm. ...
|
| Amy | 12/22/2007 |
Q: WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE PROPER CARE FOR A PEACE LILLY
A: Amy, Most instructions say this is a low light plant but it needs very bright light, just no sun. ...
|
| Cat Palm brown tips of leaves | 12/21/2007 |
Q: I recently bought a cat palm - 5 foot high in a 10" diameter plastic pot w/ 5 drain holes on the ...
A: Mary, The brown leaf tips could be from either over or under watering. Your theory that water could ...
|
| dipladenia indoors during winter with ample light from grow lights | 12/21/2007 |
Q: my dipladenia (vine with yellow flowers) came indoors with scale and black spots. I got rid of the ...
A: Jonathon, Yes, you can treat it like it is summer as long as you are giving it longer days than ...
|
| Sick citrus trees | 12/20/2007 |
Q: I used to live in Fort Wayne, 95-98. I taught music at IPFW! Now, I live in Beirut, Lebanon, ...
A: Paul, Do they get lots of sun all day long? Citrus trees need lots of sun. I assume that the trees ...
|
| tiny off white bugs in the soil of my hawaiian schefflera | 12/20/2007 |
Q: I just got this plant about two months ago and I have been noticing a significant drop in the ...
A: Robyn, How much sun is your schefflera getting? It needs to be sitting in front of a south facing ...
|
| Bonsai Bumble | 12/19/2007 |
Q: Greetings Darlene Kittle, My questions have to do with a couple house plants I have. I have a ...
A: Amy, The juniper is a "real bonsai" if you treat it like one. A bonsai is an artistic way of ...
|
| Mad. dragon plant | 12/19/2007 |
Q: I to have this wonderful. Mad. dragon plant. I have it in a drain pot, but, is it a good idea to ...
A: Erin, There should not be water in the drain tray for more than a few hours if the plant can soak ...
|
| Tree | 12/18/2007 |
Q: I'm not sure what this tree is- I think it's some type of palm, but it's very unhappy. There's a ...
A: Your plant is a yucca plant. It is a desert plant and needs lots of sun, very little water , and ...
|
| Re Dragon Madagascar house plant | 12/17/2007 |
Q: My plant is about 2.5 feet tall & i had kept it in the patio however when the temperature droped it ...
A: Nivedita, If your plant was outside during freezing temperatures there is nothing you can do to ...
|
| north fork pine | 12/17/2007 |
Q: Darlene---I have become heir to a north fork pine and have no idea how to care for it. How much ...
A: Ken, Nofolk Island Pines like bright light but not direct sun. Keep it in a pot with a drainage ...
|
| Please Help My Avocado Plant! | 12/16/2007 |
Q: I am in need of help for my avocado plant. My baby has caught a bug. :( Long, bright white in the ...
A: Melanie, Once the avocado tree is growing the seed is supposed to shrivel up as the plant uses up ...
|
| crassula | 12/16/2007 |
Q: I have the same problem with the white spots. I could definitely interpret them as mineral ...
A: Scott, By a bit of a cotton ball I'm talking about a little 1/8th or even 1/16th of an inch little ...
|
| crassula | 12/15/2007 |
Q: I have the same problem with the white spots. I could definitely interpret them as mineral ...
A: Scott, If the white spots look lie little bits of cotton balls you have mealy bugs which are a ...
|
| re potting my yucca | 12/15/2007 |
Q: I have had my yucca elephantipes for about a year. It is doing better then I could have imagined. It ...
A: Cara, Unless you live in the southern hemisphere do not repot it until after March 15th when the ...
|
| indoor palm and corn plant | 12/14/2007 |
Q: My indoor palm plant has bugs in the soil. There are little white ones, and millipede like bugs. The ...
A: Jamie, All of these problems are happening because you are watering your plants too much and the ...
|
| Hibscus Tree | 12/13/2007 |
Q: I have a Hibscus plant and have scene hybscus plants that look like they have a Twisted Trunk that ...
A: Doug, If your hibiscus is fairly young and the branches are not too stiff and woody you might be ...
|
| Jade Plant | 12/13/2007 |
Q: I have a rather large Jade plant that I've had for about three years now. Up until a few months ago ...
A: Shannon, If segments are turning into mush you are still overwatering. I have one that I water ...
|
| Is dracaena fragrans massangeana okay with cats | 12/12/2007 |
Q: My fiancee and I are trying to prepare our home for cats, but we are having a terrible time finding ...
A: Eva, Dracaena fragrans 'Massangeana' is harmless to people and slightly poisonous to cats and dogs. ...
|
| BIG ROUND IVY | 12/11/2007 |
Q: I brought home a little over a week ago a big beautiful ivy that I received from my great ...
A: Brooke, Your ivy does not need sun but it does need bright light. The light should be bright enough ...
|
| Pony Tail Plant Root Trim | 12/10/2007 |
Q: My present ponytail plant is root bound in a 7 inch deep pot but I would like to trim it and house ...
A: Cynthia, I assume you are aiming to turn your beaucarnea recurvata into a bonsai plant. You not ...
|
| rubber tree plant help | 12/9/2007 |
Q: I have had a rubber tree plant for 2 yrs (new plant from grandma's funeral) and mistakenly repotted ...
A: Nicole, Yes your pot was too big, but now I am sure it has grown into the pot. I would prune 6 of ...
|
| white fuzzy fungus on prayer plant | 12/8/2007 |
Q: I was wondering if you can tell me what is on my prayer plant and how to get rid of it. My plant is ...
A: Heather,, I beleive that you were overwatering your plant. I beleive that it was happening when ...
|
| Droppy Spath | 12/7/2007 |
Q: Greetings, I've got a large 30+" from the top of the pot. It won't respond to watering. I've let ...
A: Jim, A gallon of water seems like a lot for a 12" pot every week. Does this pot have a hole in the ...
|
| gardenias under lights | 12/6/2007 |
Q: I want to get my wife a gardenia for xmas. I've been reading tons about growing them indoors but ...
A: James, You can use fluorescent but you need to use at least 2-4 tubes and keep them within 6-12 ...
|
| Frozen houseplant. . . | 12/4/2007 |
Q: In the process of moving to a new house, I left one of my plants behind. . in the freezing, empty ...
A: Angie, Set it in a sunny window sill and say a prayer for it. It probably will not regrow. Most ...
|
| string of beads | 12/3/2007 |
Q: I have a 3 year old huge string of beads and for the last 3 months (since September)it has these ...
A: Candice, Yes, all parts of plant are poisonous if ingested. Do not allow pets or children to nibble ...
|
| house | 12/2/2007 |
Q: We own a palm-like-tree plant that has grown to tall for our house ceiling. It looks like it has ...
A: Peter, The black substance is a cut paste used to insure the trunk does not get a bacterial or ...
|
| Benjamin Ficus | 12/1/2007 |
Q: I recently bought a Benjamin ficus from IKEA, it was glorious and green. Unfortunately we were ...
A: Tara, If you expect to have any chance of saving him he must be kept above 60 degrees and kept in a ...
|
| money tree plant | 11/30/2007 |
Q: i read one of the entries about root rot and repotting so that takes care of my question about the ...
A: Tanya, If they are having a tendency to come apart I would suggest you get one of the little pony ...
|
| Rubber Plant and Peace Lilly | 11/29/2007 |
Q: I have never been a houseplant person until recently, when I inherited about 5 of them from my ...
A: Jackie, Your rubber plant (ficus elastica) needed to sit next to the west window and the blinds ...
|
| african violets | 11/28/2007 |
Q: I GOT MY BABY IN AUGUST OF 06.IT WAS DOING GREAT UNTIL 3 TO 4 MONTHS AGO THEN ALL THE LEAVES STARTED ...
A: Rita, You are overwatering it and the roots are rotting causing the leaves to die and the mold to ...
|
| Best temperature to raise an aloe plant | 11/27/2007 |
Q: I was wondering what is the best temperature to raise an aloe plant. I was given two plants by ...
A: Trish, The red color was because the aloe was getting lots of sun and that is perfectly normal. The ...
|
| Divided my wondering jew plant | 11/26/2007 |
Q: Have a wondering Jew that is about 4 years old in an 8inch pot. The plant was doing well till about ...
A: Malika, Put both plants in an area where they will get full sun all day long such as a sunny south ...
|
| wandering jew plant | 11/25/2007 |
Q: I bought one, and as soon as I replanted it, it died. Also, I still can't figure out what window to ...
A: Tracy, Wandering jew does not like to be repotted and this is not a good time of year to repot any ...
|
| Cattleya orchid | 11/24/2007 |
Q: I have a Cattleya orchid, my first orchid, that is getting tons of new growth...new leaves and ...
A: Laurie, It needs to get some sun in the morning and indirect light the rest of the day. It also ...
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| Jungle plant | 11/23/2007 |
Q: I have some kind of a jungle plant that I found on a curb a couple of years ago. It is about 1.5 ...
A: Tamar, I have used undiluted rubbing alcohol an many plants and it has never harmed a single plant. ...
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| Dracaena fragrans "Massangeana" -- flowering problem | 11/22/2007 |
Q: I hope you can help my mother out. She received a stem of a Dracaena fragrans "Massangeana" about 12 ...
A: This plant needs to be quite old to bloom, usually 15- 20 years old and rootbound. If it is ...
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| Indoor Plant Problems | 11/20/2007 |
Q: We currently have a number of plants in our apartment. Our Anita Dracaena has recently had wormy ...
A: Jenn, For your dracaena, it sounds like you may be overwatering it a bit and you may have a bit of ...
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| I need help | 11/19/2007 |
Q: I have a plant with large leafs in shape of a hand. Approx. 10 fingers on a long stem. Not sure of ...
A: Trish, I beleive that your plant is a Schefflera arboricola, you can confirm that by looking at the ...
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| mini calla lilly plant | 11/18/2007 |
Q: I have a mini calla lilly plant that I bought at Whole Foods. It is flowering, and the blooms (blush ...
A: Christie, How much sun is your calla lily getting? They love the sun and need as much as possible. ...
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| ponytail palm | 11/16/2007 |
Q: my plant has four brown bulbs in a little pot how or can i split them into little pots or leave them ...
A: Lori, If there are 4 individual bulbs then there are 4 separate plants. There roots may be pretty ...
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| tree azalea | 11/15/2007 |
Q: I asked about shoots coming up around the base of a tree azalea. Should these be removed?
A: Judy, Yes, they are called suckers and they should be removed. They detract from the design and ...
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| Our Ficus | 11/14/2007 |
Q: My husband and I now have our second ficus tree in our apartment in Brooklyn. We had our first ...
A: Heather, To help you I need some information from you first. What direction does the window face? ...
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| hibiscus with tiny black insects | 11/12/2007 |
Q: We recently moved our tropical hibiscus indoors for the winter. About 1 week later we noticed tiny ...
A: Linda, They are aphids. I suggest that you go to a garden center such as Lowes and get a bottle of ...
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| Frangipani | 11/8/2007 |
Q: I recently purchased a bare cutting that doesn't have any roots yet. i know nothing about this ...
A: Raven, Plant your cutting in a mix of potting soil and sand. Frangipani plants require full sun to ...
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| my ming aralia | 11/7/2007 |
Q: I emailed you a few weeks ago regarding my 5 1/2 ft Ming aralias that I suspected root rot and had ...
A: Marlie, My main suggestions would be to give it as much sun as possible, preferably full sun all ...
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| Sickly jasmine plant | 11/7/2007 |
Q: I have a jasmine shrub that is loosing all of its leaves and is very spindly. Should I trim it back ...
A: Tara, Yes, I would cut it back and keep it in a very sunny location indoors in hopes it sprouts out ...
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| mad. dragon tree | 11/7/2007 |
Q: I have three beautiful M.D. trees in one pot and two of them started getting this "condition" which ...
A: h, Most likely it is being over watered and the roots and trunk are rotting. Immediatley cut out ...
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| Rubber Tree Roots | 11/6/2007 |
Q: I purchased a rubber tree that had what looked like many, many roots dried out above soil at the ...
A: Lady Day, If the pot seems lie it is not very full of soil I would add more soil and cover them up ...
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| Apentia corifolia | 11/6/2007 |
Q: Can I make this plant a house plant and hang it? How do I take care of it indoors? ...
A: Donna, I had never heard of it before, so in researching it I discovered it is considered to be a ...
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| bananna trees in Southern IL | 11/5/2007 |
Q: I have around 25 bananna trees, and many of them are 15 foot or bigger. In Illinois it gets cold and ...
A: Stan, If I were going to store them for the winter I would put them in clay pots in spaghmum peat ...
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| spider mites or mealy bugs | 11/5/2007 |
Q: I am new to indoor plant infestation, but my dragon plants have a white web where the leaves attach ...
A: Miriam, Spider mites are tiny spiders that are so tiney you need a strong magnifying glass to see ...
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| Care/pruning of rubber plant | 11/4/2007 |
Q: I have a rubber plant about 2 feet tall, and I've received conflicting advice on how to care for it. ...
A: Mary, Your rubber tree would be happier with a southern exposure which would give it more sun but ...
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| Dieffenbachia | 11/4/2007 |
Q: I am a newbie. Just purchase 3 dieffenbachia plants from Lowes' Home Improvement Center. They were ...
A: Lady Day, You didn't say where you put the potted dieffenbachia. This plant likes bright light but ...
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| corn stalk plant(Dracaena fragrans 'massangeana') | 11/3/2007 |
Q: Help...I'm killing my plant. My mother brought me this plant 6months ago and it adjusted to the new ...
A: Justine, You can buy a water meter at many garden centers for under $15 with a probe you can insert ...
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| corn stalk plant(Dracaena fragrans 'massangeana') | 11/3/2007 |
Q: Help...I'm killing my plant. My mother brought me this plant 6months ago and it adjusted to the new ...
A: Justine, I believe that you are overwatering. If you are watering it before it is bone dry you are ...
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| overwatered | 11/2/2007 |
Q: I have a small pine tree houseplant approx 12 inches in hight and I have over watered it. I found ...
A: Henry, That is a major problem with pots that do not have drainage holes. That is why I always ...
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| Peace Lilly leaves turning brown | 11/2/2007 |
Q: I recently purchased a 1.91 gal. Peace Lilly from from Lowes's. It says on the sticker that it is ...
A: Beth, It absolutely does NOT need a bigger pot, this plant likes to be somewhat rootbound. The ...
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| thanksgiving cactus | 11/1/2007 |
Q: We have a thanksgiving cactus that is at least 15 years old. It is in a 6 inch pot, plant is about ...
A: Becki, Unless you see flower buds right now it is not going to bloom for Thanksgiving. It sounds ...
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| Peace Lilly leaves turning brown | 11/1/2007 |
Q: I recently purchased a 1.91 gal. Peace Lilly from from Lowes's. It says on the sticker that it is ...
A: Beth, How often do you water this plant? How much light is it getting? Could your hand make a ...
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| hoya dropping leaves | 11/1/2007 |
Q: My 40 year old hoya bloomed profusely, as usual this summer. Then the leaves began to yellow and ...
A: Sandra, Check the soil. I suspect a watering problem, either too much or too little water, probably ...
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| desert rose care | 10/31/2007 |
Q: I have 2 desert Rose plants a friend gave me 4 years ago, she had it for about 3-4 years when she ...
A: Maryanne, As long as the porch is glassed in and not just screened it should be fine for those ...
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| Just inherited a HUGE Palm--Help! | 10/31/2007 |
Q: It is a MASSIVELY, HUGE Palm, I just don't know what kind. It looks like the top part of the Palm ...
A: Nancy, I suspect that your plant is actually a yucca, that looks like a palm as you described. Go ...
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| second photo | 10/30/2007 |
Q: Darlene, this is a photo of the plant that I don't have a name for...can it be saved? Sadly it ...
A: Heidi, This plant is a Dracaena reflexa or 'Song of Jamaica'. It is a sister plant to the corn ...
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| Ponytail Palm | 10/30/2007 |
Q: I have a Ponytail Palm several years old that has yet to flower. Can you help? Thanks, Shelley
A: Shelley, Unless it is about 30 years old and 6- 12 feet tall you probably will not see flowers. ...
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| Norfolk Island Pine | 10/29/2007 |
Q: Does trimming back healthy branches (for space reasons) create stress in a NIP? I would like to ...
A: Walter, Yes it will stress it. The only pruning that should be done is snipping off brown tips and ...
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| unknown succulent | 10/29/2007 |
Q: I really appreciate your efforts! My question is about a plant that I bought little more than a ...
A: Betul, Your unnown succulent is several cuttings of jade plants. The leaves are lighter in coloer ...
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| Identify a house plant | 10/29/2007 |
Q: I need help identifying a large (about 7 ft tall) indoor plant. It's probably not too uncommon, I ...
A: Brenda, From your description I suspect it is a Yucca elephantipes plant that is being very ...
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| My First Peace Lilly | 10/28/2007 |
Q: I received a peace Lilly last month for my birthday from my mom. I keep it by the window where the ...
A: Taffy, Smoke will not help your plant or you. Peace lillies need to get very dry between waterings. ...
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| Can you identify this plant #2? | 10/28/2007 |
Q: here is the 2nd plant I was wondering if you could identify by the picture enclosed. Thanks!!
A: Marlie, This plant is a cycad, it's latin name is Zamia furfuracea, it is commonly known as a ...
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| what is this plant? | 10/28/2007 |
Q: I have 2 plants that were recently given to me...can you identify them by these pictures? I also ...
A: Marlie, Your plant is an Syngonium, a.k.a. Nephthytis, White-veined arrowhead vine. The following ...
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| Corn plant | 10/27/2007 |
Q: I have this corn plant for about 15 years, it is about 9 or 10 feet tall and was doing great. The ...
A: Clorinda, You did not say what state or country you live in but I reccommend that you root it in ...
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| white ribbon | 10/27/2007 |
Q: I bought a white ribbon plant couple of weeks ago from a local store and in those couple of weeks ...
A: Betul, The latin name for your white ribbon plant is Dracaena sanderiana and it is actually the ...
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| Yucca trees, paddle plants, and anthurium | 10/27/2007 |
Q: All of my houseplants have been dying lately. I have three large yucca plants that have been doing ...
A: LJ, Unfortunately overwatering and the root rot that follows it kills more plants than any other ...
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| money tree | 10/26/2007 |
Q: done very well...over the course of the last 3 months one of the three branches has suddenly grown ...
A: Rosanna, I would definitely prune off the sucker growing off the base of the money tree. The one ...
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| plant leaf question | 10/26/2007 |
Q: My son is working on science homework and his question is: Do plants with more leaves grow faster ...
A: Michelle, I really don't do homewor. Besides I'mm in my 50's and it has been a long time sch=ince ...
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| YEARLY LEAF DROP - FICUS BEN... | 10/26/2007 |
Q: I have had my ficus for close to 10 years. Every year, in the fall, it drops LOTS of leaves. Do I ...
A: Valerie, Ficus trees usually drop leaves because they are not getting enough light, or they are ...
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| spathiphyllum | 10/25/2007 |
Q: this is the second time I am writing to you asking for your expert advice. I have a peace lily ...
A: Viki, This is one of the few plants that I do not put outdoors ever. They do not like the sun, they ...
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| cutting | 10/25/2007 |
Q: I have a polka-dot that has gotten very tall with old leaves falling off from the bottom, and new ...
A: Ayana, You can try it, this time of year with shorter days it is more difficult to get cuttings to ...
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| Lucky Bamboo | 10/25/2007 |
Q: I have a small Lucky Bamboo plant that was mostly eaten by my cat :) All but one of the leaves were ...
A: Temujin, Totally remove the most damaged ones and leave the least damaged ones. Once the plant has ...
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| rubber tree | 10/24/2007 |
Q: I have a 5 ft tall rubber tree that's approx. 9 years old. It has 6 branches(?) The leaves are ...
A: Glenda, Before you repot it let me now what the diameter is of the pot it is in now. Where is it ...
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| Yukka bottom leaves are dying & fungi | 10/24/2007 |
Q: I just recently purchased our Yukka plant from Ikea which is about 6 feet tall. It's in a small ...
A: Jenny, The fungi are growing because it is peat based soil and you are overwatering it. Go ahead ...
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| corn plant | 10/24/2007 |
Q: i just received a corn plant from my grandmothers funeral Saturday October 20. when and what size ...
A: Nikki, It should stay in the pot it came in. This is not a good time of year to repot a plant. ...
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| House Plants with fruit flies? | 10/23/2007 |
Q: I have a hanging house plant in our kitchen. It has two different types of ivy and a cute little ...
A: Lindsey, The "fruit flies" are fungus gnats and they and the fungus are caused by overwatering the ...
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| polishing leaves | 10/23/2007 |
Q: What may I use to polish the leaves of an indoor plant? The leaves of my croton are very dull and ...
A: Missy, Generally just a soft cloth works best. Anything you apply to the leaves of the plant will ...
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| fiscus plants and insects | 10/22/2007 |
Q: I take my fiscus plants outdoors for the summer and they love it, however, this summer they got ...
A: Teresa, The insects are aphids. Put some rubbing alcohol in a bottle and spray the leaves of the ...
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| Aloe Plant | 10/21/2007 |
Q: My Aloe plant was not looking very good, so I decided to repot it.....well, the plants just came ...
A: Sherry, NO! You cannot root them in water! Root them in sandy soil. To repot them use a sandy ...
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| ming aralia | 10/21/2007 |
Q: Last week I emailed you regarding my ming aralias that are 5ft tall. I will attach the photos I ...
A: Marlie, You said the plant sits near (but not in right next to) a sliding Arcadia door that is ...
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| corn plant | 10/20/2007 |
Q: I believe it's time for me to transplant my corn plant. The plant just overpowers the pot. The ...
A: Vicki, This is the worst time of year to repot plants. The days are getting shorter and the plants ...
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| Croton care | 10/20/2007 |
Q: I have several huge crotons (3 stem 2'-3' plants) that I leave outside all summer (central ...
A: Lori, You crotons are loosing their leaves when you bring them in because of lack of light. They ...
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| My Palm Tree | 10/19/2007 |
Q: I recently aquired this palm type tree. It is about 8feet high. Since I brought it home the leaves ...
A: Darren, To begin with you do not have a palm tree you have a yucca plant from the desert, It is ...
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| LEGGY ZEBRA PLANT | 10/19/2007 |
Q: I HAVE HAD A ZEBRA PLANT FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW. BUT IT IS JUST A LONG STEM WITH NOTHING GROWING FOR ...
A: Jo, If it is getting leggy it is probably not getting enough light. It needs to sit in the window ...
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| ficus infestation | 10/18/2007 |
Q: My indoor ficus is 20 years old, with trimmings is over 6 feet tall and about 5 wide. I am finding ...
A: Rosalind, Your insects are definitely meealy bugs. I have not had good experience with systemic ...
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| Peace Plant | 10/18/2007 |
Q: I received a Peace Plant about a month ago. I am not very good about taking care of plants and kind ...
A: Lauren, Wilting can be a sign of underwatering or overwatering in a peace lilly. To know which is ...
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| Poisoned my mint with urine. :( | 10/17/2007 |
Q: I heard some plants like urine (lemon trees, etc.) so I watered my potted mint plant with urine. ...
A: Daniel, On any plant if you are going to use urine, you should use it once a month. It is very high ...
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| White crust on a ficus | 10/17/2007 |
Q: 5') ficus tree for a number of years - it's never done particularly well, but I must admit, I've ...
A: Tamara, Let me ask you a question, when you first got the ficus did you repot it into a much larger ...
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| fiddle leaf fig | 10/17/2007 |
Q: I have three five-foot fiddle leaf fig stems (plants?trunks?) growing in a rather small container ...
A: Nick, Okay, first, at least one of your fiddle leaf figs could be planted outdoors in the ground ...
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| peace lily | 10/16/2007 |
Q: I have a peace Lilly that is drooping terrible. I give it water, and it is still drooping. When I ...
A: Susie, You have overwatered it. The only thing you can do now is to dry it out as fast as possible ...
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| changing soil | 10/15/2007 |
Q: I have a Dieffenbachia that is 8 years old. The soil looks like crud, with white something over the ...
A: Vee, Yes, I reccommend that you repot it into a smaller pot, one that is not much bigger than the ...
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| Red Sisters and Ti Leaves | 10/15/2007 |
Q: I just recieved a pot of 4 Red sister stalks for my birthday. They are beautiful but I do not know ...
A: Kelly, Your Red Sister plants are a variety of Hawaiian Ti plant, Cordyline terminalis. They should ...
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| Ming Aralia problem | 10/14/2007 |
Q: Here is another picture of my Ming Aralia that suspect has root rot. Thanks!! Also, could you tell ...
A: Marlie, You can try wiggling the plant gently, if it moves easily you may have root rot. The only ...
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| Ming aralia problem | 10/14/2007 |
Q: I have a Ming Aralia that is approx. 5 1/2 ft tall, that was given to me about 4 months ago. I ...
A: Marlie, Ming aralia likes as much sun as it can get, outdoors in full sun or next to a south facing ...
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| overwatering succulents | 10/13/2007 |
Q: I accidently left my burrito plant in standing water overnight. The pot feels really heavy this ...
A: Vee, Remove the drain tray and let it sit in the sink overnight so it drains out as much water as ...
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| Mass Cane smell | 10/11/2007 |
Q: I have a mass cane that is 20 years old and is 8 feet tall. It lived in a corner of our living room ...
A: Vinny, Your Mass Cane needs to be dried out immediatly. If it is possible to empty the drain tray ...
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| banana tree | 10/11/2007 |
Q: i have 2 big banana trees and 6 small ones out side. i live newhampshire what do i do for winter ...
A: Dave, That is a good way of handling the large ones. The smaller ones I would dig and pot up and ...
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| In door Corn plant | 10/10/2007 |
Q: Too tall for the windows now so it doesn't get good light on the remaining foliage..... How do I cut ...
A: Ed, For starters corn plants do not lik direct sun shining on them. They are better off 6 feet away ...
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| dracaena repotting | 10/8/2007 |
Q: but am worried that I might kill the poor thing off! I have had the plant for about 9 years and it ...
A: Viki, This is not really the best time of year to repot any plants. In fact I suggest that for now ...
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| Peace Lily | 10/8/2007 |
Q: I have a Peace Lily in my office. When purchased it was very sickly but slowly has flourished. ...
A: Angela, Brown leaf tips indicate you are keeping the soil too moist. This plant needs to get very ...
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| Corn plant | 10/7/2007 |
Q: I have a 4 foot tall corn plant and have owned these plants for years due to their ease of ...
A: LeenAnn, It sounds like a mold or fungus problem. The weird weather we are having contributes as ...
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| Yucca | 10/7/2007 |
Q: How much water should a yucca elaphantipes in a 14" pot neeed, it is about 6 ft tall, has three ...
A: Jerri, I have one a little larger that is 26 years old. In the summer I give it about that much ...
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| Palm Plants in Paradise | 10/6/2007 |
Q: ("Paradise" meaning Florida..LOL). Sorry, had to get that in, having lived all my life in Col's., ...
A: Paul, I am in northern IN and jealous! As for the palms, you must have a real green thumb. Start ...
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| rooting house plants | 10/6/2007 |
Q: I had this huge two tone leaf plant sitting by my pond in our yard. It was growing a little out of ...
A: Darlene, No, I do not, it was something that had laid eggs on the leaves apparently. Most plants ...
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| Treatment of Palms | 10/5/2007 |
Q: I read your post about what to do for a ficus with the scale problem and appreciate the help. We ...
A: Gene, Scale are insects and because of the warmer weather seem to be getting worse than ever ...
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| corn palm plant | 10/4/2007 |
Q: How do you reproduce a corn palm. And I also have a dead one should i throw it out or is it possible ...
A: Corey, You use cuttings or air layering. Cuttings work best in spring. You could try air layering, ...
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| magascar dragon tree | 10/4/2007 |
Q: My question is in regards to my magascar dragon tree. I adopted the tree from my work who in 4 ...
A: Stacey, I would wait until next April and by then they should be even larger. Cut the tops out of ...
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| jasmine plant | 10/3/2007 |
Q: I got a jasmine left it in the sun and most of the leaves fell off put it on the porch I did repoted ...
A: Laura, The sun did not cause the leaves to fall off your jasmine, they love the sun. The problem ...
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| aloe vera plant | 10/3/2007 |
Q: I love houseplants and am new to gardening. I have a handful of pothos, spider plants, and ...
A: Matt, Set it in a south facing window that gets sun all day. Also make sure it is not sitting with ...
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| stephanotis plant question | 10/2/2007 |
Q: I have a beautiful, large, stephanotis (about 6 years old) and recently have found it to have a oval ...
A: Genie, It is a fruit or seed pod. Good job, those fruit don't always set well. Fresh seed are easy ...
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| Banana Tree for the winter | 10/1/2007 |
Q: I have my banana trees in pots outside in Kansas. It is time to bring them into my basement for the ...
A: Tom, I would say you have no choice but to cut off the banana trees to store them in your basement ...
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| brown leaf tips | 10/1/2007 |
Q: I have a tall New Zealand Laurel indoors in front of a south-facing window. I live in Portland ...
A: Ellie, I live in northern Indiana so I am not experienced with this tree however in looking it up I ...
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| Jasmine Tree Problem | 9/30/2007 |
Q: We have a small Jasmine tree (about 4 ft tall) in a pot. It has been outside all summer with nice ...
A: Ed, Jasmines bloom in January-Febuary. Where do you live? Did it get to cold outside? It needs to ...
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| Ivy | 9/29/2007 |
Q: I have a beautiful ivy at work which I have given cuttings to many of my co-workers. I have a ...
A: Ayana, She needs to check it for spider mites, hold it up to the light and see if there are fine ...
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| repotting | 9/29/2007 |
Q: What is the best time to repot the orange tree and the lemon tree? They were repotted last year but ...
A: Seema, They should be repotted in the spring as the days are getting longer, anytime after March ...
|
| pathos | 9/28/2007 |
Q: I have a "beautiful" pathos I started from clippings and it looks fantastic, about 18 mo.old out of ...
A: Joni, Pothos vines get yellow leaves for 3 reasons, not enough light (they love the sun), too much ...
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| Corn plant | 9/27/2007 |
Q: I have three corn plants in a pot. The leaves turn yellow at the tip, the yellow spreads to the ...
A: JB, Plants take 2-3 months to react to watering changes so all the changes you have made have not ...
|
| Schlumbergera x buckleyi | 9/27/2007 |
Q: I want a true Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera x buckleyi) for my mother but I can't seem to find ...
A: Crystal, Here is the website of a very reliable online dealer that may be able to help you: ...
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| floppy Dieffenbachia | 9/26/2007 |
Q: We have had what I believe to be a Dieffenbachia for several years now. It has grown up from a very ...
A: Kristine, I agree with your diagnosis that it was overwatered. Mold ALWAYS indicates overwatering. ...
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| when to repot? | 9/26/2007 |
Q: I just purchased a snake plant in a six inch pot and the tallest is about 18 inches high. I've read ...
A: Crystal, Is it better to repot in the Spring or Fall? Spring, anytime after April 1st What is the ...
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| Corn plant | 9/25/2007 |
Q: I have three corn plants in a pot. The leaves turn yellow at the tip, the yellow spreads to the ...
A: JB Was you waiting until the moisture meter read DRY? Are you leaving water sit in the drain tray ...
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| re-potting aloe vera | 9/25/2007 |
Q: we have a LARGE aloe plant. we need to repot as the root is pushing the plant out of the container. ...
A: Joel. Wow, that is an impressive aloe! A big job to repot also. Yes, you should be able to prune ...
|
| China Doll | 9/24/2007 |
Q: I have a China Doll plant and unfortunately when I had a recent surgery, the plant was not watered ...
A: Theresa, This fall would be a great time to plant it in the ground because it will have fall and ...
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| China Doll | 9/24/2007 |
Q: I have a China Doll plant and unfortunately when I had a recent surgery, the plant was not watered ...
A: Theresa, China Doll plants,Radermachera sinica, are native to India to China, the Philippines and ...
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| pineapple plant | 9/23/2007 |
Q: I got a non-editable pineapple plant foe my 50th birthday and it didn't come with any care ...
A: Arlene, I have nver heard of a non-edible pineapple. Pineapples grow in Hawaii so think Hawaii, ...
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| Top heavy Palms | 9/23/2007 |
Q: I have two house plant palm type plants- don't know what they are but they both have skinny trunks ...
A: Lynn, I suspect that your plants are dracaena marginata. Check the following site and see if you ...
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| 30 yr old jade tree | 9/23/2007 |
Q: my question is i just became the owner of a 30 yr old tree and i moved it a few miles away from ...
A: Alan, I suspect that you moved it in an open pickup truck without any wind protection. You should ...
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| moving house plants | 9/22/2007 |
Q: We have live in this apt for 27yrs.It has northern light which the orchids like and are not my ...
A: Geri, You are moving at a good time, your plants are preparing for less light due to the fall and ...
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| Majesty Palm | 9/22/2007 |
Q: Searching for answers I've already discovered this palm tree was not a good choice for an indoor ...
A: Terry, The Majesty Palm has a few requirements - lots of water, bright light or full sun and feed ...
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| help with Dracaena Fragransth | 9/22/2007 |
Q: My girlfriend bought me a beautiful plant for my b-day but I it hasn't been looking so good since ...
A: Julia, No, it is not a patio plant as it does not like sun. It needs light bright enough to read ...
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| Yellow Mold in Office Plants | 9/21/2007 |
Q: Our office has a fichus tree and a bromeliad in its lobby. The fichus began to get white and yellow ...
A: Morgan, Mushrooms come from fungus spores the same as many types of mold does. Scrape the patches ...
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| help with Dracaena Fragransth | 9/21/2007 |
Q: My girlfriend bought me a beautiful plant for my b-day but I it hasn't been looking so good since ...
A: Julia, I suspect your plant is Dracaena fragrans Massangeana commonly known as a corn plant. You ...
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| aleo vera house plant | 9/20/2007 |
Q: I have a aleo vera house plant that is getting very large. I water it every week and it is growing ...
A: Debby, No, you cannot cut it back. If you leave it in the pot it is in and stop watering it so much ...
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| Gold Capella seems to be dying | 9/20/2007 |
Q: I purchased a large Gold Capella in June, it seemed to be losing it's leaves rapidly, so I placed it ...
A: Memie, Schefflera arbicola 'Gold Capella'loves the sun, it should be sitting in an east or west ...
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| pruning a split lead Philodendron | 9/19/2007 |
Q: I have a split leaf Philodendron that is at least 25 years old. It's getting too big for the spot in ...
A: Doug, Yes, that one can be successfully pruned. Cut it back to the lowest leaf on each vine and it ...
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| pruning a split lead Philodendron | 9/19/2007 |
Q: I have a split leaf Philodendron that is at least 25 years old. It's getting too big for the spot in ...
A: Doug, There are two plants that are called split leaf philodendron, philodendron selloum: ...
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| Hibiscus plant indoors | 9/18/2007 |
Q: I asked you previously about a hibicus plant I bought then moved indoors. The leaves were turning ...
A: Jennifer, It is probably pretty severely rootbound. Get a pot with a diameter 2 inches larger ...
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| artificial lighting | 9/18/2007 |
Q: I recently got a Nolina recurvata "ponytail palm" and I'm having trouble with my lighting. I have ...
A: Chelsea, OK, You want more details, because your plant is a desert plant and sun lover it needs as ...
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| yucca | 9/17/2007 |
Q: I have had my yucca plant for almost one year. It is in the best area of my house for the light that ...
A: Amanda, STOP WATERING ONCE A WEEK! Yuccas are desert plants, do not water until they are bone dry. ...
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| Sick Monstera Deliciosa | 9/17/2007 |
Q: I have had a Monstera Deliciosa for about 6 months, during which time it has been very strong and ...
A: Fiona, Your Monsetera Deliciosa has leaf miners, an insect that is laying eggs on the growing leaf ...
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| care for plants | 9/16/2007 |
Q: i have jasminem and michela champaka, i am in ny. in my apartment ,how much light and water need my ...
A: Ketki, They both need to be in a sunny window with drappes or blinds open all day long so they can ...
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| >>plant fungus<< | 9/15/2007 |
Q: I have big yellow mushrooms along with white and yellow mold surrounding my Jade. Can you tell me ...
A: Diane, Remove the mushrooms and scrape the surface of the soil off getting the top layer of soil. ...
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| Hibiscus plant indoors | 9/14/2007 |
Q: I just bought a hibiscus plant and have it indoors in front of a south-west facing window. I have ...
A: Jennifer, It will get a few yellow leaves because of the light difference from outdoors or in a ...
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| I don't know what kind of plany I have? | 9/14/2007 |
Q: I was given a plant as a housewarming gift. It is dying on me. I don't know what it is or how to ...
A: Michelle, It may be a croton. Go to Google and put in Croton then hit search, then click on images ...
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| Purple Passion | 9/13/2007 |
Q: I had a beautifully potted purple passion. I keep it in a bay window that gets quite a bit of sun. I ...
A: Louise, Remove the stake so the plant can vine. Let thee buds grow until the branches are at least ...
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| Purple Passion | 9/13/2007 |
Q: I had a beautifully potted purple passion. I keep it in a bay window that gets quite a bit of sun. I ...
A: Louise, Purple passion plant is a vine that is why it makes a good hanging baset plant. There is ...
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| Black spots on Jade Plant | 9/12/2007 |
Q: My beautiful Jade Plant has developed black spots that don't scrape off and spread to the edges then ...
A: Janenne, *additional note at bottom It sounds like a fungal infection. Is it getting any sun? And ...
|
| Schefflera (umbrella tree) | 9/11/2007 |
Q: I've been trying to get an answer to this question for quite a while. I've had this schefflera ...
A: Michelle, At 8 inches tall it is not really large enough to cut off long enough pieces to make ...
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| Schefflera (umbrella tree) | 9/10/2007 |
Q: I've been taking care of a schefflera (umbrella tree) for almost 8 months now and it's about 8 ...
A: Michele, I reccommend doing some pruning on that heavy top growth to lighten it up. Just use a pair ...
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| Schefflera (umbrella tree) | 9/10/2007 |
Q: I've been trying to get an answer to this question for quite a while. I've had this schefflera ...
A: Michele, I reccommend doing some pruning on that heavy top growth to lighten it up. Just use a pair ...
|
| hermaphrodite croton? | 9/10/2007 |
Q: After growing my croton for 10 years and seeing regular blossoms(?) I noticed 3 seeds maturing on a ...
A: Don, To begin with the word hermaphrodite does not apply in the plant world. If pollinated flowers ...
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| Chinese Evergreen House Plants | 9/9/2007 |
Q: I thought I read on the internet that you could prune these plants down when they are overgrown and ...
A: Sandi, I know they are houseplants, it is not the temperature that makes the difference, it is the ...
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| 30 year old Yucca, I'm not kidding! | 9/9/2007 |
Q: This story has a story, 30 years ago, while on my honeymoon, my new husband and I purchased a potted ...
A: Melana, First of all where do you live? Has the yucca been indoors or outdoors? Fall is not a good ...
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| shamrocks | 9/8/2007 |
Q: my shamrocks closed up a few weeks ago and have never opened again. what happened? this is the ...
A: Wanda, Shamrocks are bulb plants, like tulips and need periodic rest periods. It is surprising that ...
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| Chinese Evergreen House Plants | 9/8/2007 |
Q: I thought I read on the internet that you could prune these plants down when they are overgrown and ...
A: Sandi, Dip your cuttings in rooting hormone and insert them in a fresh pot of soil. This is best ...
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| Money Tree - leaf tips are turning brown | 9/8/2007 |
Q: I have a 6 inch Money Tree Plant. Recently, I have noticed that the tips of some of the leaves are ...
A: Jen, This is a tree that likes direct sunlight. Move it to a sunnier location. It may also be ...
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| Treating pests on gardenia bonsai? | 9/7/2007 |
Q: I recently (just over 1 month ago) received a gardenia bonsai plant as a gift. I have taken care to ...
A: Carla, specs Your specs are aphids. Either get some Neem oil (a natural product) at a Garden Center ...
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| African Violet | 9/7/2007 |
Q: Please Help!! I have an African violet & recently the leaves have become droopy & are falling off. ...
A: Corrinne, Allow the plant to dry out. It has been overwatered. Roots need a breathing period ...
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| What to do with my very large hibiscus | 9/7/2007 |
Q: and I was wondering what I should do with my hibiscus during the winter. Keeping in mind it will be ...
A: Amanda, There are 2 types of hibiscus plants, one with shiny leaves that is a tropical plant that ...
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| peace lily | 9/6/2007 |
Q: I live in the tropics and have a relatively small peace lily. I have two questions: 1 - Can I keep ...
A: Susan, Those flowers are done blooming and should be pruned off so the plant will work on making ...
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| wilting jade plant | 9/5/2007 |
Q: My jade tree was beautiful 2 weeks ago, but now it is wilting quite badly. It isn't dropping any ...
A: Janette, If it has turned soft an mushy and sections have collapsed it has been severely ...
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| banana plant | 9/5/2007 |
Q: Tonight I stupidly tried to remove a dead leaf from my indoor banana plant and the whole main stem ...
A: Christy, Yes, the inch of main stem will produce new shoots. I would keep the broke piece in water ...
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| help with plants:) | 9/5/2007 |
Q: I have a Gold Capella Arboricola it was potted in a huge plastic pot was doing well untill reciently ...
A: Savie, I doubt the problem was the plastic pot but the size of the pot. Most house plants like to ...
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| yucca dying? | 9/4/2007 |
Q: I inherited a sickly yucca 3 years ago, nursed it along and it seemed OK. It had one spindly 3-ft. ...
A: Tim, Yuccas are desert plants and it needs drainage and to be in sandy cactus type soil. I suggese ...
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| Fica Tree Pest | 9/4/2007 |
Q: I have an indoor Fica tree that has little white stickey balls at the joints of the branches....what ...
A: Sharyl, Either get some Neem oil at a Garden Center such as Lowes or us rubbing alcohol stright out ...
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| White substance on cat palm | 9/3/2007 |
Q: I have been reading the questions on cat palms - the white substance on my cat palm is powdery - so ...
A: Lydia, Mealy bugs will look like little bits of cotton balls at leaf joints and on the backs of ...
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| China Doll Plant | 9/3/2007 |
Q: I bought a china doll a few years back, at a nursery near the ocean. It was called a "Lia" China ...
A: Diane, I checed several internet sources and could not locate any. I found pictures but no place ...
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| massangeana cane | 9/2/2007 |
Q: I just brought a massangeana cane and i want to know if it needs any vitamins. If so, can you please ...
A: Islam, No, plants do not use vitamins. They do use fertilizer and it could use a monthly dose of ...
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| Massangeana Cane | 9/2/2007 |
Q: How do you prune and take care of this type of plant. It is outside right now, but will be in house ...
A: Jo-Ann, The north window would be best as Mass canes do not like any direct sun. I would not prune ...
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| palm tree | 9/2/2007 |
Q: the roots on my palm tree are showing above the ground and i would like to know what i can do about ...
A: Julie, What kind of palm tree is it? How tall is it and how big around? If there are so many roots ...
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| Corn plant | 9/1/2007 |
Q: I have three corn plants in a pot. The leaves turn yellow at the tip, the yellow spreads to the ...
A: J.B., You may not be watering it often enough or giving it enough water when you water it. When you ...
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| My Ming Aralia is dying from root rot or something else, but I MUST save it! | 9/1/2007 |
Q: I have a wonderful Ming Aralia, which was, until about a week or so ago, quite healthy. I admit that ...
A: Micah, You are correct, your full question did not get to me. However I am not familiar with that ...
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| Jade Plant | 9/1/2007 |
Q: They have all been healthy and vigorous for a long time. This year, a few of them have developed ...
A: Joe, Sorry to answer this again but I needed to send it through the system. Darlene Joe, After ...
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| problem with my money tree | 8/26/2007 |
Q: I rec'd a money tree 5 years ago. It has been beautiful until recently. I have transplanted it ...
A: Kathy, Can you send me some pictures showing me the problem? Also how tall is it? What is the ...
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| Nerium oleander - treated for mites but dying anyway. | 8/26/2007 |
Q: I was given a very healthy looking Nerium Oleander in March 2006. I keep it outside on the balcony ...
A: Narelle, I suspect the problem is not really the insects but with very poor watering practices ...
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| kentia palm problem | 8/26/2007 |
Q: I have 2 kentia palms, my problem is that all of a sudden 2 of the fronds turned brown and I guess ...
A: Debbie, The botanical name is Howea Fosteriana, but is known more commonly as the Kentia or the ...
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| shamrock bulbs | 8/25/2007 |
Q: I received these bulbs as a bonus with my order of fall plants for outdoors. How do I plant & care ...
A: Margaret, You should have received a boolet of instructions with them. If you lin in the deep south ...
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| How to prevent Brush Cherry from flowering | 8/25/2007 |
Q: My husband is allergic to pollen and we have about 8 tall brush cherry trees which has abundant ...
A: Nancy, No, I do not know of any way to prevent brush cherry trees from blooming or any other trees ...
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| Peace Lily | 8/24/2007 |
Q: I was researching why peace lilys get brown leaf tips, which is the problem mine is having. ...
A: Robyn, It is ok to trim off the leaves. Yes, I would repot it into a regular pot. It has been my ...
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| Indoor Yucca plant | 8/24/2007 |
Q: I have a large potted Yucca plant in my living room. It is approsimately 8-9ft tall & looks very ...
A: Marie, Yes, you can cut it off without hurting your plant. Where ever you cut it off it will ...
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| My Cat Palm | 8/23/2007 |
Q: I was wondering if you could help me with taking care of my cat palm. I bought it about 2 weeks ago ...
A: Kelly, You are severely under watering this plant. This palm likes more water than most palms. It ...
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| Pachira | 8/22/2007 |
Q: We bought some Pachira tree in a pot a years ago. It was almost 2 meters high. Two months ago after ...
A: Damir, It appears to either be lacking minerals in the potting soil or being damaged by chlorine or ...
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| Bonsai Care | 8/22/2007 |
Q: I recently repotted a Chinese Pepper Bonsai plant. The leaves started turning yellow. What can I do?
A: John, Yellow leave are a sign of over or under watering. What type of soil did you use? How often ...
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| what type of tree is this | 8/22/2007 |
Q: I have a 9' yes 9 foot tree that was given to me when my grandparents passed I remember the tree as ...
A: Heidi, It sounds like what is commonly known as a corn plant or Dracaena deremensis 'Janet Craig'. ...
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| corn plant | 8/12/2007 |
Q: I have had a corn plant for 7 years.It had two in a pot.One died.The other one was starting to.the ...
A: Kat, Sorry, I don't follow your question, you said that you cut it off and put it in dirt and it ...
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| Ornamental Pineapple | 8/12/2007 |
Q: My plant's pineapple turned orange and was about 4" in diameter. It was making the plant top heavy ...
A: Sharon, Yes you can cut the top off the pineapple, let it dry for a few days then plant it in a pot ...
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| REPOTTING AN INDOOR PALM | 8/12/2007 |
Q: I HAVE A VERY LARGE PALM THAT I HAVE REPOTTED ONCE, AND NOW IT IS SO LARGE I WAS WONDERING IF IT ...
A: Angela, What kind of palm is it? Generally an indoor palm has one central growing point. It can ...
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| Pachira Aquatica | 8/11/2007 |
Q: First, please excuse me if I seem to have difficulties explaining what the problem is, because I am ...
A: Isabelle, You may not be watering it enough. This plant does not like to totally dry out so you ...
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| Madagascar Palm (Pachypodium lamerei) | 8/11/2007 |
Q: Darlene, I have a Madagascar Palm that I have had in various pots for the last 20 years. It is ...
A: Andrew, I am sorry, I am in norther Indiana and I nave a small Madagascar Palm but I am not that ...
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| diffenbachia | 8/10/2007 |
Q: I have two diffenbachias and they appear to be producing something similar to a flower. I have never ...
A: Lucinda, You have probably been taking excellent care of them and you have not repottted them so ...
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| Ficus | 8/10/2007 |
Q: My Ficus is about 3 yrs old and has done well, even through a move about 5 months ago. Now in the ...
A: Ev, Ficus drops leaves because of over or under watering, being moved causing light changed or ...
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| Strange Jade | 8/10/2007 |
Q: I've had a Jade for about two years now and it's been doing really well! I've repoted fallen leaves ...
A: Hannah, I have had jades that have sprouted roots, and yes, the roots are clear. Just pinch them ...
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| yucca cane | 8/9/2007 |
Q: i just got a yucca cane and i also have two cats that like to eat plants. My one cat has already ...
A: Monica, According to the ASPCA website yuccas are poisonous to pets. I would keep the plants and ...
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| Corn Plant | 8/9/2007 |
Q: I had a corn plant for 2 years now. It has two stalks in a pot.A small and a tall stalk with growing ...
A: Mel, In my experience brown leaf tips are usually caused by overwatering. Are you using well water ...
|
| Fern Help? | 8/8/2007 |
Q: I've got a question about ferns that I hope you can help us out with. I don't know the species this ...
A: Sonja, Can you email me a picture of it to plantlady6@yahoo.com? I would suggest drying it out as ...
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| Corn Plant | 8/8/2007 |
Q: I had a corn plant for 2 years now. It has two stalks in a pot.A small and a tall stalk with growing ...
A: Mel, The roots are going to be even more entwined than the leaves and it is going to be very ...
|
| bamboo | 8/8/2007 |
Q: I recently got a petite bamboo plant. It came in a little vase with water and something what was ...
A: Alyssa, Once it starts turning yellow it is very difficult to get it to turn green again. First ...
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| unhappy house plants | 8/7/2007 |
Q: I have a small peace lily I inherited from a friend. I received it in its original plastic ...
A: Heather, I have never reccommended that anyone water house plants with soft water. Whatever ...
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| Cataractarum and Majesty Palm Trees | 8/7/2007 |
Q: I have 5 Palms 2 Cataractarums and 3 Majesty Palms. Actually I'm not sure which is which but all are ...
A: Lois, It sounds like a fungal problem. I would try Lysol spray immediately then head for a garden ...
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| yucca cane and majesty palm | 8/6/2007 |
Q: Thank you for taking the time too read my email i read that you only water your yucca once a week in ...
A: Cory, Yucca plants are desert plants and don't like too much water so in Tampa I would not water ...
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| Majestic palm | 8/5/2007 |
Q: I bought one of these about a week ago and it was in great shape. Since I've had it home, it looks ...
A: Debbie, Your Majestic palm seems to have an insect called scale. To check try dipping a q-tip in ...
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| philidendron | 8/4/2007 |
Q: I recently re-potted a philidendron monstera. It is on my porch with moderate sunlight. It seems to ...
A: Richard, Cut back on the water so it doesn't feel swamped. Keep it on the dry side for the next 3 ...
|
| Oxygen giving house plant | 8/3/2007 |
Q: After reading this response on the Internet in a search for a Plant I can bring to a Lung Cancer ...
A: William, Nasa discovered that a number of common houseplant clean chemicals from the air and ...
|
| Kimberly Queen Ferns | 8/3/2007 |
Q: I have six Kimbery Queen ferns on my screen porch. They were beautiful when I bought them in April. ...
A: Terry, The spores are ripening, collect somme and try planting them. The brown fronds may be from ...
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| Corn Plant | 8/2/2007 |
Q: I have a corn plant that I have had for 9 years. It is almost reaching the ceiling to my bathroom. ...
A: Cathy, It would be safest to air layer the top off. Then the top would already have roots when you ...
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| dolphin plant or goldfish plant | 8/2/2007 |
Q: My friend has one of those. It had beautiful red blooms on it forever. After those blooms dropped ...
A: Bonnie, I suspect that the white berries are seed pods and no they will not turn into flowers. I ...
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| plant identification | 8/1/2007 |
Q: I have a plant that was given to me and I don't know what it is. It has green leaves, furry red ...
A: Dan, If you have a scanner you can email your picture to me at plantlady6@yahoo.com Who told you ...
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| Money Tree | 8/1/2007 |
Q: My money tree was doing really well, new growth after I topped it and being repotted quite some time ...
A: Katie, Wait and see if they heal, if not you can cut them off after you see new growth sprouting ...
|
| Succulent question | 8/1/2007 |
Q: I have some hens & chicks which are in a strawberry pot, doing very well even with all the rain we ...
A: Patricia, No the arms will not root. The purpose of the arm is to get the baby out away from mama ...
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| care for rubber tree plant | 7/31/2007 |
Q: I have a rubber tree plant and some of the leaves are turning brown and then dying and falling off. ...
A: Sharon, I suspect your tree is not getting enough sun and may be getting too much water. ...
|
| Ming Aralia | 7/31/2007 |
Q: I have two Ming trees/stems planted in the same pot, I have had these for 6 years and have repotted ...
A: Calley, I have the same problem with a Ming I have had for 2 years in a bonsai pot. One branch ...
|
| gloxinias | 7/31/2007 |
Q: I would like know how to care for my gloxinia that has big, beautiful leaves (no flowers) and has ...
A: Ruth, I assume that your plant was blooming at Easter when you got it and it bloomed for some time ...
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| SCHEFFELERA | 7/30/2007 |
Q: I HAVE A SCHEF TREE AND IT HAS ROOTS OR SOMETHING GROWING FORM THE AREA WHERE THE LEAVES GROW. THEY ...
A: Jackie, No, do not repot. They are aerial roots and they are normal in humid areas. They do not ...
|
| PASSION FLOWER | 7/30/2007 |
Q: I was given a large, beautiful passion flower in a pot. I have it in an east facing window and the ...
A: Cheryl, Not enough sun. It really needs to be outside in full sun if at all possible. It is more ...
|
| Palm tree | 7/29/2007 |
Q: I just purchased a palm tree. It is about 5' tall.It is in indirect light & I water it about every ...
A: Eleanor, I would move it to a brighter location maybe where it would get a bit of sun in the ...
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| Palm tree | 7/29/2007 |
Q: I just purchased a palm tree. It is about 5' tall.It is in indirect light & I water it about every ...
A: Eleanor, What kind of palm is it? Some of them like the sun. Is it in a pot with a drain hole and a ...
|
| Jasmine indoor plant | 7/29/2007 |
Q: We purchased a beautiful Jasmine last week and not knowing I shouldn't re-pot it; I re potted it ...
A: Anita, If your apartment has sunlight around the clock you must live in Alaska. If you moved it ...
|
| yukka | 7/28/2007 |
Q: I removed a yukka from my yard, and thought I had removed all the root, but it is still trying to ...
A: Randy, No. If you continuosly remove any green that sprouts before it gets more than a few inches ...
|
| Rubber Tree Plant | 7/28/2007 |
Q: I have a rubber tree plant with white spots on the leaves, and I have also found several thin spider ...
A: Jackie, The thin spider webs on the rubber tree does sound like spider mites and your african ...
|
| clivia miniata house plant | 7/26/2007 |
Q: The leaves have started becoming yellow from the base and now there are three more yellow leaves. ...
A: Georgia, If you repotted it in standard potting soil that may be part of the problem. It needs very ...
|
| Spindly ficus tree | 7/25/2007 |
Q: I am trying to nurse a ficus tree I received from a florist when my sister died. I know plants from ...
A: Donna, Ficus is difficult to root by just cutting the top off. You should air layer the top off and ...
|
| BUGS FOUND ON PALM | 7/25/2007 |
Q: I hope it is not too late. i don't know if I underwatered, overwatered, not enough nutrients, etc. ...
A: Bonnie, Yes, head for your nearest garden center that has a person you can talk to. Describe the ...
|
| mass cane floor plant (corn plant) | 7/25/2007 |
Q: how often should you water these plants?
A: Bonnie, When you water it give it enough water that all the soil in the pot gets moist but not ...
|
| My ailing Mexican Fan Palm | 7/24/2007 |
Q: I hope it is not too late. i don't know if I underwatered, overwatered, not enough nutrients, etc. ...
A: Bonnie, Palms generally grow naturally in tropical areas with sandy soil that drains well when it ...
|
| madagascar dragon tree | 7/24/2007 |
Q: Had this plant for 2 years, treat it well, on pebbles water and feed it according to a book i have, ...
A: Jo, Are the 2 that are not growing away from the light and perhaps in the shadow of the other 2? ...
|
| norfolk pine | 7/24/2007 |
Q: I inherited a norfold pine after x-mas and it was doing well. I repotted it from a 8" pot to 15" ...
A: Cheryl, You overpotted the Norfolk pine. You should always move a plant into a pot just 2 inches ...
|
| Peace Lily | 7/23/2007 |
Q: I was given a large peace lily for Mothers Day. It looks very healthy but periodically it develops ...
A: Ruth, Exactly what kind of brown spots are we talking about? Tiny little brown spots smaller than a ...
|
| madagascar dragon tree | 7/23/2007 |
Q: Had this plant for 2 years, treat it well, on pebbles water and feed it according to a book i have, ...
A: Jo, Do these 2 problem stems have any leaves? How much light is the plant getting? How close to a ...
|
| Bonsai Ponytail Palm | 7/23/2007 |
Q: I have had a bonsai ponytail palm for about 5 years now. I bought it from a man who told me that it ...
A: Kelley, Stop watering it. It is overwatered, it should not be in standard potting soil, it should ...
|
| Can you name these | 7/22/2007 |
Q: Yucca can you tell me why the tips are turning brown? The plant has been in water for 2 weeks. I ...
A: Tae, The tips are turning brown because this is a desert plant and does not like too much water. ...
|
| I was wondering if you could tell me what the name of this plant is | 7/21/2007 |
Q: I was wondering if you could tell me what the name of this plant is. I recently purchased it from a ...
A: Crystal, How large is this plant? Is it 6 foot tall as your letter implied? There is nothing else ...
|
| Peace Lilly | 7/21/2007 |
Q: i have recently been given my first peace lilly, for the first few weeks it was blooming and looked ...
A: Stu, To keep your peace lilly blooming there's good news and bad news, the bad news is the blooms ...
|
| Madagascar Dragon Tree | 7/20/2007 |
Q: I have a madagascar dragon tree in my office and the ends of the leaves are turning dark and are ...
A: Sarah, Your problem is either not enough light or too much water. How much light is it getting? ...
|
| when trasfered it wilts? | 7/20/2007 |
Q: ,,,i have a dense short plant like the money plant it has only leaves . i took a small part of it ...
A: Omar, You are trying to root a cutting? It doesnt have any roots and wilts because the leaves are ...
|
| Antherium | 7/20/2007 |
Q: I have a green antherium and my daughter told me to keep it moist all the time. Now I have noticed ...
A: Gail, Could be too much sun, they are from Hawaii and grow under the palm trees in rain forest ...
|
| Money Tree | 7/19/2007 |
Q: I have a money tree in my office. It sits in a corner with a south window on one side and an east ...
A: Kas, They like to be well watered so all the soil in the pot is moist then do not water again ...
|
| Pony Tail Palm Question | 7/19/2007 |
Q: I was going to purchase a 7.5 foot tall PT Palm from a private person, it had one trunk, with one ...
A: Linda, You did'nt say where you live and if this is an indoor? I am assuming that it is an indoor ...
|
| cactus soil for houseplants | 7/18/2007 |
Q: I accidentally potted a new houseplant of mine with cactus/succulent soil. I was afraid to shock to ...
A: Tara, It depends on what kind of houseplant it is. Most plants it will not matter. If it is an ...
|
| ANTHERIUM | 7/17/2007 |
Q: I BOUGHT AN ANTHERIUM ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO, IT'S HEALTHY, PRODUCES NEW LEAVES, BUT NO FLOWERS. I FEED ...
A: Cathy, If you repotted it into a larger pot it will not bloom until it is rootbound. It is too busy ...
|
| clivia miniata house plant | 7/17/2007 |
Q: The leaves have started becoming yellow from the base and now there are three more yellow leaves. ...
A: Georgia, They only bloom once a year. Yellow leaves can indicate either too much or too little ...
|
| Corn Plant | 7/16/2007 |
Q: How long will take to re root itself in water and should i add anything to the water while waiting ...
A: Julie, I do not reccomend rooting it in water. I reccomend that you get a bottle of rooting hormone ...
|
| Bamboo Orchid, tiny silver bugs in soil | 7/16/2007 |
Q: I have had this Bamboo Orchid for 3 yrs now. It is growing well, thriving and even has bloomed ...
A: Rebecca, You did not say what kind of soil it is? A bamboo orchid should not be grown in standard ...
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| Money Tree | 7/16/2007 |
Q: I have a money tree in my office. It sits in a corner with a south window on one side and an east ...
A: Kas, Brown leaf tips are frequently a sign of overwatering. Continue spraying twice a week but do ...
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| Prayer plant | 7/15/2007 |
Q: Where and how do I cutback on a prayer plant if I want to thicken growth in plant. I have 3 major ...
A: Deborah, You can cut vines back and they send out side shoots and become fulller. Prayer plants are ...
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| Peace Lilly question | 7/15/2007 |
Q: I live in North Carolina. Can peace lilly's live outside during the summer months providing they ...
A: Nancy, I don't reccommend it. They are also very sensitive to wind. I put mine out one day 3 years ...
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| soil fungus | 7/14/2007 |
Q: I have several house plants. Some of them keep getting a white powdery layer on the top of the soil. ...
A: Carolyn, Did the commercial house plant fungicide make it go away for even a breif amount of time? ...
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| corn plant | 7/14/2007 |
Q: I have had a corn plant for three years with three separate plants in the pot. It has grown too ...
A: Amy, Yes, you cut it off just above a leaf node. In fact you can use the part you cut off to start ...
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| gardinia growing in the home | 7/13/2007 |
Q: I recently received a gift of a lovely gardenia plant in a small ceramic pot. It was sent from a ...
A: Sharyn, If you want a Gardenia to survive in your home, you will have to create an environment just ...
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| gardinia growing in the home | 7/12/2007 |
Q: I recently received a gift of a lovely gardenia plant in a small ceramic pot. It was sent from a ...
A: Sharyn, In Florida a gardenia should be outdoors where it gets sun in the morning and shade in the ...
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| Umbrella tree plant | 7/12/2007 |
Q: I have had my umbrella plant for at least 10 yrs and recently repotted it about 2-3 weeks ago. It ...
A: Chrissie, It sounds like your new soil may be moldy. It may not be draining well enough. The flies ...
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| Peace Lily | 7/11/2007 |
Q: I have a spathyphyllum that is pretty healthy. It blossoms with the expected white lilies. ...
A: Andrea, As peace lily blossoms fade they turn green, could the green blossoms be fading blossoms? ...
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| Poney tail plant | 7/11/2007 |
Q: I have a poney tail plant that is kept inside and it has grown up to our 9' ceiling. Is there anyway ...
A: Rebecca, You can prune the top off. If it were mine I would cut it down to no more than 4 foot ...
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| brown bumps on hibiscus | 7/10/2007 |
Q: I have a hibiscus tree/plant that I keep indoors. There are brown/black bumps spreading all over ...
A: Lisa, They are an insect called scale so you are on the right track. In fact you may have already ...
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| Peace Lily - getting black spots | 7/10/2007 |
Q: I purchased 2 Peace Lillies from the same source...about 2 weeks apart. Both of them are now ...
A: Crystal, You may have an insect called scale. Let me know if the black spots are small and see if ...
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| red flowers on anthurium | 7/9/2007 |
Q: I have two anthurium plants. The smaller one has beautiful leaves but does not grow any red flowers. ...
A: Vera, Anthuriums require little care, and bloom almost continuously in good conditions. They need ...
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| Dying Umbrella Tree | 7/9/2007 |
Q: We've had a 2ft tall umbrella tree for nearly two months now and it looks like it's dying. First it ...
A: Rosemary, You didn't say where you live or where you have it sitting but this tree loves the sun. ...
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| Split Leaf Philodendren repotting | 7/8/2007 |
Q: I repotted my split leaf which was extremely root bound. Now the split leaf seems to be doing well ...
A: Sheila, A split leaf philodendron or Monstera deliciosa is a vine and the large leaves do tend to ...
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| Indoor sago palm | 7/8/2007 |
Q: I bought my sago two years ago.It was planted like a bonsai - in a 12"x4" pot w/no drainage & rocks ...
A: Betty, Yes, I would repot it into a pot with drainage holes. I would either go to a pot just one ...
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| Indoor sago palm | 7/8/2007 |
Q: I bought my sago two years ago.It was planted like a bonsai - in a 12"x4" pot w/no drainage & rocks ...
A: Betty, As sago palms get older their leaves naturally get larger. However, since you are keeping it ...
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| Jasmine plant and tree | 7/7/2007 |
Q: I recently bought a jasmine plant which is wrapped around a circle shape and growing out of control. ...
A: Angela, Jasmine is a winter bloomer. You should be pruning it back regularly until August to make ...
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| Split Lead Philodendren repotting | 7/7/2007 |
Q: I repotted my split leaf which was extremely root bound. Now the split leaf seems to be doing well ...
A: Sheila, What size pot was it in before the repotting and what size pot did you move it to? How ...
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| Weak split leaf philodendron | 7/7/2007 |
Q: My split leaf philodendron is about 2-3 feet tall? (if it stood upright), it's in an 8" pot, 7 years ...
A: Jenny, Your plant is very small for it's age. Yes you can cut off the pot and root it in a pot of ...
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| Potted king palm | 7/6/2007 |
Q: I recently purchased a 1 gal. king palm and transplanted to a much larger pot (approx. 10 gal.). ...
A: Paul, First of all Paul, where do you live? This is not a house plant! This plant will be 25 foot ...
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| cutting Lucky bamboo/dracena | 7/6/2007 |
Q: I have a very tall single stalk lucky bamboo, it is very top heavy and I would like to know how and ...
A: Dana, Yes and yes. I would cut it right above a ring with a very sharp knife. Put the top back in ...
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| my philodendron | 7/5/2007 |
Q: Ihave been trying to grow my heartleaf philodevdron for over a year now ,in direct sunlight out of ...
A: Donwea, It will not stop growing. In fact it should cause it to send out 2 side shoots, 1 on each ...
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| aloe care | 7/4/2007 |
Q: It has done really well up until a month or so ago when all the leaves started drooping. All the ...
A: Kelli, Sounds like the deeper pot is also holding more water and it is getting overwatered. Cut way ...
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| plam tree | 7/4/2007 |
Q: My friend got for me indoor palm tree about 3 weeks ago.I have noticed that one leave has became ...
A: Gitana, It depends on what type of palm tree it is. It could be caused by not enough sun. It could ...
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| Are Majesty Palms poisonous | 7/4/2007 |
Q: I recently bought a Majesty Palm (Ravenea rivularis) and started researching it. One site said ...
A: Danielle, I have done an extensive search and found no sites that say that a Majesty Palm is ...
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| Pachira aquatica | 7/3/2007 |
Q: My daughter's plant has lost it's leaves but some have now regrown on the top so the plant is about ...
A: Mino, It is not very likely that it will root in a water vase. This plant is a tree that is meant ...
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| hens and chicks | 7/2/2007 |
Q: I never knew that hens and chicks bloomed, but mine has shoot up something that looks like its going ...
A: June, Yes, mature hen and chics bloom when they are in full sun, well drained soil and allowed to ...
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| browning on diffenbacchia | 7/2/2007 |
Q: I just bought two diffenbaccias home andthe leaves are turning brown. The soil is moist and I was ...
A: Denice, Browning on dieffenbachia leaves is usually caused by either too much water or too much ...
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| calla lily | 7/2/2007 |
Q: We have spoken before about a succulent plant. I don't know what is happening. Since I've moved ...
A: Anushka, Is it a calla lily or a peace lily? I am going to assume it is a calla lily. A calla lily ...
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| peace lilly | 6/20/2007 |
Q: I have a peace lilly which I've had for one year I was really excited when I got the flower it came ...
A: Debbie, When it is rootboun which it likes and with proper care this plant can bloom year around. ...
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| coconut palm | 6/19/2007 |
Q: I have just bought a coconut palm. Can I keep it inside or does it need to be planted outside? How ...
A: Sarah, It will be fine for awhile but it will grow rapidly. Do not fertilize it. That will only ...
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| outdoor yucca plant care | 6/19/2007 |
Q: Our church has two mature yucca plants growing into each other, and all the lower leaves are ...
A: Hope, No, you will just have a bare trunk. Bare trunk can be pretty. If you have ever been through ...
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| Lucky Bamboo | 6/18/2007 |
Q: I have two Lucky Bamboo plants in one vase with typical rocks and water. One of my plants' stalk is ...
A: Jennifer, Once it starts turning yellow it is very difficult to get it to turn green again. First ...
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| Peace Lily | 6/17/2007 |
Q: I recently got a peace lily and probably did what many do I watered it to much. I have taken it out ...
A: Nicole, Those are very difficult questions to answer without seeing the plant. What I can tell you ...
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| Yucca Elephantipes pruning | 6/17/2007 |
Q: I live in Florida. In my front yard I have 2 yucca 8 years old and big enough for me to assume they ...
A: Monroe, You will need sturdy pruners or a good saw to cut it off with. Just cut wherever you feel ...
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| coconut palm | 6/17/2007 |
Q: I have just bought a coconut palm. Can I keep it inside or does it need to be planted outside? How ...
A: Sarah, Unless you have a greenhouse or very large skylight it will not get enough sun indoors. It ...
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| Pony tail palm | 6/16/2007 |
Q: We have Pony tail palm it is 32 years old,means a heck of a lot to us, our house burn down a month ...
A: Keith, Yes, I would cut the soggy top off down to where there is firm tissue. Then put it outside ...
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| Trimming Pachira | 6/12/2007 |
Q: It's the kind that likes it dry, it has 5 leaves, one stem, was sold as a small house plant. I hear ...
A: Karla, You should be able to do some tip pruning safely but not real heavy pruning of large ...
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| Growing mint | 6/12/2007 |
Q: I recently purchased a mint plant.. and wanted to know more about propagating the plant. can u ...
A: Nita, A plain clay pot no larger than an 8" diameter pot for this year. Do you have a patio or ...
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| Madagascar Palm pruning | 6/12/2007 |
Q: I have a madagascar palm which is about 23 years old. I put it outside all summer and bring it ...
A: Susan, I will be seeing Ed this Saturday and will discuss your problem with him. In the meantime I ...
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| Chinese evergreen | 6/12/2007 |
Q: I have a chinese evergreen. I've noticed some of the leaves have developed slits in them and turned ...
A: Sylvia, I know of no natural causes for this condition. Do you have cats or dogs that could be ...
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| Aloe Vera Plant | 6/11/2007 |
Q: The juice from my aloe vera plant stinks extremely bad. It has never smelled before. I have had ...
A: Sonja, Aloe can never get too much direct sun, it comes from the plains of Africa. It may be ...
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| Growing mint | 6/11/2007 |
Q: I recently purchased a mint plant.. and wanted to know more about propagating the plant. can u ...
A: Nita, Mint spreads very easily and the usual method of propagation is division. It likes full sun, ...
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| Madagascar Palm pruning | 6/10/2007 |
Q: I have a madagascar palm which is about 23 years old. I put it outside all summer and bring it ...
A: Susan, Where do you live? Does your plant have several arms on it or just the main trunk? Are you ...
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| money tree | 6/10/2007 |
Q: i have a money tree that is over 5 ft tall full of leaves. my problem is that is top heavy and the ...
A: Katherine, You can either wire the branches together leaving the amout of space between them that ...
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| needing info | 6/10/2007 |
Q: I BOUGHT A SMALL PLANT AT WAL-MART CALLED RHOEO TRI-COLOR. NO ONE COULD TELL ME HOW OFTEN TO WATER ...
A: Wanda, It likes lots of sun, it would even do well outside in a semi sunny place. It needs to be in ...
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| North Fork Pine | 6/9/2007 |
Q: I have a 20 year old North Fork Pine that is turning yellow and the fonts are falling off.This plant ...
A: Connie, How tall is your Norfolk Pine tree? What is the diameter of the pot it is in? Does the pot ...
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| house plant | 6/9/2007 |
Q: I just purchased a plant from a local nursery here in Louisiana. The employee told me it was a ...
A: Sharron, This is not a real common house plant, I have one myself and have enjoyed it for many ...
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| My fiddleleaf plant | 6/8/2007 |
Q: I keep my fiddle leaf outside here in Phx. AZ. I actually got it out of someones trash. It was ...
A: Patti, The brown spots are an insect called scale. You can use Q-tips dipped in rubbing alcohol to ...
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| Yucca Tree | 6/8/2007 |
Q: We have a Yucca tree in our office which has grown to over 8ft tall, it is now touching teh celling. ...
A: Jessica, Yes, pruning is the best option and this is the best time of year to prune it. Is this ...
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| Ponytail palm plants | 6/8/2007 |
Q: My ponytail plant is out on my covered deck. We have indirect sunlight on my deck. We live in ...
A: Mary Ann, Put your ponytail palm or beaucarnea recurvata out in full sun and treat it like a ...
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| Jasmine | 6/8/2007 |
Q: I just recieved a Jasmine from a fmaily friend. It is extremely fragerant with white flowers and ...
A: Steve, For starters it should be outdoors in full sun this time of year as long as the night time ...
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| rubber plant bumps | 6/4/2007 |
Q: I have recently repotted my rubber plant (not realizing it I used garden soil instead of potting ...
A: Kellly, Yes, you should change the soil to potting soil. Garden soil does not drain well enough ...
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| My Bamboo Plant | 6/4/2007 |
Q: i have a three stock indoor bamboo plant and one of the stocks has died and i was wondering if im ...
A: Tearran, You say it has died, has it turned black and mushy or has it shhriveled? Let me know ...
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| Portulacaria Afra is too spindly | 6/3/2007 |
Q: I was just wondering if you had any thought/insight about a portulacaria afra (elephant's bush?) I ...
A: Brad, Increase your feeding to twice a month because of the porous soil mix you are using and water ...
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| donkey's tail | 6/3/2007 |
Q: i have a sedum burrito in my Chicago apartment. It is a year old plant and it has become a spindly, ...
A: Niki, It is not getting enough sun. To form the beautiful whorls of leaves you describe it needs ...
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| Please help save my ivy. | 6/3/2007 |
Q: I recently purchased this ivy plant and have found the leaves to dry quickly and become weak. The ...
A: Hazelle, Inspect your ivys by holding them up in strong light and looking at the surface of the ...
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| ficus Lyrata | 6/2/2007 |
Q: I had my fiddle leaf ficus for about 9months now. Originally it was in a 6in pot, now its in a 12in ...
A: Niecey, Where you live this plant should be outside. It loves the sun. Fourteen feet from a window ...
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| Portulacaria Afra is too spindly | 6/2/2007 |
Q: I was just wondering if you had any thought/insight about a portulacaria afra (elephant's bush?) I ...
A: Brad, You did not say how much light it gets or how often you water or fertilize. I would suggest ...
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| hydrengeas | 6/1/2007 |
Q: i bought a blue hydrangea, two days after planting it in the front of my house it started to wilt, ...
A: Maria, It is not a house plant so I am not sure. It sounds to me like you may be overwatering it. ...
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| Jade Plant | 6/1/2007 |
Q: I have a small jade (8'' high) that I got from the nursery about 3 weeks ago. I had it sitting in a ...
A: Krista, Yes, it got sunburned, outside jades need a bit more shade and to be moved into the sun ...
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| ponytail palm rooting | 5/31/2007 |
Q: read your response to another person's post about ponytail palms. My grandmother has had one as a ...
A: Nicole, I would trim them back so they are still long enough to nearly touch the table but not be ...
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| ponytail palm rooting | 5/31/2007 |
Q: read your response to another person's post about ponytail palms. My grandmother has had one as a ...
A: Nicole, Maybe, her plant has been overwatered during the move. If the top is still firm I would try ...
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| Cat palm plant sickness | 5/31/2007 |
Q: I saw this description online: Expert: Will Creed Date: 5/23/2007 Subject: Insects on my palm plant ...
A: Diana, It does sound like you have mealy bugs. For pictures go to this site: ...
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| Massangeana Cane Flowers | 5/31/2007 |
Q: I bought a massangeana cane (corn plant) seven years ago. It has three stalks and one died a while ...
A: Karen, Members of the Dracaena family do occasionally bloom very sweet smelling blooms when they ...
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| Grazula ( Fungus ) | 5/30/2007 |
Q: My grazula which I FOUND one week ago on the street in amsterdam has a white gel (FUNGUS) tHE LEAVES ...
A: Ben, I have no idea what a grazula is and I could not find any houseplant of that name on the ...
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| rooting | 5/30/2007 |
Q: I'm writing to ask about my Kalanchoe plant. I can't tell which type, i'm not really sure but it ...
A: Anushka, This is a succulent plant that doesn't like to be overwatered. It roots easily in a pot of ...
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| Schefflera plant | 5/30/2007 |
Q: My plant is about 10 years old. I have cut stems off that were growing crooked and put them in ...
A: Mary, Set the plant with the bare trunk outside in full sun and in a few weeks it will grow new ...
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| pony tail palm,elephant foot | 5/30/2007 |
Q: i live near daytona fl.can i plant in the ground ...
A: Dick, If there is a hard freeze you will need to protect it. A hard feeze will kill it. You could ...
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| spathiphyllum plant | 5/29/2007 |
Q: have been watering when soil becomes moist but leaves are drooping and turning yellow. It is not in ...
A: Ann, I have some questions and you will have to answer to my private email because I have had all ...
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| umbrella tree | 5/29/2007 |
Q: I have had my umbrella tree for 3-4 years now, it's about 4 feet tall. I am sure this thing has ...
A: Jane, Bird of Paradise likes to go outside for the summer too and I would try the same Bayer ...
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| yukka plant splitting | 5/29/2007 |
Q: I have a yukka which consists of two trunks and would like your opinion as to the best time and way ...
A: Joyce, Right now is the best time to do any splitting or transplanting of yucca plants or any other ...
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| bamboo leaves turning brown | 5/29/2007 |
Q: so ive have a bamboo plant growing in water for the past 3 yrs mainly in my room with minimal ...
A: Jonathon, There are a lot of issues that can damage lucky bamboo which is not bamboo at all but ...
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| umbrella tree | 5/28/2007 |
Q: I have had my umbrella tree for 3-4 years now, it's about 4 feet tall. I am sure this thing has ...
A: Jane, No, Zone 7 is not warm enough in the winter for this plant outside. Do you know what kind of ...
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| Elephant ear plants | 5/25/2007 |
Q: i have 2 questions for you. How do you propagate them? and , How long does it take to produce a ...
A: Additional website: http://www.emilycompost.com/elephant_ear.htm Brian, ...
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| aloe plant turning brown | 5/24/2007 |
Q: i have two small aloe plants and they are planted in the same pot. recently i have noticed the ...
A: Diane, The only reasons that aloes turn brown are too little water. Too much water would make them ...
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| plalnting a rubber tree | 5/24/2007 |
Q: i have a rubber tree plant about 2'ft tall and need to be repotted due to roots comming out of it. ...
A: Raye, Roots coming out the drain hole does not necessarily mean the plant has to be repotted. You ...
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| Pineapple Palm | 5/24/2007 |
Q: I have what I have been told is a pineapple palm. I have had it two years now. I have had it send ...
A: Debbie, It should be getting more sun, it would like sun all day long. It should not be watered ...
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| Rusty leaf problem | 5/23/2007 |
Q: I have a Rubber Plant that has rust colored spots all over the older leaves. I have new ones ...
A: Brandy, It sounds like you have a fungal problem and the gnats are caused by overwatering. The ...
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| dying house plant | 5/23/2007 |
Q: Here is the deal. The house I live in as a plant that is dying. I think it is because of some type ...
A: Brandon, I suspect your plant is a schefflera and the little brown /tan tear drop shaped flakes ...
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| RUBBER TREE PLANT S | 5/22/2007 |
Q: WHAT IS THE TALLEST RUBBER TREE PLANT HAVE YOU HEARD OR SEEN? MY WIFE AND I HAVE ONE THAT OS @ 7FT ...
A: David, In the tropics when planted in the ground they can get up to 80 feet + tall. We have one in ...
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| Sun Parasol Crimson Mandevilla | 5/22/2007 |
Q: I just bought this gorgeous plant--1 gallon container. I know it needs support, but am having ...
A: Barbara, Where do you live? Mandevillas are difficult to keep indoors over the winter, they do not ...
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| indoor palms | 5/22/2007 |
Q: I have the same question about indoor palms. I am now living in Los Angeles and have a 6' tall (or ...
A: Anne, I assum your question is why it is turning brown? That really depends on what type of palm it ...
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| Peace Lilly | 5/21/2007 |
Q: Hey Darlene, I have a peace lilly that isnt budding at all, probably because I had a puppy that ...
A: Ashleigh, It sounds like it is in too large a pot. Peace Lillie like to be rootbound and bloom ...
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| Aloe propagation | 5/21/2007 |
Q: My father gave me two outside pieces from his Aloe plant--How do I get them to root?
A: Dee, Just insert the base of each piece into a pot of sandy cactus soil and barely water it. The ...
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| Bamboo | 5/20/2007 |
Q: there is a sticky, white substance on my bamboo plant. Do I wipe it off with a clean cloth, leave ...
A: Dawn, A sticky substance indicates a presence of insects. Inspect closely for any other signs of ...
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| nats in houseplant soil | 5/20/2007 |
Q: I took ur advice & put rubbing alcohol in the soil of my house plants which had many nats. The ...
A: Mary, You are still overwatering the plants. Alcohol in the soil will only help if you stop ...
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| Ivy and Chinese Evergreen | 5/19/2007 |
Q: Actually I have 2 questions. First, I have about 25 ivy. A strange thing is happening to almost all ...
A: Mick, Your Chinese Evergreen may have reached it's maximum mature size for the pot it is in. Plants ...
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| what kind is it ? | 5/19/2007 |
Q: I have a plant that i got after my grandfather died the directions said bright/no direct light water ...
A: Jeannie, It is probably a peace lily. Look at the picture at the site below and let me know if that ...
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| Spineless Yucca Cane | 5/18/2007 |
Q: I bought this plant from Home Depot 6 months ago and it seemed healthy. I think I way overwatered ...
A: Laurel, Put it on your deck where you can enjoy it but for awhile cover it with white fabric from 1 ...
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| holes in my money tree leaves | 5/18/2007 |
Q: I recently bought a money tree from the super market. Since I've brought it home its top leaves ...
A: Jami, You may have had insect eggs on the plant when you bought it and the larva hatched without ...
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| scheffler arboricola umbrella plant | 5/18/2007 |
Q: I have 2 small clippings from an umbrella plant. My question is: Can they be rerooted to start ...
A: Barbara, Some people root them in water, I have the pest luck rooting them using rooting hormone ...
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| Spineless Yucca Cane | 5/17/2007 |
Q: I bought this plant from Home Depot 6 months ago and it seemed healthy. I think I way overwatered ...
A: Laurel, First, I have a question, where do you live? State and city? Are you in a house or ...
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| plants suitable for airconditioning draft | 5/16/2007 |
Q: I have a bright, east facing, 8-foot-wide window that begs for a plant, (preferably not a hanging ...
A: Carrie, You might want to try another nursery before you give up on an aspidistra, I have seen ...
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| Schefflera growth and form | 5/16/2007 |
Q: I have a one year old schefflera which I took this time last year as a cutting and it is gorgeous! ...
A: Ty, Some do tend to grow straight up and form trees more than shrubs. I grow bonsai trees so I like ...
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| rabbit foot fern | 5/15/2007 |
Q: Is it best to water this fern from the bottom or top?
A: Donna, I water mine from the top. In fact I water most of my plants from the top. In the summer ...
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| Vacation watering | 5/15/2007 |
Q: I will be on vacation for the next two weeks and have several plants and trees in the house. 3 yucca ...
A: You can set up a drip irrigation system on a timer to water them but you need to set that up ahead ...
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| Please help! | 5/15/2007 |
Q: there is a plant my grandmother had and she calls it a "penny tree" ive looked everywhere online for ...
A: Nicole, I think your grandmother's plant may be MONEY PLANT or Lunaria annua. It is a bienniel ...
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| plants suitable for airconditioning draft | 5/14/2007 |
Q: I have a bright, east facing, 8-foot-wide window that begs for a plant, (preferably not a hanging ...
A: Carrie, I have had scheffleras outdoors at temps down to 45 and they did fine so I am surprised ...
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| Indoor Ficus Tree Trouble | 5/14/2007 |
Q: I have a 6 foot ficus tree that has been slowly dying for awhile now a branch at a time, with no ...
A: Karen, I do not have any experience with this problem and you have not said where you live? The ...
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| yucca | 5/13/2007 |
Q: i have just purchased a 1.5 ft yucca and was wondering can i cut the trunk in half to make 2 ...
A: Joel, If you cut the top 12 inches off your yucca, then remove the lower 2-4 leaves, dip the stem ...
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| Shamrock Plant | 5/12/2007 |
Q: I recently bought a Sharock Plant (around St. Patrick's Day) it said easily cared for plant. It ...
A: Carol, Your Shamrock likes full sun so open the blinds and give it as much sun as possible. The ...
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| Split-leaf Philodendron in shock. | 5/11/2007 |
Q: I am really concerned, I took advice from a neighbor and split my large indoor Split-Leaf ...
A: Lauren, Are leaves in both pots turning yellow or just one? What size pot was the plant in before ...
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| Ficus - black dots | 5/11/2007 |
Q: I have a mature Ficus tree that is doing well in our Brooklyn apartment in front of an East window. ...
A: Erica, Yes, it is an insect called scale. You need to use a Q-tip dipped in straight rubbing ...
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| can i save my dying pachira? | 5/9/2007 |
Q: i bought a pachira twisted tree about two months ago. It was in the kitchen with lots of light ...
A: Stephanie, If the trunk is soft it is too late, it is rotted from being overwatered. If you get ...
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| Peace Lilly | 5/8/2007 |
Q: I just received a beautiful variegated peace Lilly for the death of my brother. I miss him so much ...
A: Sara, My sympathy on the loss of your brother. The peace lily (latin name:Spathiphyllum ...
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| aloe vera | 5/8/2007 |
Q: i recently moved my indoor aloe vera outdoors (along with all my succulents) it is turning purple! ...
A: Stefanie, You might want to move it to an are where it will not get quite as much sun in the ...
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| Balcony plants | 5/7/2007 |
Q: HELP!!!i dont know if u can help, cuse it might be out of your expertice, i have, it seems, many ...
A: Vassia, It seems you have an assortment of insects and some may be due to overwatering so my best ...
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| Peace Lily Black Spots | 5/7/2007 |
Q: My 1 year old Peace Lily is in an 8" clay pot. It has developed black leaf for the past 2 ...
A: Doreen, Is it in a pot with a drainage hole in the bottom and do you empty the drainge tray and ...
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| Brown spots on my birds of paradise | 5/7/2007 |
Q: I'm frustrated of my plants, as soon the new leave open fully the leaves starts developed brown ...
A: Jennifer, It sounds like your bird of paradise has an insect problem called scale. Take a Q-tip and ...
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| bouganvilea care | 5/6/2007 |
Q: We bought a bougainvillea bush about 6months ago... it was in a 3 gallon pot. We transplanted it ...
A: Mark, It sounds like they are doing well if they send out new blooms again right away. It is normal ...
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| Azalea tree with braided trunk | 5/6/2007 |
Q: I recently bought a Azalea tree with a braided trunk. How do I keep braiding the trunk as it grows?
A: Janice, If you want to continue braiding it you will have to cut off all side branches and direct ...
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| Beer Fertilizer | 5/5/2007 |
Q: I keep reading about a homemade fertilizer that is made from a 12oz can of beer (not light), 1 cup ...
A: Amanda, I have heard of it, I have not used it. It would be effective although I would use I ...
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| Pruning a China Doll indoor tree | 5/4/2007 |
Q: I have had a China Doll tree about 4 years, in the office, and it is now into the fluorescent lights ...
A: Paula, Is there foliage all the way down to the soil line of the plant? No, cutting the main trunk ...
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| Beloved Umbrella Plant | 5/3/2007 |
Q: I got a Variegated Umbrella Plant on sale and I love it. Although it got spider mites. Almost all ...
A: Jan, If it were mine I would spray it with rubbing alcohol straight out of the bottle and not ...
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| corn plant-dracaena massangeana | 5/3/2007 |
Q: I have a 32 year old plant. It only had one stalk with leaves. It was very tall and it broke. I ...
A: Gail, You propagate a plant by getting a cutting to grow roots. You have done that. The base that ...
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| String of beads plant | 5/2/2007 |
Q: You answered my question but brought up another. You said to repot the plant. Should I still repot ...
A: Carol, If all the stems are brown and brittle then don't bother but take the green stems that are ...
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| indoor palm question | 5/2/2007 |
Q: I have an indoor palm tree, that I bought at Home Depot, and as the weeks went by I noticed the ...
A: Janie, It depends on what kind of indoor palm it is but more likely it is too much water. They ...
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| My Moses in the Bullrushes | 5/1/2007 |
Q: Darlene- My Moses in the Bullrushes is growing beautifully-but- is it supposed to grow straight up ...
A: Vickie, It is a vine and is meant to hang over the edge of the pot. It is beautiful filling a ...
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| Pachira aquatica | 4/30/2007 |
Q: I have had pachira aquatica bonsai for about six months and it seems to be thriving. It has nearly ...
A: Charlie, Yes, it should be repotted. Use a screwdriver to pry off the glued together stones. If it ...
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| umbrella plant | 4/30/2007 |
Q: my umbrella plant is large (5 1/2') and it appears to be healthy, except that it is losing leaves ...
A: Julie, The 2 things that plant hates the most are too much water and too little sun. One is your ...
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| Dying house plant | 4/30/2007 |
Q: I have a houseplant called a String of Beads in my Kitchen the window in the kitchen faces west and ...
A: Carol, It should be repotted in sandy cactus soil in the center of the pot with the separate little ...
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| Rubbertree plant | 4/29/2007 |
Q: I have had this rubbertree plant for a year. Recently there are no leaves and just stems. The ...
A: Lontoya, You said there are no leaves, just stems then you said the stems are no good. What is ...
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| scale on Scheflera plant | 4/29/2007 |
Q: How does one treat "scale" on scheflera plants?
A: Larry, By using Q-tips dipped in straight rubbing alcohol and flicking each scale off the leaf. ...
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| it's dying! waaahh!!! | 4/28/2007 |
Q: My daughter has given me a house plant that she's had for quite some time and can't seem to be able ...
A: Diane, http://www.paghat.com/kalanchoe.html Check out that site and let me know if that is your ...
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| umbrella plant | 4/28/2007 |
Q: I have recently purchased an umbrella plant (2 mths ago) in a small bonsai pot. I water it about ...
A: Ken, You might try giving it a dose of iron or fertilizer. What type of soil is your schefflera in? ...
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| umbrella plant | 4/27/2007 |
Q: I have recently purchased an umbrella plant (2 mths ago) in a small bonsai pot. I water it about ...
A: Ken, Does the surface of the soil have glued together stones on it or can you feel the surface of ...
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| Rooting and Resprouting a Corn Plant Cane | 4/27/2007 |
Q: Good day Darlene, At work we have some corn plants. One of plants had a bare stalk with wax on top ...
A: Amanda, Take it home and plant the lower 4-5 inches in a pot of potting soil mixed 50/50 with ...
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| Some sort of tree??? | 4/26/2007 |
Q: I was given a very nice plant/tree with a 6 inch trunk/stalk, with layered wood texture to it and ...
A: Danielle, I noticed you rated me very low without even giving me a chance to identify your tree ...
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| Soil dry in house plants | 4/26/2007 |
Q: My house plants repel water... A few weeks after transplanting into new Miracle Grow Potting Soil my ...
A: Susan, The soil you purchased has mostly peat moss in it. When it dries out too much it has to be ...
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| Schefflera (umbrella plant) | 4/26/2007 |
Q: not sure how old it is, but the darn thing has a bare spot in the middle of the plant, and then the ...
A: Michelle, Yes, I mean cut off the top part of the plant. You can cut the top part into 8-12 inch ...
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| Schefflera (umbrella plant) | 4/25/2007 |
Q: not sure how old it is, but the darn thing has a bare spot in the middle of the plant, and then the ...
A: Michelle, This is going to sound very drastic but cut the plant back to the bare spot in the ...
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| CANE PLANT | 4/25/2007 |
Q: Have you ever heard of a cane plant producing flowers? Will the stem that these flowers are on die ...
A: Gary, I am not sure what plant you are talking about. It could be a corn plant (dracaena) or a ...
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| Pitcher Plant | 4/24/2007 |
Q: I have recently inherited a "Pitcher" plant. It is absolutely stunning but, I know nothing about ...
A: Rain, Where you live is humid enough that you shouldn't need a terrarium, I would here in Indiana ...
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| Pitcher Plant | 4/24/2007 |
Q: I have recently inherited a "Pitcher" plant. It is absolutely stunning but, I know nothing about ...
A: Rain, There are many varieties of Pitcher Plants and they can be very difficult plants to grow ...
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| Peace Lily Problems | 4/23/2007 |
Q: I have this peace lily that i got about 3 years ago. It was huge when I got it. It had 3 blooms on ...
A: Adam, Use Miracle Grow water soluable fertilizer and dissolve it in the water the first time you ...
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| Guzmania | 4/23/2007 |
Q: I have a Guzmania that has been doing very well, but noticed its center cup appears to have a green ...
A: Donny, Is the powder loose? If so dump it out? Does it look like a mold that appears on bread? If ...
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| Peace Lily Problems | 4/22/2007 |
Q: I have this peace lily that i got about 3 years ago. It was huge when I got it. It had 3 blooms on ...
A: Adam, I need to know how you have been taking care of it to tell you what you have been doing ...
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| white jasmine plant | 4/22/2007 |
Q: i have recently purchased a white flowering jasmine plant and have placed it on my balcony. It has ...
A: Laila, The soil should not be spongy. Just not bone dry. It sounds like you are overwatering it. ...
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| yucca | 4/22/2007 |
Q: I have a yucca plant that my dog has gotten at. It is now just 2 stalks. One about a ft high the ...
A: Paddy, I would try to separate them from your dog peermanently. Then there is a 50/50 chance, if ...
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| HOUSE PLANT LOOSING LEAVES | 4/20/2007 |
Q: WHY IS MY HOUSE PLANT I TRANSPLANTED 2WKS AGO LOOSING ITS LEAVES SO FAST...I CUT DOWN ON WATERING ...
A: Steve, I need to know what kind of plant it is. What size pot it was in and what size you moved it ...
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| How do I .... | 4/20/2007 |
Q: How do I get rid of flying gnats from indoor house plants. They seem to be coming from the soil.
A: Jacquie, They are fungus gnats. They are there because the plants are being overwatered. Even when ...
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| Palm House plants | 4/19/2007 |
Q: We recently purchased a ruffled edged palm or raggd edged palm and the bottom leaves have started to ...
A: Victoria, I am not at all sure what type of palm you have. Do you know the latin name? I could find ...
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| Red shamrock | 4/18/2007 |
Q: I have just started growing plants indoor. I have had my shamrock for only a few weeks now and it ...
A: Tammy, You should not be waiting to water it until it is bone dry and limp. You should check the ...
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| Pineapple plant | 4/17/2007 |
Q: I just bought a pineapple plant from our Food Lion store in SC. It didn't come with any growing ...
A: Denise, When it is hot I would water it daily. I would keep it outdoors all the time as long as the ...
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| Trimming my Pachira Aquatica | 4/17/2007 |
Q: I have a Pachira aquatica for a house plant - i need to trim down the leaves but the last time i did ...
A: Fran, Pachira aquatica is a tree, not a house plant or even a shrub. I had the same problem. It is ...
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| Pineapple plant | 4/16/2007 |
Q: I just bought a pineapple plant from our Food Lion store in SC. It didn't come with any growing ...
A: Denise, I need to know where you live to tell you if it is indoors or out. They grow outdoors in ...
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| China Doll Plant | 4/15/2007 |
Q: I have a China doll Plant and I want to cut it back. I see where you said you can start new plants ...
A: Tanya, Go to a garden cnter and get a bottle of rooting hormone, a bag of perlite , a few small ...
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| Gargantuan Yukka! | 4/12/2007 |
Q: I have a beautiful yukka, that at 9ft tall has outgrown my house, I have read many articles now ...
A: Jane, Yes, pruning is the best option and this is the best time of year to prune it. Is this plant ...
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| repotting a peace lily | 4/11/2007 |
Q: The peace lily that I have tends to droop alot whether it is wet or dry. I would like to repot it. ...
A: Karen, It needs to be in a pot with a hole in the bottom and a drain tray under it. Then a layer of ...
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| peach pit | 4/10/2007 |
Q: i want to plant a peach tree from seed. i have some but i need to know do i use the whole pit, or do ...
A: James, Plant the whole pit. Bury it just 1 inch under the surface of the soil. Keep it lightly ...
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| Peace Lily | 4/10/2007 |
Q: My Peace Lily has little white spots on it. They resemble a small spider nest. I need to know how ...
A: Paige, The spider nests are mealy bugs and their egg sacks. Spray the entire plant daily with ...
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| peace lily | 4/10/2007 |
Q: Why is my peace lily still turning brown after I have fertilized it, repotted, gets a good amount of ...
A: Raquel, How often do you water it and how much water? What size pot is it in? What size pot was it ...
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| Putting a Draceana Outside in California | 3/27/2007 |
Q: Draceana that I've ever seen. I don't know it's history, but it must be 40 or so years old, since ...
A: Prentice, Dracaena fragrans `Massangeana' is the latin name and now that I know the exact variety I ...
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| Putting a Draceana Outside in California | 3/27/2007 |
Q: Draceana that I've ever seen. I don't know it's history, but it must be 40 or so years old, since ...
A: Prentice, Is this the draceana known as Dragon Tree or Draceana marginata? I assume it is in a pot ...
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| help me name a plant | 3/26/2007 |
Q: we got a tree from our father's funeral. it is braided and has leaves only at the top they are ...
A: Shelley, If it is braided it is either a braided ficus or a braided schefflera. Either plant likes ...
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| Succulents question | 3/26/2007 |
Q: I have a few variety of Jade plants and have noticed some of them drying up on the stalks. One ...
A: Tricia, I don't totally understand your questions. When you take cuttings of jade plants you let ...
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| dying spikes | 3/26/2007 |
Q: We have an office plant that is fairly big in size with spikes as leaves. We have had it for appox. ...
A: Dani, I'm not sure what kind of plant you mean. It is either suffering from too much or too little ...
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| PEACE LILLY PLANT | 3/25/2007 |
Q: i was given a peace lilly plant from a funeral my husband grandmother, i'm not really a green thumb ...
A: Renee, When it comes to houseplants, the number of questions I receive about peace lilies ...
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| Plant that loves sun- indoors | 3/25/2007 |
Q: I need a suggestion please. My living room faces NW but it has 8' X 14' windows and four overhead ...
A: Gail, I wish I knew what your had tried, do you want tall or short. A variegated ficus tree would ...
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| yellowing leaves | 3/24/2007 |
Q: I HAVE A SPIDER PLANT, CAN YOU TELL ME WHY THE LEAVES ARE TURNING YELLOW??????????
A: Edward, You are keeping it too wet or too dry. I can't tell which without further information. It ...
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| china doll plant | 3/24/2007 |
Q: I like to know if you can prune them back any. Mine is about 5 to 6 foot tall. Don't ask me how I ...
A: Margina, China Dolls are not really houseplants. They are actually very large trees. When you buy ...
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| Massangeana Cane & Cats | 3/23/2007 |
Q: Is the Massangeana Cane poisonous to cats? I have two cats and my mom just bought this plant. Can ...
A: Jaimie, Yes, they are on lists of plants that are poisonous to cats. Generally cats know what is ...
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| Pothos (Epipremnum) Indoor Plant | 3/23/2007 |
Q: I brought this plant because I know that they are a really easy plant to take care of, but recently ...
A: Tracey, It sounds like it may have had mealy bugs, the white powder stuff, and you may have ...
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| Lylac | 3/23/2007 |
Q: I have a Lylac (Purple Jasmin)in my outdoor in back yard, in California, which I love it very much. ...
A: Rida, Yes, you can use the same food on your roses. Follow the instructions on the box for feeding ...
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| yellow balls in soil | 3/23/2007 |
Q: I am noticing that most of my house plants have clumps of little yellow balls in the soil. They are ...
A: Jill, Yes, you can send me a picture to plantlady6@yahoo.com Mealy bugs really don't look like an ...
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| yellow balls in soil | 3/22/2007 |
Q: I am noticing that most of my house plants have clumps of little yellow balls in the soil. They are ...
A: Jill, I suspect the yellow balls are either mealy bugs in the soil or eggs of mealy bugs. I would ...
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| brunfelsia | 3/22/2007 |
Q: I am currently in Florida and want to take a brunfelsia home to Maine to grow as an indoor plant. ...
A: Wes, I have 2 that I am growing as bonsai trees in northern IN. Mine bloom in the spring. They need ...
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| Lylac | 3/21/2007 |
Q: I have a Lylac (Purple Jasmin)in my outdoor in back yard, in California, which I love it very much. ...
A: Rida, Lilacs should be pruned right after blooming, never in January. They form the buds for next ...
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| banana plant | 3/21/2007 |
Q: I have a 10 foot banana plant and the old leaves are about 5 feet long. recently there seems to be ...
A: John, I suspect your plant is getting too much water. The self watering pots tend to keep the ...
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| Aloe Vera plants / Upright elephant ear plant | 3/21/2007 |
Q: i have a some of questions for you. First, How do you root an aloe Vera plant/pup? Almost all of ...
A: Brian, You must give your aloe pups more time to grow roots, wait till they are at least 2-3 inches ...
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| AMARYLLIS PLANT | 3/20/2007 |
Q: MY AMARYLLIS HAS FINISHED BLOOMING AND HAS MANY GREEN SHOOTS OR LEAVES,PLEASE TELL ME WHAT TO DO TO ...
A: Matt, When the temperature outdoors is above 50 degrees at night consistently you need to put your ...
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| Flying gnats in my pothos soil | 3/20/2007 |
Q: How can I get rid of flying gnats that are in my store bought soil along with my pothos plant?
A: Kim, They are fungus gnats. They are there because the plants are being overwatered. Even when the ...
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