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About Darlene K. Kittle
(Top Expert on this page)

Expertise
I have been a Master Gardener for 19 years and I raise around 300 houseplants a year including tropicals, succulents, and cacti.

Experience
She is also studying the Japanese art of bonsai with tropical plants and is President of the Fort Wayne, IN Bonsai Club.

You are here: Experts > Style > Interior Decorating > House Plants

Questions Answered By Expert Darlene K. Kittle
In Category House Plants

Subject	Date Asked

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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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. ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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. ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
'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 ...
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 ...
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 & ...
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 ...
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 ...
Kalanchoe Blossfeldiana	5/2/2008
Q: I'm from Indonesia, temperature 30ºC (day) and 27ºC (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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
Kalanchoe Blossfeldiana	4/30/2008
Q: I'm from Indonesia, temperature 30ºC (day) and 27ºC (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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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? ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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" ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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. ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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. ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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) ...
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 ...
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 ...