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House Plants/Questions Answered by Expert Tracy

SubjectDate Asked
Christmas Cactus advise.1/13/2012
  Q: My Christmas cactus was outside while gone for holiday and was hit by frost. The leaves are wilted ...
  A: When plants are exposed to frost, it has about a 50% chance of recovering. A few things that can ...
house plants11/18/2011
  Q: I left my plants outside last night and had frost,how can i save them.thank you.
  A: Unfortunately there is no sure way to save the plants. First make sure the plants are in a warm ...
rainwater11/17/2011
  Q: I have harvested rainwater for my various houseplants, would warming the water be any use.
  A: Although a lot of gardeners recommend using rain water to water houseplants, using rain water can be ...
overwatered plants6/30/2011
  Q: I was given a plant arrangement in a basket with a plastic liner. It had 7 different plants I know ...
  A: I will need to know what plants you have that are left. The constant wet soil has caused the roots ...
Palm like plant with tiny bugs on the bottom of the pot3/24/2011
  Q: I saw my neighbors had neglected a large palm like plant and I asked for it. I put it in a large ...
  A: Unfortunately, right away in the beginning you made a few common mistakes. First off you took a ...
corn plants yellow leaves3/21/2011
  Q: I have have yellows leaves all over the plant even the new growth is yellow. I need help it looks ...
  A: It sounds like you have an overwatering issue that caused stem rot and possibly root rot also. I ...
Janet Craig Dracena3/18/2011
  Q: I read your answer about brown leaf tips on the Janet Craig. However, I have a new Janet Craig ...
  A: Most cities, even the small towns, in the USA have fluoride in the water whether you know it is ...
Browning Tips on Hawaiian Dwarf3/15/2011
  Q: I asked a question about browning tips on a hawaiian dwarf plant and it would not allow me to upload ...
  A: Browning leaf tips are more often caused by too low humidity and problems with water quality than ...
House plant with eastern exposure3/14/2011
  Q: I have a table in the L.R. in front of a picture window. The window is Eastern exposure. Is there ...
  A: There are lots of plants that would do very well in front of an eastern facing window. An east ...
Pachira Braided Money Tree3/12/2011
  Q: Are the leaves of the Pachira Briaded Money Tree plant toxic to cats?
  A: Pachira is one of those plants that some sources claim are poisonous and some say it is not. However ...
calamondin citrus mitis3/9/2011
  Q: i bought a citrus plant a few weeks ago the leaves have curled and most have fallen off can you ...
  A: Without more information on how the plant has been cared for I can only give you a limited answer of ...
peace Palm3/6/2011
  Q: We have two new kittens who have taken quite an interest in our large Peace Palm. Are these plants ...
  A: Several palms are listed as poisonous but regardless if a plant is considered poisonous or not any ...
Amaryllis won´t bloom3/4/2011
  Q: wonder if you can help. I started 3 of my amaryllis indoor like I do every year and they started ...
  A: To be honest I have more experience with foliage plants than blooming plants and I have never grown ...
Peace Lily3/2/2011
  Q: My Peace Lily leaves are trying to curl. It isn't in direct sunlight, I mist the leaves and have a ...
  A: The most common reasons for leaf curling and brown leaf tips are too low humidity and over watering. ...
Hard well water questions2/28/2011
  Q: How hard is too hard? I water my 66+ plants with tap water from a well. There is no chlorine or ...
  A: Adding more chemicals to plant water is never a good answer. Actually the chemicals that are usually ...
kangaroo paw fern2/26/2011
  Q: my kangaroo paw fern has brown bumps on the underside of the leaves. is this a pest? if not a ...
  A: Yes, it is very likely that the brown bumps you are seeing are Scale insects. Scale insects are ...
Please Identify this plant1/27/2011
  Q: I would be truly grateful if you could tell me what the name of this spectacular plant is. I bought ...
  A: Your plant is most commonly called a Ponytail Palm (also commonly called an Elephant's Foot plant). ...
Leaves fall off from umbrella tree1/26/2011
  Q: I have a umbrella tree and the leaves seem to fall off when the plant is touched or even moved . I ...
  A: There are many things that could cause this problem. The most likely cause is you could be ...
Rescue My Banana Plant1/25/2011
  Q: I live in New Jersey, near Philadelphia. I have many plants that I keep outside in the warmer ...
  A: Dwarf Banana plants generally like a lot of water so the problem was likely caused by the soil ...
House plant1/24/2011
  Q: My Gold Cappella branch is turning brown and loosing all of its leaves. What is wrong
  A: Gold Capella is a type of Schefflera. The most common cause of a Schefflera's leaves turning brown ...
money tree1/5/2011
  Q: I have being searching on money tree because i want to buy one, but someone told me that you can't ...
  A: The botanical name for the Money Tree is Pachira Aquatica. It is very popular as a Bonsai and with ...
Bugs in corn plant1/3/2011
  Q: I recently noticed that too many leaves on my corn plant were turning brown. I checked the soil and ...
  A: The best way to deal with this problem without using harsh chemicals is to repot the plant and ...
Rubber tree plant1/2/2011
  Q: I was given a rubber tree plant, and it developed root rot. We cut the main stem above where the rot ...
  A: Treat the plant like you would any propagation from this kind of plant. Place the cut end of the ...
Bud Drop Issue10/30/2010
  Q: My Epiphyllum oxypetalum experiences several bud drop. The buds turned yellow and dropped off. I ...
  A: There are 2 things you mention in your question that stands out to me as being the probable causes ...
Hoya Rope Plant10/1/2010
  Q: I bought 4 small Hoyas in San Antonio in the 60s. I now have about 12 or more vines trailing to the ...
  A: Spray the affected leaves with plain old Lysol spray every day until the fungus is gone and doesn't ...
Pachira Money tree9/25/2010
  Q: My Pachira has been fine for several months now and all of a sudden its leaves are turning ...
  A: Usually the most common cause of yellowing leaves on a Money Plant (Pachira) is improper watering. ...
Anita Draceana Pleomele Reflexa...browning leave tips9/23/2010
  Q: Purchaced this plant from Zellers about a month ago. It was very healthy looking...not a brown spot ...
  A: Part of the problem could be that the plant is stressed from the change in environment. It will ...
houseplants9/20/2010
  Q: I have various houseplants that I put outside during the spring and the summertime (they LOVE it) I ...
  A: Sorry it has taken me so long to answer your question. I was supposed to be on vacation and then ...
peace plant9/17/2010
  Q: we have a peace lily about 12 month old and in good condition, over the last few day,s it has been ...
  A: What kind of smell is it that you are smelling and where is it coming from? The flowers on a peace ...
Burrows Tail9/4/2010
  Q: I have purchased a Burrows Tail in a 6" pot which seems to be pretty small for the size of the ...
  A: A good rule of thumb for all plants is to avoid unnecessary repotting. It is one of the most common ...
corn plant9/3/2010
  Q: My plant is touching my celling what i would like to do is cut the tall one put it in another pot. ...
  A: Corn Plants are members of the Dracaena family (their botanical name is Dracaena Fragrans). Many ...
Do planets indoor planets do well in the heat8/31/2010
  Q: Hi i hop that you can help me i a few indoor planets an the lives are filling off what can i do to ...
  A: It would help me help you if you could tell me what kind of plants you are having the leaf drop ...
Can I put Ficus Benjamina in my balcony in a bigger bell shaped 50CM pot?7/29/2010
  Q: I know Ficus Benjamina will survive summer as I have seen them in outdoor in Dubai but the only ...
  A: A Ficus Benjamina would not likely survive a winter in London. Temperatures below 50 F (10 C) are ...
Repotting my peace lily and dieffenbachia7/27/2010
  Q: I have a few questions regarding my peace lily and dieffenbachia plants. I have purchased both this ...
  A: First off, the pots the plants are in look just fine for the plants. You usually do not want to ...
fungus on elephant ear plant7/26/2010
  Q: I have a fungus on my elephant ear plant , and I need to know how to get rid of the fungus. seem ...
  A: You can use a commercial anti-fungal spray (like Consan 20) or you can spray the affected areas with ...
sticky substance7/24/2010
  Q: I have an fairly large indoor, broad-leafed plant that is doing well and today I noticed that the ...
  A: Your plant has mealybugs. If you have other houseplants then you will need to carefully check all of ...
pruning braided azalea tree7/22/2010
  Q: My azalea got too dry and withered but it isn't dead. Can I save it by pruning the dry leaves and ...
  A: Unfortunately Azaleas is one of those plants that require constantly moist soil (moist, not wet) and ...
Croton7/3/2010
  Q: I have a medium size plant in a south window, just moved it in there from the east window. Watered ...
  A: Since you have just moved the plant from an east facing window to a southern facing window it is ...
umbrella tree7/1/2010
  Q: We had an umbrella tree given to us at his father's funeral, an we brought it home and repotted it. ...
  A: Leaves turning black and falling off of a Schefflera (Umbrella plants) is a sign that the plant is ...
Spider Plant leaves are turning brown6/29/2010
  Q: I have recently purchased a Spider plant and it was in excellent shape. I brought it home, and a few ...
  A: The most common cause of brown leaf tips on a Spider Plant is the fluoride, chlorine and hard water ...
mass cane corn plant6/10/2010
  Q: My corn plant, which I have had for several years has started budding with a highly fragrant cluster ...
  A: Congratulations to you! Corn plants rarely bloom so you must have been giving it excellent care. The ...
houseplants6/9/2010
  Q: Can you give me a recipe for a cheap,safe,natural/organic bug spray for indoor houseplants?
  A: I sure can. Just mix several drops of dishwashing liquid (I usually use Dawn and have not had any ...
growing ficus6/8/2010
  Q: how do we grow ficus at home from ficus plant itself?? the image of the ficus i want to grow is ...
  A: I am not sure what your question is. Do you want to know about how to care for a Ficus or how to ...
caffeine killing house plants.6/7/2010
  Q: i am doing a science fair project over caffeine stimulating the growth of house plants. i drink lots ...
  A: Plants should never be watered with anything but plain water. Anything else is likely to kill the ...
Cataractarum palm6/4/2010
  Q: I wanted to know if these Palm plants are toxic to humans if ingested?
  A: Cataractarum Palms (also commonly known as Cat Palms), as well as most other types of palms, are not ...
Rubber tree6/1/2010
  Q: I have a rubber tree plant that due to my negligence,( lack of water and light in the winter) has ...
  A: You can prune the plant back or not. Pruning the plant back will reduce the amount of energy the ...
calathea sanderiana5/6/2010
  Q: i recently bought one of these and was very pleased with it so took great care to keep it out of ...
  A: It is true that Calathea do not like direct sunlight but they do like medium, indirect light. A ...
Dracaena Marginata5/5/2010
  Q: It seems these plants come in pairs. I've had one for about 6 months, and approximately 3 months ...
  A: If the trunk of the second Dracaena Marginata is dead then no, another trunk will not grow back. If ...
calathea4/12/2010
  Q: i brought home a calathea, and without reading the tag, i stuck him in the DIRECT sun for about 5 ...
  A: There is nothing you can do to save the burned leaves. Damaged leaves will not heal. The only thing ...
Ponytail palm cutting growth rate4/10/2010
  Q: I have two cuttings that I rooted a year ago from my small ponytail palm, one is now 12 inches of ...
  A: Ponytail Palms naturally grow very, very slowly and there is really no way to get them to grow any ...
care of palms4/9/2010
  Q: We bought a "palm" tree at Lowes last summer. We had to bring it in over the winter to keep it ...
  A: It sounds like a water problem. The most common cause of brown fronds is under-watering and water ...
Can you identify these houseplants?4/8/2010
  Q: I recently inherited some houseplants. I'd like some help identifying them so that I can give them ...
  A: The only picture I received was of 'Plant 1'. I am pretty sure that you can upload more than one ...
peace lily4/7/2010
  Q: Is the peace lily an indoor or outdoor plant? I have mine on my porch, it is not in direct sun ...
  A: Generally Peace Lilies are considered indoor houseplants. However since you have yours on a porch ...
pruning palm plant3/31/2010
  Q: My palm tree is doing better now that we've moved it to the sun room of our Eastern Maryland home. ...
  A: Glad to hear that your palm is doing better. When pruning a palm you can prune off or cut back ...
What kind of plant is this? Can it regrow?2/23/2010
  Q: My fiance brought me home a little green plant in a coffee cup (bought it at kroger), about a year ...
  A: I am sorry but the picture did not get sent with your question so I can not identify it for you. ...
pony tail palm2/22/2010
  Q: My Pony tail palm is really pale in the middle almost white it gets lots of sun and is not over ...
  A: It sounds like the leaves are sun damaged. Move the plant to a place where it will not get so much ...
dumb cane2/16/2010
  Q: I have a dumb cane that is nearing the 2 meter mark and is too tall. it also only has about 9 ...
  A: If you cut the dieffenbachia down the cane will sprout new shoots. It will take some time but it ...
Everything with my Alocasia Poly2/10/2010
  Q: I have done some research online about my elephant ear plant, but can not seem to find the right ...
  A: The 2 most common causes of brown leaf tips is not enough humidity and things like fluoride, ...
indoor gardening2/9/2010
  Q: I read an answer to Mattie regarding mold on house plants. I am wondering what exact action the ...
  A: I am not quite sure what answer you are referring to concerning charcoal. Really the best way to ...
lemon lime soda2/3/2010
  Q: I have heard that regular (not diet) lemon lime soda will "feed" cut flowers and was wondering if it ...
  A: Absolutely NOT! You should never give your houseplants anything but water (preferably distilled ...
indoor palm tree1/30/2010
  Q: I have an indoor palm that has outgrown my 8 ft ceilings. During last summer I moved it to a room ...
  A: Sorry it has taken me so long to answer your question. I had a unexpected computer problem and was ...
About Giant Dumbcane1/29/2010
  Q: I need to know about this plant Giant Dumbcane. I have it in my office for 11 years, and never seen ...
  A: Sorry it has taken me so long to answer your question. I had a unexpected computer problem and was ...
Unknown Plant1/28/2010
  Q: I was given a plant as a gift from my brother who hasn't any knowledge of plants, It didn't have a ...
  A: From your description I had thought that it was possibly a Ponytail Palm. Even if it is not a ...
Unknown Plant1/28/2010
  Q: I was given a plant as a gift from my brother who hasn't any knowledge of plants, It didn't have a ...
  A: I am sorry but I really can not accurately identify a plant without a picture of the plant. From ...
Elephant Plant/ponytail1/27/2010
  Q: I have this lovely plant, I was told it is called an Elephant's foot, nicknamed ponytail? It is my ...
  A: Congratulations! It sounds like you are off to a good start growing houseplants. The most common ...
Mass Cane1/24/2010
  Q: I recently purchased a Mass Cane. At the time of purchase, the leaves were getting brown on the ...
  A: The most common cause of browning leaf tips on Dracaena (Mass cane is in the Dracaena family) is ...
indoor parsley and cilantro1/23/2010
  Q: I'm attempting to grow a supply of parsley and cilantro indoors this winter. I've started 2 ...
  A: Spindly/weak plants is caused by too little light but the white patches are not. I would guess that ...
massangeana cane, yellow brown leaf tips1/13/2010
  Q: I have been reading a few questions about these kinds of plants. It seems that this may be caused by ...
  A: Just because you have well water doesn't mean that there is not stuff in it that would cause ...
pregnant onion1/11/2010
  Q: My pregnant onion plant was hit by the cold, in my makeshift greenhouse. the top is waterlogged and ...
  A: Whenever a plant is damaged by cold temperatures it is always questionable if the plant will recover ...
spider mites in my tropical plants12/27/2009
  Q: I noticed my banana and hawaiian plants that I am housing indoors for the winter are loaded with ...
  A: I have some good news for you and some bad news. The bad news is since your banana plant has lost so ...
when repot zizi plant12/14/2009
  Q: My Zizi plant, which I've had for about a year and a half, has suddenly started to lose leaves and a ...
  A: Unnecessary repotting is one of the main causes of plant failure so plants should not be repotted ...
Jasmine12/3/2009
  Q: I bought a Jasmine plant early this summer. I planted it in a large pot to keep on my deck. It was ...
  A: Yes, you should bring the plant inside for the winter. Don't forget to carefully check the plant for ...
Indoor Rubber tree11/15/2009
  Q: I have a indoor rubber tree, that has come from my grandfather and I think I'm killing it. My ...
  A: I just got back from being on vacation and found your question in our Question Pool and thought I ...
dieffenbachia11/13/2009
  Q: I have this diffenbaccia and the leaves have little holes in the leaves, The inner part of the holes ...
  A: You will have to get rid of the insects that are making the holes in the leaves. If you do not find ...
calathea mia11/11/2009
  Q: I recently bought a Calathea Mia at a garden show and I do not know how to take care of it.I love ...
  A: Calatheas are members of the Marantas family (Prayer Plants, Stromanthe and Ctenanthe are also ...
Plant Care11/10/2009
  Q: I received a schefflera plant as a sympathy gift from my job for the death of my father. I ...
  A: The 2 main problems caused by improper watering on a schefflera is the leaves turning black and ...
Calathea Second Chance Plant11/8/2009
  Q: I have a Calathea Second Chance Plant that was growing beautifully this summer. It would spread out ...
  A: It is not unusual for Marantas (Calatheas are members of the Maranta family which also includes ...
worms?11/6/2009
  Q: I've brought some outdoor annuals inside, and I think they brought the pest in with them. They are ...
  A: I am not sure exactly what type of insect you are having a problem with. None of the signs you ...
How to trim a potted palm tree11/5/2009
  Q: I have two large palm trees in pots and have to bring them indoors for the winter. can I trim them ...
  A: You can prune off or cut back individual palm fronds down on the body of a palm, but you cannot ...
Croton11/4/2009
  Q: Bought a Croton plant in the fall, replanted it and brought it in when it got cold. Now have it in ...
  A: Moderate to high intensity sunlight is what a croton plant requires. Inside in the summer time the ...
minimum temps for houseplants11/3/2009
  Q: we recently had our screened in porch enclosed so it's going to remain dry for the winter. on a ...
  A: Scheffleras are somewhat sensitive to temperature and humidity. They are native to regions that are ...
minimum temps for houseplants11/3/2009
  Q: we recently had our screened in porch enclosed so it's going to remain dry for the winter. on a ...
  A: Pothos are comfortable in the same temperature range indoors as most people are. Just like us, they ...
ponytail palm11/2/2009
  Q: I had a branch that broke off of my plant and i put it in water to root. It has great roots but i ...
  A: If the branch rooted well then it should become a plant just like the one it came from. However ...
sap on my umbrella plant11/1/2009
  Q: I have a beautiful big umbrella houseplant. recently It appears to have sap all over it. So much ...
  A: The sticky stuff you are finding on the leaves and your floor is not sap, it is called 'Honeydew'. ...
New Tropical Plants9/27/2009
  Q: .I just purchased 2 3 gallon tropical plants (mass cane plant & Robellini Palm or Pheonix ...
  A: Unless the plants are rootbound or if there is some other really good reason to repot a plant then ...
Gold Dust Acuba - sagging leaves9/1/2009
  Q: I bought a Gold Dust Acuba at the nursery at Target about one month and a half ago. The plant ...
  A: You really cannot water plants on a schedule. Plants need to be watered when the soil gets dry ...
Spider Plants8/5/2009
  Q: I bought a riotously healthy spider plant several months ago from a local nursery and brought it ...
  A: Ms.T, The roots will come out of the plantlet at the bottom where all the leaves are connected. ...
Money plant8/4/2009
  Q: I have a problem with my money plant. It is very large and has started to loose its leaves rapidly. ...
  A: The grey powder stuff on the leaves is a type of fungus called powdery mildew. You will need to ...
Blooming prayer plants. When and how often?8/3/2009
  Q: My prayer plants bloom 12 months of the year! I read somewhere they only bloom between March and ...
  A: Congratulations on taking such good care of your prayer plants! Prayer plants usually bloom ...
Spider Plants8/2/2009
  Q: I bought a riotously healthy spider plant several months ago from a local nursery and brought it ...
  A: T, It sounds like you probably have 2 major problems going on with your spider plant, ...
Rubber tree plants7/16/2009
  Q: I have a rubber plant that has a baby growing down at the bottom. Is it safe to split the two and ...
  A: Yes, it should be okay to carefully remove the plantlet (baby) from the main plant and replant it. ...
Radrmachera Sinica _ China Doll7/13/2009
  Q: It is a young plant and a couple of days ago I saw that it had a leaf that was all curled up and ...
  A: China dolls are very sensitive to just about everything. There are several things that could be ...
Spider Plant - Leaves- white on ouside, green in center7/12/2009
  Q: My spider plant is in trouble. I purchased this plant last Fall. It is a very mature plant with lots ...
  A: The plant and the roots should be just fine. It is common to find those plastic discs in plant pots. ...
plants for hot tub7/11/2009
  Q: i have a hot tub outside my house in the back, facing north. i just had a gazebo built around it. ...
  A: The gazebo will need to be kept warm if you want to keep plants there in the winter time. If the ...
plant with no name7/10/2009
  Q: Tracy, can you tell me what kind of plant this is? My son brought it to me and it has no name or ...
  A: I am sorry but I cannot identify a plant without a picture of the plant. Sometimes I can identify a ...
Overheated plant7/2/2009
  Q: I just bought a house plant - it has droopy green leaves and a thick bamboo like stalk - there are ...
  A: The leaves on that side of the plant have been sun-burnt. Unfortunately there is nothing you can do ...
white mites7/1/2009
  Q: I have all kinds of lil white mites under all funiture. U can't see them unless ur looking for them ...
  A: The exterminator that came out to your house has to be mistaken. Spider mites would not be under ...
white fungus on orchid blossom stems4/10/2009
  Q: I have a new orchid plant from a rather humid green house - my house is not very humid. the stems ...
  A: Unfortunately I was not able to see much in the picture you sent. I wonder if maybe this is ...
Majesty Palm4/9/2009
  Q: I just purchased a majesty palm tree from Home Depot. I repotted it,added miracle gro and watered. I ...
  A: Majesty Palm definitely needs more light than it is currently getting in your basement unless it is ...
house plants4/8/2009
  Q: when to repot and separate pothos plant
  A: Actually you can repot and take cuttings from a Pothos anytime but it is best to repot and take ...
FICA issues4/6/2009
  Q: This winter my FICA tree dropped it leaves the weather got warm not long ago and I put it outside ...
  A: Sorry it has taken me so long to respond to your question. I was out of town and did not realize my ...
umbrella plant4/6/2009
  Q: I have an indoor umbrella plant that is approx. 12 feet tall. We would like to cut it down due to ...
  A: Sorry it has taken me so long to respond to your question. I was out of town and did not realize my ...
Unknown house plant4/4/2009
  Q: Several months ago we received a plant as a gift from an unknown party. This slender stalked plant ...
  A: I'm sorry but I can not identify the plant or tell if it is poisonous without a picture. You will ...
help4/3/2009
  Q: Help all my house plants are going down hill fast I have bugs in them flying fruit fly that are ...
  A: Sorry it has taken me so long to respond to your question. I was out of town and did not realize my ...
peace plant4/2/2009
  Q: I have a peace plant that develops dried brown areas on the tips of the leaves and I wonder what ...
  A: Sorry it has taken me so long to respond to your question. I was out of town and did not realize my ...
how to clone a schefflera tree4/2/2009
  Q: how can i correctly clone a schefflera tree from my my existing tree?
  A: Sorry it has taken me so long to respond to your question. I was out of town and did not realize my ...
House plant4/1/2009
  Q: My house plant - small tree like plant has brown spots on the leaves and stem (not so much spots as ...
  A: Sorry it has taken me so long to respond to your question. I was out of town and did not realize my ...
Rubber tree plant4/1/2009
  Q: Can a rubber tree plant be pruned? If so, does it matter when? Thanks!
  A: Sorry it has taken me so long to respond to your question. I was out of town and did not realize my ...
weeping plants3/31/2009
  Q: I hope you can help me. I have several houseplants. I do not know the name, as I have never been ...
  A: Sorry it has taken me so long to respond to your question. I was out of town and did not realize my ...
peace lily2/5/2009
  Q: I received a peace lily last year and have a problem with the tips turning brown on all the leaves. ...
  A: With an Aqua Globe you may be over watering the plant. As a general rule you should allow the top ...
plants from funeral2/4/2009
  Q: A close friend passed away, and I took home a plant basket to try to keep alive for her 19 year old ...
  A: One way to raise the humidity around a plant place the plant on a tray of pebbles filled halfway ...
flowering maple sap?2/2/2009
  Q: I live in NJ. In the early fall Sept/Oct I found a plant AT A LOCAL GARDEN CENTER in the garbage. It ...
  A: Yes, you can prune off the most heavily infested branches and leaves. As long as you are not ...
grapefruit in pot2/1/2009
  Q: New York. I have had a grapefruit in a pot for over 40 years which has been cut back every year and ...
  A: What you are describing sounds like spider mites. You don't need to cut the plant back drastically ...
Emerald Bay house plant2/1/2009
  Q: I bought a Emerald Bay house plan over this past summer. It's been doing well and has definitely ...
  A: You are probably right that the temperature is harming the plant. Aglaonema are very sensitive to ...
flowering maple sap?1/31/2009
  Q: I live in NJ. In the early fall Sept/Oct I found a plant AT A LOCAL GARDEN CENTER in the garbage. It ...
  A: It sounds like you have an infestation of scale insects. Scale insects are black, brown or tan, ...
bamboo1/31/2009
  Q: my potted bamboo's offshoots are browning. eventually all of the pams brown also, then dry and die. ...
  A: Most of the plants sold as Bamboo are not actually Bamboo. They are plants that belong to the ...
Science plant question1/30/2009
  Q: Hey, I'm also doing a project on "Does dryer lint affect plant growth" and there is only one week ...
  A: I am not sure you are going to find any plants that will grow significantly in only 1 week and 3 ...
Money Tree1/5/2009
  Q: One of the braided trunks is soft and when traced there are leaves dying. We water often and it is ...
  A: It sounds like the plant has stem rot. Unfortunately there is not really anything you can do to save ...
Light question1/5/2009
  Q: I am a little bit confused with the light needs of the plants. I am planning to buy some plants as I ...
  A: I am not really familiar with solar screens so I am not sure exactly how much they will affect the ...
Chlorphytum Comosum1/4/2009
  Q: Are spider plants poisonous to cats?
  A: Some experts list Spider Plants as being poisonous and some say it is not. Even if it is not ...
Ficus Lyrata10/26/2008
  Q: i have a enormuse ficuselyrata at home(indoor),i like to konw how can i propagate this plant in ...
  A: Ficus are plants that usually take a long time to propagate. Even Ficus Benjamina, which is the ...
Mandevilla Care10/25/2008
  Q: I received a beautiful red Mandevilla as a gift last Spring. It flourished outside all summer, ...
  A: Mandevilla can tolerate temperatures as low as the high 40s for short periods of time. If the plant ...
personal attachment to ficus10/24/2008
  Q: I recently overwatered a ficus I've had for 25 years. Unfortunately, it was not salvageable. I ...
  A: Any well draining commercial potting soil would be fine. You can make drainage better by adding a ...
spider plant10/24/2008
  Q: Are spider plants poisonous to dogs or cats?
  A: Some botanical sources have Spider Plants listed as poisonous and some have it listed as a 'safe' ...
Gnats and Ficus tree10/23/2008
  Q: I have a ficus tree in my office and I have little black bugs flying around everywhere! I think ...
  A: What you probably have are Fungus Gnats. Fungus Gnats are little flying insects often seen flying ...
Jade Plant10/23/2008
  Q: I recently moved to a new home and put Jade Plant (Crassula argentea) into a much sunnier spot next ...
  A: What probably happened was the plant was given too much light and heat too fast. Jade plants grow ...
Plants and Cats10/15/2008
  Q: I have had various house plants - spider plants, cacti, and philadendrons mostly - in my house for ...
  A: One of the reasons that a lot of experts will label almost every plant as a possible danger to pets ...
sticky schefflera leaves and white secretions10/14/2008
  Q: I have an aspen sheffelara, to what seems to me to be a regular large leaf sheffelara but have ...
  A: It sounds like the plants have an insect infestation. The sticky stuff on the leaves is 'Honeydew'. ...
Peace Lilly10/13/2008
  Q: My Peace Lilly has not produced any flowers for the last 2 summers. The leaves look well, a few have ...
  A: No, it is not like rooting a spider plant. I have never propagated a Peace lily before so I did some ...
Ficus binnendijkii10/12/2008
  Q: My ficus tree suffered a major loss of branches last year and has branches on only one side. I was ...
  A: I have a 'Silver Cloud' Ficus Benjamina that was the exact same way. The first growing season the ...
Peace lily10/10/2008
  Q: The leaves are being cut off at the stem right at the bottom of the leaf. The plant looks healthy ...
  A: The plant may be dropping a few leaves as a reaction to the changes in light and temperature. This ...
Peace Lilly10/10/2008
  Q: My Peace Lilly has not produced any flowers for the last 2 summers. The leaves look well, a few have ...
  A: When a Peace lily produces flowers you must remove the flowers once they are spent. Cutting off ...
I don't know what kind of plant I have10/9/2008
  Q: My mother-in-law gave me a plant and neither of us know what it is. I want to plant it outside of ...
  A: The plant you have is a type of variegated Hoya, also commonly called a wax plant. Unless you live ...
Indoor Fig Tree10/4/2008
  Q: Txs Tracy for any info you can give me. My son gave me a "dying" fig tree eariler this spring and ...
  A: As a general rule you should always allow the top 1-2 inches of soil to dry between watering. Then ...
prayer plant10/2/2008
  Q: I have had prayer plants for years and have two at this time. I have never had one to bloom till ...
  A: It is perfectly normal. When a Prayer plant is getting proper care and is healthy, it will flower. ...
Ants in Christmas cactus10/1/2008
  Q: Millions of tiny tiny ants have taken up residence in the soil of one of my Christmas cacti. I have ...
  A: Changing the soil should work. Make sure that you remove as much of the old soil as possible before ...
Scheflerra10/1/2008
  Q: I have a Scheflerra that is a little over six feet tall and has a terrible leaning slant to it. I ...
  A: Yes. After cutting off the top, dip the stem in rooting hormone to help promote rooting. Several new ...
money tree9/30/2008
  Q: I put a money tree in my backyard at the start of the summer in a natural flower pot. The bottom of ...
  A: A Money Tree plant can be kept outside if you live in an area where the temperature does not go ...
Croton9/30/2008
  Q: i got a curly boy croton about 6 weeks ago, 3 weeks ago the leaves started dropping off so i moved ...
  A: With proper care there is a good chance the leaves will grow back, as long as the spider mites (and ...
5ft. indoor potted palm treewith folaige like Dracaena9/29/2008
  Q: Help,my daughter sent her ailing large palm up from Portland Oregon, hoping I can save Herman! His ...
  A: You are correct that the most important thing right now is to not cause anymore stress to Herman. It ...
Browning Janet Craig9/28/2008
  Q: I bought a corn plan about a year ago. Suddenly it started developing brown segments on the stem. ...
  A: The problem you are describing sounds like stem rot. Dracaenas like Janet Craig, Warneckii and corn ...
schefflera9/28/2008
  Q: i have a 15 yr old schefflera actinafolia that is over 6 feet tall . new growth is as normal with ...
  A: As you already know, Schefflera will drop some leaves in reaction to a change in environment. If it ...
Warms in my plants9/27/2008
  Q: I have two tropical plants (i think they are types of indoor palms) on the main floor of my house. ...
  A: There are many kinds of soil worms and caterpillars that can infest the soil of houseplants. There ...
Prayer Plant9/27/2008
  Q: I need to see a [picture of a prayer plant and I need to know how to care for it. It actually was ...
  A: I am not sure I understand what you are saying. Was there a Prayer plant in the dirt or the roots of ...
2 unknown vine9/26/2008
  Q: I have 2 unknown vines and I was wondering if you could help me identify. Thanks-Dawn
  A: The first vine is an English Ivy (Hedera Helix). I am sorry, I do not know what the second vine is. ...
just wondering9/25/2008
  Q: I believe i have an umbrella plant i'm just wondering if it's poisonous my grand son loves to put ...
  A: As a general rule all houseplants should be considered potentially poisonous. Even plants that are ...
Jade Roots on branches9/25/2008
  Q: My Jade is sprouting roots on its branches. I've read here that it is because that side(s)is not ...
  A: Root like growths on the stems of plants do not always give the stem a 'head start' in propagating ...
sick plant with white, sticky spots4/25/2008
  Q: S--I visited this website for the very first time the night of the 23rd. Imagine my surprise when I ...
  A: I found this question in our answer pool and thought I might be able to help. I want to apologize ...
plants are dieing4/16/2008
  Q: I pruned my plants and I think I did It wrong I clipped all the large leaves now they seem to be ...
  A: Stephanie, If the stem is getting softer then the plant has stem rot (and probably root rot as ...
Schefflera plant4/1/2008
  Q: Why do some of my schefflera's leaves feel sticky? There is a sticky substance on some of the lower ...
  A: Stacia, The sticky substance is likely honey dew, which is produced by some insects as waste. ...
propagating2/21/2008
  Q: I have a small Dracaena in a pot indoors, it got over watered I think and the stems got soft above ...
  A: Dracaena are usually easy to root. The fact that the tops are still green and producing new growth ...
China Doll plant2/20/2008
  Q: The nursery which donated it told me how to care for it (indirect light, water twice a week). My ...
  A: Really all houseplants should be considered harmful to pets. Even a plant that is not considered to ...
Aglonema2/19/2008
  Q: Can you take a piece off this plant and start a new flower? would you root in water or soil if ...
  A: Aglaonema are propagated by removing suckers (offshoots) and planting them in another pot. Suckers ...
Lady Palm2/19/2008
  Q: I am having a lady palm delivered this week. I have been told by everyone in the store that it will ...
  A: I would recommend that you place the Lady Palm about 2-3 feet away from a curtain filtered south ...
Money tree leaves turning yellow :(2/18/2008
  Q: I got a money tree from the nursery last week and it was in pretty good shape. However, I've ...
  A: Most plants get stressed when moved to a new environment. One of the most common things a plant does ...
My Poor Ficus2/17/2008
  Q: I have half a ficus tree for about 12 years.(its been squashed in a corner for years as theres no ...
  A: Your picture did not post with your question. Ficus are notorious for dropping a great deal of ...
house plant pests2/17/2008
  Q: I recently re-potted a house plant with compost bought from my local nursery. Within in a few weeks, ...
  A: What you have if Fungus Gnats and it is probably too late now to solve the problem by changing the ...
money plant2/16/2008
  Q: my money plant looks as if its struggling, since we moved i think its lacking more light, but not ...
  A: Moving a plant to a new environment will cause a lot of stress to the plant. Some plants deal with ...
Banana Fica2/14/2008
  Q: Do you know if a banana fica is toxic to cats?
  A: I am not really familiar with Banana Fica. However all plants should be considered toxic to animals. ...
pachira2/14/2008
  Q: we have just bought one of these for our new offices it is very dry how much should we water thank ...
  A: As a general rule when watering most houseplants, allow the top 1-2 inches of soil to dry between ...
help with identifying a plant2/13/2008
  Q: Can you please help identifying what kind of plant I have? I attached a picture of the side of the ...
  A: Your plant is a Tricolor Oyster Plant (Tradescantia Rhoeo Spathacea). This plant is also known by ...
Spath2/13/2008
  Q: My Spath seems pretty healthy but a few of the lower leaves have started to turn yellow. What causes ...
  A: It is normal for plants to drop leaves as part of the natural aging process. The leaves that turn ...
my fiddle leaf fig2/12/2008
  Q: I have a similar problem to the one you addressed some time ago. I had a plant sitter as well (for ...
  A: The main thing you can do to encourage new growth is to prune the plant back. The plant should come ...
Patio plants2/12/2008
  Q: I live in northn calif.(bay area),I live in an apt. I have a small patio,so small space, what I want ...
  A: I do not know a whole lot about flowering plants. However the last 2 summers I have grown flowers in ...
money tree2/10/2008
  Q: I have a money tree i bought about a year ago. I am allowing the soil to dry before each watering, ...
  A: There are many things that could be causing your problem. You could be under-watering the plant or ...
houseplant2/9/2008
  Q: spots on a succulent that look like ity bity cotton balls have them top and under side too. have had ...
  A: Your plant has Mealy Bugs. The main problem with washing insects off a plant with a strong spray of ...
Ficus tree2/7/2008
  Q: I have a 30 year old ficus that definitely needs pruning. It is very full and top heavy but wider ...
  A: The best time to prune a Ficus is early spring once the Ficus has came out of it dormant/rest cycle ...
House plant is dying...2/5/2008
  Q: I believe I have a pigmy date palm, I have had it for about 2 months and it looks like it is ...
  A: Your plant has stem rot. Unfortunately there is nothing you can do to save the plant. Since the ...
Dracaena marginata2/4/2008
  Q: I have this plant which is now about 20 years old. It has three stems ranging in height form 4 to 8 ...
  A: Congratulations on keeping a Dracaena Marginata alive and growing so well for so long! If you cut ...
house plant2/3/2008
  Q: bought 2 potted hanging plants that said, shade loving big leaves that hang long from the pot. they ...
  A: It is difficult for me to come up with what the most likely cause of the problem is without knowing ...
ponytail plant2/3/2008
  Q: I have had my ponytail plants for over 15 years (one for about 35). My question is two of my plants ...
  A: It sounds like your plants have stem rot. Unfortunately there is nothing you can do to save the ...
Pygmy Date Palm disease2/1/2008
  Q: I'm hoping you can help me with a Pygmy Date Palm that seems to have developed a disease. I bought ...
  A: Yes, you should keep all other plants away from this plant. However it may be too late and they are ...
Eggs in the Soil1/11/2008
  Q: I found the following question/answer thread regarding "Eggs in the Soil" (see below). I think it ...
  A: I found your question in our Question Pool and thought I could help. Here is your confirmation, the ...
gnats1/8/2008
  Q: I have heard if you put a cup of vinegar out it will help with gnat problems. I have tried this and ...
  A: I found your question in our Question Pool and thought I could help. Yes, a cup of vinegar can ...
Please Identify this "palm?" tree.12/30/2007
  Q: I'm an ardent reader of information about horticulture. This past year, I acquired a plant that ...
  A: I really can't identify this plant without a photo. I know that you can attach a photo to your ...
important propagating question.12/27/2007
  Q: HI I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW ALL THE NAMES OF THE HOUSE PLANTS THAT COULD BE ROOTED "IN WATER"?
  A: I am sorry but there are too many plants that can be rooted in water for me to list the names of all ...
ponytail palm12/25/2007
  Q: we really like our palm. there is dark specks at the base of most leaves and the palm is looking ...
  A: It is difficult to say what the problem is without more information. With the information you have ...
pink polka dot plant pruning12/23/2007
  Q: My question is about my leggy pink polka dot plant. I realized that the stems cannot support ...
  A: No, it is NOT okay to repot a plant into used soil. You must not only use fresh soil but the pot ...
Ficus dropping leaves12/22/2007
  Q: We received a ficus about a month ago in a pot for my father's wake. We brought the tree home and ...
  A: As far as I can tell you are basically doing everything right. Ficus is notorious from dropping it's ...
Jade plant12/22/2007
  Q: I have a jade plant which is about 6 years old. It sits in front of my kitchen window where it ...
  A: Congratulations on doing such a good job on your Jade plant! I really don't know of any place that ...
Marginate white spots12/21/2007
  Q: I have a marginate tree in my morning room. I have notice some white stuff all over the plant. I ...
  A: You probably have spider mites. Unfortunately you now likely have a very high population of spider ...
Webs on my umbrella tree..........12/19/2007
  Q: I just adopted an over-watered umbrella tree I am going to transplant. It is showing brand-new ...
  A: You have Spider Mites. Spider Mites are tiny, spider like mites that can barely been seen with the ...
Small bugs in plant soil12/18/2007
  Q: We have a lot of plants in our home. All of a sudden we are getting these little flying bugs (the ...
  A: The bugs that are driving you crazy are Fungus Gnats and they are very hard to get rid of. Fungus ...
my yucca plant12/13/2007
  Q:
  A: You probably have some type of insect infestation on the plant. Check the leaves, especially the ...
last question--need to identify my plant12/12/2007
  Q: last question. i have another large--i assume tropical?--plant I've had for 5 years or so. it was ...
  A: Angie, The philodendron needs to be put directly in a north facing window or it can be set near ...
last question--need to identify my plant12/12/2007
  Q: last question. i have another large--i assume tropical?--plant I've had for 5 years or so. it was ...
  A: Since you have several questions I will answer all 3 of them here instead of answering all 3 of them ...
rubber tree plant12/11/2007
  Q: my rubber tree plant was once giant in a basement with lots of southern light. i moved, and i know ...
  A: I forgot to add in my last answer is yes, the soil is way too old. Soil should be changed about once ...
Parasite12/7/2007
  Q: Some type of parasite has laid eggs along the undersides of my pothos, cordyline and some other ...
  A: Insects on plants have nothing to do with mice. The most common way for insects that feed on plants ...
what is the name of this plant?12/4/2007
  Q: .but she has no idea what the name of it is...I don't think it's in the best of health and I need to ...
  A: I found your question in our question pool and thought I might be able to help. The plant is a ...
creeping charlie5/21/2007
  Q: recently transplanted a creeping charlie, and now it seems to be in a prolonged funk. no ...
  A: Creeping Charlies are very easy to care for and usually grow like crazy. Your plant is probably ...
Dracaena Plant5/18/2007
  Q: I own a Dracaena Plant in which I have next to a window. Some of leaves turned yellow on one of the ...
  A: The plant should grow new leaves. I would be more concerned with finding out why the plant lost the ...
money tree5/18/2007
  Q: I received a money tree for mothers day.....on top of the soil are pebbles that appear to be glued ...
  A: I have to be honest with you, I loath plants that come with pebbles or anything glued on top of the ...
Peace Lily5/18/2007
  Q: I have a peace lily at work, and it is growing beautifully under the flourescent bulbs! It seems to ...
  A: It is probably the light, if flowering plants don't get enough light then they wont bloom. Another ...
mealy bugs5/17/2007
  Q: Tracy, I think the bugs I have on my house plants maybe mealy bugs. They are often white and look ...
  A: The yellow bumps on the underside of leaves are not mealy bugs, the only thing I can even think of ...
HIbiscus5/17/2007
  Q: I live in the Midwest and have a hibiscus from last summer. I brought it inside last fall and kept ...
  A: I don't have much experience with flowering plants but I felt that I could answer your question. You ...
MOVING INDOOR PLANTS5/14/2007
  Q: I have many beautiful indoor plants, and we will move soon, and I want to preserve them. Would my ...
  A: I would not recommend keeping your plants in a dark moving truck for a week. Some low lights plants ...
ficus and grow light recommendation5/14/2007
  Q: I have had my ficus for 22 years in my bedroom with one good southern exposure window. So, over the ...
  A: A good southern exposure is more than enough for your ficus, instead of adding another light source ...
care of majestic palms/watering/fertilizer?5/13/2007
  Q: can you tell me what type of fertilizer is best for majestic palms?
  A: Any balanced fertilizer is ok to use. I always recommend using 1/3 of the amount called for in the ...
Indoor Palm-basic info needed!5/12/2007
  Q: I am brand new to owning and caring for plants and I was hoping you can help me with the beginning ...
  A: Just putting rocks at the bottom of a pot without drainage won't work. If you really want to use ...
My sick hybiscus4/8/2007
  Q: My hybiscus is sick, it has little white spots on the leaves and flower buds before they open. Then ...
  A: Your hibiscus may have a few things going on with it. I would recommend that you use a spray made ...
yukka4/6/2007
  Q: Tracy, I have just received a yucca from my son and I have never been able to keep indoor plants ...
  A: Yucca plants are really not that hard to keep alive and healthy. Just make sure they have what they ...
Insects in Massangeana Dracena4/6/2007
  Q: I bought a corn plant at my local home depot and neglected to look at the soil. It seems the soil ...
  A: Without a picture of the insect I really couldn't tell you what it is exactly. I would recommend ...
tips turning brown4/4/2007
  Q: I have tropical plants and a rare wollemi pine. I have noticed that the tips of their leaves are ...
  A: The most common cause of brown leaf tips is too low humidity. You can raise the humidity around a ...
Pony Palm4/2/2007
  Q: I have three pony palms planted outside the house. The leaves all turned brown and the base of them ...
  A: Unfortunately no. This plant is probably beyond recovery. Once plants get damaged from rot to this ...
Peace lilly4/1/2007
  Q: Can you grow a peace lilly outside in Florida?
  A: Are you wanting to grow it outside in a pot or in the ground? I would recommend you grow it outside ...
Plants/Sun3/30/2007
  Q: Greetings from San Diego! My girlfriend and I are adding new plants to our porch. We have an area ...
  A: Most plants that are good for hanging baskets should do well in the afternoon sun. It would be best ...
question about yucca cane plant3/30/2007
  Q: I have a yucca cane plant and I've had it for 2 months now. up 'til this point, the plant has been ...
  A: Yellowing of lower leaves can be just normal aging. There are several reasons for yellowing leaves. ...
Corn plant base pruning3/30/2007
  Q: My 28 year old mature corn plan has been cut down to its wood base which is about 5 feet tall. ...
  A: The main stalk of your corn plant should sprout new growth without you doing anything. It may take ...
My dying house plant3/29/2007
  Q: My HOuse plants leaves are turning yellow and falling off. I have some people telling me I water it ...
  A: You really cannot water a plant on a schedule. Plants should be watered when they need it. Unless ...
corn plant?3/18/2007
  Q: You are precious! I have a corn plant (?) and it has powdery mildew. How do I clean and treat it ...
  A: To get rid of powdery mildew you need to use a fungicide. There are several fungicides available. My ...
elephant ear house plant3/17/2007
  Q: I have a house plant that is in the elephant ear family, every leaf turns brown on the ends(even the ...
  A: There are several things that could cause leaf tips/edges to turn brown. The most common causes are ...
Anita Draceana, pleomele reflexa3/17/2007
  Q: how tall can these become? I have in in my house by a well lit window. It is about two feet tall and ...
  A: A Dracaena Pleomele Reflexa or commonly known as Song Of India can get 8-15 ft tall with a 6-10 ft ...
care for peace lily3/17/2007
  Q: I received a peace lily about 4 months ago. I love it. I think it needs to be repotted, it is very ...
  A: Peace lilies are plants that like to be somewhat root bound. Unnecessary repottting is one of the ...
ficus plant3/16/2007
  Q: I have a ficus plant that I believe to have root rot. I took it out of it's pot and realized that ...
  A: I'm sorry but the plant may be beyond it's ability to recover. If you want you can give it one last ...
PEACE LILY - YELLOW LEAVES3/16/2007
  Q: MY DAUGHTER HAS A PEACE LILY THAT HAS IT'S LEAVES TURNING YELLOW - MY THOUGHT WAS TOO MUCH LIGHT? ...
  A: Yellowing leaves can be caused by lots of things. It could be just normal aging. If she put the ...
Schefflera Plant3/15/2007
  Q: I have a Schefflera Plant. I have had it since February. It seems to be a very nice plant and easy ...
  A: Sorry it has taken so long for me to answer your question. (I am going to assume that you do not ...
yucca cane (dracaena yucca elephantipes)3/15/2007
  Q: and smallest about 3ft. i purchased it about about 4yrs ago. i put it outside in the ground but ...
  A: Sorry it has taken me so long to answer your question. It sounds to me like your yucca plant has ...
Sick Ficus Tree3/14/2007
  Q: I just rescued my daughter's very sick ficus tree. I has no leaves but does have some new green ...
  A: Most plant insects, including spider mites, feed on the juices inside leaves so I am not totally ...
Fiscus Tree3/11/2007
  Q: Currently I live in New York City but moving to Sarasota in 2 weeks. I will need to clip down my ...
  A: Sorry it has taken so long to answer your question. You can propagate stem tip cuttings from a ficus ...
dumb cane3/11/2007
  Q: I would like to do a stem cutting on my dumb cane. But I'm not sure where to cut it from? It has ...
  A: Sorry for taking so long to answer your question. A dieffenbachia (Dumb cane) can be propagated by ...
philodendron house plant3/9/2007
  Q: I was given a philodendron plant that is about 34 inches tall when I first got it the leave's were ...
  A: Philodendrons are low light plants but they can grow well under medium light conditions. A ...
Repotting a Peace Lily3/8/2007
  Q: Tracy, I would like to know what is the best soil to buy to repot a large Peace Lily plant. What I ...
  A: First let me say that plants cannot be watered on a schedule. Plants decide when they need to be ...
Hedera Ivy problem3/5/2007
  Q: I have a hedera ivy plant and the leaves have become brittle and are falling off as well as getting ...
  A: There are several things that could be causing the problems with your ivy. Improper watering could ...
atificial sunlight inquiry.3/5/2007
  Q: I have been growing my own cooking spices on my balcony for a few years now, and have been wondering ...
  A: I have several artificial lighting systems all through my house. I have set ups for all light levels ...
Ficus trees/care & pruning3/4/2007
  Q: I have two ficus trees that were weathered outside on the deck. Both have survived quite nicely but ...
  A: Any well balanced fertilizer can be used. They should be fertilized when they start producing new ...
Schefflera3/4/2007
  Q: I have a schefflera and the leaves are falling off while green. What am I doing wrong? Thanks, NB
  A: A Schefflera will drop it's leaves for several reasons. The most common reasons are improper ...
lily plant3/1/2007
  Q: I have this lily plant it i really like it however it looks like is is cramped. Its has really ...
  A: Water the plant a couple of days before you plan to repot it. This will help prevent damage during ...
money tree2/28/2007
  Q: my kids bought me a money tree for xmas it is about 2 ft tall and when they bought it it was in a ...
  A: I usually don't get plants that come in pots with pebbles glued inside the pot. They always turn ...
yucca plants2/25/2007
  Q: i have a yucca plant approx 4 ft in height with two small stems either side for the last couple of ...
  A: There are a few things that can be causing the problem. You could be overwatering or underwatering ...
schefflera losing leaves12/12/2006
  Q: I just read your response to a fellow confused plant mommy and I am having the same problem. My ...
  A: No draft and sunlight are both pretty important, however if someone was to twist my arm to choose ...
Lucky bamboo12/12/2006
  Q: I found a lucky bamboo plant at the store that looked like it needed a little help, with it’s yellow ...
  A: I usually don't recommend buying unhealthy plants. Plants that are already unhealthy usually don't ...
creeping charley12/11/2006
  Q: I have a creeping charley plant that belonged to my grandmother. She had it for years. She ...
  A: Creeping Charlie plants are very hardy easy to care for plants. Just give them bright light and ...
Ctenanthe Grey star12/11/2006
  Q: if a Ctenanthe rolls its leaves a bit does this mean it's too warm or hot where it is? The plant in ...
  A: Ctenanthe leaves rolling has little to do with temperature. The 3 main causes of this is light, ...
china doll propagation12/10/2006
  Q: How could I propagate my living 8-year old China Doll plant, creating a "baby" plant from it? Right ...
  A: China Dolls can be propagated by stem tip cuttings. I will warn you, the success rate for ...
lucky bean plant12/9/2006
  Q: Should I fertilize? If so what type or strength should I use. Thanks for the great info.I ...
  A: I would recommend that you wait 2 or 3 months before you fertilize. You should only fertilize while ...
Chlorophytum12/7/2006
  Q: I have had my spider plant for about 2 years now and grew it from a tot plant that i bought. I has ...
  A: Spider plants do not produce plantlets until they are fully mature, which can take about 2 years or ...
Plants12/7/2006
  Q: What indoor plant is the best for producing oxygen? I need one that isn't very big and can tolerate ...
  A: In general, more light means more photosynthesis and more oxygen production. However, some plants ...
palm tree and spider mites?12/7/2006
  Q: I emailed Will, but he never replied, maybe you can help. I have an indoor palm tree and there are ...
  A: I'm sorry that you didn't receive an answer from Will, he is usually very good about answering his ...
best water for indoor green plants12/6/2006
  Q: What is the best type of water for a large indoor plant? Filtered or distilled water ? We are in a ...
  A: Beyond a doubt distilled water is best for plants. Filtered water helps with hard water problems but ...
janet craig dracaena12/5/2006
  Q: My Janet craig has three stalks in which are starting to tilt. What can I do to make them upright ...
  A: Dracaenas, especially the Deremensis (Warneckii / Janet Craig) are very sensitive to fluoride. ...
lucky bean plant12/5/2006
  Q: I purchased a lucky bean plant a few months ago that is in a pot that is 4 1/2 inches in diameter, ...
  A: The plant should be repotted into a pot that has drainage holes as soon as possible. A 4 inch pot ...
tropical plant??12/5/2006
  Q: I have a plant that was given to me about 8 years ago. At that time I was told it was a Ti plant. ...
  A: Although I really cannot identify a plant without a picture, I would say that from your description ...
what kind of house plant/tree is best for me?12/4/2006
  Q: I am not a confident plant owner and do not know what I should look for in a house plant for this ...
  A: What kind of plant you can use in this corner really depends on the amount of light that this corner ...
POTS12/3/2006
  Q: DO YOU KNOW WHERE I CAN PURCHASE ONE INCH POTS FOR MINI VIOLETS? THANK YOU!
  A: Here is a website that you might be able to find the pots you need. This mail order nursery has a ...
Scheflera12/3/2006
  Q: I just cut off some long leggy branches from my scheflera. I have had this plant for many years and ...
  A: I'm sorry you were unhappy with the answer to your question. In what way was your question not ...
Diffenbachia12/2/2006
  Q: I purchased 2 diffenbachia plants recently, and placed them in a bright room out of direct sunlight ...
  A: Your diffenbachia has stem rot and possibly root rot as well. I really don't think there is much ...
blooming palm house plant12/2/2006
  Q: About three years ago my mother died. From the funeral I kept two potted palms as house plants. ...
  A: It should be fine for you to remove the blooms. Cut off only the blooms, palms will be unable to ...
Spiked Palm - yellowing leaves12/1/2006
  Q: I just recieved a spiked palm for my office. I am keeping the soil slightly damp, and it gets ...
  A: Some yellowing of leaves is part of normal aging but I suspect that your problem is caused by ...
Transplanting to larger pot11/29/2006
  Q: I have inherited an Ivy, not sure what kind. I think it needs to replanted to a larger pot. When ...
  A: Unnecessary repotting is the most common cause of unhealthy plants. Ivy in particular really does ...
Peace Lilly Care11/28/2006
  Q: I am clueless about plants. My father died and now I have a peace lilly that I very much want to ...
  A: I am sorry for your loss. You really can't water plants on a set schedule. You water until water ...
Sick Money Plant11/28/2006
  Q: I have a money plant that is SICK... and before I kill it, (gift from boss at work, plant at ...
  A: The problem could be your plant has insects. Check the plant carefully, especially the undersides of ...
peace lilliy11/27/2006
  Q: I have a peace Lilly that was in a perfect location in my front room. It received good light & just ...
  A: Fertilizer should only be given to healthy plants during active growth periods. Fertilizer will not ...
BABY SPIDER PLANT ROOTS.11/27/2006
  Q: WHY ARE THE ROOTS OF THE BABY OFF SHOOTS OF MY SPIDER PLANT TURING BLACK? IT IS IN A SUNNY WINDOW. I ...
  A: If you have well water then it is probably hard water. I would recommend that you use distilled ...
Indoor Palm White Mold11/27/2006
  Q: I have this 8" indoor palm that i just bought less thena month ago. It is growing this white fuzzy ...
  A: The best thing I have found to use on soil mold is a antifungal liquid called Consan 20. You can ...
Fiddle Leaf Fig11/26/2006
  Q: I have had a Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree for a little over a year now that is 7ft. and left town for about ...
  A: There are a several things that could be the cause of Herbie's ill health. Herbie may be hungry. If ...
Black leaves on my Peace Plant11/26/2006
  Q: I have had this peace plant for over 10 years and now I have been having problems with the leaves ...
  A: Has the actual leaf turned brown or is there just a black coating on the leaves? If it is a black ...
peace lily11/25/2006
  Q: My Friend recently passed away and her husband gave me a peace lily. The leaves are drooping, How ...
  A: As a general rule allow the top 1-2 inches of soil dry between watering. When you water, water ...
propagate stromanthe11/25/2006
  Q: My neighbor has several stromanthe in her yard (SW Fla) and she said to help myself. Can I just ...
  A: You can dig up some but since I don't think your neighbor would be happy about you digging up her ...
Dracaena Marginata11/25/2006
  Q: this is the second plant of this tyoe I have owned and the same thing happens. It is fine for a few ...
  A: I'm afraid that your meter table is wrong. You should let the top 1-2 inches of soil dry between ...
how to save a massangeana cane11/24/2006
  Q: I have a massangeana cane and no matter what I try to do it still looks to me as if its dying. It's ...
  A: First off let me say that your should stop using fertilizer sticks. Aside from the chance of harming ...
Spider Plants11/22/2006
  Q: SO IF I GET THE REAL GROW LIGHT BULB (IS THAT WHAT IT SAYS ON THE PACKAGE?) I CAN PUT IT IN A LAMP ...
  A: I'm not sure what it says on all brands of grow lights. The package will usually have directions on ...
Spider Plants11/22/2006
  Q: I recently got some baby spider plants and they are in water right now, growing roots. But I was ...
  A: I'm sorry but spider plants are medium to bright light plants. There really are no plants that will ...
re-potting11/21/2006
  Q: I have several large houseplants for many years. Should they be repotted periodically, just top ...
  A: Most plants should be repotted about once a year, preferably in the spring or early summer during ...
Please help me identify my houseplant11/21/2006
  Q: I tried to figure out how to send pictures but need some instructions.Hi - I purchased a little ...
  A: Like I said, it is really hard to give you an accurate answer without seeing the plant. Another ...
tropic snow dieffenbachia11/21/2006
  Q: MY TROPIC SNOW IS DOING QUITE WELL. I HAVE IT FOR APPRX 6 MONTHS. MY ONLY CONCERN IS THAT IN THE ...
  A: Any kind of pest in plant soil should be a cause of concern since most of them will damage roots or ...
pregnant onion toxic to other plants?11/21/2006
  Q: I brought in my new pregnant onion plant for the winter and set it on the shelf with my 15 year old ...
  A: It very well could be that the pregnant onion plant is the cause of the problem with your Peace ...
poisonous houseplants11/21/2006
  Q: are spider plants poisonous to dogs?
  A: I don't believe that Spider plants are listed as poisonous but you never know how an animal will ...
pruning11/21/2006
  Q: IS PRUNING NECESSARY FOR HOUSE PLANTS? WHAT EXACTLY IS PRUNING,HOW IS PRUNING ACCOMPLISHED, AND HOW ...
  A: Pruning is trimming off stems, branches or leaves from a plant. There are many reasons to prune a ...
Please help me identify my houseplant11/21/2006
  Q: It's a dainty, delicate thing, about 2 feet tall and all the leaves come off of a center stem that's ...
  A: I can't be totally sure without seeing a picture of the plant but I believe the plant you described ...
My ZiZi Plant11/20/2006
  Q: So is the yellowing of the leaves due to improper planting technique or lack of water? I believe the ...
  A: Most ceramic pots do not have drainage holes. If your ceramic pot has drainage holes then water ...
Mother in-laws tounge11/20/2006
  Q: Is a mother-in-laws plant poisnous to pets i.e. Golden Retriever puppies????
  A: Yes, I think that mother-in-law tongue plants are poisonous. In general, it is best to assume that ...
Ficus Problem11/20/2006
  Q: I have has a ficus for several years. Over the past couple of months, it began to lose a lot of ...
  A: It sounds like you have been overwatering and the Ficus may now have root rot. Remove the plant from ...
Mold and mildew on indoor plants11/20/2006
  Q: One of my plants, and I'm sorry, but I'm not sure the name of it, has a bad case of powdery mildew. ...
  A: Plants should not be watered on a set schedule, watering should be based on the needs of the ...
peace lily11/20/2006
  Q: I also have a peace lily from my father's funeral this past summer. Have been doing well with it ...
  A: First off let me warn you that Peace Lilies are very poisonous. I really like Peace Lilies but I do ...
coleus indoors from seeds11/20/2006
  Q: Appreciate your time. Only one thing: Could you be very specific as to how, when, etc. I harvest ...
  A: I am sorry for the delay in answering your question. To be honest, I have never harvested seeds from ...
potted palm tree11/19/2006
  Q: I have a potted palm tree and its lower leaves are starting to brown and look dry. I water it about ...
  A: Palms need high humidity. Setting a large tray of pebbles about half filled with water under the ...
yucca plant11/19/2006
  Q: i would like to know if i can keep a yucca plant outside for the winter in new york city
  A: Yucca is a tropical plant. It will tolerate temperatures as low as the upper 30s, so it will not be ...
shefflera11/18/2006
  Q: I live in Tenn. and my shefflera, which is quite large and is a big enough pot, was moved inside ...
  A: Your problem could have 2 causes. First, Schefflera are very sensitive to changes in light and ...
Asparagus Fern11/18/2006
  Q: I have a Asparagus Fern. When I bring it indoors for the winter the little leaves fall off... then ...
  A: When plants are brought inside, they become stressed from the sudden change in environment which ...
Fertilizing house plants11/17/2006
  Q: Is it true that dirty dishwater is a good fertilizer? I read an article about a lady that only used ...
  A: That is most definitely NOT true! Tap water does not contain the nutrients plants need and dishwater ...
Indoor plant care11/17/2006
  Q: I am caring for 3 indoor plants and I have been watering them about 3 times a week. I notice they ...
  A: It sounds like you are watering the plants too much. Depending on the type of plant you have you ...
Pruning Indoor Plant11/16/2006
  Q: I have an umbrella tree which is now over 7' tall and as it has now reached the ceiling the top ...
  A: You can just cut the plant down to where you want it. After you cut the top off the stem you can ...
banana plant11/14/2006
  Q: I have concerns about my Indoor banana plant. But I am not sure what kind it is because it was from ...
  A: It very well could be in a pot too large and now has root rot. This is usually casued by ...
Norfolk Island Pine11/14/2006
  Q: I have an approximately 2' high Norfolk Island Pine sitting in a corner of my dining room adjacent ...
  A: The plant could be either light stressed or water stressed. Revaluate the way your water your ...
Problem with my house plant11/13/2006
  Q: I have a house plant that is called a corn plant. There is yellow like mushrooms growing out of the ...
  A: Mushrooms on the soil will not harm your plant but it is definitely not good for your daughter. ...
scheffelera plants11/13/2006
  Q: The new growth on our scheffelera plant is very shiny and beautiful - how do I make the rest of the ...
  A: Regular cleaning with a damp cloth or paper towel and a monthly 'shower' is usually enough to keep ...
banana trees11/13/2006
  Q: I live in Warner Robins, Georgia. We do get a week or two of freezing temps. I have banana trees. ...
  A: There seems to be some debate as to the best way to winterize Banana Tree Plants. One way is to trim ...
coleus indoors from seeds11/13/2006
  Q: i read your answer to growing them indoors from cuttings, which is what I did last winter with 6 ...
  A: Just plant seeds on a tray filled with peat and perlite. I also as vermiculite. Add seeds and cover ...
Kimberly Queen Fern11/12/2006
  Q: I need help with getting rid of worms/caterpillars (not sure but they're an inch long and have ...
  A: It sounds like you have caterpillars You will need to get rid of all the soil in the pots and repot ...
my schefflera losing leaves11/11/2006
  Q: I would like to know why the leaves are falling off my plant? this is the first time it has ...
  A: Plants will shed their leaves for several reasons. It is normal for plants to drop some of their ...
moses in a boat....11/11/2006
  Q: I took a boat from my great grandmothers plant and I wanted to try and grow it...Im not sure if I ...
  A: You will need to allow the seeds to dry and plant them in soil. These seeds don't store very well so ...
spider plant11/9/2006
  Q: OK. How do I know they have enough roots? I am so much better at outdoor plants than indoor.I have ...
  A: Wait until the fibrous roots get about 1 inch long, they they should root really easy and really ...
Pothos11/9/2006
  Q: I have pathos indoor plant and it's been doing great however it seems really viny and bare in some ...
  A: Yes, trimming the plant will make it look better. When you trim off some of the longer stems make ...
overwatered rubber tree plant11/9/2006
  Q: My girlfriend and I live together. Recently her mother passed away. We were given a rubber tree ...
  A: Ok, first, you did the right thing, the cutting was a good idea but make sure there is plenty of ...
Dracaena Massangeana Can11/8/2006
  Q: I have a quite large Dracaena Massangeana Cane. I just recently moved and in the process the very ...
  A: You can try to plant the top stalk on soil and see if it will grow roots. You can dust the cut end ...
Indoor plant11/8/2006
  Q: I had a indoor basket of plants. I am not sure what they are called. Sorry but anyway I took it out ...
  A: Since I don't know what kind of plants you have it will be hard for me to give you accurate advice, ...
spider plant11/8/2006
  Q: I have a nice spider plant my daughter gave me 1-1/2 years ago as a little tiny thing for mothers ...
  A: The best way to do it is to wait until the babies grow nice sized fibrous roots while still attached ...
taking leaf cuttings, etc.11/7/2006
  Q: ok, this might be a little much be could you explain the best or easiest of the methods that you ...
  A: It is not too much at all. I am here to answer your questions and to explain to you how to whatever ...
indoor potted palm tree11/6/2006
  Q: I recently received a potted palm tree and know nothing about the care for them. how much do I water ...
  A: Palms needs bright light, except the dwarf date palm which needs lower light. Allow the top 2 inches ...
taking leaf cuttings, etc.11/6/2006
  Q: When taking leaf cuttings can you do so from a dumbcane, and also does the soil have to vermiculite ...
  A: Dieffenbachia (Dumbcane) can not be propagated by leaf cuttings, they are propagated by stem tip ...
braided money tree11/6/2006
  Q: I have a braided money tree now for about a month. It has doubled in size. It is in a 4" pot.What ...
  A: Unnecessary repotting is the #1 reason for plants to go downhill. If your Money Tree is doing fine ...
Kentia palm11/6/2006
  Q: We purchased a we high Kentia palm about 3 weeks ago. Since then its condition obviously worsened: ...
  A: I'm sorry Eugene, there must have been a mistake somewhere and I got your question instead of Will ...
Coleus11/5/2006
  Q: I have a Coleus plant that was in a container garden. Everything else in the pot is pretty much ...
  A: Yes, you can propagate Coleus by stem cuttings. Cut the stem just below a leaf node, remove the ...
Magic Star11/4/2006
  Q: Helllo again, I have a stromanthe Magic star and for the past 2 or 3 days the leaves have been ...
  A: I have had the same problem with my 'Magic Star'. Just keep the plant in high humidity, lower light ...
cat urine: Ficus11/4/2006
  Q: While I was away on a 2-week vacation, my little lady feline decided to use the pot of my Ficus tree ...
  A: Ficus trees are very sensitive to any sort of change and they will respond by dropping their leaves ...
Banana Tree Winter Care11/3/2006
  Q: I have seen a million questions and answers about the care of banana plants in Winter. I have 2 ...
  A: To be honest, I do not know a whole lot about banana tree plants but after receiving your question I ...
Spots on my prayer plant11/3/2006
  Q: It's me again I have brown spots on the leaves of my prayer plants. What is this and what do I do to ...
  A: If the brown spots have a yellow halo, then you have fungal leaf spot. First thing to do is to move ...
Dracaena Pruning11/3/2006
  Q: I have a 20+ year old dracaena plant. It's trunk is about 3-4 feet tall, then it splits into a "Y" ...
  A: Congratulations on keeping a Dragon tree for 20 + years! I don't think pruning is going to be your ...
Hedera variegated11/3/2006
  Q: I can't figure out if these variegated ivies like to be kept moist or dry out between waterings. ...
  A: Ivy need to have the top 2 inches of soil dry between watering. If ivy are kept too moist then they ...
Caring for a hibiscus house plant......11/1/2006
  Q: I was reading some of the questions and answer that have previously regarded the plant I am asking ...
  A: I have had only limited experience with flowering plants but I will answer your question as best I ...
Spider Mites11/1/2006
  Q: How do I get rid of spider mites from my house plants?
  A: Spider mites is a hard insect to get rid of. First thing you do is wash the plant very well with a ...
One more question11/1/2006
  Q: I have one more question. How much light should plants under artifical light get everyday? Thanks in ...
  A: Plants under artificial lighting should get 14 - 18 hours of light a day. Carefully watch the plants ...
Propagating prayer plants11/1/2006
  Q: How do you propagate prayer plants?
  A: Prayer plants are propagated by stem tip cuttings. Take the cutting just below a node in the stem. ...
soil additives10/31/2006
  Q: I have acquired a large collection of fluoride-sensitive plants, therefore I am worried about adding ...
  A: The best alternative to perlite is small styroform bits that look just like perlite. A lot of ...
Ivy help10/31/2006
  Q: I have a problem keeping Ivies alive. I love the look of them but everyone I get dies in a short ...
  A: I used to have problems keeping Ivy as well. Here are a few things about successfully growing Ivy. ...
Calthea10/31/2006
  Q: I have a Calthea Medallion. The edges keep turning brown and dry. I trim the brown edges off but it ...
  A: Calthea are high humidity plants. If the humidity in their environment is too low, the edges of the ...
does my plant have a disease?10/31/2006
  Q: I have a Madagascar Dragon Plant at my house, and it's leaves are covered in black, sticky junk. ...
  A: It sounds like you have a bad insect infestation. Most of the sucking insects, like aphids and ...
lucky been plant10/30/2006
  Q: I have growen my been plant from a little thing. I have just let it grow into a big bueatiful plant. ...
  A: From what you have described it sounds like your plant has root rot. Root rot is most often caused ...

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Expertise

I have a great deal of experience with most foliage houseplants. I am knowledgeable and experienced in the care of many different kinds of houseplants as well as the pests and diseases common to houseplants. I have had a lot of experience and success with most propagation techniques. I am also knowledgeable and experienced with artificial lighting for plants. I can answer questions about all aspects of 'indoor gardening'. Not only questions about growing foliage plants and starting seeds under artificial plant lighting but also questions about artificial plant light system set up, supplemental artificial lighting and cost. ~ I can help identify plants accurately ONLY if you submit a picture of the plant with your question.~

Experience

I usually always have at least 70 houseplants at all times. I have done extensive research, education and have over 15 years of experience with houseplants, indoor gardening, interior landscaping and artificial plant lighting. About 30% of my houseplants are grown exclusively under artificial plant lighting. Many of the other houseplants that are growing in natural light are also given supplemental lighting using artificial plant light. I have 5 complete artificial plant light systems that I designed and built.

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I have done volunteer work for several local botanical gardens and conservatories.

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I have written extensively about plants, all aspects of houseplant care, indoor gardening and artificial plant lighting. I have written many informational blogs, articles and 'plant care guides' for many websites, forums and some online horticultural communities.

Education/Credentials
I have extensive research, knowledge and experience on the care of houseplants, the different kinds of houseplants, pests and diseases common to houseplants, indoor gardening/landscaping and artificial plant lighting.

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