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| Subject | Date Asked |
| Queen Palm Seed Pod | 2/7/2012 |
| Q: How often does the Queen Palm form the large seed pod. Last spring in Florida was the first time I ... A: yes once the palm has matured, it will send out an inflorescence (pod..flower..seed) every year and ... | |
| shaping Dracena Margenata | 1/30/2012 |
| Q: I have a 26yr. old Dracena Margenata that has relocated with me from the east to west coast and back ... A: if you cut a trunk halfway, and replant the top section, it will root and grow,,,meanwhile the ... | |
| A massangeanas needs your advice to stay alive | 1/23/2012 |
| Q: I have a massangeanas. I have had it for over 5 years it came in a basket with 7 other plants. They ... A: It sounds like a lack of humidity, the moistened pebbles need to be added and new soil needs to be ... | |
| tropical suggestion | 1/10/2012 |
| Q: I have a commercial greenhouse in a tropical region. it is a 3000 square meter greenhouse which I ... A: your geographical region sounds similar to where I am,,,but probably a little more heat and ... | |
| perennials for zone 10 | 12/26/2011 |
| Q: I'm an avid perennial gardener in zone 5 (WV). My husband and I purchased a house in SW FL where I ... A: there are numerous choices, but I would recommend a newcomer to Florida (gardening wise..) to go ... | |
| Bouganvilla | 11/27/2011 |
| Q: We live in the Caribbean and recently our bouganvilla started dropping all its flowers and looks ... A: ,was it a granular fertilizer that you watered in? if so, the sudden drenching of water could have ... | |
| BANANA PLANTS | 11/18/2011 |
| Q: I RECEIVED SOME BANANA PLANTS FROM A FRIEND THAT HAVE BEEN CUT FOR THE WINTER.I NEED TO KNOW HOW TO ... A: Cut the crown back to about 2 feet , clean all the soil off the Corm (root ball) then wrap the Corm ... | |
| Sickly papaya | 9/28/2011 |
| Q: I live in zone 7b in central AL I have a papaya tree that I germinated from seed. it is living in a ... A: It is difficult to point a finger at the exact cause without seeing the plant and having a history ... | |
| Tropical houseplants | 9/16/2011 |
| Q: I live in zone 7b-8a (depending who you ask) in Central Alabama. I have a few tropical plants that ... A: They can remain outside until night temps begin dipping below 35 degrees or so,,,when frost is ... | |
| Pentas | 8/30/2011 |
| Q: I have lots of different colored pentas and all flourish except for the white ones. I care for them ... A: I too have had difficulty with the white varieties,,but can't seem to find out why, but unlike the ... | |
| Bougenvilla Plants | 8/29/2011 |
| Q: I have heard these plants try to take over other plants in the same area or vicinity of themselves. ... A: they are aggressive growers,,and if you mean that they tend to envelope other plant in their ... | |
| Needle palm | 8/28/2011 |
| Q: Can you tell me what the water requirements are for this palm? I'am just not sure how much water it ... A: a very slow growing Palm with very few problems, treat it like your others and it should be fine, ... | |
| passionfruit and banana's | 8/24/2011 |
| Q: we planted passionfruit about 12months ago ,they had a huge amount of flowers on them after about ... A: The Passionfruit has several varieties, some are self fertile, while others need pollination from ... | |
| Ganoderma Butt rot | 8/24/2011 |
| Q: I had asked you some questions last week about my Queen palms and you had said it was probably ... A: I suspected that Ganoderma was the culprit, if the conch is present, then the palm is effectively ... | |
| Robellini palm fungus | 8/19/2011 |
| Q: I have several palms that I believe are Robellini palms. They are doing fine. But the trunks are ... A: ...Pray Scott,,,,thats about all that can help with this disease,,,it is spread by spores, and ... | |
| Robellini palm fungus | 8/18/2011 |
| Q: I have several palms that I believe are Robellini palms. They are doing fine. But the trunks are ... A: I wouldn't be concerned about the powdery like substance, it is probably "Lichen" (no image here to ... | |
| Please help with my olive tree | 8/18/2011 |
| Q: I've recently bought a potted olive tree, which is about 30 centimeter tall (I keep it potted, it's ... A: keep it on the moist side, but not wet and in a location where it gets morning Sun and afternoon ... | |
| Dog ate roots of Mandevilla Plan... | 8/5/2011 |
| Q: Is this poisonous or toxic? the plan seemed to be dead or on it's way... so I dumped soil and all ... A: I just saw that you named it...sorry.....Mandevilla are very common in our Florida landscape,,and my ... | |
| Dwarf Cavendish Banana Tree leaf curling and turning yellow | 7/20/2011 |
| Q: I just received my tree at the beging of July, and already my poor little tree is not doing well the ... A: Often Bananas are shipped without any attached Corm, or root system, and they will eventually grow, ... | |
| plumeria | 7/15/2011 |
| Q: I live in Jamul Ca annd have over 100 plumeria plants some are sooo huge i put stakes to hold them ... A: Yes, but be aesthetic about it, wherever you cut, is where new growth will emerge from side shoots, ... | |
| is this a baby papaya? | 7/14/2011 |
| Q: I have an avocado growing in a pot on my porch. The avocado is 6 months old and 12 inches tall. ... A: It needs to be cross pollinated, and only one insect does it, so there won't be any fruit,but it has ... | |
| is this a baby papaya? | 7/14/2011 |
| Q: I have an avocado growing in a pot on my porch. The avocado is 6 months old and 12 inches tall. ... A: ...water the container well,,,and then carefully, using a utensil (either large spoon or even a ... | |
| is this a baby papaya? | 7/13/2011 |
| Q: I have an avocado growing in a pot on my porch. The avocado is 6 months old and 12 inches tall. ... A: it is indeed a Papaya!..now it needs to be in a larger container and eventually in the ground if you ... | |
| Passion fruit | 7/13/2011 |
| Q: Last month I purchased two passion vines, one edulis flavicarpa and a hybrid edulis, and planted ... A: the fact that they are not dying is the key, many plants take time to set their roots and acclimate ... | |
| Tibouchina compacta leaf drop | 7/4/2011 |
| Q: 4+ weeks ago planted 3 Tibouchina compacta, all in partial sun. Am not familiar with this ... A: when a plant suddenly drops its leaves, it is more then likely caused by a change in the surrounding ... | |
| Sick Brug | 7/3/2011 |
| Q: I used the horticultural oil and the copper fungicide one week later. It was looking better and now ... A: your pic didnt come in, but the fact that its the lower leaves is good, if it were the top ones we ... | |
| Saga Palms | 6/27/2011 |
| Q: I live in Central Texas we have had our saga palms for 6 years. We had a very cold winter this year ... A: I am certain that your Sago will be fine, I say this because you have pups forming at the base and ... | |
| adonidia palm | 6/23/2011 |
| Q: Nick. I have an adonidia palm tree that for the most part is doing really well. It is indoor, in 20" ... A: It definitely needs to be in a larger container, and if you can't find one locally, you will need to ... | |
| identify a plant | 6/23/2011 |
| Q: I'm trying to identify a plant. It was my grandads who died last week. We know he grew it from seed ... A: It appears to be a "Bird of Paradise" that is in dire need of a larger container, hence its lanky ... | |
| removal of foxtail palm seed pods | 6/18/2011 |
| Q: I have several large foxtail palms. Should the seed pods be removed from the palms? I have a ... A: Go to any of the box stores,,,,,Lowes, Home Depot etc....and you will see a 20lb bag of fertilizer ... | |
| removal of foxtail palm seed pods | 6/18/2011 |
| Q: I have several large foxtail palms. Should the seed pods be removed from the palms? I have a ... A: You should remove them when they are in the inflorescence stage (flower), just so you don't have a ... | |
| Spots on my Brugmansia | 6/9/2011 |
| Q: My brug is gowing nicely (no flowers yet)but the bottom leaves develop this light brown stuff all ... A: Yes, always apply late afternoon and allow to work overnight, then wash off residual oil the next ... | |
| Spots on my Brugmansia | 6/8/2011 |
| Q: My brug is gowing nicely (no flowers yet)but the bottom leaves develop this light brown stuff all ... A: Its hard to tell definitively whether its scale or a fungal infection, so, I would hit it with the ... | |
| damaged fox tail palms | 6/6/2011 |
| Q: Looking down into the top of the tree(s) where the fronds initiate, all you see is brown brush. ... A: The one on the left needs to be cut off at soil level, for it is indeed "kaput", this will not ... | |
| ponytail palm | 6/5/2011 |
| Q: My ponytail palms also froze this winter when Tucson temps dropped to a rare 15 degrees. The trunk ... A: Ok, let the one on the right develop as it is, with the crown in tact, snip the tiny sprouts at the ... | |
| ponytail palm | 6/4/2011 |
| Q: My ponytail palms also froze this winter when Tucson temps dropped to a rare 15 degrees. The trunk ... A: Yes, allow the sideshoots to develop, then when the stronger ones prevail, you can snip off the ... | |
| transplanting pygmy plams | 6/4/2011 |
| Q: I have recently transplanted a pygmy palm from the ground into a pot. My palm has been healthy ... A: just by the size of that palm, I know you did not get the entire root system, therefore it is ... | |
| Bromeliads, Yucca | 6/2/2011 |
| Q: Several weeks ago, I bought 3 Bromeliads, & 1 Yucca. I repotted them in plastic pots with rocks in ... A: Oh! my bad, just saw about the yucca, sry....yuccas like and need very little water, but unlike the ... | |
| Bromeliads, Yucca | 6/1/2011 |
| Q: Several weeks ago, I bought 3 Bromeliads, & 1 Yucca. I repotted them in plastic pots with rocks in ... A: Bromeliads need to have indirect light, avoid direct sunlight; when watering, you actually water the ... | |
| sick avocado | 5/31/2011 |
| Q: What is wrong with my avocado seed? This avocado seed is 5 months old. It has split and as you can ... A: It initially grows and takes its nutrients from the water alone without use of a root from the ... | |
| sick avocado | 5/30/2011 |
| Q: What is wrong with my avocado seed? This avocado seed is 5 months old. It has split and as you can ... A: ,Not all seeds (of any kind) put out a totally healthy growth, many don't germinate at all; this one ... | |
| Majesty Palms / white worms | 5/30/2011 |
| Q: I read this page and I too am having trouble with these worms destroying my plants and am looking ... A: more often then not, the worms originate from the soil that the palm comes planted in, I always tell ... | |
| Plumeria | 5/29/2011 |
| Q: There are white spots all over the leaves. On the back of the leaves, there are light tan raised ... A: Its an insect called Scale, and it is feeding on the plants internal juices, spray it with a ... | |
| Kentia - spike/spear growing sideways | 5/19/2011 |
| Q: I have multiple kentias growing around my yard in coastal San Diego and the majority of them are ... A: Well, never let it be said that I will not own up to a wrong observation when it applies, and I was ... | |
| Kentia - spike/spear growing sideways | 5/18/2011 |
| Q: I have multiple kentias growing around my yard in coastal San Diego and the majority of them are ... A: (McCann eh?..probably related somehow..lol)..If the color is spot on, then I wouldn't be overly ... | |
| Ixaca Maui | 5/11/2011 |
| Q: I'm in Ottawa Canada and I believe the city is zone 5 or 5a. I purchased a compact blooming Ixaca ... A: having worked in Montreal for 2 years with the U.S. Customs service, I can assure you that your ... | |
| Foxtail fern | 5/11/2011 |
| Q: Nick, I spoke with you earlier about the foxtail fern that belonged to my dad and was abused after ... A: It may have been too far gone Ashley, if it is completely brown then I fear the worse; allow it ... | |
| Foxtail or Christmas Palm | 5/9/2011 |
| Q: Which is the better landscape palm tree, a Foxtail or a Christmas palm? A: Neither for Minnesota LOL...but to answer your question, the Foxtail and the Christmas Palm are very ... | |
| kentia palm and coffee grounds used | 5/7/2011 |
| Q: i am trying to maintain my 2nd kentia palm. it has brown leaves - due to lack of watering i know, ... A: Coffee grounds are not really going to anything except acidify the soil somewhat, but the first one ... | |
| Washingtonia Palm | 5/6/2011 |
| Q: I have a washingtonia palm that I have had for 6 years (it is about 15-20 feet tall). This winter ... A: the bent "fronds" are caused by the cold temps this past Winter, what happened is the fronds that ... | |
| Foxtail Fern | 5/3/2011 |
| Q: Nick. To make a long story short. My dad had a foxtail fern for about 15 years potted in a huge ... A: You can divide it once it is healthy again, just divide the root ball into tow sections, leaving one ... | |
| Foxtail Fern | 5/3/2011 |
| Q: Nick. To make a long story short. My dad had a foxtail fern for about 15 years potted in a huge ... A: first of all, I saw "Foxtail" and immediately thaught we were dealing with a Palm, for a Foxtail is ... | |
| Foxtail Fern | 5/2/2011 |
| Q: Nick. To make a long story short. My dad had a foxtail fern for about 15 years potted in a huge ... A: It would really help if I could see an image, but from what you say, it should be watered well, and ... | |
| Fishtail palm | 5/1/2011 |
| Q: I just bought a beautiful fishtail palm. I was assured that it does not have any diseases just ... A: I have often seen this on mature Fishtails and it didn't seem to effect them at all, but I would ... | |
| foxtails in philly | 4/26/2011 |
| Q: Hey Nick, one of my favorite palms has some yellowing leaves. What could be causing this? I recently ... A: Theres an old saying,, whatever works is the right thing!...you seem to have a good handle on your ... | |
| Palm Trees | 4/26/2011 |
| Q: We are putting in a pool and I have been working on designing our backyard getaway. I have had ... A: Yes, but it is an effort, but if you consider that you may only need to do it a half dozen times a ... | |
| Palm Trees | 4/26/2011 |
| Q: We are putting in a pool and I have been working on designing our backyard getaway. I have had ... A: I agree with everything in your question, foxtails and christmas palms are a cold risk in 9b and ... | |
| foxtails in philly | 4/21/2011 |
| Q: Hey Nick, one of my favorite palms has some yellowing leaves. What could be causing this? I recently ... A: You need to change out soil in any contained plant periodically due to salt buildup from ... | |
| tree question | 4/19/2011 |
| Q: What kind of tree/plant is this? The stalk is so long and i would like to shorten it. SHould i ... A: Its a diffenbachia, commonly known as a "Dumb Cane", because of the poisonous sap it has (hence the ... | |
| Deep Freeze & Ponytail Palms | 4/15/2011 |
| Q: My Ponytail Palm recently went through Tucson"s worst cold weather in current history. The "foot" ... A: Yes, these are new growth that will develop into its new fronds; let them all grow and then when ... | |
| Queen palm problem | 4/14/2011 |
| Q: I have a 25-foot tall Queen palm. About 3 months ago it put out a sheath and none of the fronds ... A: I wish I had an image to look at, but from what you describe, the crown is collapsing for some ... | |
| Foxtail Palm Tree | 4/10/2011 |
| Q: I have a double foxtail palm that had sustained some frost damage. The smaller arm of the tree has ... A: Not much you can do but keep the root system properly irrigated and fertilized (3 times a year at a ... | |
| areca palms | 4/8/2011 |
| Q: we have ARECA palms bordering one side of the yard and we wanted to do the same on the other. i was ... A: the way to propagate Arecas are by separation of the palm itself, segmenting the actual palm by root ... | |
| Palm tre damage | 4/4/2011 |
| Q: Please tell me What to do with this Palm tree that is frost damaged. I'm in Charlotte North ... A: ...the new fronds will continue to brown out, that is expected, what you want to see (eventually) is ... | |
| Frostbitten Pygmy Palms | 3/29/2011 |
| Q: We have several pygmy palms that seem to have frostbite. We had temperatures into the 30's and all ... A: Cold stressed Palms are never an easy problem to solve; some will come back while others will ... | |
| Palm tree sick | 3/28/2011 |
| Q: We recently bought a house with 2 royal palms, they are about 8 feet, they seemed fine until about 4 ... A: It is an indication of failure due to a number of possible reasons, from cold stress to insect ... | |
| Aloe-vera | 3/25/2011 |
| Q: I bought Aloe vera plant before 4 weeks. then i put in big pot.but after some time, i saw it going ... A: Reshma, Aloe needs full Sun and does not do well if exposed to temps that dip below freezing; ... | |
| Fox Tail Palm | 3/23/2011 |
| Q: We were having some trees trimmed and on branch fell onto the Foxtail, breaking the spear and a new ... A: ...let the damaged spear finish its emergence , it may very well continue to open, albeit ... | |
| Fox Tail Palm | 3/23/2011 |
| Q: We were having some trees trimmed and on branch fell onto the Foxtail, breaking the spear and a new ... A: Ok its as I thaught, damage above the heart, the effected fronds will turn brown and need to be ... | |
| Fox Tail Palm | 3/23/2011 |
| Q: We were having some trees trimmed and on branch fell onto the Foxtail, breaking the spear and a new ... A: As in a human, the heart is the keystone to survival, the heart of the palm is located just below ... | |
| florida sunset ixora | 3/19/2011 |
| Q: I recently planted florida sunset ixora. We do have below freezing temps, will it survive and what ... A: zone 7 is marginal at best for this sub-tropical, but if you cover it real well with a frost blanket ... | |
| Foxtail palm roots | 3/17/2011 |
| Q: We live in Queensland Australia and have a couple of foxtail palms growing very close to our ... A: they are pretty much maxed out now , at that height, so I wouldn't be concerned about any damage ... | |
| 7 year old Queen palms | 3/15/2011 |
| Q: We live on Lake Conroe and during this past freeze we wrapped and securely taped each palm with ... A: Yes, it was a real bad Winter everywhere, even here in South Florida; the rule of thumb with Palms ... | |
| bottle palm in philly | 3/10/2011 |
| Q: been a while since i contacted you. Thank goodness spring is almost here. My foxtails seem to be ... A: the fungicide is a preventative; the palm is stressed and susceptible to fungal problems, the ... | |
| bottle palm in philly | 3/8/2011 |
| Q: been a while since i contacted you. Thank goodness spring is almost here. My foxtails seem to be ... A: It may have shocked if you put it out in 40 degree temps without hardening it first; by this I mean ... | |
| Primera Plant | 3/4/2011 |
| Q: I received a Primera plant as a gift, but I have an indoor kitten and a grandbaby. Is this plant ... A: I don't know about its being poisonous or not, but most of them do have sharp edged leaves ... | |
| majesty palm | 3/2/2011 |
| Q: My majesty palm and dracena magenta (sp) are both in great distress. I don't know how to identify ... A: First I would recommend you change out the soil to a quality potting mix, many cheaper mixes harden ... | |
| majesty palm | 3/2/2011 |
| Q: My majesty palm and dracena magenta (sp) are both in great distress. I don't know how to identify ... A: Both like pretty much the same environment, filtered light and humid conditions; the soil needs to ... | |
| Ponytail palm freeze damage | 2/27/2011 |
| Q: I have a ponytail palm that is about 2 ft tall, 5 years old, in a pot. In traveling from NY to Tx, ... A: Wait a couple of more weeks , if it is still alive, it will send out new shoots from the sides ... | |
| Pony Tail Plam | 2/27/2011 |
| Q: Is there anyway that i can trim this plant up, the leafs is touching the floor send u a picturec of ... A: Yes, you can do what my wife calls, "giving it a haircut", she trims ours up once a year (it is ... | |
| pineapple plant | 2/26/2011 |
| Q: i have a pineapple plant that has a small fruit on it but the stalk is starting to shor brown and ... A: there really isn't much you can do now but keep it properly watered and make sure it gets plenty of ... | |
| Ferns and grasses | 2/24/2011 |
| Q: We have foxtail ferns that were out in the last Houston freezes. They are now dry and yellow. Are ... A: it is very difficult to help people with cold damaged plants, without actually seeing the extent of ... | |
| Care and possible damage? | 2/18/2011 |
| Q: I purchased a house in November the back yard has about 10 giant birds of paradise and a few ... A: Because of the age of your BOP'S I am inclined to think it is just a sign of old age; they are not ... | |
| foxtail palm | 2/17/2011 |
| Q: Our new foxtail palm did not withstand the freezing rain. We covered the trunk up past the first ... A: the only thing you can do at this point, is spray the heart area (where the lower fronds meet the ... | |
| Care and possible damage? | 2/15/2011 |
| Q: I purchased a house in November the back yard has about 10 giant birds of paradise and a few ... A: Ok, BOP's have a large bulbular type root system, its not invasive like many trees, which will send ... | |
| My Pink Grapefruit tree | 2/11/2011 |
| Q: McCann, I know you are only answering tropical plant questions right now, but there are no experts ... A: and I will be glad to continue to help you with Citrus; it looks fine Bob, what often happens ... | |
| Bananas | 2/6/2011 |
| Q: Why won't my bananas set full bunches of fruit. What happens is they set 2 or 3 sets, then the rest ... A: Bananas need a very specific care package in order to produce a full bunch, it consists of copious ... | |
| seagrape tree leaf shed | 2/3/2011 |
| Q: Do seagrape trees shed all their leaves at any time of the year? ANSWER: They will if the temps ... A: Its very difficult to differentiate between cold stress and fungal problems during the Winter, for ... | |
| banana plant | 2/1/2011 |
| Q: McCann, I planted a banana plant several years ago in the front of our home, babied it to hell, ... A: Cut it back to ground level, have your gardner dig up what he can of the corm (underground root ... | |
| Hawaiian Ti | 12/29/2010 |
| Q: I have four Hawaiian Ti plants outdoors. They took a hard hit with the freeze we have been having ... A: Hey may indeed come back, but it will be a slow process and another such freeze will assuredly do ... | |
| bugs | 12/20/2010 |
| Q: I had like fruit flies in my house and I just noticed they are climbing all over my hibiscus tree. ... A: Robin, they are hatching out of the soil in the Hibiscus, take the plant outside and repot it with ... | |
| Zygocactus (Christmas Cactus) | 12/16/2010 |
| Q: I bought a red-bloom zygo from a grocery store 4 days ago,and all their flowers are perfect inside ... A: you made two mistakes,,too high of temperature (73) it needs cooler...around 50-60,,and you need to ... | |
| Foxtail browning | 12/14/2010 |
| Q: Gary from philly here again. I moved my foxtails indoors about a month ago. My small ones i have in ... A: I agree, after a period of time, the effects of the impediment of the sunlight coming through the ... | |
| banana plant | 12/7/2010 |
| Q: I sent you some info about 1 month ago about our cavendish banana plat we planted this past Feb. You ... A: because of the timing of the emergence of the pod, it is difficult to be optimistic, even with the ... | |
| freeze/banana plants | 12/6/2010 |
| Q: so it froze here in houston and now my plants leaves are all dead. what do i do? A: First of all, please know that I didn't receive this question until just now,,for some reason, my ... | |
| queen ann palm | 12/1/2010 |
| Q: how should i protect my queen ann palm during severe cold wheather? A: They are hardy down into the high 20's, but if you are talking lower then that, then water the base ... | |
| tibouchina grandiflora | 11/30/2010 |
| Q: I'm in Houston. Temperature dropped into 40's one or two days only. got the tibouchina grandiflora ... A: The weather is changing, and the nights are getting colder, it is times like this that too much ... | |
| foxtail palm | 11/20/2010 |
| Q: you answered my question about the "splayed" (curled) trunk on the foxtail palms. Glad to know it ... A: Very common in Queens, and as I said , there is nothing you can do about it, except watch for ... | |
| Periwinkle Plant Help | 11/16/2010 |
| Q: McCann, My Periwinkle plant is experiencing severe yellowing in leaves. I watered it generously ... A: Periwinkle Vinca runs its course and when it is past its prime needs to be pruned back to encourage ... | |
| Foxtail Palm Browning | 11/14/2010 |
| Q: I recently planted two foxtail palms, one is a B&B Triple and one is a 25 gal. single. The trees are ... A: there are a number of reasons for this to occur, but it sounds like a fungal problem; it is ... | |
| BOUGAINVILLEAS | 11/14/2010 |
| Q: HOW DO CAN I TRIM OUR MATURE BOUGAINVILLEA PLANT. IT BLOOMS AT LEAST TWICE A YEAR, BUT MY WIFE FEELS ... A: Bougs do indeed need to be trimmed back periodically, but the quandary seems to be, when. so as not ... | |
| Foxtail Palm Browning | 11/13/2010 |
| Q: I recently planted two foxtail palms, one is a B&B Triple and one is a 25 gal. single. The trees are ... A: Keep the watering every other day for several more weeks, this is important; as far as the declince ... | |
| Foxtails in philly | 11/1/2010 |
| Q: Gary from philly again. My current question (s). It is starting to get quite chilly at nights here ... A: Gary, they will begin to stress when the mid 30's are reached, when will they sustain ... | |
| Banana trees, other tropicals winter care | 10/29/2010 |
| Q: Hey Nick - Like many others here, I have quite a few banana trees in my backyard garden that I ... A: Tim, if the ground doesn't freeze, then you can allow it to freeze back to ground level, then mulch ... | |
| Banana plant selection | 10/22/2010 |
| Q: Nick, I attended your seminar on Tuesday, wonderful and informative. You mentioned some smaller ... A: first of all, for some reason a bunch of questions never made it to my puter, I will be inquiring ... | |
| banana fertilizer | 10/20/2010 |
| Q: Saw you yesterday at pgi. I separated some pseudostems from a couple clusters and transplanted. ... A: Lesco is located over at the industrial park of of Enterprise Ave.(off 776) about a quarter mile in ... | |
| Pigmy Date Palm | 10/20/2010 |
| Q: We purchased a 3 plant pigmy date palm about six mo ago it is still in it's original pot/container. ... A: Those containers are nursery containers that are only meant for transporting and temporary storage ... | |
| Sick/Dying Queen Palm | 10/13/2010 |
| Q: Although last winter was very hard on tropicals here in New Orleans my Queen Palm survived and was ... A: you mentioned a "planter" type location, therein lies the problem, it has done fine up to now, for ... | |
| Ice Cream Banana Tree fruit | 9/29/2010 |
| Q: It just popped out yesterday. This is our third tree (including the original "mama") that ... A: you need to come to my seminar on "growing Bananas in Charlotte County" on Oct 19th...lol....it just ... | |
| Palms in philly | 9/28/2010 |
| Q: Nick, I would just like to send you a few pics of my palms im growing here in philadelphia. One is a ... A: Hey Gary, nice job! they look real healthy and a real accomplishment, talk about pushing the ... | |
| Pygmy Date Palms | 9/28/2010 |
| Q: I transplanted 9 palms 9 days ago and now I notice the center of 4 of them are dry and brittle in ... A: ...Go to Home Depot and get a product called "Chelated Palm nutritional spray", its a concentrate ... | |
| Pygmy Date Palms | 9/27/2010 |
| Q: I transplanted 9 palms 9 days ago and now I notice the center of 4 of them are dry and brittle in ... A: I seem to be getting a run on Palm transplant problems, they are all pretty similiar; it seems that ... | |
| Changing the soil after just transplanted | 9/27/2010 |
| Q: Transplanted palm SICK. Dug hole 2X bigger then root ball. Mixed dirt & bag of miracle grow planting ... A: You shouldn't mix anything in the soil except for some sidedressing with compost; the roots need to ... | |
| Palms in philly | 9/25/2010 |
| Q: Its Gary in Philly with the foxtail palms. Call me a fool, but on my recent trip to Florida, I ... A: this is common, what happens is the Palm utilizes nutrients from the older fronds (lower ones) and ... | |
| Foxtail palms rott | 9/23/2010 |
| Q: We have maybe ten Foxtail palms around the house. Some of them just brake of. What wrong with them ? ... A: I wouldn't think it was Ganoderma, you would see a mushroom type looking growth at the base of the ... | |
| White bird of paradise | 9/22/2010 |
| Q: Can you use the white bird of paradise as a privacy fence? We have a circular driveway and we would ... A: it wouldn't be my top pick for privacy, for it will take quite some time to get large enough and ... | |
| Pony Tail Palm | 9/21/2010 |
| Q: I have a Pony tail Palm approx 5ft doing extremely well (indirect sun) problem is too close to ... A: I don't know why you are moving it, they don't haave much of a root system, but if you must, then ... | |
| transplanting pygmy palm | 9/20/2010 |
| Q: I have 3 palms too close to foundation(approx 10 ft tall) was told they w only get 5ft also was told ... A: I have never heard of adding B-12 for transplanting or any other application to plants; water them ... | |
| transplanting pygmy palm | 9/17/2010 |
| Q: I have 3 palms too close to foundation(approx 10 ft tall) was told they w only get 5ft also was told ... A: Because of the proximity to your slab, and the fact that the roots have most certainly extended ... | |
| transplanting pygmy palm | 9/17/2010 |
| Q: I have 3 palms too close to foundation(approx 10 ft tall) was told they w only get 5ft also was told ... A: I have to question that the date palms are the cause of your seepage, for the roots will go under ... | |
| Queen Palms | 9/17/2010 |
| Q: I live in Baton Rouge and have two Queen Palms. No spears have shot up to date (9/17/10). I was ... A: Carole, Palms will often generate new growth from a bud that is not destroyed due to cutting or ... | |
| Foxtail new fronds/spikes brreaking | 9/14/2010 |
| Q: The middle of June, I had a tree nursery plant 4 triple 14 ft. foxtail palms. Within a few weeks, ... A: there is a syndrome effect from the sever Winter we had this past year, where newly emerging fronds ... | |
| Ethiopian red banana | 9/11/2010 |
| Q: I have several of these plants and have let them continue to grow (at least 20 feet high). Once ... A: Bananas (edible or ornamental..) have a growth pattern that goes like this, each plant grows until ... | |
| Pot Luck | 9/11/2010 |
| Q: Nick, We have had our Paradise Palm for many years, and found, by accident, that it doesn’t like ... A: I will be honest with you, I never heard of a "Paradise" Palm? but the general rule for ... | |
| Windmill Palm | 9/6/2010 |
| Q: We live in Tucson AZ about a year ago I got 2 windmill palms and they have been doing fine. I have ... A: The fact that they both began to decline simultaneously is indicitive of something that has either ... | |
| Foxtail palm | 9/4/2010 |
| Q: how I will understand that I am applying the proper quantity of water for foxtail palm? What are ... A: New plantings need to be kept hydrated for up to a Month or even more, depending on weather or the ... | |
| Foxtail palm | 9/4/2010 |
| Q: how I will understand that I am applying the proper quantity of water for foxtail palm? What are ... A: It all depends on whether it is established or not, is it a new planting? if so, it needs to be kept ... | |
| Pony Tail Palm | 8/28/2010 |
| Q: I broke the top out of my ponytail palm cutting down a limb for a different tree. Now I have 30 baby ... A: I have had success snipping the offshoots and rooting them in a light , well drained potting mix, ... | |
| Mango as a houseplant | 8/27/2010 |
| Q: Is it possible to grow a mango tree as an indoor houseplant? I live in GA. My neighbor gave me a ... A: the seed needs to be put in damp soil and the container covered with a baggi, to keep the soil from ... | |
| Hibiscus not blooming | 8/26/2010 |
| Q: We have a Chinese hibiscus that has only had 2 blooms last year and none this year. We fertilized ... A: that normally is effective on flowering annuals and perrenials; full Sun and fertilizing with a ... | |
| Pachira pale green to white leaves | 8/25/2010 |
| Q: I have had my money tree, Pachira, for about three months. It is about two feet tall, in a 5 inch ... A: Pachira likes to be in a dappled shady area, with indirect light, direct Sun will definitely burn ... | |
| Pygmy Date Palm | 8/24/2010 |
| Q: I bought 4 Pygmy Date Palms from OSH that were about 3 1/2 feet tall. I transplanted them to 14" ... A: Pygmy Dates are fairly easy to maintain, let them dry out somewhat between waterings, they don't ... | |
| Robellini Palm | 8/18/2010 |
| Q: My 3 section robellini palm had severe freeze damage from past winter and only 2 sections came back. ... A: If it hasn't shown any sign of recovery by now then it is probably beyond help, but the other two ... | |
| Robellini Palm | 8/16/2010 |
| Q: I have red tipped photinas that are infected wioth red spot. My robellinis are showing some of the ... A: It sounds like a fungal problem that is caused by fungal spores settling into droplets of water ... | |
| Palms in philly | 8/13/2010 |
| Q: Its Gary in Philly with the foxtail palms. Call me a fool, but on my recent trip to Florida, I ... A: ..depending on how valuable the pots are, the only way to transplant with as little stress as ... | |
| Injured Plumeria Help | 8/10/2010 |
| Q: I have a 3 yr old plumeria that was doing very well in it's pot until this morning. A careless ... A: if the stalks are damaged then you should cut them and let the sections callous over for a few days, ... | |
| red banana browning and spotting | 8/7/2010 |
| Q: I live in Florida and have 2 red bananas on the east side of my house. Recently I've treated it ... A: ....The mulch is good! just make sure that it isn't planted deeper then I said; every other ... | |
| red banana browning and spotting | 8/6/2010 |
| Q: I live in Florida and have 2 red bananas on the east side of my house. Recently I've treated it ... A: Bananas do not need any insect treatment, for they are not bothered by any that are of any concern, ... | |
| Small blooms on a tropical hibiscus | 8/6/2010 |
| Q: I have several tropical hibiscus (Tradewinds series) on my deck that are doing well in terms of ... A: It is definitely a symptom of stress, be it lack of nutrients, water or Sun or even the manner in ... | |
| white stuff on my palm tree | 8/5/2010 |
| Q: I purchased a palmtree from lowe's I think it is a pygmy date plant although I am not certain in ... A: It sounds like a scale insect known as "Aucalaspis Scale",but it usually infests a Cycad called the ... | |
| Palms in philly | 8/3/2010 |
| Q: Its Gary in Philly with the foxtail palms. Call me a fool, but on my recent trip to Florida, I ... A: They will initially do fine in the containers, but the root system will eventually hit the barrier ... | |
| Antartica Dicksonia | 8/2/2010 |
| Q: although I wrapped my tree ferns up in hessian during last winter I think the frost still got to ... A: If the roots are still viable, then they may send up new growth, but it depends if the freeze was a ... | |
| Christmas palms | 7/28/2010 |
| Q: I live in Port Charlotte and have had bad luck with this past winter (as everyone has). I lost 2 ... A: ..actually, most people that keep the one specimen do end up pulling them,because of the inbalance; ... | |
| Clerodendrum Quadriloculare Starburst | 7/24/2010 |
| Q: While trimming back my bougainvillea plant today, I noticed the planter is full of ants. I use ... A: good to hear from you again, take tip cuttings, about 3 inches long, dip them in the rooting hormone ... | |
| foxtail palms | 7/24/2010 |
| Q: we planted a couple of foxtail palms about 3-4 months ago. they have not turned color or dropped ... A: the good news is the fact that they have not shown any signs of decline, but the spears should have ... | |
| Schefflera (grown from cutting) trunk appears brown/black | 7/21/2010 |
| Q: I was reading your post on schefflera earlier and I have a question about my particular situation. ... A: Its always difficult to help without an image, but from what you have described, I would just leave ... | |
| foxtail palms | 7/21/2010 |
| Q: I have several foxtail palms in which the freeze damaged all the fronz. My question is that after ... A: What has occured is the crown rotted (from the cold damage this past Winter.) and collapsed; the bud ... | |
| Mango plant grown from store-bought mango seed | 7/17/2010 |
| Q: I bought some mangos (asian I think, they are the orange/yellow colored ones that are shaped like a ... A: good for you! you accomplished the toughest part and that is germination, now you do need to ... | |
| poisonous tropical plants | 7/13/2010 |
| Q: is there a list somewhere of all poisonous tropical plants? A: I "yahooed" poisonous tropical plants, and the third one down had a wonderful list and description ... | |
| alamanda | 7/13/2010 |
| Q: My question is .Is there a way to start a new alamanda plant from an existing one. I have one that ... A: Take 3-4 inch tip cuttings (the terminal ends) dip in a rooting hormone and place them in a ... | |
| something eating foxtail ferns | 7/12/2010 |
| Q: My foxtail fern is outside for the summer in a terra cotta pot. Although I have sprayed it with ... A: There are numerous pests that could be at fault, but it sounds like Rabbits, they do most their ... | |
| care | 7/8/2010 |
| Q: Miracle Grow moisture control plus miracle gorw castus plam citus soil, Was planning on useing the ... A: that container will do just fine, canes actually grow well when cramped, and 2 inches of gravel in ... | |
| pineapple plant is dead | 7/8/2010 |
| Q: I bought a pineapple plant from a local nursery, it seemed healthy no problems it was an adult and ... A: the symptoms you describe are over watering, the root system rotted, hence the browing tips and ... | |
| Foxtails in philly | 7/4/2010 |
| Q: Gary again from philly. My foxtails all seem to sprouting new fronds, even the ones i thought were ... A: great to hear they are coming along nicely!..you can snip off the totally dead brown fronds for ... | |
| Zebra plants | 7/2/2010 |
| Q: My Zebra plants, planted this year are blooming beautifully. When should the old blooms be removed? ... A: ...they can be quite tempermental when the temps are low and even professionals have a difficult ... | |
| Dracaena "Lisa & Mass Stump | 7/1/2010 |
| Q: I wanted to know if it's alright to re-pot them into bigger pots? And I also would like to know if ... A: You can repot them with no problem, they are very resilient and can be put outside during the warmer ... | |
| Zebra plants | 7/1/2010 |
| Q: My Zebra plants, planted this year are blooming beautifully. When should the old blooms be removed? ... A: You can remove them as soon as they begin to look unsightly, but this is for aesthetics , it won't ... | |
| Queen Palms | 5/19/2010 |
| Q: We have 3 palms that were planted in Feb. 2009. We live in Houston. The tops are brown from this ... A: the heart of the Palm is actually what is called the "Bud", which is located just below the crown, ... | |
| Queen Palm Freeze | 5/17/2010 |
| Q: I live in South East Texas and we also sustained a terrible winter. I have 7 queen palms and of ... A: The Ambrosia Beetle usually infests a weak Palm, one that is already damaged and an easy target; I ... | |
| Foxtail Palms | 5/17/2010 |
| Q: On a newly planted foxtail palm, 3 ft tall, that went through the frost this past winter I can pull ... A: The odds are stacked against it, but spray the mushy area with a copper fungicide and repeat in a ... | |
| Ponytail Palm | 5/16/2010 |
| Q: I have a ponytail palm that got frostbitten this past winter. All the fronds are gone. The plant is ... A: Those are side shoots developing , you need to wait and get a clearer picture of where the new crown ... | |
| Care of the Sea Grape bush | 5/15/2010 |
| Q: Last year I planted 3 Sea Grape plants in my yard and they grew wonderfully. I thought they would ... A: Its difficult sometimes to have patience with plants that have just gone through a severe Winter, ... | |
| Queen Palm Freeze | 5/15/2010 |
| Q: I live in South East Texas and we also sustained a terrible winter. I have 7 queen palms and of ... A: I can partially help you now, but I have sent an inquiry to my local Extension officer to get a ... | |
| caring for elephant ears | 5/14/2010 |
| Q: Is it feasible to grow elephant ear plants indoors exclusively, or do they NEED to be outside?? A: There are many different cultivars,some require shade others like some sun, but the most common ... | |
| mandevilla vine | 5/13/2010 |
| Q: we live in rotonda west, fla. what I would like to do is plant in the ground on either side of a ... A: Mandevilla needs full sun, and a trellis or at least a fence to sprawl onto; a Queen Palm would be a ... | |
| Calmondin plant | 5/13/2010 |
| Q: I live in northern Colorado, northeast of Denver. Have had three calamondin plants in pots growing ... A: Citrus are not cold hardy,but can take brief stints of below freezing weather, as long as it doesn't ... | |
| corn plants | 5/11/2010 |
| Q: I recently replanted a corn plant ,( which is indoors) to a larger pot .and I used moisture ... A: get it out of that container and replant it in new soil (or the same soil, but after its dry..)..the ... | |
| Palm Indoor Plant | 5/11/2010 |
| Q: I have a palm plant which is placed indoors since Dec 2010. It does not get direct sunlight but ... A: the bane of indoor plants (palms included..) is the spider mite, they are tiny spider like insects ... | |
| Frost Damage - Robellini Palm | 5/10/2010 |
| Q: I live in Central Florida and our 2 Robellini Palms got frost damage this winter. I waited to cut ... A: give them more time, we need to get into the rainy season to really stimulate new growth; come the ... | |
| Re: Pony tail plant- yellow leaves | 5/10/2010 |
| Q: I wanted to ask if my plant will recover.we had a really cold winter this year and my pony tail ... A: you can strip off the completely brown fronds, they should remove pretty easily, but the yellowed ... | |
| Calamondin Tree | 5/10/2010 |
| Q: My calamondin tree has recently been moved outside for the summer. The mature leaves on the tree ... A: it is definitely root stress, something is compromising the roots and causing the leaf abnormality. ... | |
| Calamondin Tree | 5/9/2010 |
| Q: My calamondin tree has recently been moved outside for the summer. The mature leaves on the tree ... A: ..Calamondin is a Citrus that will get upwards of 15 feet when in the ground, I am thinking that you ... | |
| dying christmas (adonidia) palms | 5/9/2010 |
| Q: Nick, our s.pasadena condo has 30 triple adonidia clumps throughout the complex...all show killing ... A: all across the south, the plea has been the same, the Christmas Palms have been decimated by the ... | |
| princess palm | 5/9/2010 |
| Q: I live in Houston bad freeze damage to my princess palm . I have not removed the brown fonds . I ... A: Back off the watering, it does need to be properly irrigated, but in a stressed condition, the roots ... | |
| White Bird of Paradise - Problem | 5/8/2010 |
| Q: With this winter's unusual no. of freezes, my white bird of paradise has suffered damage. It was ... A: and thank you for the kind thaughts, they were very nice! as was your rating, for now just keep it ... | |
| Calamondin Tree | 5/8/2010 |
| Q: My calamondin tree has recently been moved outside for the summer. The mature leaves on the tree ... A: Has this occured after you moved it out? were they fine while the Citrus was inside? Is it in a ... | |
| Foxtail Palms | 5/8/2010 |
| Q: me again. Gary with the foxtails in Philadelphia. I wanted to enclose a pic or 2 of my stressed ... A: ..thats a great sign! and no, leave the other fronds alone for now, they may have a trace of green ... | |
| Robellini Palm Tree | 5/7/2010 |
| Q: Nick: My Robellini Palm went through a hard freeze this year and we pruned it back a couple of ... A: if it is indeed dead, it will literally decline to the point of rotting, the top will pull out and ... | |
| is my plant/tree dying | 5/6/2010 |
| Q: I contacted you earlier but could not receive an answer due to the fact i did not know my ... A: ..I am thinking that the soil may be the culprit here, it sounds like the moisture retention arouund ... | |
| areca freeze damage | 5/5/2010 |
| Q: I have five Areca in Tampa which were damaged by the recent cold. all trees are ten to twelve feet ... A: Bill, Arecas are pretty durable, they were stung by the freeze, but should send out new growth from ... | |
| is my plant/tree dying | 5/5/2010 |
| Q: I contacted you earlier but could not receive an answer due to the fact i did not know my ... A: it is in pretty bad shape, but it looks like either a Yucca or a Dracaena, either way, it is showing ... | |
| Frost damaged areca palms | 5/4/2010 |
| Q: We have removed the damaged fronds and new green growth is emerging from the center of 12-15 ft ... A: prune away any fronds that are totally brown and spray the resulting crown, (devoid of fronds) with ... | |
| Hibiscus | 5/4/2010 |
| Q: This is probably a completely idiotic question. I was drawn in by the beauty and decent price tag of ... A: usually the only indoor pest you need to be concerned about is the spider mite, mealy bugs and ... | |
| hibiscus and banana | 5/3/2010 |
| Q: . I am from Southern India now living in Connecticut..And i really want to grow hibiscus and banana ... A: There are none that will survive year round in the cold a climate zone, but you could grow a ... | |
| dead palm | 5/2/2010 |
| Q: greetings from ireland we had a really bad winter here around mid dec the temp dropped to minus 12 ... A: and top of the morning to ya! (do love my beer! lol), give them time, but it is getting close to the ... | |
| Pygmy Palms | 5/1/2010 |
| Q: I too live in Houston and my palms look horrible after this unusually cold winter we just ... A: be patient with the other two, but if and when you decide that surgery is needed, then cut the two ... | |
| Queen palm seed pods and frawn color | 4/30/2010 |
| Q: I have 6 15' healthy Queen Palms. Questions: 1) One of them has 3 seed pods of which one is almost ... A: Hey Wes, ok, you can cut those seed pods off, in fact as soon as the pod (elephant tusk looking ... | |
| Dracena | 4/30/2010 |
| Q: I have had a healthy Dracaena since 1999 living in the original 12" plastic pot I transplanted it ... A: Jennifer, it is probably transplant shock, when you transplanted it, I am assuming you watered it ... | |
| Queen Palms | 4/30/2010 |
| Q: I have about 11 Queen Palms ranging from 4 to 18 ft in size. Most of them I have pulled the middle ... A: ....this is a phenomenon that I have never seen before, I have personally removed Queen Palms here ... | |
| Recommend a potted palm? | 4/29/2010 |
| Q: I live in the Bay Area of Northern California, and I'd like to purchase and pot a palm for my front ... A: I would go with an Areca Palm, it is the most forgiving of palms and will do just fine in a large ... | |
| Queen Palms | 4/29/2010 |
| Q: I have about 11 Queen Palms ranging from 4 to 18 ft in size. Most of them I have pulled the middle ... A: If you took the chainsaw to them below the crown (top) then you have assuredly killed them, if they ... | |
| Abyssinian banana | 4/27/2010 |
| Q: My Abyssinian banana is two years old and about 20' tall, including tallest leaf. I live in a ... A: you don't cut them back, they will continue to send out new growth from the center until fruiting ... | |
| Care | 4/26/2010 |
| Q: I just got a desert Rose how so i take care of it,and what size pot should i pt it in, then i got a ... A: you didn't mention how big the rose was, so I am going to assume it is a juvenile, so it can be ... | |
| White Bird of Paradise - Problem | 4/26/2010 |
| Q: With this winter's unusual no. of freezes, my white bird of paradise has suffered damage. It was ... A: keep asking me questions Barbara and I'll have enough blessings to get a direct route to the man ... | |
| Foxtail new fronds/spikes breaking | 4/26/2010 |
| Q: I planted 5 Foxtails about 2 years ago and haven't had any problems until the past month (April ... A: This winter severely stressed many of the palms, and some are making it (albeit slowly..) and some ... | |
| breaking of green fronds | 4/25/2010 |
| Q: Our Christmas palms were hit by freezing this winter in Cape Coral,Fl. Outer fronds are brown. Some ... A: The new emerging fronds break at the Petiole (stem) because of the palms weakened state (cold ... | |
| White Bird of Paradise - Problem | 4/24/2010 |
| Q: With this winter's unusual no. of freezes, my white bird of paradise has suffered damage. It was ... A: first of all...thank you for the blessing! I can use all the help I can get , lol...now to your ... | |
| Christmas palm | 4/24/2010 |
| Q: Nick, I spent some time with my Christmas palm today. All 3 center pieces pulled out easily, were ... A: when the fronds pull out like that, the palm is usually kaput, albeit some have made it and sent out ... | |
| Banana Tree | 4/22/2010 |
| Q: I have a banana tree growing close to my in ground gunite pool. Are the roots strong enough to ... A: No, Bananas grow from an underground "Rhizome" which is like a large potato, there is no expansive ... | |
| Mediterranean Palm frost bite | 4/22/2010 |
| Q: I live in East Texas and planted two Mediterranean Palms last summer. Over the winter the weather ... A: Only trim what is completely brown, if there is any green at all mixed in then leave it, for it is ... | |
| princess palm | 4/22/2010 |
| Q: our princess palm was apparently damaged during freezing temperatures here in central Florida this ... A: ..When a new frond emerges from the heart of the palm it begins as a slender , green "spear like" ... | |
| Foxtail palm trees | 4/22/2010 |
| Q: Another, probably silly question, but my 2 new foxtails still have a seed attached to the stem/root. ... A: The seed pod will disappear, but it is providing nutrients to the seedling right now, and once a ... | |
| princess palm | 4/21/2010 |
| Q: our princess palm was apparently damaged during freezing temperatures here in central Florida this ... A: Just the fact that it has sent out a new spear is great news, don't worry that it is taking time to ... | |
| Robilini Palm | 4/20/2010 |
| Q: I purchased four beautiful 7' tall Robilini Palms. They are acutely root bound. How much of the root ... A: that is the problem with putting certain plants in smaller containers, for they will undoubtedly ... | |
| Spots on Blueberry Flax | 4/19/2010 |
| Q: I have been paying so much attention to my post-freeze palms that all the sudden I realize I have ... A: and thank you for the compliment, now to your problem, it sounds (without seeing an image...)like a ... | |
| Queen Palms | 4/18/2010 |
| Q: We live in Houston and had some days of below freezing temps this past winter. As a result, all the ... A: if there is any green left in the stressed fronds at all, then leave them, if they are totally ... | |
| Christmas palm | 4/18/2010 |
| Q: I have a Christmas palm that has suffered from the frost, I have cut back the leaves and the centre ... A: it probably won't come back, but spray the center area (heart) with a Copper fungicide and maybe, ... | |
| Foxtail Palm Freeze Damage | 4/17/2010 |
| Q: I have 2 foxtail palms that were damaged by freeze in Central Florida this year. Got them several ... A: Hey Tom, this is probably the most common question I have had since the cold weather finally ... | |
| Cocos nucifera | 4/16/2010 |
| Q: I was interested in buying a Cocos nucifera and keeping it as an indoor plant. I was wondering if ... A: I have to be the bearer of bad news here, Coconut Palms are very difficult to grow anywhere except a ... | |
| Queen Palms | 4/15/2010 |
| Q: Houston, as you know, had a very cold winter. But now, most everyone's queen palms have green ... A: it depends on the degree of cold damage, those that are older, were more resistant and are recouping ... | |
| Foxtail palm trees | 4/14/2010 |
| Q: me again. The 2 foxtails that i have had and transplanted, well they are still alive, i think. Most ... A: Thats a good sign, it means that the Palms are hanging in there and should be alright, but its ... | |
| Queen Palm | 4/13/2010 |
| Q: I live in Baton Rouge, LA and have the same problem with my Queen Palm. I was planted it several ... A: Ok Ray, time for Palm 101...lol.....the crown is the entire top, all the fronds that emerge from the ... | |
| Follow up Christmas palm | 4/12/2010 |
| Q: Nick, thanks for the response but, I don't see any new growth, just lots of brown frond that are ... A: The fact that the fronds are holding tight is a good sign, even if they are brown; go ahead and ... | |
| Foxtail Palm | 4/12/2010 |
| Q: I live in Galveston, 2 year old foxtail palms lost their foilage a few weeks after a long freeze ... A: that is the crown rotting, its "Bud rot" or "Crown rot" and it is caused by the freezing temps the ... | |
| Christmas palm | 4/12/2010 |
| Q: My christmas palm was frost bitten pretty bad. I has not yet shed its brown fronds. Does it take ... A: Tug on the newest frond, if it pulls out, clean the area it came out of with a Copper fungicide to ... | |
| snake plants | 4/12/2010 |
| Q: I live in West Central Florida and have snake plants in my yard (they surround an mature oak tree). ... A: Sansevieria are extremely resilient and unless the roots systems froze, will come back with a ... | |
| Mex. fan palm won't grow (better photo) | 4/11/2010 |
| Q: This is a better photo of my Mexican fan palm. It's not in a container, but in the ground. It has to ... A: Well I will tell you that it is definitely not stressed at all, and shows to be well taken care of, ... | |
| bouganville in Tucson | 4/10/2010 |
| Q: I live in the north of Tucson Arizona, a beautiful place near by the mountains. Nevertheless, every ... A: I am not certain of your climate zone, but Bougs do need a lot of Sun and water only when needed, ... | |
| foxtail palms | 4/10/2010 |
| Q: Some of my foxtais are coming back. Cut one that was not. it was rotting in the center. Cut till on ... A: That is called Crown rot (or technicaly...Bud rot), caused by the freezing temps we had this past ... | |
| Follow up to "Is my pygmy date palm dead?" | 4/8/2010 |
| Q: Nick, thanks for answering my question regarding the date palm a few weeks ago. I had mentioned ... A: ....pull out any fronds that pull out easily and then spray the Copper fungicide directly into the ... | |
| queen anne palm | 4/8/2010 |
| Q: After a very hard winter, my queen anne palms are all brown. I see no green at all. Are they now ... A: if there is no green at all, then they are probably gone, but like I have said to numerous ... | |
| Queen Palm broken fronds | 4/6/2010 |
| Q: In a recent windstorm (65+ mph) several fronds were bent to the point of breakage. At the point of ... A: Don't cut any fronds off until they turn brown, as long as there is green, then there is functioning ... | |
| Palm tree | 4/6/2010 |
| Q: We are in the hunt for the best Palm tree for our are in Largo, Floria. Any suggestions? We are ... A: ...Just keep in mind that newly planted Palms are more susceptible to cold then established ones, so ... | |
| Palm tree | 4/5/2010 |
| Q: We are in the hunt for the best Palm tree for our are in Largo, Floria. Any suggestions? We are ... A: where is Largo? I am in a zone 9b Port Charlotte) and this Winter we got a real bad week of cold ... | |
| Foxtail Palm Spear Concern | 4/5/2010 |
| Q: After a hard winter, all the fronds turned brown. The spear has new growth with the green leaves ... A: ...No, leave it be and let Mother Nature take its course, if you do any pruning you will only worsen ... | |
| Adonidia Palms-cold damaged-dead? | 4/5/2010 |
| Q: Trying to confirm is my adonidia are dead. February cold snap turned all the leaves brown. This ... A: Christmas Palms are one of the more susceptible Plantings to freeze damage; what you are describing ... | |
| Foxtail Palm Spear Concern | 4/5/2010 |
| Q: After a hard winter, all the fronds turned brown. The spear has new growth with the green leaves ... A: this is another indication of freeze damage and the key here is if that center frond holds tight or ... | |
| Queen palms | 4/4/2010 |
| Q: Nick We live in southeast Texas,and like every one else the freeze hit us hard.We have 5, 3-4 year ... A: if the center frond has pulled loose from the heart, then I am afraid that the palm is probably ... | |
| rubber tree rapidly dropped yellowed leaves | 4/4/2010 |
| Q: We've had this rubber tree for ions, have up-potted it once, had it outside all last summer when we ... A: Gigantor is just reacting from a change of environment or watering schedule, this is common with ... | |
| Frozen Queen Palm | 4/4/2010 |
| Q: Nick, I live in the southernmost part of Mississippi on the Gulf of Mexico. Our winters are usually ... A: no , if you do that you will kill it, its not like a Banana, where new growth will commence, you cut ... | |
| Trimming monterous Philodendron | 4/4/2010 |
| Q: I have a massive philodendron with large leaves and five large trunks. I have trimmed it back ... A: Arlene, those are functioning roots and you could cut some of them, but if the plant is as large as ... | |
| Christmas Palm Tree | 4/3/2010 |
| Q: My Christmas Palm Tree is brown because of the frost and I would like to know what I can do to help ... A: it depends on how badly it was shocked, if it is totally brown, then its probably beyond any help, ... | |
| I think I over pruned my queen palm | 4/2/2010 |
| Q: We had a very harsh winter in Houston, many sub freezing nights. I have 5 Queen Palms around My ... A: Scott, I couldn't really make out if there were any fronds at all on it, but if not, it will be ... | |
| fish tailpalm | 4/2/2010 |
| Q: how do i prune a fishtail palm? can i cut the top and side tips to give it a round shape..the inner ... A: systemics are fine, as long as the plant isn't producing an edible item, like a fruit or vegetable; ... | |
| freezer burned bird of paradise!! | 4/2/2010 |
| Q: i had some freeze damage to my white bird of paradise. How should i cut it back? what to do??? A: you should be seeing new, healthy growth by now, so its fine to begin cutting away the freeze ... | |
| fish tailpalm | 4/1/2010 |
| Q: how do i prune a fishtail palm? can i cut the top and side tips to give it a round shape..the inner ... A: no it can't be shaped like a bush, but you can prune it by removing entire fronds from the main ... | |
| Pruning Foxtail Palms after frost | 4/1/2010 |
| Q: I have 6 foxtail Palms. All have healthy new center growth but the existing fronds are all brown. ... A: let them fall on their own, for they are self shedding, but do spray down the heart of the Palm ... | |
| Indoor Palm | 3/31/2010 |
| Q: We were given an indoor Palm tree as a gift in Sept. 2008 and it continues to have brown fonds at ... A: ok, first of all, you are watering it too much, second, it is tropical by nature and needs high ... | |
| Tropical plants | 3/29/2010 |
| Q: I live in Moultrie, Georgia, which is in South Georgia. I live in hardiness zone 8. I am an avid ... A: Majesty Palms will survive down to 30 degrees with just limited cold stress, but a hard freeze will ... | |
| adonidia palm cold damage | 3/28/2010 |
| Q: We have 3 triple trunk adonidia palms. The new fronds are drying out(turning brown) on the stalk ... A: albeit lethal yellowing is a threat to Christmas Palms, many areas aren't effected by it as of yet, ... | |
| coconut palms | 3/28/2010 |
| Q: We live in Sarasota FL approx 1/2 mile from the Gulf. We have two 20 ft. coconut palms flanking our ... A: I am in Port Charlotte, so I can empathize with you, for I too have gone through that horrible cold ... | |
| cotton palm | 3/28/2010 |
| Q: G'day Nick, I hope you can answer my question. I transplanted a cotton palm probably around 2 years ... A: nice to hear from those "down under", usually it is a case of not being happy where it is planted ... | |
| foxtail palms | 3/27/2010 |
| Q: Another follow up question. Being my foxtails are in pots, how often does the soil need to be ... A: ..No, if you were to yank it out, you would disturb the secondary roots, but you are going to be ... | |
| Foxtail Palm | 3/26/2010 |
| Q: We have two foxtail palms that had been planted for about a year and a half when we got an unusual ... A: Tug on the newest frond or spear , if it pulls out (as I suspect it will...) then the Palm has ... | |
| Foxtail Palm after frost | 3/26/2010 |
| Q: I was wondering if there's anything I should do to my foxtail palms after our very unusual cold ... A: Jason, at this point in time I am still advising questioners to take a "wait and see" position, for ... | |
| repotting pony tail plant | 3/26/2010 |
| Q: I just bought a pony tail plant. It looks clean and health so far. I have it sitting in front of a ... A: the container it is in is called a nursery container, and it is meant for temporary use only (until ... | |
| white things flying around at work | 3/25/2010 |
| Q: Help please. I have a few plants at work, a Croton from FL. a Plumaria, and a Poinsettia plant from ... A: thats the adult version of the "White Fly", it lays its eggs and the larvae do most of the damage to ... | |
| Windmill palm | 3/24/2010 |
| Q: My husband was given a Large windmill palm (24ft tall)the home that it was at was being torn down ... A: Vickie, thats not much of a root system for that size palm, it seems you lost a lot of it in the ... | |
| Crotons/Ixora | 3/23/2010 |
| Q: We moved to Venice just in time to have an exceptionally cold winter. With no experience with the ... A: Angela, welcome to paradise! albeit you wouldn't know it with the cold damaaged , stressed ... | |
| Is my pygmy date palm dead? (pics inside) | 3/22/2010 |
| Q: I live in Houston where we just experienced the worst winter I can ever remember in my lifetime. I ... A: you have my condolences, I am getting reports from all over about the severity of the Winter this ... | |
| Houston Queen Palm Freeze Damage | 3/22/2010 |
| Q: I have three 30 foot queen palms behind my pool that are around 8 years old. They have been very ... A: Steve, the tale of the tape won't be apparent for about a month or so, the nights need to sustain ... | |
| queen palm | 3/21/2010 |
| Q: How to prune a queen palm after the winter/frost has turned them all brown or dead? A: cut off any fronds that are completely brown, but if there is even a hint of green remaining, leave ... | |
| mass cane plant freeze damage | 3/20/2010 |
| Q: I live in Houston, TX. We had a harsher than usual winter and two freezes wiped out my tall mass ... A: it should be fine, mine got hit too here in Southwest Florida, but I just cut back the dead wood ... | |
| foxtail palm tree | 3/20/2010 |
| Q: My other question is, i have been using Miracle grow palm food for the past 6 months. I recently ... A: I am assuming this is the same Gary that asked the other question about the shocked Palm in a ... | |
| foxtail palms | 3/20/2010 |
| Q: I have 2 foxtail palms i am growing in containers, they are young and about a foot tall. I recently ... A: Gary, when you transplanted them did you lift the entire root ball with soil attached? (I hope!) or ... | |
| frost damage | 3/18/2010 |
| Q: I have attached a picture of one of the two palm trees I have that were frost damaged. Location is ... A: It appears to be the remains of a Mexican fan Palm, and it is dead, especially given the fact that ... | |
| King Palms Trunk Split | 3/17/2010 |
| Q: I have a few king palms inside of my backyard, i live in ventura county in california. they have a ... A: that's a phenomenon that is really quite common with a lot of Palms, as long as it isn't effecting ... | |
| Cataractarum Palm | 3/17/2010 |
| Q: I recently bought a Cataractarum Palm and the leaves are turning yellow/brown and it has brown spots ... A: It sounds like it was sprayed with a fungicide, probably to counteract that fungal problem that it ... | |
| Plumeria Pruning | 3/16/2010 |
| Q: they grow fantastic and are currently dormant. I wanted to cut a couple of them because they ... A: wait until they begin to show new growth and then cut the extraneous growth off; the cut end will ... | |
| Bird of Paradise Leaves | 3/16/2010 |
| Q: I have 2 plants..One is in a pot outside my front door, the other is still in the nursery pot. I do ... A: )...BOP's are tropical plants and suffer cold stress whenever exposed to temps below 40 degrees, so ... | |
| remove banana tree | 3/15/2010 |
| Q: I live in South Florida. I have MANY banana trees in several areas on my property. I would like to ... A: if nothing else, Bananas are resilient! underground there is a large Rhizome called a Corm, its like ... | |
| BROMELIAD | 3/14/2010 |
| Q: Nick, I have a new bromeliad I purchased for my wife from a Lowes Store and I see from the tag it ... A: Dave, Bromeliads like to be kept damp, but not standing in water, and filtered light is fine; give ... | |
| foxtail palm bent frnd | 3/13/2010 |
| Q: we just planted many new palms in the backyard about 1 week ago. we returned home this afternoon to ... A: I am afraid if the spine of the frond is broken, albeit no separated, it should be removed, even ... | |
| areca palm with freeze damage | 3/10/2010 |
| Q: I've already cut all damaged fronds back to the trunk but I don't know how to identify what part of ... A: Now it is time to be patient, you have done everything you need to do from a pruning standpoint, ... | |
| pygmy palm tree | 3/10/2010 |
| Q: Recently we were away on holidays and came back to a completely dried out pygmy palm tree. Can I cut ... A: unlike a shrub, a Palm cannot be pruned back, you must take care not to cut the crown (the top..), ... | |
| Christmas Palms | 3/8/2010 |
| Q: My christmas palms are only 4' tall and have turned completly brown and dried out after the cold ... A: if the center , (emerging spear) is brown, then it is likely that the heart of the Palm has been ... | |
| Queen Palm Got Too Cold | 3/8/2010 |
| Q: We have a 20' queen palm in the atrium of our house. We had a house fire and have been trying to ... A: Ok, thats good news that the crown is still green, that tells me that you successfully protected the ... | |
| Mass Cane Houseplant | 3/8/2010 |
| Q: My plant looked fine when I bought it and then re-potted it a little over a month ago into miracle ... A: ...they do just fine in just about any lighting, the color of the leaves will be deeper in a shadier ... | |
| Mass Cane Houseplant | 3/7/2010 |
| Q: My plant looked fine when I bought it and then re-potted it a little over a month ago into miracle ... A: Ron, Massangeana is one of the easiest and forgiving of all house plants; it really is difficult to ... | |
| Fallen Queen Palm Tree | 3/5/2010 |
| Q: We have a 15'-20' Queen Palm that fell over at the root base 2 days ago. The trunk has split at the ... A: It sounds bad Barbara, but without seeing it, I won't dare diagnose either yea or nay, my advice is ... | |
| arecas | 3/5/2010 |
| Q: Hey Nick, I live in south west fl. I have some arecas that got frost bitten, just on the tops. ... A: Arecas are among the most resilient plants when it comes to cold stress; they look terrible when ... | |
| Mussaenda- how severe can it be pruned? | 3/2/2010 |
| Q: I have two pink Mussaenda that stand about 5ft. They are looking near death.. they both have one ... A: go to the main trunk and begin scraping it,start at the top and when you finally see green then that ... | |
| areca palms | 2/28/2010 |
| Q: I need advice on the proper way to trim areca palms and to keep them from getting too tall. A: start at the bottom and methodically begin to prune each frond at the main trunk, eventually you ... | |
| Philodendron Selloum | 2/27/2010 |
| Q: Several of my mature Philodendron Selloum suffered significant damage during the recent freezes in ... A: I can pretty much assume what they look like, and as long as the ground didn't freeze, the roots ... | |
| foxtail | 2/27/2010 |
| Q: what is the best kind - proportion of soil for foxtail palms when they are planted on the ground?? A: it is always best to plant them in the existing soil base, so that the roots will naturally expand ... | |
| Potted something | 2/27/2010 |
| Q: I live in Southern California 5 miles from the ocean and want something in my large container in the ... A: Ok, as I said, there are plenty of choices, but I would narrow it down to the following, (and you ... | |
| freeze damage to areca palm tree | 2/26/2010 |
| Q: We had an unusual hard freeze in St. Petersburg, FL about a month ago. I have an areca palm tree ... A: I am in Port Charlotte, and I too have cold damage to my Palms, but Arecas are not a worry, they are ... | |
| foxtail palm | 2/26/2010 |
| Q: i have a foxtail palm , about 8 ft high, transplanted there 2 years ago. the problem is that the ... A: from what you depict, it sounds like you are indeed applying too much irrigation , the ground is ... | |
| Palm tree | 2/25/2010 |
| Q: We live in Lake Elsinore, California and have over 100 palms (mainly Queen and Robellini) in our ... A: I would contact your local Cooperative Extension Service , and the agent will be able to have a ... | |
| Potted something | 2/25/2010 |
| Q: I live in Southern California 5 miles from the ocean and want something in my large container in the ... A: there are many choices that would fit into that category, but I need to know how large the container ... | |
| Queen Palms | 2/24/2010 |
| Q: I have 9 large queen palms planted in 2002. The freeze has turned most of the leaves brown but the ... A: if the fronds show "any" green at all, leave them be, for they are vital and still functioning ... | |
| Shallow rooted Queen Palm | 2/24/2010 |
| Q: I have a Queen Palm that is about 20' tall. The roots are not deep rooted and it is starting to ... A: Steve, this is pretty common really, it looks a lot worse then it is, the curl at the bottom exposes ... | |
| scheffelera plant | 2/20/2010 |
| Q: I accidentally left my 15 year scheffelera plant outside during a hard freeze in south Louisiana. ... A: the checking of the Cambium layer under the bark is the test to whether it is alive or not, but ... | |
| Umbrella plant & pothos issues | 2/20/2010 |
| Q: I have some Umbrella plants (Schefflera arboricol) and Golden Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) in two ... A: I have to tell you Heather, that is not a lot of room for root spread, especially for the plants you ... | |
| Robilini Palm frozen | 2/18/2010 |
| Q: I have a three trunk Robilini that is 12 years old ( 10 feet in height) and has been frozen 2 years ... A: No, you can't top a Palm, its a death sentence, for you will be excising the very area that new ... | |
| Sago Palms w/white stuff | 2/16/2010 |
| Q: Alot of my sago palms have this white dissease looking stuff on the fronds and the base. It has ... A: its an insect called Aucalaspis Scale, (spelling may be a little off...), and it is the bane of Sago ... | |
| transplanting sago palms | 2/16/2010 |
| Q: We live in Sun City, CA. (southern CA) and want to move our sagos. One is about 4-5 feet high with ... A: I have advised others in similar situations, and I don't hesitate to recommend getting a specialist ... | |
| Queen Palm | 2/15/2010 |
| Q: My three queen palms, planted in 2004 suffered from the recent freeze we had in Madisonville, ... A: you can trim them at anytime, but make certain that the frond is entirely brown and there is no ... | |
| sago palm, citrus trres | 2/13/2010 |
| Q: Due to extreme cold this year (I am on gulf coast in Mississippi) I have Sago Palm, Orange, Satsuma ... A: wait until a clearer picture of what is alive and what is dead, then excise the dead wood and ... | |
| Schefflera | 2/12/2010 |
| Q: Nick I saw your response to someone in Fla. about frost damage to a shefflera. I live in Nebraska, ... A: ...No Jim, don't be in a rush to excise the dead tissue, you need new growth to appear so that you ... | |
| Schefflera | 2/11/2010 |
| Q: Nick I saw your response to someone in Fla. about frost damage to a shefflera. I live in Nebraska, ... A: Jim , you need about a 6 inch , fresh tip cutting, dip it in a rooting hormone (Home Depot or Lowes ... | |
| Schefflera | 2/11/2010 |
| Q: Nick I saw your response to someone in Fla. about frost damage to a shefflera. I live in Nebraska, ... A: Jim, that soil needs to be changed out, I am not sure of the Ant you found, but it appears that the ... | |
| 8 year old queen palm tree apprx. 25ft high | 2/7/2010 |
| Q: I live in Modesto, calif and apprx 8 years ago we planted about 20 queen palm trees in our yard they ... A: that is a pretty common phenomenon , often the tissue (not bark, for Palms have tissue...) will curl ... | |
| Frozen Queen Palm | 2/7/2010 |
| Q: We had a frigid freeze (for Houston,Texas,that is) was in the teens for several hours and now all of ... A: The key to a Palm surviving a cold stress, is the heart itself, if it is still alive, then the ... | |
| my palm trees are dying | 2/5/2010 |
| Q: I moved in to a place with palm trees in it. I told the landlord that i would take care of them. ... A: ...Hi again, ok, it probably would be a good idea to repot them, I don't (and you probably don't ... | |
| Red Banana tree | 2/5/2010 |
| Q: Greetings, I have a five foot red banana tree in front of the house here in south west Florida. We ... A: Yes, normally you would just cut off the damaged leaves etc. but when a Banana is severely ... | |
| Red Banana tree | 2/5/2010 |
| Q: Greetings, I have a five foot red banana tree in front of the house here in south west Florida. We ... A: I am in Port Charlotte, so I know what you have gone through, you need to cut the trunk back about ... | |
| my palm trees are dying | 2/3/2010 |
| Q: I moved in to a place with palm trees in it. I told the landlord that i would take care of them. ... A: Most Palms are tropical by nature, and that means they need humidity, your temp in the house at 75 ... | |
| indoor palm tree all brown leaves | 2/3/2010 |
| Q: I have a tall 5.5ft palm tree. All leaves are turning brown, including middle tender leaves. It is ... A: bhale, you are watering way too much first of all, and this is compromising the root system, the ... | |
| bangalow palm | 2/1/2010 |
| Q: also I have several dwarf date palms all over 25 yrs old and one of them the crown has split into ... A: The crown has collapsed from a stress crack that has been expanding along the crown line, this is a ... | |
| Palm fern | 1/31/2010 |
| Q: I inherited a vibrant and healthy potted fern. I live in NH. and the fern was on my covered screen ... A: It seems you may have excised more roots then proper for the size of the crown, and this may be why ... | |
| frost bite and plumeria | 1/31/2010 |
| Q: I live in SW Florida and the tips of my plants have turned dark and mushy.What should i do for them? A: cut off the mushy , damaged extremities, the exposed parts will callous over and new growth will ... | |
| pygmy date palm | 1/30/2010 |
| Q: We had a 3 day period were temps got as low as 19F in the overnite.I covered the frons of all eight ... A: The Pygmy Dates are much more resistant to cold stress then the Foxtails; I wouldn't be overly ... | |
| Christmas Palms | 1/30/2010 |
| Q: We have two Christmas palms plants next to our pool that I believe were affected by the recent cold ... A: you need to be patient with cold stressed Palms (any variety...), Adonidia (Christmas Palm..) sheds ... | |
| how to prum saga palm after a freeze | 1/29/2010 |
| Q: I live in Louisiana and we had freezing temperature's last week and all my saga palms have turned ... A: ...I'm sorry for the confusion,,the main trunk is the fat center trunk with the fronds attached to ... | |
| Palm tree frost | 1/28/2010 |
| Q: Our palm trees took a week long blast of temps in the teens. We cut back all the brown palms and ... A: ...Bananas are different, your neighbor is partially correct, pups will always emerge from the ... | |
| Queen Palm Frost Damage in Houston | 1/28/2010 |
| Q: I have 3 huge Queen Palms that were large when they were planted 4 years ago. They look horrible ... A: You didn't mention when the Palms were put in, but it sounds like it might have been recent, hence ... | |
| how to prum saga palm after a freeze | 1/28/2010 |
| Q: I live in Louisiana and we had freezing temperature's last week and all my saga palms have turned ... A: I am assuming you mean "Sago", which is a cycad and there are Kings and Queens, the King is the most ... | |
| Palm tree frost | 1/27/2010 |
| Q: Our palm trees took a week long blast of temps in the teens. We cut back all the brown palms and ... A: all you can do at this point is wait and see, you definitely do not want to take any more fronds ... | |
| Fox tail palms | 1/27/2010 |
| Q: My question is regarding fox tail palms, This winter we had a very cold snap. I was not able to ... A: The cold snap was a very severe one, and traumatized many Palms, this is a reaction that is referred ... | |
| coconut palm | 1/27/2010 |
| Q: I have failed to bring my 3 ft. coconut palm indoors for the winter in CA. Leaves are turning brown, ... A: all you can hope for, is that the heart of the Palm is still viable; Coconuts are one of the more ... | |
| Queen Palms | 1/26/2010 |
| Q: I live in Northwest Florida. My Queens suffered through the last cold snap. One has had five of its ... A: go ahead in remove them if they have bent or snapped, thats fine, and if they are totally brown ... | |
| Pachira leaf turning marble white | 1/26/2010 |
| Q: Mr. McCann, I have a large Pachira tree that was installed in a tropical house about a year ago. ... A: that is usually (not always...) an indication of a nutrient deficiency, but if (as you say...) it is ... | |
| Foxtail Palms | 1/26/2010 |
| Q: Nick I have purchased two foxtail palms in 7 gallon containers. Is there anything special that I ... A: dig the hole twice as deep and twice as wide as the root ball, backfill them same soil that came out ... | |
| Pygmy Date Palm | 1/23/2010 |
| Q: We had temperatures in the 20's and every frond is brown. Should I take them all off? A: first I have to tell you, this is a very depressing volunteer job this time of year, it seems all my ... | |
| Fox Tail palm cold damage | 1/23/2010 |
| Q: I live in Houston and have three foxtail palms that are about twelve feet tall top to bottom ... A: its not borers, they are bleeding from the severe cold stress, (yes Palms bleed..when exposed to ... | |
| Care of a Mass Cane Stump | 1/22/2010 |
| Q: We have a Mass Cane Stump (24" or so tall), in a large pot, that is on our patio, in South Florida, ... A: as with most cold damaged plants, they need to be left alone until new growth emerges in a month or ... | |
| fox tail plams | 1/20/2010 |
| Q: not sure if my fox survived the frozen tu dra of new orleans last week, all my green is brown, ... A: Wait and watch it Robert, the verdict will take time, but people tend to lose patience and remove ... | |
| my cat palm's leaves are turning brown at the tips | 1/20/2010 |
| Q: I just bought a cat palm from home depot. I was told it needed to be repotted soon (still in ... A: I revised the last question to include the repotting (which I had forgot to mention..), but I'll put ... | |
| my cat palm's leaves are turning brown at the tips | 1/20/2010 |
| Q: I just bought a cat palm from home depot. I was told it needed to be repotted soon (still in ... A: Cat Palms are shade lovers, and need to be misted frequently to prevent the browning of the tips ... | |
| Ants! | 1/19/2010 |
| Q: While trimming back my bougainvillea plant today, I noticed the planter is full of ants. I use ... A: the ants will not harm the plant, but they need to be eliminated for obvious reasons, but I would ... | |
| Tropical fruits trees after frost | 1/19/2010 |
| Q: I leave in Houston, Texas and weather freeze about 4 days. My Lychee, all leaves turn brown but not ... A: The Lychee and Guava should be left alone until new growth emerges in a month or so (if they are ... | |
| Damaged Palm Trees and Shrubs from Frost | 1/18/2010 |
| Q: The damage to my palm trees have turned brown all the frowns,the hibicus 2/3 are wilted,and my ... A: right now all the superficial damage is evident, the brown leaves, fronds etc. it is the inner ... | |
| foxtail palm | 1/18/2010 |
| Q: with the recent cold that we had for almost 2 weeks my foxtail palm turned brown and i covered it ... A: it will take some time for the verdict to come in from Mother Nature, if the crown becomes mushy ... | |
| Queen Palms | 1/18/2010 |
| Q: I have 2 Queen Palms that are about 6 Yrs old and 20ft tall. I live in Louisiana and like everyone ... A: Brian, Queens are one of the more resilient of the Palms, even though they may look pretty beat up, ... | |
| Sea grape plant | 1/18/2010 |
| Q: We planted our sea grape pants about 9 months ago and have done well in the Tampa Bay climate. We ... A: leave them be for now, wait until new growth commences before pruning to the desired shape; they ... | |
| Frozen Tropical plants | 1/17/2010 |
| Q: I have a xeriscape yard in Sarasota, Florida. I live about 1 mile from the water. About 60% of my ... A: all those listed plants "should" come back for you except the crown of thorns, they may not; just ... | |
| Queen palm | 1/16/2010 |
| Q: OK- I just got home from work and noticed something missing from my yard. ALL the frawns from my 40 ... A: the rule of thumb with "any" Palm is not to remove a frond unless it is completely brown, for they ... | |
| mixing plants | 1/15/2010 |
| Q: I have two questions, please. I live in Ontario Canada. I have a BOP that I have transplanted into a ... A: If you put anything else in that 18 inch container, the roots are going to compete with the BOP, and ... | |
| Freeze | 1/14/2010 |
| Q: me again!! Hope you are well and this time, I may have real palm issues...My Foxtails took a ... A: ..you can prune off the brown fronds, but for aesthetics, it won't harm nor help from a cultural ... | |
| frost | 1/13/2010 |
| Q: Living in central Florida I have plants that suffered the frost. They are brown. Should I trim them ... A: Bonnie, you didn't mention the types, be Palms, Perennials, bushes, trees etc. and they all have ... | |
| Freeze | 1/13/2010 |
| Q: me again!! Hope you are well and this time, I may have real palm issues...My Foxtails took a ... A: always nice to hear from repeat questioners, especially the upbeat ones!...We too have just gone ... | |
| foxtail palms,fishtail palms, areca palms | 1/12/2010 |
| Q: All of my foxtails limbs are completely brown from the freeze we had here in largo Fl. Got down to ... A: the rule of thumb when it comes to removing Palm fronds, whether during a cold spell or not, is "if ... | |
| Foxtail palm | 1/12/2010 |
| Q: I live in Houston, TX. We had snow, ice and 5 days of 20-30 degree weather. I have 3 foxtail palms ... A: first my condolences, for we too are devastated here in Florida, so you are not alone, that said, ... | |
| frostbitten banana tree | 1/11/2010 |
| Q: I have several banana trees that I am keeping over winter in my small greenhouse. Our temps have ... A: it all depends on the Corm (underground Rhizome or root), if it is compromised, then the plant is ... | |
| Growing fruit on my banana trees | 1/9/2010 |
| Q: I also cut my banana trees down in the winter after the first hard freeze but I noticed where you ... A: Joe,,,they will produce fruit, but it won't be what I call a significant bunch, it will be a small ... | |
| foxtail palm | 1/7/2010 |
| Q: Louisiana has not had a hard freeze in the past 14 years; how do I protect my foxtail palms from ... A: you didn't mention how big/old the Foxtail was, this is important, because an older, established ... | |
| queen palms and hard freeze | 1/5/2010 |
| Q: The palms are about 16 feet high, and have been in the ground about 2 years. It will be another hard ... A: You can wrap the base of the Palm with a blanket to keep the root system from freezing and also ... | |
| Foxtail Palm | 1/3/2010 |
| Q: The roots on one of our Foxtail Palms are coming out of the ground. The other two are just fine. ... A: no concern, this is a common phenomenon that occurs with Palms and the worst thing you can do is ... | |
| bouganvilla | 12/30/2009 |
| Q: We have some 3ft.bougs in large pots that are not doing well. It is late DEC. here in the Tampa ... A: They should do fine in the ground anytime in Tampa, we have them all over here in Punta Gorda and ... | |
| yucca cane frostbitten | 12/30/2009 |
| Q: my yuucca cane wasnt "happy" living indoors--it got brownand a kind of silvery discolation at the ... A: ...The Yucca needs to heal (if it is still viable..), forcing dormancy now, in its stressed ... | |
| Stunted growth-Bangalow Palm | 12/28/2009 |
| Q: I have 3 Bangalow palms in my garden, this year I have noticed the largest one seems to have ... A: what you describe is more then likely a nutrient deficiency, or possibly the roots are in someway ... | |
| yucca cane frostbitten | 12/27/2009 |
| Q: my yuucca cane wasnt "happy" living indoors--it got brownand a kind of silvery discolation at the ... A: without seeing it makes it difficult, but from what you have said it doesn't look good, and if the ... | |
| Bouganvilla plants | 12/19/2009 |
| Q: We have just returned to Florida for the winter and found our several bouganvilla plants looking ... A: prune them way back, and I mean to within 3 feet of the ground, this will stimulate new and healthy ... | |
| sago palm | 12/15/2009 |
| Q: How do I go about transplanting suckers from a sago palm ? A: dig, cut or snap them away from the mother and put them in a mixture of part sand and part peat ... | |
| fishtail palm | 12/12/2009 |
| Q: after recent snow my fishtail palms 3 leaves have turned brown but the stalks are still green. Is ... A: the only thing you can do is trim off all the dead leaves and keep it properly irrigated; if it is ... | |
| Queen Palm | 12/12/2009 |
| Q: I have a queen palm that has no new fronds coming out of the trunk. Is it dead or dying? it ... A: Queens should always have a new "spear" emerging,,and as it unravels and the frond develops, a new ... | |
| Carnation of india | 12/8/2009 |
| Q: We recently experienced snow and a freeze in Houston. I have two carnations of India plants that are ... A: without actually seeing the extent of the damage it is difficult for me to assess the chances of its ... | |
| Indoor palm ailments | 12/7/2009 |
| Q: I've had a minutare indoor palm for 18 years now. It's about 4 ft tall. In the last 2 months I've ... A: It wouldn't hurt to change out the soil Cheryl, it should be done once a year anyway; just water the ... | |
| My aloe is in trouble | 12/7/2009 |
| Q: I have had my aloe for the past 10 years i would say i grew it from a baby whit four leaves and ... A: Don't concern yourself with nutrients at this stage, the roots need to establish themselves before ... | |
| Indoor palm ailments | 12/7/2009 |
| Q: I've had a minutare indoor palm for 18 years now. It's about 4 ft tall. In the last 2 months I've ... A: your palm is being accosted by Spider Mites (hence the webbing...), they thrive in a dry enviorment ... | |
| My aloe is in trouble | 12/7/2009 |
| Q: I have had my aloe for the past 10 years i would say i grew it from a baby whit four leaves and ... A: the only mistake you can possibly make with Aloe is over watering it, it can go Months without ... | |
| Pony Tail Palm help | 12/6/2009 |
| Q: I just got my pony tail palm about 1/2 a year ago and never had any problems with it until now. It ... A: you are watering it way too much; that bulbular bottom is a reservoir for water, and they need very ... | |
| Freeze hits Foxtail palm | 12/6/2009 |
| Q: We live in Houston and we had some very unusual snow and freezing weather yesterday. The temp ... A: Time will tell, when a Palm is subjected to cold stress (as in this case..), it takes weeks ... | |
| ponytail palm | 12/5/2009 |
| Q: i got a ponytail palm about 6mns ago. but it all started to look brown at the ends. so i had taken ... A: it looks like it is getting way too much water, PonyTails are easy care plants, as long as you keep ... | |
| Majesty Palms | 12/4/2009 |
| Q: I am in the Bay county area of Fl and have 2 questions - How do I winterize my (11) majesty palms ... A: I wish you had inquired with me prior to purchasing the Majestys, they are Palms that really do ... | |
| hibiscus tree/bugs | 12/2/2009 |
| Q: I bought a twisted hibiscus tree last summer and have now brought it into the house. The plant is ... A: You need to change it out of its "nursery container" and repot it in a larger container with new ... | |
| yucca | 11/30/2009 |
| Q: i have problem with yucca tree, new green leaves have discolaration, looks dusty, with yellow and ... A: A close up of the leaves would be nice, it sounds like it is too close to the heating pipes and when ... | |
| winterizing tropical plants in Texas | 11/29/2009 |
| Q: we put in several banana plants this year along with a windmill palm. I would like to know the best ... A: I protect mine with a material that is called a frost blanket, it is sold in most box stores like ... | |
| hoya carnosa compacta (hoya rope) | 11/28/2009 |
| Q: Recently I have noticed my Hoya was dropping what I thought were kind of brown dust particals ... ... A: you have just been rudely introduced to the "Spider Mite", they are the bane of house plants that ... | |
| Sick foxtail palm | 11/28/2009 |
| Q: I have 2 foxtails that I purchased and had professionally planted about 4 years ago. I'm in the ... A: if its been that long, and no new fronds have emerged, then I fear that it will not recover; it is ... | |
| what to do with sego palms in winter | 11/28/2009 |
| Q: We live in Southeastern N.C. and our winters are not too cold although we do have some days and ... A: Yes, you will need to protect it when the temps drop below 30 degrees, albeit the Sagos here in ... | |
| Butterfly palm | 11/24/2009 |
| Q: I bought this indoor butterfly palm about a month ago and it was fine, it had lovely bright green ... A: Palms love a humid environment and your radiator is causing an arid one, it needs to be misted ... | |
| bougainvillia pruning | 11/23/2009 |
| Q: I am a snowbird. When I returned to my pad for the winter, I was astounded to see how tall and ... A: ...ok, because you are a bird, enjoy the color for a couple of months, but before you head back, you ... | |
| Phoenix Roebelenii transplanting | 11/22/2009 |
| Q: I want to remove a 10 ft, 4 trunk P. roebelenii from inside a pool cage planting area. It was ... A: I just had a similiar question, concerning moving a large Grapefruit tree, and I will tell you what ... | |
| Bird of Paradise | 11/20/2009 |
| Q: H Nick, I couldn't ask another questions unless I started a new thread. When you say repot into a ... A: I will be totally honest with you, Birds here in Florida grow upwards of 25 feet!, they need room ... | |
| Care | 11/20/2009 |
| Q: Nick how do i take care of a Schefflera plants and a Croton plants You have help me before and every ... A: You can use the same potting mix for all, its the amount of irrigating that will differ for each, ... | |
| bird of paradise | 11/20/2009 |
| Q: My BOD has a leaf that is opening but looks like the complete leaf will not open again. It has a ... A: ..not hard to believe with Birds, they grow fast and as I said, the root system can be extensive, ... | |
| bird of paradise | 11/20/2009 |
| Q: My BOD has a leaf that is opening but looks like the complete leaf will not open again. It has a ... A: I am inclined to think that it has vigorously outgrown the 12 inch pot, Birds are fast growers and ... | |
| bird of paradise | 11/19/2009 |
| Q: My BOD has a leaf that is opening but looks like the complete leaf will not open again. It has a ... A: I always say if I could materialize at the questioners plant I could be so much more helpful, but I ... | |
| disposal of banana plant | 11/19/2009 |
| Q: Hi Nick further to my earlier question i would like to know if i can use the trunk of the banana ... A: Ahhh, ok, you can mince them up and put them on the compost pile, they break down rather quickly and ... | |
| mussaenda | 11/18/2009 |
| Q: I have a mussaenda that is being killed by some kind of tan colored egg(??) it is sucking the life ... A: It sounds like Aphids, and they will suck the life out of a plant, Organocide will work, but Utra ... | |
| Sea Grape | 11/15/2009 |
| Q: I have a samll sea grape growing in a container. Something is eating the leaves> Here are some ... A: more then likely it is Slugs, they feed at night and disappear into the soil during the daylight ... | |
| Rooting A New Bannana Palm | 11/15/2009 |
| Q: My Banana Palm was leaning and tipping over as I had neglected to repot it with new and more soil. ... A: I think I understand what you did, but just in case, you need to take the bottom part, which ... | |
| splitting majesty palm and giant bird of paradise | 11/15/2009 |
| Q: I have two large (9ft. & 12 ft.)giant bird of paradise's in my garden (coastal Texas) and a 12 ft. ... A: You need to cut down into the Rhizome (underground root system) and segment a section of it, which ... | |
| Queen Palm Winter Protection | 11/15/2009 |
| Q: I have read that XMAS lights and pipe heaters (heat tape?) can be used. Heat tape had lots of ... A: Xmas lights are indeed a viable alternative to protection against a light frost, but a hard frost ... | |
| A yellow mold on a dwarf banana plant | 11/14/2009 |
| Q: I have a dwarf banana plant that I noticed had some soft light yellow mold growing on the dirt's ... A: Gloria, it sounds like an innocuous mold that is sustaining itself on the soil, not the Banana ... | |
| fishtail palms leave tips browning | 11/13/2009 |
| Q: I live in san diego (near the beach, but not on the beach) and our two 10ft. tall fishtale palms ... A: I need more information, how much water have they got, more then usual? less then usual?, anything ... | |
| my dessert rose | 11/13/2009 |
| Q: my son bought this rose for me for Mothers Day, and he told me it likes alot of sun. now its ... A: you didn't mention where you live, but it does indeed like full Sun and loathes cold temps; if the ... | |
| Bird of Paradise | 11/12/2009 |
| Q: I have a BOD I have had for about 5 years. Last year when I moved it suffered a bit from being left ... A: you can cut that lanky stem off, but cut it from the bottom where they all emerge; I never heard ... | |
| ganoderma | 11/12/2009 |
| Q: I came across your answer to "Chris" regarding Ganoderma. I first notice Ganoderma on my foxtail. ... A: ...it is indeed insidious, and the sad part is that there is no cure or preventative; I would remove ... | |
| ganoderma | 11/12/2009 |
| Q: I came across your answer to "Chris" regarding Ganoderma. I first notice Ganoderma on my foxtail. ... A: there is no cure for it, sadly the tree will continue a slow decline; as far as it spreading, I know ... | |
| Apple Banana Tree | 11/12/2009 |
| Q: I have 2 apple banana trees with bananas. How do I know when to cut down? Do I leave the red seed ... A: When you notice for 2 weeks, that the Banana fingers have not swelled anymore, then its time to cut ... | |
| franboyan tropical tree | 11/12/2009 |
| Q: I have planted franboyan trees in Los Angeles and would like to know what to use for winter ... A: if they are small enough you can cover them with a frost blanket, this will suffice for your area, ... | |
| Bougenvilla/Oleander | 11/10/2009 |
| Q: My Bougenvilla flowered exceptionally well last year, but had not one bloom this summer. I live in ... A: usually when Bougs don't display their usual colorful bracts (they are not flowers..) it is because ... | |
| trimming mussenada | 11/7/2009 |
| Q: Expert I have noticed my pink mousseanda plant, whenever I trim the plant the branch or stein that ... A: there is not real science to trimming these, they normally react very well to removal of spent ... | |
| queen palms | 11/6/2009 |
| Q: I live in Gilbert, AZ. We here cut what we call the bark or wood of the trunk. I just don't know how ... A: ok, I am going out on a limb here (pardon the pun), but I am thinking that you are referring to the ... | |
| Transplanting Royal Palms | 11/6/2009 |
| Q: Our 2 Royal Palms (40')were transplanted Oct. 19. We have been watering them slowly for a few hours ... A: continue to water them for another week, the stress is normal, especially for such a large Palm; it ... | |
| Queen Palm | 11/4/2009 |
| Q: Is there any way one can stop the pods from growing, without harming the Queen Palm? They are very ... A: I wish I had some good news for you , but the fact of the matter is, that all Queens develop seed ... | |
| natal plum plant is dying | 11/1/2009 |
| Q: We have 2 natal plum trees on our property that were here when we bought the house in New Orleans. ... A: Michel, the combination of root damage and extensive rain is contributing to the compromising of the ... | |
| Plumeria Plants | 10/30/2009 |
| Q: Help..appears they are all dying..combination of black spots and yellowy gold powdery substance on ... A: you didn't say where you live, but here in South Florida, Plumerias go semi dormant in the Winter, ... | |
| Care | 10/29/2009 |
| Q: Nick how do i take care of a Schefflera plants and a Croton plants You have help me before and every ... A: and great to hear from you again! they both are pretty easy to care for, partial shade for both, and ... | |
| Sago Palms | 10/17/2009 |
| Q: I live in SC I have two small Sago Palms. Through the winter the fonds all turn brown. Is there a ... A: they are reacting to cold stress, if they are small enough, cover them with a "frost cloth" when a ... | |
| Gold capellas with dark mold | 10/17/2009 |
| Q: I live in Fort Lauderdale, FL and have gold capellas on 3 sides of my house. The ones that face ... A: they probably have a fungal problem, you need to get a fungicide called "Daconil", it won't do ... | |
| banana leaf palm | 10/16/2009 |
| Q: I have a banana leaf palm in my NYC apt. Since I brought it home and replanted it started to die. ... A: ..the new growth is probably a new plant developing, watch this pup, and when it gets to be about 2 ... | |
| banana leaf palm | 10/16/2009 |
| Q: I have a banana leaf palm in my NYC apt. Since I brought it home and replanted it started to die. ... A: Bananas are tropical herbaceous perennials that need a bright and humid growing condition; it needs ... | |
| Kentia palm repotting | 10/15/2009 |
| Q: I have a 20 year old 12 foot Kentia Palm (at least I think that is what it is). It has lost soil at ... A: No, this is a common phenomenon with Palms and is nothing to be concerned about; trying to cover ... | |
| dwarf red banana fruit | 10/12/2009 |
| Q: Once the fruiting body/bud is showing about how long before I should see fruit? How long before ... A: once the inflorescence has shown (the ear of corn type emergence...) it will be a good 2-3 months ... | |
| Wintering Mandevillas | 10/11/2009 |
| Q: Good morning Nick. We have three Mandevilla (Sun Parasol Crimson)plants. The questions is; After ... A: Bill , if its potted, then just move the pot inside to a sunny window and keep it watered enough to ... | |
| Queen palm with ants. | 10/11/2009 |
| Q: We recently bought three large Queen palm from a nursery. The largest one is stunning! The trunk is ... A: The larger ants that stream out when you water are carpenter ants, you need to hit them with a ... | |
| climate numbers? | 10/8/2009 |
| Q: hey nick, i just read your question about the ice cream banana! it answered some questions that i ... A: Hey Leaf, ok, the number one enemy of any banana plant is cold stress, and even a light frost can ... | |
| Mini Palm | 10/6/2009 |
| Q: I'm trying to figure out what this plant is, and if i can cut it off and replant it. It seems to be ... A: thats a Dracaena and a very weak one at that, I would cut it back to near the surface, and it will ... | |
| Hibiscus | 10/5/2009 |
| Q: My hibiscus are up about 4 ft. Is this time of year okay to cut back about 1-2 feet so they are ... A: you can, but there is a great product called "N-sulate", that can be bought online, and it works ... | |
| Fertilizing Phoenix roebelenii | 10/4/2009 |
| Q: I live in Volusia County FL and would like to know the recommended times of the year to fertilize my ... A: You should be fertilizing 3 times a year, March , June and then again in Sept. with a well balanced ... | |
| palm trees | 10/3/2009 |
| Q: I have 15 palm trees planted in the ground I only have a problem with 3 of them a Christmas ... A: that is usually a sign of a nutrient deficiency from a problem in the root system, but without ... | |
| draceana marginata | 9/30/2009 |
| Q: My Dracaena plant has 3 stems and was looking beautiful for the last year. all of a sudden the ... A: you didn't mention how long this plant was in its container, but it sounds like the soil needs to be ... | |
| hibiscus sucker | 9/29/2009 |
| Q: I have left the little sucker in place all summer. But now the parent does not look as healthy. It ... A: the sucker is taking away energy from the parent, I would sever it from the parent and wait awhile ... | |
| soil type for simi drwarf orange tree | 9/29/2009 |
| Q: I recently bought a simi drwarf washington navel orange tree from lowes. It is in a a pot 12" tall ... A: Oh my! I just read my response LOL....I am sorry Mischale, By all means do "NOT" plant it in the ... | |
| large banana trees | 9/23/2009 |
| Q: My back yard is over grown with banana trees. I have cut them down just to see little ones ... A: Bananas are surviviors and unless you kill the underground "Corm", it will continue to send out ... | |
| Bougainvillea HELP | 9/23/2009 |
| Q: I have 2 Bougainvillea plants in my South Florida yard, they are six feet high and have never ... A: Hey Steve, ok, Bougs are really very easy to grow , what happens is people pay way too much ... | |
| Travelers Palm/Tree | 9/23/2009 |
| Q: I moved into my house 4 years ago and there's a full-size travelers palm in the backyard. For the ... A: ......at least 3 times a year for optimum growth; when its in need of fertilizing, it will draw ... | |
| Travelers Palm/Tree | 9/23/2009 |
| Q: I moved into my house 4 years ago and there's a full-size travelers palm in the backyard. For the ... A: Paul, its normal for the lower fronds to brown out, but the middle ones drying out is sign of ... | |
| Pigmy Palms has white powder | 9/22/2009 |
| Q: We live in California in an area where it gets over 100 degrees in the summer months. I have 40 ... A: This photo was kind of inconclusive, but you alluded to another, so I am going to check it ... | |
| sick roebelenii | 9/22/2009 |
| Q: New growth on palm is coated with a white crust.It looks like hardened white wash.Underneath the ... A: That is a Scale Insect, and needs to be treated with a Horticultural Oil, make sure you coat the ... | |
| When to pick foxtail palm seeds. | 9/21/2009 |
| Q: When is the right time to pick foxtail palm seeds? is it best to wait for them to fall naturally or ... A: Wait until they fall Mark, then be sure to soak them for about a week after scarifying them (cutting ... | |
| Banana tree in my yard | 9/21/2009 |
| Q: Should I pick the bananas while they are still green? How do I know when they are plump enough to ... A: when the individual banana "fingers" plump out to point where you don't notice any more swelling ... | |
| amaryllis plants | 9/21/2009 |
| Q: i want to bring my amaryllis plants indoors for the winter .but i also want to put the in fresh ... A: wait until the leaves are yellow and drooping, then cut them back to an inch or so from the top; ... | |
| White Bird of Paradise | 9/20/2009 |
| Q: McCann: I received a Strelitzia Reginae - White Bird of Paradise as a gift. After one week I ... A: I am thinking that your assumption is correct, transplant shock, and once it recovers, it should ... | |
| queen anne palms | 9/18/2009 |
| Q: I have come upon 3 queen anne palms that are about 4 years old. Can I transplant them and if so ... A: You can transplant them, but when you lift them, ( I am assuming they are in the ground and you want ... | |
| Royal Palm Root Structure | 9/14/2009 |
| Q: Nick, Could you please explain the root structure on a Royal Palm? I thought it was just the bulb, ... A: Barbara, I am really at a loss hearing this, for I have seen many Royals right up against streets, ... | |
| brown on the tips of my angel plant | 9/12/2009 |
| Q: i have a angel plant and i dont understand why the tips of the leaf turns brown i dont know if its ... A: there are several reasons this could be happening, but the primary reason for this for a plant in a ... | |
| Bouganvilla losing leaves and flowers | 9/11/2009 |
| Q: I just bought a beautiful Bouganvilla plant 2 weeks ago from a local nursery. It was full of ... A: Bougs are very sensitive to a change in environment and watering; they do not like much water, and ... | |
| Foxtail Palms | 9/10/2009 |
| Q: 3 palms were planted 4 years ago and are large and healthy. Should I be concerned that the trunks ... A: Palms often show strange growth phenomenon during the life time, many times it is the roots system ... | |
| care of "xmas" palm | 9/10/2009 |
| Q: I live in FL. I bought a palm with a common name of the Christmas tree palm. Can you give me info ... A: It is actually an "Adonidia" (common name Christmas Palm); it is not hardy and a freeze will ... | |
| Rowe red banana plant | 9/7/2009 |
| Q: I live in the Pacific Northwest (Redmond, WA) and recently purchased a row red banana plant. Should ... A: You didn't mention how big the plant was, if it is under 4 feet, you can containerize it for the ... | |
| washingtonia robusta,invasive root span? | 9/7/2009 |
| Q: I have a washingtonia robusta palm tree approx 6 years old on my property it is about 4-5 meters ... A: Palms do not root out like trees, they form a root system that is more like a root clump; the roots ... | |
| banana tree support | 9/4/2009 |
| Q: I inherited a banana tree that is probably 11 feet tall... It is really bending over and I would ... A: this is a real uphill battle, first they need to be in the ground, no container can accommodate a ... | |
| Fox Tail Palm froze | 9/3/2009 |
| Q: We had a fox tail palm (approx 9 foot tall) planted last March. In late March we had an unusual ... A: The image doesn't look encouraging, albeit there is a little green showing on the terminal frond ... | |
| Banana Leaf Palm | 8/31/2009 |
| Q: I have a banana leaf palm that has done very well, until recently. The palm continues to grow new ... A: it is usually a case of not enough fertilizer, Bananas plants, (not palm..) are heavy feeders and if ... | |
| Queen Palm | 8/30/2009 |
| Q: My queen palm (which is ten years old), is smaller than its sister queens, and now its new growth is ... A: welcome to the mystery of growing Palms that are not indigenous to a region, I am assuming you are ... | |
| repair for over-watered ponytail palm | 8/28/2009 |
| Q: I purchased a ponytail palm about a month ago; it's in a gallon container. I put it in my home ... A: Pony Tails store all the water they need in that bulbous bottom they have, and a young one (like ... | |
| adonidia and foxtail palms | 8/27/2009 |
| Q: I live in New Orleans,La. and recently planted 2 baby foxtails and adonidia palms. The heat and ... A: I need more information, who planted them? and when planted,where they planted at the exact height ... | |
| Passion flower leaves | 8/25/2009 |
| Q: Its August now and ive noticed that the leaves on my passion flowers have been turning yellow and ... A: It could be getting too much water, but don't be concerned, they are created to take a lot of ... | |
| bromeliads | 8/24/2009 |
| Q: I understand that I am supposed to cut back the bromeliad after it blooms, but where do I cut it ... A: Just cut the spent bloom off, the parent plant will send out pups that will be the next bloomer, ... | |
| musa dwarf cavendish | 8/21/2009 |
| Q: I have a 5 year old plant . How old and tall does it get before it is mature enough to produce fruit ... A: under ideal conditions, "In the ground" without cold stress, a Banana produces fruit in 12-15 ... | |
| queen palm pruning | 8/20/2009 |
| Q: I have a two very young Queen Palms in my backyard. They're approx. 45 to 55 inches in height. My ... A: without any fronds at all, it is doubtful that the Palm will send any out, in fact it is a wonder if ... | |
| foxtail palm | 8/19/2009 |
| Q: its not the fishtail palm that i mean. here is a photo that i found. are they foxtail palms? and if ... A: Yep ...all Foxtails, but very well kept ones,,this is why it is so important to fertilize and ... | |
| yucca | 8/19/2009 |
| Q: I have "inherited" my son's yucca plant in order to save it. The stem is about 1ft high but is very ... A: It obviously has been over watered by your son, they do not need much irrigating; It may or may not ... | |
| Queen Palm frawns | 8/18/2009 |
| Q: I have a few mature (15 yrs old) Queen Palms in my backyard. They're approx. 25 to 35 feet in ... A: There will not be any debris from the fronds themselves;and there won't be any other debris as long ... | |
| brown leaves on banana | 8/18/2009 |
| Q: I planted my 18 inch tall banana in 5 gallon pot in Mar/09. It is growing but the leaves are getting ... A: my pleasure, ok, first you must know that Bananas do not fare well in containers, they tend to ... | |
| Bird of Paradise | 8/17/2009 |
| Q: I have had my Bird of Paradise indoors (attrium) for 20 or more years. It has multiplied and done ... A: I would look to the container it is in, it sounds like the root system has become stressed (probably ... | |
| bananas | 8/16/2009 |
| Q: Our backyard banana tree is bearing fruit. The bananas are always very small and never turn yellow, ... A: too bad you don't live near Port Charlotte, Fl, for I will be giving a presentation on growing ... | |
| to or not to transplant 8 year old jaboticaba | 8/16/2009 |
| Q: 8 year old jaboticaba, 7 ft. tall, grows in a 35 gal. plastic garbage container resting on ground. ... A: it may well be too big for that container, and it may also have compacted soil , and your irrigation ... | |
| Foxtail Palm | 8/15/2009 |
| Q: We have two Foxtail Palm, we live in Central FL, last winter we had the first frost this area has ... A: unfortunately it isn't like a tree, where you can cut a damaged section off and have it callous over ... | |
| newly planted pygmy with burning frawns | 8/15/2009 |
| Q: I planted to pygmy palms in the ground four weeks ago in a raised bed. I used a lot of compost from ... A: yes, it sounds like whatever was in the compost has compromised the roots on the Palm; the yellowing ... | |
| Propogating plants | 8/14/2009 |
| Q: I've cut back some Ixora and wonder if the cuttings can be rooted in water? Also, how do you ... A: propagation of Ixora is by taking 5" tip cuttings (they can be green or hardwood..) dipping them in ... | |
| Phoenix roebelenii | 8/14/2009 |
| Q: Mr. McCann, I rescued this pygmy date palm 10 months ago. Admittedly, it was in bad shape; ... A: ...the soft trunk is an indication of root rot Troy, I am afraid once that sets in it is extremely ... | |
| White Bird of Paradise with yellow leaves--follow up | 8/14/2009 |
| Q: Nick, Thanks for your answer confirming that I'm (and well-intentioned friends) are overwatering. ... A: I would kick it up a tad, with a larger container, preferably a clay pot (my preference anyway..) ... | |
| White Bird of Paradise with yellow leaves | 8/13/2009 |
| Q: I live in Phoenix, Arizona, which as you know is quite hot. I have a White Bird of Paradise which ... A: The problem that arises when extreme heat is present, is people tend to water more, thinking that ... | |
| Foxtail Palm and Gardenia shrubs | 8/11/2009 |
| Q: I emailed you last April concerning foxtails that were not doing well when I first planted them. I ... A: I am pretty sure I know what the problem "was" and you corrected it albeit maybe too late, when the ... | |
| majestic palm tree | 8/10/2009 |
| Q: I've just planted a majestic palm tree approximately four feet in height. How fast will it grow in ... A: "Majesty", Palms have a spreading type growth , unlike the usual vertical growth of many other ... | |
| Pups growing out of plant | 8/10/2009 |
| Q: I purchased a Bromeliad for my office, one with 2 yellow spikes that fade into red. I noticed today ... A: ...Shelly, detach them with a sharp knife, when the base of the pup is firm and set it in a soilless ... | |
| white bird of Paradise | 8/9/2009 |
| Q: I was told not to plant a white bird of paradise next to the wall of my home because of the root ... A: I wouldn't put a White BOP, but the smaller Orange version is just fine, they both have fibrous type ... | |
| potted adonidia palm | 8/9/2009 |
| Q: i transplanted some adinidia palms straight from buying them into biger containers for outside. ... A: Palms need to adjust to a new surrounding when planted and often show stress while going through ... | |
| Foxtail Palm and Gardenia shrubs | 8/9/2009 |
| Q: I emailed you last April concerning foxtails that were not doing well when I first planted them. I ... A: nice to hear from you again:)...The Foxtail that is still ailing could just be too compromised from ... | |
| Phoenix robellini | 8/8/2009 |
| Q: Mr. McCann, I rescued this pygmy date palm 10 months ago. Admittedly, it was in bad shape; ... A: The image shows me a stressed Palm from what I will have to say is probably too small a container ... | |
| leaves turning yellow on my bouganvillea | 8/8/2009 |
| Q: I live in Arizona and have a potted Bouganvillea that was doing very well until I notice perfectly ... A: ...Move it to a location where it is out of the afternoon sun by 2pm, Bougs like a lot of Sun, but ... | |
| leaves turning yellow on my bouganvillea | 8/7/2009 |
| Q: I live in Arizona and have a potted Bouganvillea that was doing very well until I notice perfectly ... A: Bougs are extremely sensitive to overwatering, especially if they are potted up; yellowing leaves ... | |
| Soil Type/Houseplants | 8/7/2009 |
| Q: I repotted two Fittonia, one Purple Passion, and two Pilea plants into African Violet potting ... A: I always recommend a "soilless" mixture, which consists of 25% Sphagnum Peat Moss, 25% perlite, ... | |
| Alexandra Palm disease | 8/7/2009 |
| Q: I have planted 5 Alexandras and they are growing beautifully in red clay soil. One of the trees, now ... A: it sounds like "Sooty Mold" an innocuous fungus that is attracted to the secretions given off by ... | |
| Moon Flowers | 8/6/2009 |
| Q: I want to move half of the ears I have now....do I dig down to the bulb area and separate the part I ... A: When the pod dries, there are hundreds of seeds inside it, these need to be soaked over night and ... | |
| Angel Trumpet (Brugmansia) | 8/5/2009 |
| Q: I recently saw a question posted to you about an Angel Trumpet that was 2 yrs old, never bloomed, ... A: any plant will stress for numerous reasons, be it a Brug.. or any other , what I need to know, is ... | |
| Elephant Ears | 8/5/2009 |
| Q: I want to move half of the ears I have now....do I dig down to the bulb area and separate the part I ... A: when you relocate them, water them well and hopefully in a location where they are out of direct ... | |
| Croton Petra | 8/4/2009 |
| Q: I live in Atlanta GA and have a very small front garden (6ft. x 5ft.) at my townhouse. I need plants ... A: Crotons are a good choice, but make certain they are in an area where they are out of the afternoon ... | |
| Bromilaid houseplant | 8/3/2009 |
| Q: I bought a bromelaid plant at a local nursery which was reduced in pice. The only thing wrong is ... A: low light, no direct Sun! (hence the burnt leaf ends..), water the "cup" which is the center of the ... | |
| Elephant Ear Parasite? | 8/3/2009 |
| Q: I live in Florida and I have an elephant ear and as I was watering it and removing dead undergrowth ... A: it sounds like either "Scale" or "Mealy Bug" both insects that are easily controlled with either an ... | |
| banana plant question | 8/3/2009 |
| Q: My banana plant is in a container in full sun. I feed a slow release fertilizer by Osmocote 19/6/9 ... A: I have never successfully been able to develop a Banana in a container to maturity without problems; ... | |
| red banana with malformed leaves | 8/2/2009 |
| Q: Strange things are happening to the formation of the leaves on my ensete 'red abyssinian' red ... A: what you are describing are the symptoms from Choke throat, an affliction from cold stressed ... | |
| banana tree | 8/1/2009 |
| Q: what is eating the young leaves of my banana tree? A: probably Slugs, they feed at night and are not fussy at all about what greenery to devour. Slug bait ... | |
| majesty palm | 8/1/2009 |
| Q: I have a majesty palm that is about 1 year old and have about 4-5 new spikes that have not yet ... A: Majestys do better with indirect light, misting them is excellent, this will deter Spider Mites (a ... | |
| frost damage to christmas palm | 7/30/2009 |
| Q: I have several christmas palms that had some frost damage back in the winter. These are 3 stemmed ... A: Adonidias shed their own fronds, but from an aesthetic standpoint, it wouldn't hurt to prune the ... | |
| mandevilla leaves | 7/30/2009 |
| Q: I have a beautiful and otherwise very healthy mandevilla that is growing like crazy right now...It ... A: ...you need to change out the soil, it is evident now, from what you followed up with, that there is ... | |
| Fire ants on Ixora | 7/28/2009 |
| Q: We just bought and Ixora. We have it in a pot outside of our apartment. After a few days of having ... A: fire ants build nests under containers, and in them....you need to dump the plant from the existing ... | |
| Paradise palm plant disease | 7/28/2009 |
| Q: Got an indoor paradise palm for 2 years, it is about 2 metre's high and has been growing really well ... A: the soil needs to be changed out, there is probably salt build up in it from years of fertilizing; ... | |
| mandevilla leaves | 7/28/2009 |
| Q: I have a beautiful and otherwise very healthy mandevilla that is growing like crazy right now...It ... A: wish I could see an image, but my best guess is that it probably isn't anything to be concerned ... | |
| foxtail palms roots | 7/27/2009 |
| Q: Are foxtail palms likely to raise pavers? There are 2 mature palms foxtails at about 2 - 3 ... A: I live in Florida, and we have Foxtails all over, and not only do they not pose a threat to lifting ... | |
| BANANAS | 7/25/2009 |
| Q: I LIVE IN CLERMONT FLORIDA. WHAT IS THE BEST VARIETY OF BANANA TO PLANT IF I ACTUALLY WANT FRUIT? ... A: ...Bananas to not fare well in containers Guy, the root area needed for the Corm (root system) is ... | |
| Adonodia Palm stopped growing | 7/24/2009 |
| Q: I'm in Florida and have about 20 palms in my yard. I only have an issue with one, an Adonidia Palm ... A: if your Christmas Palm was stung by a frost or freeze, it probably is in its death throes; what will ... | |
| Hoya's bud falling off | 7/23/2009 |
| Q: Can you please tell me what's wrong with my Hoya? And what type it is? It grows many many buds but ... A: It looks like Hoya Bella, but without the blooms being opened its hard to tell, the plant likes some ... | |
| Yellow Leaves | 7/23/2009 |
| Q: I live in Las Vegas and I have a pygmy date palm on my patio facing west. Its gets plenty of sun on ... A: ...Line the bottom with about 2 inches of fine pea stone, water it well when it begins to dry out ... | |
| Yellow Leaves | 7/23/2009 |
| Q: I live in Las Vegas and I have a pygmy date palm on my patio facing west. Its gets plenty of sun on ... A: Pygmy Dates like full sun, so the "burn spots" are probably a reaction to salts in the soil, often ... | |
| soil for tropical fruit tree in the container | 7/22/2009 |
| Q: I just bought 6 grafted tropical fruit tree that are mango, soursop, sugar apple, wax jambu and ... A: ...You are enlightening, I will give you that:)..no, you can't make bees pollinate what they don't ... | |
| palm roots | 7/22/2009 |
| Q: We have a palm tree (I think is a Med. Fan) that "planted itself" via seed about 10 yers ago. Now ... A: no don't cover those roots! thats the flare and its perfectly normal for the roots to be showing; ... | |
| banana plant | 7/21/2009 |
| Q: I have a banana plant growing on the western side of my house against the house, I live outside ... A: Bananas need a frost free year to produce fruit, if they don't get it, they are set back a year ... | |
| BANANAS | 7/21/2009 |
| Q: I LIVE IN CLERMONT FLORIDA. WHAT IS THE BEST VARIETY OF BANANA TO PLANT IF I ACTUALLY WANT FRUIT? A: I live in Port Charlotte, which is 20 miles north of Ft. Meyers and I find that the Raja Puri (an ... | |
| Heliconia/Bird of Paradise | 7/21/2009 |
| Q: Is the Heliconia part of the Bird of Paradise family? I see it sometimes included in the Bird of ... A: they are related to the BOP and the Banana, for they grow in the same manner, utilizing underground ... | |
| yucca plant | 7/20/2009 |
| Q: nick i have a yucca plant for indoors could i plant it outside all year round if not what yucca ... A: Yuccas are susceptible to cold, so I wouldn't chance it, I had one in the ground here in South ... | |
| Foxtail Palm | 7/20/2009 |
| Q: ... I have a foxtail palm that was in the ground for about two years and doing quite well, until a ... A: from your question I have to say that you have done everything that should have been done, except ... | |
| Care | 7/20/2009 |
| Q: Ok I i have little tiny black bugs fly around my dirt what can i do on my other plants? Then i just ... A: ..I wouldn't be concerned about scraping the glue off, and I don't think any harm has been done to ... | |
| soil for tropical fruit tree in the container | 7/19/2009 |
| Q: I just bought 6 grafted tropical fruit tree that are mango, soursop, sugar apple, wax jambu and ... A: ok. soilless will work great! its just more effort, here goes.....50% organic material,,(half peat ... | |
| bird of paradise | 7/19/2009 |
| Q: I have had this plant for about 4 years now, it is about 6 feet tall, in a 10 inch pot. After the ... A: A 12" container should be fine, make sure you loosen up the roots on the ball when you pop it out of ... | |
| Care | 7/19/2009 |
| Q: Hey Nick, I just got a Pachira money tree, can you please tell me how to care for it, should i use ... A: if you want your Pachira to grow larger, then it needs to be in a larger container, if you want to ... | |
| Yellow Leaves | 7/18/2009 |
| Q: I live in Las Vegas and I have a pygmy date palm on my patio facing west. Its gets plenty of sun on ... A: from what you are saying, I would say you are indeed giving it too much water, check the drainage ... | |
| soil for tropical fruit tree in the container | 7/18/2009 |
| Q: I just bought 6 grafted tropical fruit tree that are mango, soursop, sugar apple, wax jambu and ... A: there are indeed many different soils out there and some are very good while others are very bad; ... | |
| Palm Tree damage | 7/16/2009 |
| Q: I just moved into a home that has a palm tree that I am unfamiliar with at the end of a driveway. ... A: ...I would definitely have an experienced person look at it (I could only tell so much from the ... | |
| Palm Tree damage | 7/15/2009 |
| Q: I just moved into a home that has a palm tree that I am unfamiliar with at the end of a driveway. ... A: Its a "Bottle Palm" and it may or may not recover, but you need to know that Palms do not have woody ... | |
| Pygmy date palm in freeze | 7/13/2009 |
| Q: I have 2 triple pygmy date palms in my back yard. They both have two (of the 3) trunks that will ... A: Lisa, that often happens when a triple or double Pygmy Date stress for whatever reason, this one ... | |
| Yucca Elephantipes Cane Plant | 7/12/2009 |
| Q: I have 2 Yucca Elephantipes Plants One in one pot and two in the other pot can i put them all ... A: you could, but at the expense of their growing in a natural manner; they will stunt if not given ... | |
| Night Blooming Jasmine pests | 7/11/2009 |
| Q: With regards to night blooming jasmine and catepillars, is is possible that the offending catepillar ... A: I am not an Emtomologist, but I do know that it is indeed a night feeding catepilla that is the ... | |
| bop | 7/11/2009 |
| Q: our plant was doing great and all the sudden the flowered part dyed, it was outside and we think got ... A: its pretty tough to kill a Bird with too much water, they love moisture; that said, it is quite ... | |
| Indian Rubber Plant PRUNING Question | 7/10/2009 |
| Q: Ive read and been told that the ideal time to prune back my indian rubber plant is while it is ... A: they never go dormant, they will slow growth in the cooler season, but dormancy is a total cessation ... | |
| OVERWINTERING DATURA PLANTS | 7/10/2009 |
| Q: I just bought two white and two yellow datura plants. I live in a s.w.suburb of Chicago. How can I ... A: Cut them back to about half of their present size, leaving enough leaves to keep them viable, yet ... | |
| pineapple | 7/10/2009 |
| Q: does a pineapple continue to ripen after it is picked? A: it will, but it won't get any sweeter, only softer; this is why its important to hold off as long as ... | |
| dwarf banana trees | 7/10/2009 |
| Q: I live in western New York state, in a very old, drafty house. I've been through a few dwarf musas, ... A: you never questioned to whether they will ever give you Bananas, and I am sorry to say, they won't; ... | |
| Bougenvillas | 7/10/2009 |
| Q: I bought a beautiful bougs for Mother's Day. The blooms disappeared in June. We live in SW MO. She ... A: Bougs don't like too much irrigation, tell her to water it once a week, make certain it is in direct ... | |
| My Dracaena Marginata | 7/9/2009 |
| Q: Im not sure if i need to use a fertilizer on my plant or not and I also would like to know how many ... A: Osmocote is a well balanced fertilizer sold in Lowes, Walmart, Home Depot etc. it comes in a small ... | |
| Fiscus identification, reddening, growing? | 7/9/2009 |
| Q: My friend gave me this plant when he moved out of his apartment. I repotted it because the roots ... A: Allison, thats a Jade Plant, not a Ficus, the reddening is caused by direct sunlight, they prefer ... | |
| My Dracaena Marginata | 7/9/2009 |
| Q: Im not sure if i need to use a fertilizer on my plant or not and I also would like to know how many ... A: you didn't mention whether it was potted or not, but I would say you would be fine with Osmocote ... | |
| Palm trees and water | 7/9/2009 |
| Q: You've probably answered this question several times, but it's difficult for me to track down where. ... A: ...as soon as I replied to the other question you sent, I saw this, so disregard the request for a ... | |
| Palm trees and water | 7/9/2009 |
| Q: You've probably answered this question several times, but it's difficult for me to track down where. ... A: I really couldn't make out anything as far as the powder goes, but I did notice that they are pruned ... | |
| Palm trees and water | 7/8/2009 |
| Q: You've probably answered this question several times, but it's difficult for me to track down where. ... A: If they are established, adult Palms, then your Gardner is correct in that they need minimal ... | |
| OVERWINTERING DATURA PLANTS | 7/8/2009 |
| Q: I just bought two white and two yellow datura plants. I live in a s.w.suburb of Chicago. How can I ... A: you would have to cut them back and pot them up; do so in a container big enough to hold their root ... | |
| foxtail palm | 7/8/2009 |
| Q: My 5 year old foxtail palm had 3 fonds cut off and now it is not doing well. I have been told it has ... A: I would really need to see it to determine if it indeed has frizzle top, but if it does, then it ... | |
| Sea Grape roots | 7/5/2009 |
| Q: We planted two small Sea Grape plants several years ago very near (1' from) our block sea wall. We ... A: I see many Sea Grapes planted near sea walls all around me here in Florida, and many of them are ... | |
| Dessert Rose | 7/4/2009 |
| Q: I just bought my first Dessert Rose and have repotted it in cactus soil. The leaves are turning ... A: Dessert Roses do not require hardly any water, they store most of what they need in their spongy ... | |
| Banana Trees | 7/3/2009 |
| Q: I have banana trees about six years and they have never produced fruit, they usually get hit with ... A: therein lies the problem, they need to get through 14 months of frost free weather, or else they ... | |
| disease on Pigmy Palm | 7/3/2009 |
| Q: I have had my Pigmy Palm for 15 yrs now and it is doing well. However, I have noticed that the ... A: the bugs were just taking advantage of a dark, moist area and were causing to harm to the Palm ... | |
| Can I go tropical and how much? | 7/3/2009 |
| Q: I just returned from Maui and am interested in knowing if any of their beautiful plants (especially ... A: The heliconia develop a continuing roots system, they grow from underground trailers, and need to be ... | |
| Can I go tropical and how much? | 7/1/2009 |
| Q: I just returned from Maui and am interested in knowing if any of their beautiful plants (especially ... A: you are adventurous, I will give you that! but you proved you can push the envelope, with you ... | |
| pool planting | 7/1/2009 |
| Q: We are going to put a pool in our backyard with existing landscaping. I have 3 mature and beautiful ... A: I am assuming that you are not putting up a cage, and if that is the case, then if you allow the ... | |
| Mango tree | 6/30/2009 |
| Q: I have a mango tree and I think it was hit by lighting. The trunk has been split in half pretty much ... A: if it was split down the middle, then the bark/cambium layer has been compromised, and this means ... | |
| foxtail palm | 6/30/2009 |
| Q: Hey-i have a foxtail palm, and have almost had it for a year. Its in a pot however, since i have no ... A: wrong Palm for a container I am afraid, and from your description, crown rot has set in; the Palm is ... | |
| FOXTAIL PALM | 6/30/2009 |
| Q: I have a foxtail palm about 15 feet tail. It has two cracks in the bark about 1/4 inch wide and ... A: it often happens, its a phenomenon , just an irregularity, nothing to be real concerned about, don't ... | |
| Massangeana Cane | 6/29/2009 |
| Q: Hey Nick can you please help me I just got a Massangeana Cane on June 18, 09 doing good have not ... A: you can wait on transplanting them, but just be careful not to soak those roots, you don't want to ... | |
| Queen Palm Pod | 6/28/2009 |
| Q: Is it harmful to my queen palm if I cut off the flower pod before or during it's blooming? A: no, you can prune it off at any stage of the development without doing any harm at all to the Palm, ... | |
| Foxtail Palm: dead or alive? | 6/28/2009 |
| Q: I saw a posting earlier relating to the Foxtail Palm. A few yrs ago my wife and i purchased 5 very ... A: Your neighbors effectively killed their Palms by decapitating them, for this is the crown, the ... | |
| viburnum hedge | 6/28/2009 |
| Q: I have a 2 year old, 8 foot high, viburnum hedge (150 plants) that developed yellow/brown leaves, ... A: Organocide is a combination insect/fungal concentrate; its not what I consider the best choice for a ... | |
| chinese hat tree | 6/28/2009 |
| Q: i have a ginger plant that has been in its same location for two years.the location is shaded with ... A: ..It does prefer partial shade, so that isn't the problem, the fertilizer you are using may have too ... | |
| ginger plants | 6/27/2009 |
| Q: i have a ginger plant that has been in its same location for two years.the location is shaded with ... A: Gingers are one of those plants that will bloom when "they" are ready; known to be one of the ... | |
| Saga Plams (baby sprouts) | 6/26/2009 |
| Q: I have a large saga that has 10-15 babys that are sprouting around the bottom. Are they removeable ... A: ...the pups that have developed an actual base are the ones that have a better chance of developing ... | |
| Queen Palms Transplanting | 6/25/2009 |
| Q: I am looking at bidding on a 4-5m Queen Palm on Trademe that has been blown over and is on a lean ... A: I would definitely get an expert to transplant a Palm of that magnitude, its too large and too heavy ... | |
| Fertilizer | 6/24/2009 |
| Q: Miracle gro 8-7-6 liquid Houseplant food or I have Expert slow release 19-6-12 I have a Pony tail ... A: ok, the Pony Tail, the yucca , the cane, and the dragon should get an application of Osmocote or ... | |
| Fertilizer for Cycads | 6/24/2009 |
| Q: I need a fertilizer for my three Cycads (Sago Palms) and got a recommendation to use Osmocote for ... A: a well balanced Palm fertilizer will do just fine, thats what I have used on mine for years and they ... | |
| elephant ears | 6/24/2009 |
| Q: where on the stem do you cut back the leaves. we got some from a friend, and they look bad right now A: you will notice that down the Petiole (which is the stem the leaf is on..)near the main junction ... | |
| MUSA BASJOO | 6/24/2009 |
| Q: MY MUSA HAS DEVELOPED A SIDE SHOOT OVER THE LAST 10 DAYS OR SO. IT IS ABOUT 8" TALL WITH 3 LEAVES. ... A: the pup is still a little too young to be severed from Mom, let it develop a little more, when it is ... | |
| Bougenvilla | 6/22/2009 |
| Q: I live in NC-my daughter gave me a bougenvilla in a hanging pot for Mothers Day- it was in full ... A: Bougs are not really a hanging plant, but nurseries can force any plant to exist for a period of ... | |
| Ice Cream Banana Tree | 6/22/2009 |
| Q: We just bought a small IC Banana tree at a farmer's market this weekend. It is 3" tall. Looks good. ... A: Bananas need to be in the ground ideally, or in the largest of containers; they need to be in an ... | |
| Transplant of Royal Palm Tree | 6/22/2009 |
| Q: Nick: I live in Miami, Florida and had a 40 ft Royal Palm Tree transplanted 5/9/09 (about 40 days ... A: The irrigation sequence you have in place in fine, but I would be careful not to inundate the roots ... | |
| queen palms producing too many seed pods | 6/21/2009 |
| Q: Is there anyway to decrease the number of seed pods that a queen palm produces? Ours seem to be in ... A: No, sometimes they can be very prolific in producing pods (and eventual inflorescence), just be ... | |
| Bouganvillia | 6/21/2009 |
| Q: I am in Florida. We have a Bouganville in front of our living room window. The bush is on the ... A: Your mom actually did a good thing, pruning back a Boug is a good way to stimulate new, healthy ... | |
| Ponytail Plam | 6/21/2009 |
| Q: Nick Sure hope you can help. I just got a Ponytail Plam about 2 weeks ago. And there is seven trees ... A: go ahead and separate them, as long as they each have their own roots; if they are attached however, ... | |
| Transplant of Royal Palm Tree | 6/20/2009 |
| Q: Nick: I live in Miami, Florida and had a 40 ft Royal Palm Tree transplanted 5/9/09 (about 40 days ... A: right now all you can do is keep it properly irrigated, the root system you mentioned sounds ... | |
| pygmy date double palm leaf chlorosis | 6/19/2009 |
| Q: I have a pygmy date double palm in a large pot. (had it for 2 or more years). It is looking very ... A: I am assuming the soil has never been changed out, this is the core of the problem, the roots have ... | |
| Yucca Plants | 6/18/2009 |
| Q: What soil is best for yucca plants and why don't they flower?? Do I need a "Yucca moth"????????? A: Your Yucca will flower when its ready, and albeit it likes a sandier soil, any soil will suffice; ... | |
| sago palms | 6/18/2009 |
| Q: Two questions answered please! 1. My sagos have had scale for a few years now, and somehow, w/out ... A: ...The systemic is called "Bayer Rose and Flower systemic" and the oil is called "Ultra-fine Oil", ... | |
| sago palms | 6/18/2009 |
| Q: Two questions answered please! 1. My sagos have had scale for a few years now, and somehow, w/out ... A: The Aucalaspis Scale is a persistent pest that will not just go away without treatment, and even ... | |
| Dwarf Cavendish | 6/18/2009 |
| Q: I recieved my Dwarf Cavendish Banana Plant from Gurneys about 2 months ago with an amazing root ... A: You aren't doing anything wrong, Bananas are a tropical plant, and albeit they require copious ... | |
| Queen Palm Collapsing? | 6/18/2009 |
| Q: Two of my 15' queen palms seem to be sinking into the ground, the outer bark is spreading out at ... A: they aren't sinking, this condition is called "flare" and it occurs naturally in many Palms as they ... | |
| Saga Plams (baby sprouts) | 6/17/2009 |
| Q: I have a large saga that has 10-15 babys that are sprouting around the bottom. Are they removeable ... A: yes they can, but the better ones are those that have a base attached; dig as much of the entire pup ... | |
| Bougainvillea | 6/17/2009 |
| Q: I recently discovered Bougainvillea in a local nursery and would love to purchase one. However,I ... A: it would be a difficult endeavor on your part, they are indeed tropical, and even here in Florida, ... | |
| ponytail palm | 6/17/2009 |
| Q: How do I "harvest" babies from the trunk of my ponytail palm? There are several and I'd like to ... A: separate them by taking as much of the base as possible , dipping it in a rooting hormone, and ... | |
| Washingtonia Robusta | 6/15/2009 |
| Q: I have these palms and one of them actually has seed pods this year! A couple have opened and are ... A: What you are seeing is the "Inflorescence" which will eventually develop into a seed pod; the pod ... | |
| Cycas Revoluta | 6/14/2009 |
| Q: We are based in Bahrain in the Middle East for a 3 year assignment. Can you advise what care is ... A: your King Sago can be planted in any sunny location in a relatively fertile soil; make certain that ... | |
| Tropical Privacy | 6/13/2009 |
| Q: Nick - I have a small brick paver patio and would like to use tropical plants to create a natural ... A: Heliconia and Bananas are very invasive, so you will have to consider the upkeep of keeping them in ... | |
| FOXTAIL PALM | 6/13/2009 |
| Q: I planted 2 (10gal) foxtail palm 1 year before the hurricane wilma. After the hurricane 1 palm broke ... A: it sounds like the other Foxtail that survived Wilma has been compromised also, but is managing to ... | |
| Yellow leaves on saga | 6/13/2009 |
| Q: We have several small saga's in your yard that has been established at least 5 years. They were ... A: Sagos are in trouble in Florida because of the Aulacaspis Scale, it is an insect that was ... | |
| queen palm | 6/13/2009 |
| Q: I live in Phoenix, Az. why do my queen palm branches keep breaking? That is to say, they collapse ... A: ..No, lethal Yellowing is usually a problem with Christmas Palms, its very rare to see this disease ... | |
| Container size for pygmy date palm | 6/12/2009 |
| Q: I have 2 Pygmy date palm trees by my pool. They are each about 2 feet tall and are in 65 quart ... A: ..I have to be honest with you James, your Palm will exist for awhile, but in the long run, it is ... | |
| queen palm | 6/12/2009 |
| Q: I live in Phoenix, Az. why do my queen palm branches keep breaking? That is to say, they collapse ... A: this usually happens after a severe "Hurricane pruning", for the petiole is weakened from the ... | |
| Container size for pygmy date palm | 6/12/2009 |
| Q: I have 2 Pygmy date palm trees by my pool. They are each about 2 feet tall and are in 65 quart ... A: Pygmy Dates will max out at about 8 feet if given ample root space; I kind of shudder when I hear of ... | |
| pygmy palm transplant | 6/12/2009 |
| Q: I recently transplanted 2 pygmy palms, both bought in container from store. I had one palm indoors ... A: you didn't mention where you are located (climate zone) , Pygmy Dates are sub-tropical palms and ... | |
| White Bird of Paradise | 6/11/2009 |
| Q: I recently purchased my plant and love it. I am concerned however bcause some of the leaves have ... A: the split leaves sound like the results of a physical trauma (probably at Lowes..), just keep it ... | |
| Foxtail frost burn | 6/11/2009 |
| Q: I have two small foxtails that were hit with this winter's frost here in SW Florida. My question is ... A: leave it be, it will traverse its difficulties on its own, all you would accomplish by cutting the ... | |
| Backyard Landscaping | 6/10/2009 |
| Q: I live in Lake Worth FL (Zone 10b I think) and am looking to convert my backyard which has a pool ... A: ok, lets begin, 10b is great, because you have an endless assortment of plantings to pick from; as a ... | |
| bugenvilla | 6/10/2009 |
| Q: I live in Chicago. One of the big box stores here is selling bougainvillea. I love seeing it when I ... A: no, sorry, its sub-tropical and whoever printed that tag was really pushing the envelope, like right ... | |
| Mexican Petunias | 6/10/2009 |
| Q: I have 3 areas of Mexican Petunias in my yard. About 2 weeks ago, I noticed some of the new growth ... A: Mexican Petunias are pretty much a problem free plant, if anything, they need to be continually ... | |
| White Bird of Paradise | 6/9/2009 |
| Q: I recently purchased my plant and love it. I am concerned however bcause some of the leaves have ... A: I need to know more, where are you located and how and who planted it in the container; plants ... | |
| Fiberous Banana trees | 6/9/2009 |
| Q: The leaves turning brown on the tips about a month after coming out. Am I over fertilizing or over ... A: ...I have given seminars on growing Bananas, and beside not getting enough irrigation "or" the Corm ... | |
| Fiberous Banana trees | 6/9/2009 |
| Q: The leaves turning brown on the tips about a month after coming out. Am I over fertilizing or over ... A: your Bananas are stressed, and being in a container could be the issue; Bananas grow from an ... | |
| Angel Trumpet plant | 6/9/2009 |
| Q: We've moved into a home that has an Angel Trumpet and it hasn't bloomed in the last 2 years we've ... A: usually Brugmansias (or Daturas..) are pretty problem free, I am thinking that they may need a dose ... | |
| repotting plants | 6/8/2009 |
| Q: when do you know when to repot a cat palm and a peace lily. i know some plants like to be root ... A: normally I repot when the plant begins to show signs of stress, albeit slight, look for anything out ... | |
| ficus benjamina is leafed out on one side, naked on the other | 6/7/2009 |
| Q: I'm wondering what the best course of action is, to help this ficus return to health. It's about ... A: Mary, Ficus is a pretty resilient tree, I think your plant has plenty of life left in it,and it ... | |
| Bouganvilla | 6/7/2009 |
| Q: I need assistance in caring for my Bougainvillea. It blooms beautifully then all the flowers and ... A: ..I wouldn't fertilize at all right now, but would definitely stop watering with your household ... | |
| foxtail palm frost damage and disease | 6/6/2009 |
| Q: My thriving 10 ft. foxtail palm which was planted 2 years ago, suffered some frost damage this past ... A: its really difficult to determine just when to throw in the towel on cold damaged Palms, (or plants ... | |
| How to plant a Red Plumeria cutting | 6/6/2009 |
| Q: I received a Red Plumeria cutting as a gift. The planting instructions were very vague. There are ... A: your assumption is correct, the cut end goes into a container of light potting mixture, which will ... | |
| red bird of paradise transplant | 6/6/2009 |
| Q: We just moved in to our new home in Las Vegas (Henderson) and have a beautiful red bird in the ... A: the key here is to get as much of the root system as possible, many people cut corners and just want ... | |
| Bouganvilla | 6/5/2009 |
| Q: I need assistance in caring for my Bougainvillea. It blooms beautifully then all the flowers and ... A: the usual reason for Bougs defoliating is too much water, I am inclined to think (from your ... | |
| Indoor Palm Tree | 6/5/2009 |
| Q: I'm not sure what type of Palm Tree I have (thin palms), but I bought it in a local market about 4 ... A: what you are seeing (sticky sap) is the secretions from what is probably "Spider Mites" feeding; ... | |
| Banana Palm | 6/4/2009 |
| Q: I have just the most beautiful banana palms and have for 4 or so years. Just recently two have been ... A: Bananas are my forte, and I would like you to elaborate on "wrinkled", describe them if you can with ... | |
| watering tropical plants. | 6/2/2009 |
| Q: I live in Wales on the western side of the UK. I have several tropical plants that I have had for ... A: I would like to know the variety, so that I can better help you, but in general, tropical plants ... | |
| Musa Basjoo is Deformed | 6/2/2009 |
| Q: Early last year, I was watering roses with Bayer Systemic All in One for Roses and flowers. I has ... A: I would not have put that on a Banana or any edible for that matter, it is , after all, a "systemic" ... | |
| Pindo Palm | 6/2/2009 |
| Q: Its not very big maybe about 5ft tall. I would like to move it to a different location in my yard. ... A: also known as a Jelly Palm, it is a real nice specimen, and I would recommend having a experienced ... | |
| Madagascar palm | 6/2/2009 |
| Q: MY Madagascar palm roots seem to have dry up its not dead but some Leaves are truning black. I do ... A: I will be honest with you Charles, I wet the soil on mine (about a quart of water) , every week, and ... | |
| hoya or lipstick plant | 6/1/2009 |
| Q: I owned a lipstick vine/plant/mona lisa for about 4 years now.. and wanted to purchase another one. ... A: I have to disagree, I brought up numerous pictures of the Mona Lisa variety and put yours right ... | |
| plumeria recommendations | 6/1/2009 |
| Q: i have been doing alot of research on plumeria. i am planning on being a first time owner of the ... A: one key in raising Frangipanis and that is do not over water them, it is a sure fire death sentence, ... | |
| Bird of Paradise Plant | 6/1/2009 |
| Q: I have a BOP that I kept indoors for many years. It became so big I decided I would move it outside ... A: it is always difficult on a plant moved outside (stress), and many times they need an adjustment ... | |
| Foxtail Palm and Broken New Frond | 6/1/2009 |
| Q: I have a foxtail palm that was planted in Ft Lauderdale in Aug 2008. During the past dry months it ... A: it sounds like the Petiole was in a weakened condition due to the drought and when the full weight ... | |
| Madagascar palm | 5/31/2009 |
| Q: MY Madagascar palm roots seem to have dry up its not dead but some Leaves are truning black. I do ... A: albeit they don't need much water, (they store water in their system.), they do need it ... | |
| foxtail palm | 5/31/2009 |
| Q: My foxtail palms are about 2 1/2 years old and planted in the landscape area of my backyard in south ... A: usually when you tug on a new spear and it easily separates and appears mushy, then the crown has ... | |
| sea grapes | 5/30/2009 |
| Q: I live in Spring Hill and have bought my first sea grape, I'm planning on planting it about 10 feet ... A: I would not plant it that close, they have a pretty good root system that will present problems down ... | |
| Outdoor potted palm tree | 5/29/2009 |
| Q: I have a palm tree on my deck in Vancouver BC, and it has been with us and thriving despite our cold ... A: yes replace the soil, it needs to be replaced at least once a year due to salt build up from ... | |
| pygmy palm fertilization | 5/28/2009 |
| Q: Mr. Mccann: We have just planted a Roebelinii pygmy palm. I believe it is about a 5 gallon size, in ... A: Your Landscaper is correct in telling you to keep it irrigated, and I would fertilize it in about 8 ... | |
| allamanda | 5/28/2009 |
| Q: purchased this plant at Lowe's do not know if it is evergreen or shrub. Live in Rio Grande valley ... A: There are two types of Allamanda, there is the bush variety, but the most common is the vining ... | |
| hibiscus not flowering | 5/28/2009 |
| Q: I'm in KY and bought a hibiscus that was doing well. While putting Miracle Grow on my plants and ... A: Hibiscus can be very finicky, and they are the type of plant that will set blossoms when they are ... | |
| Hawaii's Red Plumeria | 5/28/2009 |
| Q: I brought home a seedling at least 3 years ago. Planted it and believe it or not, it began to grow. ... A: It will be awhile before flowers develop, there will be further growth of leaves and size before ... | |
| Side by Side Hibiscus One Dies | 5/27/2009 |
| Q: I planted last summer 2 hibiscus of the same stock, planted at the same time, same soil, same ... A: when you say a shared box, it tells me that one of the root systems may have taken the Lions share ... | |
| Sago palm | 5/27/2009 |
| Q: I have like a 5ft sago which is doing very well. I cut out new plants from the bottom and put them ... A: until they take root, keep them in a shadier area, and keep the soil damp but not wet; it will take ... | |
| Transplanting a 23ft. fishtail palm | 5/26/2009 |
| Q: What would be the best way to do it and care for it?All your help would be much needed.Thanks! A: That is a job for a professional, with a Bobcat, the root system is to extensive for conventional ... | |
| outdoor palm plant | 5/26/2009 |
| Q: I planted a palm plant in my outdoor garden last Thursday May 21. I water it daily, but now the ... A: Palms are a Tropical plant by nature, and they need high humidity, heat and tropical rains to ... | |
| Selloum | 5/26/2009 |
| Q: Some of my selloum have this large pod sprouting from the trunk of the tree and has this large white ... A: Its called a Spadix and it contains both female and male parts, the interesting thing about it is ... | |
| Cycas revoluta | 5/25/2009 |
| Q: Someone threw this sago away so I brought it home and planted it. It did'nt have much root mass, ... A: it looks pretty good, I see deep green fronds mixed in, so I would say you did a pretty good job of ... | |
| Adonidias Slowly Fading | 5/25/2009 |
| Q: I live in Sarasota and have 2 Adonidias with multiple trunks planted where they receive full ... A: Christmas Palms are very susceptible to cold damage, and I lost one that just was sitting there ... | |
| banana tree problem | 5/25/2009 |
| Q: An animal has been gnawing the base of our banana tree plant. It is about 4 feet high (not counting ... A: circle the bottom of the pseudostem (trunk) with some chicken wire, this is the about the only thing ... | |
| PROPOGATE ROBELLINI PALMS | 5/25/2009 |
| Q: I HAVE A FEW ROBELLINI'S AND I WOULD LIKE TO START MORE FROM SEEDS FROM THE TREES. I AM IN ZONE 10 ... A: propagating Palms from seeds is a process that begins with waiting for the seeds to separate from ... | |
| ? easy way to remove banana stump and roots | 5/24/2009 |
| Q: Nick Two years ago I planted one "baby" in the fenced corner of my small garden. Now, I have the ... A: there is no easy way to remove Banana Corms (underground root rhizome.), you really need to dig the ... | |
| Banana palm | 5/23/2009 |
| Q: I purchased a large banana palm form B & Q late last year. I was about 4 foot high. The label ... A: it sounds like the Corm has died (the root system), if there is absolutely no growth, then you have ... | |
| queen palm caterpillars | 5/22/2009 |
| Q: I have a year old queen palm that just lost the new/center frond. The frond, although only partially ... A: the caterpillars are a secondary problem, I am more concerned with the fact that the center frond ... | |
| foxtail palm | 5/22/2009 |
| Q: I have 4 foxtail palms and all are doing well. While I was on the roof (about 15' high) checking ... A: you did superficial damage to the frond, (if I understand you correctly) but it will still develop ... | |
| PINDO PALM | 5/21/2009 |
| Q: We bought a pindo palm about 4 feet tall last summer and left it in a pot all winter. It did fine. ... A: it sounds like it has been shocked from transplant, when a plant or palm is taken out of a ... | |
| bougainvilla | 5/21/2009 |
| Q: Our two plants have been in the ground for about 3 months and we're doing just great, lots of ... A: you didn't mention where you live, but Bougs like lots of sun and heat, but are not fond of a lot of ... | |
| Sick Foxtail Palm | 5/20/2009 |
| Q: I have some foxtail palms that suffered frost damage during the winter and they don't seem to be ... A: the oozing jelly type substance is caused by an insect called the Silky Cane Weevil, which isn't ... | |
| queen palms | 5/20/2009 |
| Q: how do you keep the transplanted queens upright and from falling over? A: whoever transplanted them should have also attached a square of small 2x4's about half way up the ... | |
| queen palms | 5/20/2009 |
| Q: how long will they live with root ball exposed. i have transplanted 8 all about 12 foot tall. ... A: ...If you did indeed succeed in keeping that root ball moist, then they should be fine; time will ... | |
| Bougainvilla | 5/20/2009 |
| Q: I have a Gorgeous Bougainvilla Tree; all my neighbors want slips from it; how do you do this ... A: hard wood cuttings are the usual way, but I found that it is quicker to take a lower branch and ... | |
| foxtail palm seeds | 5/20/2009 |
| Q: ie. when the seed is on the tree do you pull it off and go through the motions or do you wait until ... A: Hey Scott, I am good and thank you for asking; you need to wait for Mother Nature to take its ... | |
| propagation of foxtail | 5/19/2009 |
| Q: how does one get more plants from one. Also what is the fleshy structure on the root of the fern. ... A: you need to wait for your foxtail to set an inflorescence, which will develop into a seed pod; once ... | |
| Tropical plant identification | 5/19/2009 |
| Q: I bought this plant several years ago and planted it in my shade garden even though the container ... A: its a Clerodendrum Starburst, a beautiful plant that is rather easy to grow; make sure it gets ... | |
| care of dwarf palm | 5/19/2009 |
| Q: I live in the Arizona desert and planted a dwarf palm in March. This type of palm is very common;y ... A: even though you are in a dry, arid climate zone, Pygmy Dates (which I assume is what you have...) do ... | |
| White B of P and also my Bouganvilla | 5/18/2009 |
| Q: Hey Nick - 2 questions. I live in Louisiana. Since H. Katrina my huge white B of P are loaded with ... A: Ants are very difficult to control, they have obviously nested either in the BOP or close to it; the ... | |
| red leafed plant | 5/18/2009 |
| Q: this plant was shrouded and out of sight in an overgrown yard. i'd like to know what it is and how ... A: its a Cordyline Termanalis, better known as either Red Sister or Pink Sister.....or "Hawaiian Ti ... | |
| Bird of Paradise Plant | 5/17/2009 |
| Q: My daughter & son-in-law brought back Bird of Paradise seeds from Hawaii while there on their ... A: Birds are very resilient plants, if you say the Rhizome looks viable then by all means, prune them ... | |
| How to grow Bouganvillas | 5/17/2009 |
| Q: I recently bought a Bouganvilla in a basket. When I put in the ground, it lost most of the blooms. ... A: Bryon, it underwent transplant shock is all, just leave it be for awhile, makes sure it gets a ... | |
| Foxtail Palm question | 5/16/2009 |
| Q: after the frost we had this year i lost one of my foxtails but have 2 left. The 2 i have left seem ... A: ...If the center fronds pulled out., and all you have left is older ones that may still be green, ... | |
| Mediterranean Fan Palm Transplanting | 5/15/2009 |
| Q: I just purchased a 15 inch Medi fan palm I will be transplanting within a week or so to a larger ... A: sure, its fine to trim some of them off, just don't leave it with to sparse a crown, for this is how ... | |
| Foxtail Palm question | 5/15/2009 |
| Q: after the frost we had this year i lost one of my foxtails but have 2 left. The 2 i have left seem ... A: from what you have told me, it doesn't' seem likely that they are going to come back, in fact I am ... | |
| Pindo Palm | 5/15/2009 |
| Q: My Pindo Palm has put out what looks like 5 seed pods Can these seeds be harvested and replanted. I ... A: yes you can, but you must wait for the seeds to fall from the pod, naturally; once they are shed you ... | |
| Sago Palm Advice | 5/14/2009 |
| Q: I transplanted a mature Sago about 4' tall last august and the fronds were deep green. I dug the ... A: ...again, I can only help from behind this computer, (without actually seeing it..) but if you can ... | |
| Sago Palm Advice | 5/12/2009 |
| Q: I transplanted a mature Sago about 4' tall last august and the fronds were deep green. I dug the ... A: You made two critical mistakes, you added fertilizer to the hole and you augmented the soil; the ... | |
| Bromeliad sprouting stamens..? | 5/12/2009 |
| Q: I purchased a Bromeliad for my office, one with 2 yellow spikes that fade into red. I noticed today ... A: its normal, the flowers will eventually fade and new growth will develop from the base that will be ... | |
| pygmy date palm | 5/12/2009 |
| Q: How to I get rid of small black ants in my pygmy date palm: thank you A: they are attracted to the secretions of small insects like scale, aphids and mites as they feed; rid ... | |
| Bird of Paradise | 5/12/2009 |
| Q: Can you please tell me how to separate my bird of paradise plant? A: it needs to be separated below the surface; the Rhizome (clump) needs to be separated, using a ... | |
| King Palms | 5/11/2009 |
| Q: No, I put the whole thing straight in there out of the pot. I copacted the dirt as I was told to ... A: Considering the alternative, I wouldn't hesitate,,especially considering they haven't been in the ... | |
| King Palms | 5/11/2009 |
| Q: No, I put the whole thing straight in there out of the pot. I copacted the dirt as I was told to ... A: Rudy, It appears that the root ball is compacted, the roots need to be freed up so that they can ... | |
| False Aralia | 5/8/2009 |
| Q: I have an aralia that has grown outside in a pot to almost 10 feet tall - surprising since it is ... A: cut back the longer stems to the next joining stem (axil) this will encourage a more bushy look. ... | |
| majesty palm | 5/8/2009 |
| Q: I wintered my palm indoors and recently moved them back out. I noticed a brown sticky substance on ... A: When you moved it out, the tiny insects that plaque plants found your Palm and began eating, these ... | |
| Newly Planted Foxtails | 5/8/2009 |
| Q: I recently had someone plant 6 foxtails in a new bed. Forgive my lack of knowledge, this is all very ... A: Ok, I would move the Cannas, there shouldn't be any plantings anywhere near your Foxtails; the ... | |
| pigmy palm Transplant | 5/8/2009 |
| Q: I live in the Phoenix AZ area. I want to move a pigmy palm, about 5 years old, from one area to ... A: it should be pretty easy but you do want to get as much of the rootball as possible, with as little ... | |
| Palm Tree | 5/7/2009 |
| Q: The barks around my palm tree root growing above the soil and go outward like skirt... It's above ... A: yes it is a common phenomenon called "Palm flare", nothing to be concerned about, it is common with ... | |
| Newly Planted Foxtails | 5/7/2009 |
| Q: I recently had someone plant 6 foxtails in a new bed. Forgive my lack of knowledge, this is all very ... A: You didn't allude to how they were planted or who for that matter, its important to know that a ... | |
| Pothos Plant Stall in Growth | 5/6/2009 |
| Q: I got this plant roughly a month ago that I suspect being a pothos after a bit of Internet ... A: ideally you should put your cuttings in a moist Vermiculite/Perlite mixture; (water forms weaker ... | |
| Bird of Paradise | 5/5/2009 |
| Q: I planted 3 Bird of Paridise last year. They are growing well but I have yet to get the nice blooms ... A: a common dilemma among those growing BOP's; the answer is not that simple, but the truth of the ... | |
| Ponytail Palm | 5/4/2009 |
| Q: I have an outdoor Ponytail Palm that seems to have stunted growth and has lost its top. I don't mean ... A: ....Ok, it lost the top of its crown, but it should send out side shoots from just below where it ... | |
| Ponytail Palm | 5/4/2009 |
| Q: I have an outdoor Ponytail Palm that seems to have stunted growth and has lost its top. I don't mean ... A: ...Albeit Ponytails do fine in a cramped container, I would put it in a new, bigger container ... | |
| Banana Palm Weeping | 5/4/2009 |
| Q: I have a banana palm that is 10 feet tall and been thriving for many years. Now the edges of the ... A: Bananas are very resilient growers, and will continue until they break a bunch of fruit, then the ... | |
| Hibiscus Tree | 5/4/2009 |
| Q: I live in Michigan on the west side of the state. I have a Hibiscus Tree, but I am afraid I killed ... A: scrape the bark near the bottom of the tree, if it is still green (The Cambium layer), then the tree ... | |
| Pruning Bouganville shurbs | 5/3/2009 |
| Q: We have 6 bouganvilleas planted in the yard here in Phoenix, AZ. They very from 2' to 6' in heigth ... A: Yes, prune back the trailers or if you want to prune the entire plant back, thats fine also; bottom ... | |
| my dying Croton | 5/3/2009 |
| Q: I've had my Croton for about 8 yrs and we have had some struggles. However, we have always pulled ... A: I wish I could see it, but it sounds like it is just leggy from age; you have a good handle on ... | |
| procedure for planting colocasia 'black magic' | 5/3/2009 |
| Q: What are the detailed procedures for planting a colocasia 'black magic'? Please include depth at ... A: Elephant ears like a lot of water and a shadier location; the planting dept should be the same as it ... | |
| Bird of Paradise Infested w/ white footed ants / aphids - what to do | 5/1/2009 |
| Q: My 20 foot white bird of paradise has a two-fold problem: white-footed ants and aphids. Some stalks ... A: First thing to get rid of is the aphids, by using either Horticultural Oil or Insecticidal Soap, ... | |
| Small animal protection for plant | 4/30/2009 |
| Q: We live in Central Florida and have a potted Desert Rose on a table on our patio. We fertilized it ... A: Raccoons are one of the toughest animals to deter, but also, I wouldn't use the emulsion on a Desert ... | |
| Foxtail Palm | 4/30/2009 |
| Q: We bought and planted a three stalk foxtail palm last year and this winter we had was a little harsh ... A: I am getting this question quite a bit, and rightfully so with the cold snap we had in February; all ... | |
| foxtail palm seeds | 4/28/2009 |
| Q: And thank you for your help. I have a large foxtail palm, that has large red to orangs fruit. My ... A: Dry the seed for a couple of days and then soak it for a couple of days in warm water (wash the ... | |
| Saga Palms | 4/27/2009 |
| Q: ...I live in Birmingham, Alabama and we had quite a rough winter with below freezing temps and some ... A: they could indeed be dead, but often people get impatient and dig up plants they feel are dead, and ... | |
| Hindu rope and Purple Passion | 4/26/2009 |
| Q: Have recently ordered both a purple passion (gyurna) and two hindu rope plants, and would appreciate ... A: They both like bright light, so the closer to a window, the better; water them when the soil is dry ... | |
| foxtail palm | 4/26/2009 |
| Q: I bought a foxtail palm last winter, about 2.5 meters high, but unfortunately it was the only one ... A: sounds like the Palm is indeed stressed, and no wonder with what its been through; First of all, the ... | |
| Passion flower | 4/25/2009 |
| Q: I have a passion flower that is now in its second year, which I grow in the conservatory. It was a ... A: first of all, you must refrain from fertilizing too much, as the Nitrogen tends to encourage green ... | |
| Strelizia nicolai - Transplant mature plants | 4/25/2009 |
| Q: I live in So Cal about 2 miles from the ocean and have several S Nicolai specimens about 10 yrs old ... A: ..Cut them back pretty good, because you are going to lose a good part of the existing root system ... | |
| Fertilizing Bromeliads | 4/25/2009 |
| Q: When you say fertilizing bromeliad with liquid fertilizer, like 20-20-20, 1/4 strength???, should I ... A: they are right on, but morning sun is fine, when they say shade, they in fact mean morning sun, for ... | |
| Strelizia nicolai - Transplant mature plants | 4/25/2009 |
| Q: I live in So Cal about 2 miles from the ocean and have several S Nicolai specimens about 10 yrs old ... A: They are pretty well developed at this point, but you should be able to get most the root system; ... | |
| Burnt Schefflera | 4/24/2009 |
| Q: I left my two year old schefflera in my car on a sunny day and the top branches and leaves were all ... A: from what you describe I feel it will be just fine; Scheffs are pretty tough plants and it would ... | |
| lucky bamboo | 4/24/2009 |
| Q: Last fall someone gave me a stalk of lucky bamboo. I have it in a vase of water on my desk at work. ... A: Ok Beth, first problem is you are probably giving it tap water, which contains chorine which is very ... | |
| Kimberly Queen Ferns | 4/24/2009 |
| Q: I have 4 Kimberly Queen ferns that have been sun scorched. Should I remove the burned fronds? Also, ... A: prune off the scorched leaves and then move the ferns into an area that gets dappled shade and only ... | |
| Sago Palm | 4/24/2009 |
| Q: All of my fronds on my sago palm have fallen off, but the pineapple part still looks good. What can ... A: I would first determine what caused the palm to stress and lose its fronds, were they coated with a ... | |
| Coconut Palm Help!?!? | 4/23/2009 |
| Q: I recently (about 8 mos ago) transplanted a coconut palm from my neighbor's yard and initially the ... A: Coconuts are hot weather lovers and after the cold winter we had, its going to be awhile before you ... | |
| pygmy date palm tree | 4/22/2009 |
| Q: About a month ago I bought a pygmy date palm tree, it came in one container, and there were four of ... A: When you separated them you disturbed the roots and this weakened them, so watering them probably ... | |
| Fertilizing Bromeliads | 4/22/2009 |
| Q: When you say fertilizing bromeliad with liquid fertilizer, like 20-20-20, 1/4 strength???, should I ... A: Osmocote is fine, it is granular and last longer than a soluble would, if you use the diluted Peters ... | |
| Bananas | 4/22/2009 |
| Q: We have or had many banana plants planted along our back fence. For years they got taller than 6' ... A: ..ideally one that has a large Potassium content (last number on bag..), but as they say, any port ... | |
| Bananas | 4/22/2009 |
| Q: We have or had many banana plants planted along our back fence. For years they got taller than 6' ... A: Bananas grow from an underground root system called a Corm, this Corm is like a potato, it sends out ... | |
| My Plumerias do not root ! | 4/21/2009 |
| Q: I count on your proficiency to help me out with some expert advice related to Plumeria cuttings. I ... A: you are reading way too much into the rooting procedure for your cuttings: after they are cut, they ... | |
| majesty palm tree plant | 4/20/2009 |
| Q: First thanks for helping. I have had this majesty palm tree plant for about a month. the outside ... A: Buddy is just letting you know that he is tropical by nature, and this means he needs humidity; ... | |
| Peony Plant | 4/20/2009 |
| Q: I have a pink peony I don't know why but its never bloomed, have plenty of leaves its healthy and ... A: Peonies need plenty of sunlight and usually several years (3-4) before they are mature enough to ... | |
| palm trees | 4/18/2009 |
| Q: We live in Clermont, FL and during this winter we had lots of cold and even freezing temps at night. ... A: not knowing the variety of Palm is tough for me to determine how cold hardy it is, but from what you ... | |
| white bird of paradise | 4/18/2009 |
| Q: Nick,I have a white bird of paradise that is approx. 3 years old. Yhe leaves are turning yellow and ... A: tough to tell without actually seeing them, but with what you gave me for info, it sounds like ... | |
| bird of paradise | 4/17/2009 |
| Q: Nick, I have a white and an orange B of P. I have had them planted outdoors for the last 2 yrs. ... A: no , Birds can be very finicky when it comes to flowering, as long as your Birds are lush and not ... | |
| Care for Indoor Kentia Palm Tree | 4/17/2009 |
| Q: Good afternoon, Nick. Hope you can help. I just purchased 2 Kentia plam trees from a local K-mart ... A: I just use a good quality potting mix and line the bottom of my container with about 2 inches of ... | |
| pigmy date palm | 4/17/2009 |
| Q: My pigmy palm has frizzled palm fungus. My landscaper thinks it is caused by too much or not enough ... A: I never heard of "frizzled palm fungus", there is a "Frizzle top" which is a nutrient deficiency, ... | |
| whenis the best time to tranplant my saga palm? | 4/17/2009 |
| Q: i want to know when is the best time to move a saga plam is it now or wait untill the fall?i use to ... A: now is fine as long as you are prepared to irrigate it daily for a couple of weeks, until it takes ... | |
| Foxtail Palm after the frost | 4/17/2009 |
| Q: I've been looking for information about caring for a foxtail palm that had a rough go of it during ... A: there is no way to predict whether your Palm will turn the corner for you or not; what you can do at ... | |
| palm pods | 4/16/2009 |
| Q: I have 6 palms and last year the put out 10 pods before the cold hit here in SC. Now they are hard ... A: you didn't mention the type of palm, but I am pretty sure you are referring to "seed pods" they ... | |
| Root System on Royal Palm | 4/15/2009 |
| Q: I planted a royal palm in my southwest Florida lawn. It sits in the middle of my lawn, between my ... A: Keith, The Royal Palm has a "deep" root system , hence its ability to withstand hurricane force ... | |
| Root System on Royal Palm | 4/15/2009 |
| Q: I planted a royal palm in my southwest Florida lawn. It sits in the middle of my lawn, between my ... A: No worries here, their root systems are very compact and do not stretch out very far; 20 feet is ... | |
| Desert rose - plant | 4/14/2009 |
| Q: I live in the nature coast area of FL. 1 hr N. of Tampa - I purchased a desert rose plant. It was ... A: Bingo!..Desert Roses are not fond of water, they store what they need in their pulpy trunk; I let ... | |
| Palm Plant | 4/14/2009 |
| Q: My planted palm (on my balcony) grows nicely but has dark or rotton tips at the end of the leaves. ... A: there are several reasons for this, the most common cause is lack of humidity; usually summer is the ... | |
| Yucca elephantipes | 4/14/2009 |
| Q: Is there a small version of a Yucca elephantipes plant. One that would grow to approx 36-48 tall. ... A: there isn't a dwarf Elephantipes per se, but there is a Yucca that looks like Elephantipes, but in a ... | |
| Scale? | 4/13/2009 |
| Q: We started out with one plant that seemed to have "scale infestation". Our local nursery identified ... A: It sounds like either scale or mealy bugs, I would treat it with "Bayer Rose and Flower systemic" ... | |
| orange tree left out on a cold night | 4/12/2009 |
| Q: I have had a Dwarf Patio Orange Tree for about 6 years and a Meyers Lemon for 2 years. I live in ... A: scratch the bark at soil level, if it is brown, then your trees are indeed dead; if the bark shows ... | |
| stump rot | 4/12/2009 |
| Q: I took a small, indoor palm tree from work. Went to repot it and noticed tha the stump was half ... A: Go ahead and plant the entire rhizome (underground root system) even though it may seem rotted ... | |
| Red Banana | 4/12/2009 |
| Q: We have a red banana that is about 6 ft tall. One of our dogs decided to chew on the trunk and ... A: because of the wound, it is probably better to cut the trunk directly under it and remove the entire ... | |
| banna plant | 4/12/2009 |
| Q: to nick every time my banana plant makes a new leaf.One of the old ones always burn.I took it out ... A: ..anywhere from a year to 2 or 3 depending on setbacks such as frost, stress etc., but ideally, in ... | |
| banna plant | 4/11/2009 |
| Q: to nick every time my banana plant makes a new leaf.One of the old ones always burn.I took it out ... A: The growth pattern of a Banana is for that to happen, it grows a new leaf and one of the older, ... | |
| Parlor Palm | 4/11/2009 |
| Q: I have what I think is a Parlor Palm house plant that I received as a gift. I had it in my front ... A: ...I agree, that is definitely fertilizer burn and as I stated, they really are not a good concept; ... | |
| Parlor Palm | 4/11/2009 |
| Q: I have what I think is a Parlor Palm house plant that I received as a gift. I had it in my front ... A: That is an indication of sun scald, you did the right thing moving it out of the direct sun; what ... | |
| Palm plant problems | 4/11/2009 |
| Q: I have a palm that is over a year old just lately the leaves and stalks in the slit leaves turned ... A: sounds like your Palm is being accosted by spider mites or scale insects; I am assuming it is a ... | |
| windmill palms | 4/10/2009 |
| Q: Nick, last month I asked a question about the yellowing and drooping of the leaves of my new nursery ... A: yes it would make a real big difference, for what happens is the roots never break out of the ball ... | |
| areca palms | 4/10/2009 |
| Q: A recent cold snap left my 8 ft. palms with dead tops. what is the best way to trim away the dead ... A: Arecas are a laborious Palm to clean after a frost/freeze; take your time and cut each frond back to ... | |
| Mexican Petunia Dying | 4/10/2009 |
| Q: I have searched everywhere for an answer on what the pests growing on my Mexican Petunia are. All I ... A: those are scale insects and you need to address them with a systemic and a Horticultural Oil; Get ... | |
| pool planting | 4/10/2009 |
| Q: to the pool? The planting area is at the front of the pool next to the entry, so I don't want them ... A: )....I would consider a "Dwarf Oleander", it has masses of pink/salmon colored flowers year round, ... | |
| Mass Cane | 4/7/2009 |
| Q: How do I care for the Mass Cane plant (i.e. watering, fertilizing, etc.)? No instructions came with ... A: Very easy plant to care for Dot, just make certain it gets watered when the soil drys, and it gets ... | |
| Yucca elephantipes | 4/6/2009 |
| Q: My Yucca Elephantipes had very droopy leaves and this winter was covered in a 1' of snow. I brought ... A: Oh happy to help our friends across the pond:)..trim all the dead leaves back to the main trunk, and ... | |
| Yucca elephantipes | 4/6/2009 |
| Q: My Yucca Elephantipes had very droopy leaves and this winter was covered in a 1' of snow. I brought ... A: Give it some time, unless the top pulls right out and it is mushy, it still has a chance; I too had ... | |
| Indoor Palm Plants | 4/6/2009 |
| Q: What would cause some of the spreading green fronds to turn yellowish and then brown on the outer 5 ... A: You hit on two of the possible causes, under or over watering, the soil should be allowed to dry and ... | |
| Cutting White Biord of Paridise Back | 4/5/2009 |
| Q: A number of leaves have died due to frost. I have new leaves growing near the base but there is so ... A: ...Thats fine, new growth will develop from the surface, picture an underground Potato, and the many ... | |
| Cutting White Biord of Paridise Back | 4/5/2009 |
| Q: A number of leaves have died due to frost. I have new leaves growing near the base but there is so ... A: Cut them back by entire stems and leaves, from the bottom , where each joins the mass. You can't ... | |
| Foxtail Palms & Jathropa | 4/5/2009 |
| Q: I had 2 Foxtail Palms planted April 08 & established Jathropa replanted. This winter Tampa, FL had ... A: you should already see new growth if they are still viable, I fear that the Foxtail may be gone, you ... | |
| Frost Bitten Palms | 4/4/2009 |
| Q: I live in Rotonda West and my Christmas Palms and other Palms especially my Bird of Paradise were ... A: Yes! by all means, they respond very well to pruning, so don't be shy about it, take off the ... | |
| Pony tail plant trimming | 4/4/2009 |
| Q: My pony tail plant is under our verandah in a garden bed. It has now reached the top of the roof. ... A: You can, but it will be awhile before it conforms, for its going to look pretty strange until it ... | |
| Bouganvilla | 4/3/2009 |
| Q: Was introduced to these awesome plants while living in the islands. Have numerous of them at ... A: The worst thing you can do to a Boug is fertilize it, especially with a high Nitrogen count ... | |
| Dying indoor pygmy date palm | 4/3/2009 |
| Q: I have 2 pygmy palms inside, by an open blinded window. The palm on the right is doing....pretty ... A: first of all, not the best choice for indoor growing, there are many Palms out there that would do ... | |
| Bird of Paradise | 4/3/2009 |
| Q: I bought a Bird of Paradise in January I transplanted it kept it inside it is doing well. I want to ... A: Because its been growing indoors, when you move it out, it should be done moderately, morning sun, ... | |
| capella plants | 4/3/2009 |
| Q: Are capella plants poisonous to pets? A: some Dogs have been known to chew on Scheffleras and that is in the family, so to be on the safe ... | |
| Queen Palms | 4/3/2009 |
| Q: My dad has four Queens in his front yard. They have aged and grown quite well in S Fl, and are now ... A: they did indeed freeze, the litmus test for palms is the center of the crown, if it pulls out (as ... | |
| Frost Bitten Palms | 4/2/2009 |
| Q: I live in Rotonda West and my Christmas Palms and other Palms especially my Bird of Paradise were ... A: Adonidia (Christmas Palm), is very cold sensitive and any brown/damaged fronds will indeed be shed ... | |
| BIG things on my palm | 4/1/2009 |
| Q: I have these huge banana-like pods on my palm..and when they open they look like yellow cauliflower. ... A: Yes, but you have to wait until they fall from the pod on their own accord, what will happen is a ... | |
| pruning | 4/1/2009 |
| Q: I have a large outdoor philodendron selloum about 7 years old. healthy large leaves some are frost ... A: Selloums are the type of Philodendron that develop a large tangle of surface roots and really are ... | |
| bouganville | 3/31/2009 |
| Q: I recently purchased a beautiful bougainvillea from a nursery in a hanging pot. I transplanted the ... A: Bougs do not remain in color perpetually, it is normal for the colored "bracts" (the actual blooms ... | |
| Indoor palm tree | 3/29/2009 |
| Q: My parents had an indoor palm tree for 30 years and gave it to me about 2 years ago. Up until 6 ... A: its probably either a Majesty Palm or an Areca, either way it needs to be transplanted into a new ... | |
| orange king bouganvillea | 3/29/2009 |
| Q: I have a orange king bougainvillea that was planted two months ago. Everything including the ... A: go to the base about 2 inches above soil level, scrape the bark with a knife and see if the ... | |
| Spathiphyllum | 3/29/2009 |
| Q: Just so you know, I had to resort back to an old email from expert Nick McCann in order to ask this ... A: I am glad you were able to get to me, I don't know about the technical aspect of getting here, but ... | |
| alamanda | 3/28/2009 |
| Q: I live in central Florida....How do I propogate chocolate alamanda thanks sandy A: the easiest way is to take tip cuttings, about 3-5 inch new growth and place them in a small ... | |
| Are our palms dead | 3/27/2009 |
| Q: We live in Portland OR., and this past winter, we had a lot of snow, which is very unusual for us, ... A: Palms in Portland OR?? I am curious what type they are, please follow up and let me know of the ... | |
| trimming pygmy date palm | 3/27/2009 |
| Q: My pygmy date palms were brown all the way to the heart, due to the winter.I trimmed some of the ... A: its up to mother nature at this point, you really should have left the damaged fronds alone, for ... | |
| crotons | 3/26/2009 |
| Q: My crotons got bit by frost,although I covered them. The leaves are all brown. Two of my crotons ... A: whatever is viable will stay attached and needs to be left alone, Crotons will shed leaves that are ... | |
| Super Dwarf Cav pup | 3/26/2009 |
| Q: My Super Dwarf Cavendish has a pup that is 3-4 inches tall with six leaves (working on the seventh). ... A: wait until another pup appears before separating the "daughter" (the second pup will be the ... | |
| Browning of Royal Palm Fronds at Tips | 3/26/2009 |
| Q: My Royal Palm here in SW Florida is 8 ft high and 5 years old. During past month or so, the tips of ... A: I am just south of you in Port Charlotte, and yes that cold snap we had in the beginning of Feb., ... | |
| tibouchina bush | 3/25/2009 |
| Q: I have a tibouchina bush - had it cut back last Late Summer. When we returned to Florida for the ... A: My Tibouchina got hit hard by the cold this Winter and is just now starting to send out new growth; ... | |
| Robilini Palms | 3/25/2009 |
| Q: I have a huge triple Robilini Palm that was burned pretty badly from the cold snaps this winter. ... A: I know, I can empathize with you, I too had extensive cold damage, all you can do at this point is ... | |
| indoor miniature bird of paradise | 3/23/2009 |
| Q: my bop was doing great for awhile and then the flowers started curling in, and nothing happened ... A: the sticky residue is from insect secretions, probably spider mites, the most common "indoor" ... | |
| frost damage | 3/23/2009 |
| Q: We have extensive frost damage to our mature variegated schefflera in the front of our Florida home. ... A: you don't have to wait if you don't want to, but if you do you will get a better picture of exactly ... | |
| BIG things on my palm | 3/23/2009 |
| Q: I have these huge banana-like pods on my palm..and when they open they look like yellow cauliflower. ... A: It sounds like you have a Queen Palm, but it could be one of many that procreate in this manner; the ... | |
| frost damage | 3/22/2009 |
| Q: We have extensive frost damage to our mature variegated schefflera in the front of our Florida home. ... A: what you need to do is shape it to conformity, not worrying about hurting it because believe me, you ... | |
| queen palm | 3/22/2009 |
| Q: I have a palm that has been planted about 8 years and has always seemed in good health. However, I ... A: this is a condition common with older established palms, I've seen it on Queens, Washingtonias, ... | |
| Majestic palm tree | 3/22/2009 |
| Q: We live in The south eastern part of Tennessee about 2 hours or so from Georgia. We purchased a ... A: I wouldn't put it in the ground, for your climate zone is a little too cold for that, but put it in ... | |
| Splitting Majesty Palm | 3/22/2009 |
| Q: I have a very healthy majesty palm that was potted eight months ago. Now I realize it appears to be ... A: Yes it can, but you will need to be very careful, disturbing each root section as little as ... | |
| pony tail palm | 3/21/2009 |
| Q: I have a huge ponytail palm, over 30 years old, 8 feet tall - it has started to have some splits in ... A: it is a phenomenon that occurs on many Palms, it isn't anything to be too concerned about, watch the ... | |
| lakeview jasmine tree | 3/21/2009 |
| Q: We had a freeze in 9b back in Jan/Feb and I am wondering if I've lost my 4 trees. They were planted ... A: I too have had to remove many of my plantings due to cold damage, and you are correct in checking ... | |
| Bananna Tree and palm plants | 3/21/2009 |
| Q: I was told to cut my bananna trees back at approx. waist high. They don't seem to be growing back ... A: The Bananas should have shown new growth from the cut pseudostem (trunk) within days (from center of ... | |
| making a bougainvillea rebloom/brac in India | 3/21/2009 |
| Q: I live in Bombay/Mumbai India (just mover from Australia for work). Given the weather seems ... A: Your best bet is to place the containers in an area that is protected from the wind, or at least has ... | |
| making a bougainvillea rebloom/brac in India | 3/20/2009 |
| Q: I live in Bombay/Mumbai India (just mover from Australia for work). Given the weather seems ... A: first of all you must understand that Bougs actually do better when they are water stressed, so a ... | |
| desert rose | 3/20/2009 |
| Q: i have a desert rose. Before i knew what kind of plant it was, it was planted outside and left ... A: it sounds like it went through the ringer, but be patient, you did the right thing cutting it back ... | |
| Queen Palm Growth Problem | 3/20/2009 |
| Q: I have a queen palm, well established about 15+ feet tall. I noticed that the new shoots were not ... A: it sounds like it is suffering from a lack of nutrients, primarily Manganese; Queen Palms need to be ... | |
| Pygmy Palm (robellini) | 3/19/2009 |
| Q: My palm was hurt by the deep cold spell even though it was covered and I hung a warming light under ... A: you should always leave fronds on a Palm until they are totally brown, for they are still ... | |
| Gold Capella's | 3/19/2009 |
| Q: I believe the plant I have is a tropical plant. Gold Capella. I bought it without any instruction. I ... A: Nice plant for a beginner, it is very forgiving and easy to care for; Shefflera Arbicola is indeed ... | |
| Bouganvilla | 3/19/2009 |
| Q: i am living since November last year on the island Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. The temperature is ... A: Bougs color best when stressed, and this means lack of rain or irrigation and cooler nights; here in ... | |
| Dracaena Marginata | 3/18/2009 |
| Q: I purchased the above plant about a year and a half ago. It has been growing fine. Recently the ... A: its a normal reaction to an increase in irrigation, but nothing to be overly concerned with; bottom ... | |
| Hoya Vine transplant | 3/18/2009 |
| Q: There is a hoya vine that was planting in a bad location at least 5 years ago before i moved in, ... A: they do not respond well to transplanting, but if you must, then cut it back to about a foot and use ... | |
| ponytail palm | 3/18/2009 |
| Q: We have a ponytail palm planted at the front corner of our home. My husband found Carpenter ants in ... A: Carpenter Ants seek out a woody area that is moist and rotted, they do not eat the wood, just ... | |
| Palm Tree Frost Damage | 3/17/2009 |
| Q: I am in mid Florida and have had some frost damage to the palm trees on my lawn. After several days ... A: no, as long as there is some green left in even the frost burned fronds, they are still functioning ... | |
| Help Please! | 3/16/2009 |
| Q: I have a plant that my dad gave me and I have no clue what it is. When he had it, it was green and ... A: that second picture shows me a pretty normal, healthy looking Corn plant, which kind of puzzles me; ... | |
| Fish Tail Palm Cold Damage | 3/15/2009 |
| Q: Nick, We have a fishtail palm that has been planted for a few years. This year central Florida ... A: same goes for the Bird, cut the melted sections off, but do so by removing the entire stem from the ... | |
| Help Please! | 3/15/2009 |
| Q: I have a plant that my dad gave me and I have no clue what it is. When he had it, it was green and ... A: I need a little more info in order to help you here, is it in a container? how big a container? how ... | |
| Sea Grapes - Diseased | 3/15/2009 |
| Q: My Sea Grape seems to be dying! I live in St Pete Beach and it always has been a wonderful tree. ... A: that cold snap we had the first week of February was a real bad one, and many plantings got the ... | |
| windmill palms | 3/15/2009 |
| Q: The leaves of my 6 mo. old windmill have a yellow tint to the leaves and slightly droopy compared to ... A: The drooping/yellowing is usually a sign of too much or not enough irrigation, if you have a ... | |
| saga palms | 3/14/2009 |
| Q: How can I keep my saga palms from getting too large? They are blocking the entrance to my porch. A: the only thing you can do to keep a Sago under control is strip the lower fronds; you can cut the ... | |
| Fish Tail Palm Cold Damage | 3/14/2009 |
| Q: Nick, We have a fishtail palm that has been planted for a few years. This year central Florida ... A: I know, I live here too and we got some pretty cold weather in early February; this did a lot of ... | |
| Mediterranean Fan Palm trimming pups | 3/14/2009 |
| Q: I have a clump Mediterranean Fan Palm planted by the entry of my home and it is taking over the ... A: first of all , don't worry about hurting the parent palm, it will do fine with the pups excised, ... | |
| Bouganvilla | 3/13/2009 |
| Q: What kind of fertilizer do you recommend for a bougainvillea? Or do you think it should be ... A: there is a fertilizer on the market for Bougs because of its low Nitrogen count, but any fertilizer ... | |
| Transplanting Queen Palms | 3/13/2009 |
| Q: I live in the Palm Springs area of Ca. and recently transplanted a 6ft queen palm. 2 weeks later ... A: when you transplanted it, you needed to irrigate it well for several weeks, and hopefully you lifted ... | |
| Chamaedorea trimming | 3/12/2009 |
| Q: I have over 20 palm plants(I don't want to say palm trees because I don't have that) around my ... A: I am assuming they are either Areca Palms or maybe Majesty Palms, in either case they will need to ... | |
| Passion flower -- leaves falling | 3/10/2009 |
| Q: I'm really hoping you could help me. I have a passiflora that's losing its leaves, and I have no ... A: growth usually commences from the bottom, the top usually is what dies back, I cut mine back almost ... | |
| What is the palm tree drip line? | 3/10/2009 |
| Q: As a follow on question to leaves turning yellow, what and where exactly is the palm tree drip line? ... A: the drip line is the farthest reaching frond, you want to spread the granular like you feeding ... | |
| banana palms | 3/10/2009 |
| Q: I bought my house(in the NW) just before winter,the owners recommendation was to cut the banana ... A: first of all, Bananas are tropical by nature, and freezing temps will definitely to them in from the ... | |
| Hawaiian Schefflera | 3/9/2009 |
| Q: I have a large schefflera that's probabley 15 yrs old. It's outside and is much taller than our one ... A: go ahead and cut it way back, it should be severely pruned once a year anyway, believe me , you ... | |
| Majesty Palms | 3/9/2009 |
| Q: I wanted for years to have a Majesty Palm, and I got a pot from Lowe's. There are actually two ... A: they should be separate, and when you take them out of the container, you should be able to easily ... | |
| Pygmy date Palm | 3/8/2009 |
| Q: I bought this pygmy date palm tree for my wife and planted it in the yard in a large hole. It got ... A: First of all , make sure that you planted it at the same level as it was in its nursery container, ... | |
| Passion flower -- leaves falling | 3/8/2009 |
| Q: I'm really hoping you could help me. I have a passiflora that's losing its leaves, and I have no ... A: Passion Flowers can be finiky when it comes to flowering, I had one that completely covered a 10 ... | |
| mango tree growth | 3/6/2009 |
| Q: I have a lot of new growth on my mango tree. I can't tell if it is above the graft. I am hoping it ... A: I understand your concern, the rootstock could only take over if you allowed it, many people don't ... | |
| mango tree growth | 3/6/2009 |
| Q: I have a lot of new growth on my mango tree. I can't tell if it is above the graft. I am hoping it ... A: its hard to tell from the photo, but unless there was trauma to the graft area it should be above ... | |
| poinsettias | 3/6/2009 |
| Q: Can I plant poinsettia plants I recieved as Christmas gifts outside? I live in zone 9 - Dade City, ... A: sure you can!..they will get as big as a bush by next xmas; put them in a location where they will ... | |
| Stunted bird of Paradise | 3/6/2009 |
| Q: I have been growing a bird of paradise (orange)for about 8 years now and as of late last year to ... A: often times when a plant begins to wane, I have found that lifting it and moving it to a different ... | |
| White Bird of Paradise | 3/6/2009 |
| Q: We have a large White Bird of Paradise which is blooming. What do I do with the flowers after they ... A: good for you, you have a happy "Bird", it is often difficult to get them to bloom, so you are doing ... | |
| Pygmy date palm | 3/5/2009 |
| Q: We are sorry, but kathy crowley wasn't able to answer yourWhat does it mean when the pygmy date ... A: often when a plant (or palm in your case) will not respond to normal care, by growing in a natural ... | |
| Banana Palm leaf/frond discoloration | 3/5/2009 |
| Q: I am in Oakland California, and am writing about our banana palm that is starting to look a bit ... A: You can either cut away the discolored leaves or you can just cut the trunk below the bad growth and ... | |
| Banana Tree | 3/5/2009 |
| Q: Iam in a new home with banana trees. After the winter they look dead. Can I just peal the dead ... A: if you want to keep them, just cut the trunk about 3 feet of the ground, and new growth will develop ... | |
| Mexican Palm is is Dead | 3/4/2009 |
| Q: I have a Mexican Palm that is about 10 years old. It went through Hurricane Ike in September. We ... A: check the center "spear", is it green or brown? if it is brown, then your worse fears are true, it ... | |
| How To Repot Pony Tail Plant | 3/4/2009 |
| Q: My plant came in a small saucer like container and small pepple rock that seems to be glued. I see ... A: Pony Tail Palms are tropical by nature and grow in soil in their natural habitat, however, many ... | |
| Dessert Rose | 2/28/2009 |
| Q: HELP....my dessert rose is about 7 years old. It blooms for me all the time. It also gets spider ... A: Desert Roses do not like much water, so if you are watering it , stop! and let it dry out completely ... | |
| Pygmy Date Palm | 2/28/2009 |
| Q: Approximately 2 weeks ago I purchased an ill looking Pygmy Date Palm. It was a lighter green then ... A: ...it sounds like it is extremely stressed from being in it original container too long, what you ... | |
| canary island palms | 2/27/2009 |
| Q: I purchased 8 canary island palms last year they are about 5 feet high but due to the severe winter ... A: even though they are frost damaged, the new emerging spear is the determining factor to whether the ... | |
| bird of paradise | 2/19/2009 |
| Q: I was told to trim all the branches to the bottom where they are together and leave new ones to ... A: Birds have an underground root system called a Rhizome, its like a large solid root and all surface ... | |
| Florida plants that got frost bite | 2/16/2009 |
| Q: How should I treat the: Oleander Bouganvillia Robilini (sp?) and similar plants that got badly ... A: a common question coming to me and with good reason, people want their beautiful plants back, and ... | |
| frost damage on plam that is in a pot | 2/16/2009 |
| Q: i have a palm that i bought last summer it was growing well but this winter we have had bad frost ... A: it all depends on whether the root system was injured or not, and the verdict will not come in until ... | |
| Croton | 2/7/2009 |
| Q: I bought my Croton last summer and it did beautifully until the Fall. Then it started losing it's ... A: Crotons are pretty resilient, and if they shed their leaves its usually because of either scale ... | |
| Bannana Palm Tree | 2/7/2009 |
| Q: I purchased a Palm tree that is suppose to produce banana's. I've had it for 2 years and no ... A: I get very upset when I get a question about Bananas in containers; the claim by the sellers is that ... | |
| Use of golden cane palm mulch | 2/7/2009 |
| Q: We chopped down two large palms and had the tree stumps ground to mulch. Can we use it as mulch on ... A: ..It will make a fine underliner to hold down weed development, but I would lay a standard mulch ... | |
| Bougainvilla | 2/7/2009 |
| Q: I have three bougainvilla outside two are massive meaning the trunks or main vine is three inches ... A: the first step is to prune them way back, almost to a nub; then you will need to really take your ... | |
| Mature Transplanted Sago Palms | 2/6/2009 |
| Q: We just had several mature Sago Palms transplanted - how do we keep them alive? A: providing they were transplanted properly, they are very easy to maintain; for the first couple of ... | |
| frost damage carnation tree and pigme palms | 2/5/2009 |
| Q: the frost turned my carnation tree brown and than in days bare. it turns my pigmy palms brown. last ... A: I know your despair, I too (Port Charlotte) have the worse horticultural carnage I have seen since ... | |
| Freeze protection for Roebelenii Palm | 2/3/2009 |
| Q: What is the best way to protect this palm from freezing temps. I has some damage already from two ... A: depending on its size, the only thing to do is wrap the trunk adjacent to the soil and place a ... | |
| Trimming Main stalk of White Bird of Paradise | 2/3/2009 |
| Q: We have some 20 foot white birds. They are getting ragged from wind. We would like to trim the main ... A: If you cut the entire stalk (parent) it will not grow back, the pups are the ensuing growth; what ... | |
| Trimming Main stalk of White Bird of Paradise | 2/2/2009 |
| Q: We have some 20 foot white birds. They are getting ragged from wind. We would like to trim the main ... A: don't worry you won't hurt it, it grows from an underground Rhizome (root system) that sends up ... | |
| Pygmy Dates and frost | 2/2/2009 |
| Q: Here in central Florida, while gone, we had 22 deg. for several hours. All our pygmy date palms are ... A: I know, I too had damage down here in Port Charlotte, but don't fret, beleive it or not, most will ... | |
| Foxtail palms | 2/2/2009 |
| Q: Our fortail palms are getting too tall for our pool enclosure -- can they be cut back? A: I'm afraid not, they are not the type of palm that can be groomed to size, like an Areca or Majesty; ... | |
| Trimming & transplanting corn plant | 2/2/2009 |
| Q: I have a corn plant (Draecena?) that I purchased at a street fair several years ago and has thrown ... A: when you cut it, it will send out side shoots from the cut area and those will curl up and continue ... | |
| banana palms, look dead? | 2/1/2009 |
| Q: This is my first year at this homme and we have several 8-9 ft tall banana palms near the house, we ... A: yes, cut them back to the ground and mulch them over, new growth will develop from the ground when ... | |
| Queen Palm pods? | 1/31/2009 |
| Q: My neighbor gave my husband some pods off their plant. He was told to soak them in water until they ... A: first they need to be orange in color, thats the color they are when they drop from the pod onto the ... | |
| Bromeliad help | 1/31/2009 |
| Q: I recently received a bromeliad as a gift but I have very limited knowledge on how to care for it. ... A: Kelly, the plant will take awhile before it declines, even after the blooms fade; the blooms will ... | |
| Bromeliad help | 1/30/2009 |
| Q: I recently received a bromeliad as a gift but I have very limited knowledge on how to care for it. ... A: very easy plant to care for, the spike is the bloom, and when it fades it will usually pull out ... | |
| jade plant | 1/30/2009 |
| Q: I have a jade plant that was given to me and is doing very well, a lot of growth and healthy ... A: it sounds like you have a scale problem, (possibly mealy bugs), Mealy bugs have a cotton like ... | |
| lychee tree/ avocado tree | 1/30/2009 |
| Q: I scratched the bark like you suggested to check if the tree is still alive. It appears to be brown ... A: Give the Lychee some time, it may be on the cusp, but the Avocado should be fine, and won't require ... | |
| Florida cold spell | 1/29/2009 |
| Q: We had two nights in a row that got down to 27 degrees and now my foxtail & christmas palm tree ... A: this is the most common question I have been receiving in the last week and with good reason; your ... | |
| palm tree care | 1/29/2009 |
| Q: my palm tree has leafs growing at the base of the tree. i don't know what kind it is. it came in a ... A: it sounds like an Areca Palm, and it is normal for growth to develop from the bottom; you can snip ... | |
| Canary Island frost damage | 1/29/2009 |
| Q: I just planted 100 Canary Island palms. They were about 2-3 years old, in 5 gallon containers. A ... A: mid 20's is dangerous for all the palms you mentioned, especially those that are young and in ... | |
| Foxtail Palm | 1/28/2009 |
| Q: I have two foxtail palms one of them has two flat things that kind of look like tongues coming out ... A: I have to admit, that I have never heard of them referred to as "tongues", but they do indeed look ... | |
| pygmy date palm | 1/28/2009 |
| Q: i have a beautiful multi trunk pygmy date palm in a container, the gardener turned off the ... A: it sounds like it is drought stressed, given the fact that it is in a container and received little ... | |
| damage to lychee/avocado | 1/27/2009 |
| Q: The trees were covered during the recent cold snap. When I uncovered them the leaves look dried and ... A: go out and scratch the bark on the trunk, if it shows green then it was just cold stressed and will ... | |
| Is my Fan Palm dying? | 1/27/2009 |
| Q: I live in Cyprus (hence, Mediterranean weather) and had to replant 2 large fan palms (approx. 20 ... A: ....the fact that one is fine and the other one is declining leads again to the roots and I am ... | |
| knats in my corn tree | 1/26/2009 |
| Q: I have had my corn tree for about a year. it has done well until recently it has knats and i think ... A: Corn plants are pretty resilient, I would say it may need its soil changed out; the insects you are ... | |
| Travelers Palms | 1/26/2009 |
| Q: We have 2 Travelers Palms planted between a privacy fence and the pool cage. The trees are planted ... A: it sounds like they are doing what any plant will do when it needs sunlight and that is lean toward ... | |
| foxtail palm | 1/26/2009 |
| Q: i am wondering if i should prune the brown fronds of my foxtail after this weeks frost... they were ... A: Foxtails are self shedding, they do not need to be pruned ordinarily, however for aesthetics, it ... | |
| Is my Fan Palm dying? | 1/26/2009 |
| Q: I live in Cyprus (hence, Mediterranean weather) and had to replant 2 large fan palms (approx. 20 ... A: by what you have said, it sounds like the one that is failing may be experiencing a stress from the ... | |
| Recent freeze | 1/25/2009 |
| Q: We live in Central Florida. How soon after our recent freeze can we cut back our bouganvilla and ... A: the general rule of thumb is to be patient and delay any pruning until at least a week, this allows ... | |
| Ixora | 1/25/2009 |
| Q: I live in Punta Gorda, southwest Florida. We had a hard frost the other night and it looks like our ... A: They will respond the same as many plants stung by the hard frost we got, and that is by eventually ... | |
| Frost/freeze damaged plants | 1/24/2009 |
| Q: I live just north of Daytona Beach. This past week we had 3 nights of freezing temperatures. This ... A: the Papayas are probably toast, but the Bananas should show new growth in a couple of weeks if the ... | |
| Brown Foxtails and Xmas Palms | 1/22/2009 |
| Q: my name is Greg. We live just east of I-75 in North Port, Florida. It was unusually cold last night ... A: East of 75 got a freeze, west got a hard frost; a hard frost will do superficial damage to palms, ... | |
| Subtropical Foliage During a Cold Spell | 1/21/2009 |
| Q: I live in SW Florida, and during the month of January, the temps do go down to mid 30 degrees. I ... A: I too live in SW Florida (Port Charlotte) and yes, protective measures need to be taken for tonight ... | |
| sick foxtail palm | 1/20/2009 |
| Q: I am adding some additional details to a previously posted postedWe don't have most of the ... A: ok, its an established palm, this is what I needed to know, it sounds like the roots have been ... | |
| foxtail palms | 1/20/2009 |
| Q: We live near Houston, Texas. I want to know how freeze tolerant foxtail palms are. We have two ... A: The Fishtail will usually freeze back to the ground, and then (as you noticed..) usually send out ... | |
| Foxtail palm questions | 1/20/2009 |
| Q: I bought about 11 6ft foxtail palms at a garden center closeout sale approximately 1 1/2 yrs ago. ... A: Tony, always fertilize with a well balanced granular specifically for Palms, for they have the ... | |
| WINDMILL PALMS | 1/17/2009 |
| Q: I HAVE TWO WINDMILL PALM THAT I BOUGHT AT THE END OF A NJ SUMMER. INSTEAD OF PLANTING THEM BECAUSE I ... A: this a common occurrence when a nurser purchased plant (or palm in your case..) is not changed out ... | |
| Foxtail palm questions | 1/17/2009 |
| Q: I bought about 11 6ft foxtail palms at a garden center closeout sale approximately 1 1/2 yrs ago. ... A: (I am in Port Charlotte), what is happening is the palms are stressing because the root ball is ... | |
| Can Palm Roots be a problem? | 1/17/2009 |
| Q: I have a palm someone gave me 7 years ago. I kept it short, but lately the trunk has become very ... A: without actually seeing the situation it is hard to see if any disruption has already occurred, but ... | |
| Bird of Paradise Plant | 1/16/2009 |
| Q: Six months ago I purchased a Bird of Paradise plant from my local garden center. I have been a ... A: brown tips on tropical plants grown indoors is usually a case of too low humidity levels; Birds like ... | |
| palm tree | 1/15/2009 |
| Q: I live in Illinois. My palm did fine during summer months with just sun, rain, and occasional ... A: many people lose sight of the fact that a palm is tropical by nature and needs humidity; the lack of ... | |
| Bonzai bougenvillia plant | 1/13/2009 |
| Q: It was very expensive but Both my wife and myself loved it. We asked about how to care for it and ... A: it sounds like it may have shocked from a location change, providing you didn't apply too much ... | |
| Sago Palm | 1/12/2009 |
| Q: We are renting a house that has a beautiful yard with 2 sago palms and one pineapple palm. The sago ... A: it is indeed harmful! the white dust as you put it is actually a scale insect called "Aucalaspis ... | |
| bugs on Hibiscus indoors | 1/12/2009 |
| Q: I brought in 2 hibiscus trees to my sun room for the winter. I suddenly noticed many tiny black ... A: Mary, wheneve you introduce a plant from the outdoors, it is imperative that you remove them from ... | |
| Queen palms | 1/11/2009 |
| Q: I just got 2-10 to 12 ft. queen palms and I would like to plant two of them together to form a "U". ... A: some palms can be planted in that manner, however, the Queen is not one; the root system is the type ... | |
| 12 year old queen palm | 1/11/2009 |
| Q: The trunk is splitting about half way up- 2 finger slits- 1' - 2' length. What do I DO? A: its a common phenomenon, don't be concerned, the only time its a problem is when it occurs up near ... | |
| Palm not suckering | 1/11/2009 |
| Q: My Golden cane palm has 9 trunks about 6 metres high and has no foliage or any suckers at the base. ... A: you can't really force the matter, all you can do is keep it healthy, maintain a mulch covering ... | |
| tropical bird of paradise infestation | 1/10/2009 |
| Q: We purchased two tropical bird of paradise plants two months ago from a Phoenix-area nursery, and we ... A: I can only speculate on the species of insect, could very well be aphids, but nonetheless, the cure ... | |
| palm trees | 1/9/2009 |
| Q: We just bought a house in SW FL and the palm tree out front (I think a queen??) has 4 fronds(is ... A: Pruning of palms is specific to the variety,some shed their own fronds while others need to be ... | |
| palm trees | 1/8/2009 |
| Q: We just bought a house in SW FL and the palm tree out front (I think a queen??) has 4 fronds(is ... A: ok, I really want to help you out here, I need to know several things first however, are the fronds ... | |
| "bonzai" ponytail palms | 1/8/2009 |
| Q: my husband bought me what i believe are mini versions of my larger ponytail palms there are 3 in a ... A: Ponytails (be it standard or bonzai..) do not like to have their feet wet, that bulbular bottom acts ... | |
| Sago Palm | 1/8/2009 |
| Q: I have a large sago on my covered front walkway, It was growing over the walkway, I cot back some of ... A: ....with the scale problem eliminated we can pretty much assume that it is just reacting to the ... | |
| Palm tree in door | 1/8/2009 |
| Q: We are building a house in Malaysia and like to include in the bar area a palm or other tree (about ... A: indirect light by definition is referring to sunlight that finds its way to the plant by ... | |
| Sago Palm | 1/7/2009 |
| Q: I have a large sago on my covered front walkway, It was growing over the walkway, I cot back some of ... A: cutting the lower fronds back on a Sago (either Queen or King), is fine and should not have caused ... | |
| dracaena marginata | 1/5/2009 |
| Q: My dracaena marginatas have been growing in the ground for about a year now. They are around 31 ... A: Louise, it really doesn't matter where you make the cut, for that is where the new growth will ... | |
| dracaena marginata | 1/4/2009 |
| Q: My dracaena marginatas have been growing in the ground for about a year now. They are around 31 ... A: unfortunately this is a common problem with them, they get leggy and the only way to do it , is to ... | |
| Troubles with indoor palm | 1/2/2009 |
| Q: We have a six foot interior palm bought at a housewares store for $16 or so. It is still in its ... A: you need to get it out of that container right away, what is happening is the roots are rotting ... | |
| Winterizing bouginvilla plants | 12/30/2008 |
| Q: I live in central Texas and have several bougainvillea plants that I want to cut back and put away ... A: the only way would be to cut it back and pot it up and then bring it inside as a houseplant for the ... | |
| Fox tail palm | 12/29/2008 |
| Q: I live in Dallas Texas and the weather has been crazy- one day it's 27 and the next it's 62. My ... A: it is a young palm and will be very susceptible to stress from any cause, especially cold stress; ... | |
| Palm | 12/29/2008 |
| Q: Nick, We have an 18ft tall palm, not sure which type, maybe 6years old. It was very root bound, so ... A: I wish the picture had a clearer shot of the trunk, the fronds could be that of several varieties; I ... | |
| Inquriy: re: drac massangea oracaena plant | 12/28/2008 |
| Q: The above is what is listed on the sticker on the plant I just purchased. Is it toxic to cats? Also, ... A: a very easy plant to care for, water only when dry and fertilize once every three months with a ... | |
| paradise palm | 12/28/2008 |
| Q: my palm is dying and has a sticky substance on the leaves. it has spread to my other palm. What is ... A: it is a common occurrence, what you are seeing is secretions from small insects, almost microscopic, ... | |
| Tree Ferns | 12/28/2008 |
| Q: I was wondering if tree fern rootsystems are invasive, I have planted a couple by the pool. I live ... A: you have to be careful with any planting near a pool or structure, but the tree fern is low on the ... | |
| mass cane | 12/28/2008 |
| Q: I bought a mass cane from a local nursery for a dollar. The people there said the plant was ... A: if the roots are still viable, then it should come back for you, but if the damage is from water ... | |
| sago palm care | 12/26/2008 |
| Q: I thought I read a lot about the palm when I got it and somehow thought it said they could live in ... A: the cold tolerance limit for both the King and Queen Sagos is 20 degrees, 11 degrees is too low for ... | |
| Bird of Paradise | 12/26/2008 |
| Q: I have two near my pool, they have taken over and are pushing through my screened enclosure, I trim ... A: the key in pruning back Birds is not to cut from the crown, but to excise from the corm, the corm is ... | |
| Rubber plant | 12/25/2008 |
| Q: i have a large rubber plant outdoors in a container - we live in south texas. about 20% of the ... A: we (South Florida here) are in winter now, as you are, and the colder nights is stressing our ... | |
| Majesty Palm Fuzzy White Mold | 12/24/2008 |
| Q: I bought a Majesty Palm from a local home store roughly 6 months ago. We live in SC where palms are ... A: and is probably innocuous, but just to be on the safe side I would change out the soil, thats where ... | |
| struggling parlour palm | 12/22/2008 |
| Q: We had a Parlour Palm in our airconditioned office for about 6 months when it seemed to dry up and ... A: it sounds like you have a solid hand on your horticulture , good for you, but from what you are ... | |
| Bouganvilla | 12/21/2008 |
| Q: I am in Las Vegas. I am using three five gallon plants in the ground with trellis to cover an ugly ... A: they are tropical plants and freezing temps will do them in; most people grow them in containers in ... | |
| Alocasia Polly | 12/20/2008 |
| Q: What happens if a child bites a alocasia polly leaf he was complaining about stomach pains and his ... A: Jose, I could not find anything that said any of the Elephant Ears are poisonous, but many plants ... | |
| pindo palm | 12/19/2008 |
| Q: I have a Pindo palm that the outer fronds are doing fine but the inner bud seems to have died as ... A: when you say "inner bud" I am assuming that you mean the new fronds that emerge from the center; ... | |
| 15' bamboo palm clump | 12/19/2008 |
| Q: we just bought a hse. and have a large clump of maybe twenty bamboo palms approx 15' or taller , how ... A: this is a labor intensive endeavor, underground is a root system called a Rhizome, all the shoots ... | |
| Flowering Corn Plants | 12/19/2008 |
| Q: I have a plant that I think is a corn plant, Long green leaves not yellow but lighter green in ... A: what you have is properly known as a Massangeana (Dracaena Fragrans) , commonly called (as you ... | |
| Croton Petra | 12/18/2008 |
| Q: I have several plants that have 2-3 different shoots coming off. Can I separate it, will a shoot ... A: )..ok, side shoots are branches that extend out from the main stem; these will not propagate, but ... | |
| Christmas Palm question | 12/16/2008 |
| Q: I have a 3 tree cluster christmas palm that I moved to a new location in my yard back in sept. It ... A: ..Adonidia , better known as the xmas palm is indeed stressed by cold, and this is undoubtedly a ... | |
| Ponytail plant | 12/15/2008 |
| Q: general care instructions, please A: one of the easiest plants to care for, that swelled bottom is a reservoir for water, so very little ... | |
| bouginvilla tree | 12/15/2008 |
| Q: My tree is blooming on top but other than a few spotty leaves there is nothing in the middle or on ... A: Bougs need to be pruned every year to keep the middle open and devoid of dead wood; the reason your ... | |
| Palm Tree yellow with brown spots | 12/14/2008 |
| Q: I have a palm tree that is turning yellow with with brown spots. I have applied palm fertilizer. A ... A: it could either be a nutrient deficiency or a fungal problem; you already fertilized, which is good, ... | |
| Quen Palm - Bent | 12/13/2008 |
| Q: I'm in the Houston area, and from hurricane Ike, I've got a queen palm basically bent over at the ... A: unfortunately it won't, it will stay at that angle but will snake vertically again, but the bent ... | |
| Musa plant | 12/10/2008 |
| Q: I have two small (2"high) plants growing in the pot of my Musa plant. They appear to be small musa ... A: these are babies, and when they are about one third the size of the parent you can separate them and ... | |
| bulbless elephant ears | 12/9/2008 |
| Q: do I need to dig up my black magic elephant ears for the winter? they appear to have roots and not ... A: no, mulch them over to insulate them and they should be fine; as long as the ground doesn't freeze ... | |
| Ficus Problem | 12/8/2008 |
| Q: All the new growth leaves close up and have bugs or spots on them. What do I do? A: you need to treat it with a Horticultural Oil or an Insecticidal soap; if it isn't too bad, then you ... | |
| Aloe vera plant | 12/7/2008 |
| Q: I live in St. George, Utah. I have a potted aloe vera plant under a shaded patio. Wondering what ... A: the Aloe has a liquid type center and will freeze when temps drop below 32 degrees, killing the ... | |
| bird of paradise | 12/7/2008 |
| Q: I live in Fort Worth, Tx. and have been growing my bird of paradise in a large container inside for ... A: the fact that it has been in an indoor envionment with an ambient temperature that has been somewhat ... | |
| Bougenvillia | 12/7/2008 |
| Q: My potted plant is doing great, however we will soon get freezing weather. Its on the porch next to ... A: the only thing you can do is bring it in at this point, it is tropical and will not stand a chance ... | |
| Lemon tree losing leaves | 12/6/2008 |
| Q: I have an indoor, potted lemon tree which is dropping a lot of leaves. I sprayed it with K+ Neem ... A: the webbed culprits are called "spider mites" and love a dry, warm environment like the indoors of a ... | |
| tree fern transplant | 12/6/2008 |
| Q: I have a five foot tree fern growing out of a small brick retainer and a concrete pathway. What is ... A: if I understand this correctly, then you have no choice but to crack about 2 feet of retainer and ... | |
| pygmy date palm | 12/6/2008 |
| Q: My folks live in Nipomo, CA. They are considering purchasing a pygmy date palm. Theirs is a ... A: they should have no problem growing it there especially given the fact that they only experience ... | |
| fruit flies on my tropical plants | 12/5/2008 |
| Q: They were fine when i bought them in october and a month later my house was infested.. I am ... A: I am not an Entomologist, but what I think you are seeing is an insect called White Fly, and they ... | |
| decorative banana palm | 12/5/2008 |
| Q: I need to transplant the above asap and need advice on how to do this. It is rather large with a ... A: when you say transplant I assume you mean relocate, and this will be difficult given the size and ... | |
| Transplanting Queen Palms now | 12/5/2008 |
| Q: I need to transplant 2 queen palms, both about 10-12 ft. tall, this month. This needs to be done ... A: those are pretty good size Queens, but still should be manageable; you will need to begin about 4 ... | |
| Mass Cane | 12/4/2008 |
| Q: A: Your Massangeana has showed you in its best manner, that you are taking great care of ... | |
| chamaedorea palm/ Parlor Palm | 12/4/2008 |
| Q: I'm sure this is the palm I have. It's about 8 months old but is December (cold) here and lately, ... A: your right on track with the "house not being humid enough", they like a tropical, humid atmosphere ... | |
| Bouganvillia plant | 12/4/2008 |
| Q: I would like to know why the leaves on my plant keep getting brown spots and then eventually die ... A: you didn't mention how you were caring for your Boug,but the majority of problems this time of year ... | |
| fox tail palm | 12/2/2008 |
| Q: they have been the ground for one year now they are all turing brown and sheding even the new prongs ... A: the key with these palms is the planting technique, many people (even some so called experts) plant ... | |
| Miniture orange tree | 11/30/2008 |
| Q: I have a small lemon and orange tree,the lemon tree will set fruit each year and yield about 6 to 8 ... A: when fruit forms and falls off at that stage it is a sure sign of poor pollination; I don't know the ... | |
| musa | 11/28/2008 |
| Q: My banana has brown spots, that are kind of large on the pseudostem, or trunk. Do I need to be ... A: Holly, Bananas are my forte, and believe me when I tell you that they will not grow well contained, ... | |
| musa | 11/28/2008 |
| Q: My banana has brown spots, that are kind of large on the pseudostem, or trunk. Do I need to be ... A: What is happening, which is very prevalent in potted Bananas, is the roots become very stressed, ... | |
| dracena spikes (lucky bamboo) | 11/28/2008 |
| Q: I live in Pslm Beach Florida and have many plants indoor and out. I have taken an interest in ... A: bottled water is fine, the key is to change it weekly (keep it fresh), ..from what I have noticed, a ... | |
| bougainvillea cultivation | 11/26/2008 |
| Q: I have a very successful climbing bougainvillea which I would like to replicate in other sections of ... A: I don't know your location, but it is not the right time here in south Florida to propagate, ... | |
| winterizing a trumpet plant | 11/25/2008 |
| Q: I live on the coast of NC. I have a Trumpet plant that is about six feet tall in my garden, this is ... A: its kinda big for bringing in, but if you can by all means, do!...if not feasable, you can prune it ... | |
| Croton loosing leaves | 11/24/2008 |
| Q: We live in Clearwater Florida where it's pretty warm all year. We purchased a pair of Cortons about ... A: Your Crotons are going through a readjustment period with the change of weather; You should see new ... | |
| sea grape tree | 11/23/2008 |
| Q: I have a beautiful sea grape about 20 to 25 feet from my pool. I know some trees are really bad to ... A: that far out should be fine, the farther out the thinner the root system begins, and 20 feet from a ... | |
| Dying Foxtail Palms | 11/20/2008 |
| Q: We initially had 4 foxtail palms but now have 1 that looks fair and 1 that new growth seems to come ... A: Billie, If the palms were planted too deep, and by deep it could be as little as 3 inches lower then ... | |
| Cutting Back Banana Trees | 11/19/2008 |
| Q: I am located in NE Alabama and I would like to know when is the best time to cut back banana trees. ... A: the 20 degree temp assuredly did in the crown, and it will begin to turn brown and wither, so go ... | |
| Hibiscus in Florida | 11/19/2008 |
| Q: Sorry Nick,I should have mentioned I live in New port Richey/Tampa area in FL.It's 40 deg. here this ... A: I wouldn't put it in the ground, but I would put it in a larger container with new soil (and gravel ... | |
| Banana Palm | 11/17/2008 |
| Q: I live in Norfolk, Va. I have 10 or so Banana Palms in my front yard that are 10-20 ft tall. ... A: Bananas are tropical and you are in a climate zone that really isn't proper for them to prosper, ... | |
| Dwarf Cavendish banana | 11/16/2008 |
| Q: How can you tell when they are ripe / when they should be picked? A: when they are fully plumped out, this can take months to happen, but you will notice over that ... | |
| hibiscus problem | 11/15/2008 |
| Q: I have 5 hibiscus plants-trees that are in ground in Florida.One of the trees is 4 years old and the ... A: Hibiscus is very sensitive to surrounding changes, the cooler nights and scarcity of rain has caused ... | |
| ailing lychee | 11/14/2008 |
| Q: well after about a month from when i got my answer about my lychee the new growth on it all slowly ... A: if the roots are not terminally damaged then it should send out new growth,but you need to be ... | |
| repotting a masscane | 11/13/2008 |
| Q: I was given an 8 year old mass cane plant about 8 months ago that is now over 8 feet tall!When the ... A: You can repot it, they are very resilient (hence, your not being able to kill it:)..they do well ... | |
| Bouganvillea | 11/13/2008 |
| Q: I bought my Bougainvillea this summer and it loved the garden but since I have brought it indoors ... A: Bougs need direct sun and warm conditions, your plant shed its leaves because of the change in ... | |
| palm fungus | 11/12/2008 |
| Q: I live in the Tampa area and my palm plant has a fungus which I know from reading here needs to be ... A: fungal problems and nutrient deficiencies are not contagious,but if one specimen suffers, chances ... | |
| "Boonie" Pepper growing | 11/11/2008 |
| Q: I just came back to the US from the island of Guam. I used to grow "boonie" peppers, a local pepper ... A: Albeit I am not familiar with that particular pepper, I can tell you that peppers are self ... | |
| Bouganvilleas | 11/11/2008 |
| Q: I planted a bouganvilla this spring, and it is growning like crazy, but never bloomed. I live near ... A: Bougs do flower, but the color you see are actually colored bracts, the flower itself is a very ... | |
| i have flies!!! | 11/11/2008 |
| Q: I have a yucca elephantipes plant and another palm-esque plant both potted. They were outside and ... A: what happened was your compost never got hot enough to kill any eggs and they hatched! You have no ... | |
| COCONUT PALM TREE | 11/10/2008 |
| Q: i read where it is suggested that a palm in a pot be brought in when the temp. hit the 30's. mine is ... A: Coconuts in a container are real iffy, they have an extensive roots system and really do not do well ... | |
| Winterizing a Basjoo Hardy Banana | 11/10/2008 |
| Q: This is my first year with a Basjoo Hardy Banana planted outside. I read on a related website that ... A: because you are in a cold climate zone, your Banana is suceptible to cold damage; it needs to have ... | |
| Alamada bush | 11/5/2008 |
| Q: I purchased an Alamanda last April and have repotted it to a bigger container and it is now located ... A: it sounds like over watering, the roots have been stressed for it to defoliate that quickly; if it ... | |
| Multi-trunk pygmy date palm | 11/4/2008 |
| Q: We recently transplanted a 3 trunk Pygmy Date Palm and one of the trunks evidently did not survive ... A: yes, this is a common occurance with many triad Pygmy Dates, you can remove the afflicted one ... | |
| Splitting Trunk of Palm Tree | 11/4/2008 |
| Q: Two years ago I put in 4 palms. One of them has developed splits in the trunk from ground up to ... A: a common affliction, especially with Queen Palms; experts differ as to the cause, but suffice to say ... | |
| Royal Poincenna tree | 11/3/2008 |
| Q: This will be the 2nd winter for my Royal Poinsciana (I am not sure of the spelling); the first year ... A: ...set a step ladder next to it and have two of the lamps set on them so the top part gets benefit ... | |
| Royal Poincenna tree | 11/3/2008 |
| Q: This will be the 2nd winter for my Royal Poinsciana (I am not sure of the spelling); the first year ... A: It should be ok in a Zone 9, thats where I am and they are all over the place and I have never heard ... | |
| Seagrape tree roots exposed after OMAR | 11/2/2008 |
| Q: Can you Help? We have a lovely condominium complex in St. Martin and Hurricane Omar did some beach ... A: sorry, I never got where you were, ok, you need to bring the level of sand back to where it was ... | |
| Seagrape tree roots exposed after OMAR | 11/2/2008 |
| Q: Can you Help? We have a lovely condominium complex in St. Martin and Hurricane Omar did some beach ... A: ideally you want to have the Sea Grapes in the same covered position that they were before the ... | |
| Severe trimming of a bougainvilllea | 11/1/2008 |
| Q: Would severe trimming to the major branches {like trimming a grape vine} kill a large bougainvillea ... A: trim it to your hearts content, they thrive on pruning and come back fuller and lose that lanky ... | |
| Height of my false aralia | 10/30/2008 |
| Q: My aralia had grown to over 10 feet tall. It is getting too tall for the space (it is outdoors.) ... A: you can shape it to your hearts content, just don't hit the main trunk, and if you want to take out ... | |
| Elephant ears and insects | 10/29/2008 |
| Q: I have just recently bought an elephant ear plant. I was told it could be kept indoors in a sunny ... A: oxalic acid and asparagine are in the plant leaf and stem and can cause problems if eaten by ... | |
| Winterizing Cocnut Palm tree in Georgia | 10/29/2008 |
| Q: I live in Georgia and have a Coconut Palm tree planted in a pot outside. Do I need to bring it ... A: Coconuts are extremely sensitive to cold Susan, so it is imperative that you bring it during the ... | |
| banana Palms | 10/28/2008 |
| Q: we just moved to the Houston area and our back yard is landscaped with banana Palms. They are ... A: ok, cutting the Banana "plants" (they are Herbaceous Perennials not palms:).. to the ground will not ... | |
| Windpalm trees/Banana trees and winter preperation | 10/28/2008 |
| Q: We planted several windpalms around our pool are this summer. Two are about 5 feet tall and the ... A: Hey Mike, ok, the palms should be ok with the radiance of warm vapor off the pool when the ambient ... | |
| Night blooming Cereus | 10/28/2008 |
| Q: My Night blooming Cereus has to come indoors because it's starting to freeze, but it's too big for ... A: you can cut it back without any problem, and even transplant pieces of the cactus for new plants, ... | |
| Tree trimmer used spikes on my Queen Palms :( | 10/27/2008 |
| Q: I have these beutiful queen palms in my back yard. I had a guy trim the trees. In the past they ... A: first of all, your tree trimmer should not have a license to trim palms; the worst thing you can do ... | |
| transplanting my elephant ears | 10/27/2008 |
| Q: I need to know the best way to transplant elephant ears. We are getting ready to move into our new ... A: easy one, just cut them back to a couple of leaves and then lift the bulb/corm, put them in a large ... | |
| white powdery substance on saga palm | 10/27/2008 |
| Q: On several of our saga palms a thick dusting of a white powdery substance is on the leaves.Small ... A: what you have on your Sagos are Aulacaspis Scale, its an insect that will eventually kill your Sago ... | |
| bonuganvillas | 10/27/2008 |
| Q: If you have your bonuganvillas planted in the ground and live on the coast of North Carolina and ... A: Bougs are tropical plants and will not survive a freeze; you really can't cover them with straw or ... | |
| Corn Plant | 10/26/2008 |
| Q: I live in the southern part of Virginia and have a corn plant that is big and beautiful that I've ... A: the problem is tht it is not a plant that goes dormant in the winter, therefore it will not survive ... | |
| Robusta Rubber Plant | 10/26/2008 |
| Q: I have had this plant for about 7 years. It used to be about 2 1/5' and very full. It is not about ... A: there really isn't anything you can do to force it to fill out, it will eventually send out new ... | |
| root bound Strelitzia nicolai | 10/24/2008 |
| Q: I am in Santa Monica and have two very large clumps of mature (30'high) of Strelitzia nicolai. They ... A: they could in fact eventually break through the stucco, dividing them could be chancy also though ; ... | |
| winter care for a banana plant in Tennessee | 10/23/2008 |
| Q: I live a little south of Nashville and have a very large banana plant that was purchased in Fl. It ... A: the corm will survive your rather mild winter if it is mulched over heavily, as you stated, the ... | |
| Indoor Christmas palm | 10/23/2008 |
| Q: I live in Indiana, but love to vacation in Key West, Florida. Last year I brought home a Christmas ... A: spray the fronds down with a copper fungicide, this should take care of what I think is a fungal ... | |
| Hardy Banana Tree | 10/22/2008 |
| Q: It's Lisa again. Do you cut the tree down before winterizing? My Mom said that someone told her ... A: Hey there again:) actually you don't cut it, just mulch the bottom heavily; bananas will continue to ... | |
| hardy Banana tree | 10/22/2008 |
| Q: i have a hardy banana tree in my backyard and I don't know what to do to winterize it. I live in ... A: there are many precautions you can take, you can place several spot lights at the base, only to be ... | |
| bouganvilla | 10/22/2008 |
| Q: I live in Minnesota. I brought my plant in for the winter at the suggestion of the people at the ... A: you Boug simply stressed from the move indoors, it should grow new leaves for you once it has ... | |
| thorns of the bougainvillae | 10/21/2008 |
| Q: One of the larger thorns stuck into the back of my foot in the heel area. Two days later it is ... A: sorry to hear about that, ouch, I can relate, everytime I prune mine back I have trepidation, ... | |
| Areca Palms | 10/21/2008 |
| Q: We are looking at re-locating a bunch of Areca palms. These plants are mature; many of the bundles ... A: this is going to be a big job for you, the root system on 15 foot Arecas is quite extensive for a ... | |
| Dwarf Bouganvillea plants | 10/21/2008 |
| Q: Do you have a picture of a dwarf bougainvillea plant? We had one in a container on our deck, and ... A: Bougs are sensitive to changes in the enviorment, bringing it inside probably stressed it a little, ... | |
| Banana Palms | 10/20/2008 |
| Q: Can they be grown indoors? How so? How much fertilizer & Water? ANSWER: Hi Sue, although they will ... A: best in full sun,but can tolerate partial (especially if fruit isnt important), but copious water ... | |
| Banana Palms | 10/19/2008 |
| Q: Can they be grown indoors? How so? How much fertilizer & Water? A: although they will tell you that you can, the fact of the matter is, they will stress and grow very ... | |
| mandevillia | 10/19/2008 |
| Q: I have a mandevillia outside.I live in zone 5 in Ohio.How far back should i cut it when i bring it ... A: Bemice, cut it back when the night temps threaten to go near freezing, or frosting; cut it back to ... | |
| RUBBER TREE REPLANTING | 10/18/2008 |
| Q: IS IT OKAY TO REPLANT A RUBBER TREE THAT HAS OUTGROWN IT ORIGINAL CONTAINER AND IF POSSIBLE CAN IT ... A: if you have any chance of the ground freezing, then it can't be put in the ground; your best ... | |
| Hurricane damaged queen plams | 10/18/2008 |
| Q: My plams were folded over just above the main trunk during the last hurricane. I tried to splint ... A: The crown sounds like it has been broken, if the entire crown is flopped over then the palm probably ... | |
| bouganville | 10/18/2008 |
| Q: my bougainvillea have holes and white deposits on leaves i have seen something resembles a fly that ... A: The insect you are seeing is Whitefly and the larvae is what is eating the leaves; Spray with a ... | |
| Banana plants | 10/17/2008 |
| Q: i live in s.c.,(not near the coast),should i cut my banana plants down and cover with mulch over the ... A: The fact that it didn't bear fruit tells me it is going to continue to grow aggressively in an ... | |
| King Palm | 10/17/2008 |
| Q: I really don't want to know the answer because I think it won't be good. But, I have a newly planted ... A: that is indeed the problem, if the roots perforated the container and took hold into the ground, ... | |
| Sago palm trimming | 10/16/2008 |
| Q: Southern Califirnia and when can I trim the bottom fronds off my sego palm? A: and welcome! your Sago (either the queen or king)can have its bottom fronds trimmed to suit the look ... | |
| Queen Palm | 10/15/2008 |
| Q: About 3-5 inches at the base of my queen palm seems to be flaking, crumbling anyway disappearing. ... A: not to worry, its called palm flare...it happens to many different types of palms and is not a ... | |
| Pygmy Date Palm | 10/15/2008 |
| Q: Is it possible to keep a pygmy date palm 4'tall alive over the winter in s.c. A: you are really tempting fate if you try, unless you are near the ocean and benefit from a micro ... | |
| Song Of India | 10/15/2008 |
| Q: I am actually watering every 1.5-2 weeks because I queried earlier with some symptoms and they ... A: ...check the soil ball in the ceramic container, often it becomes compacted and as you water the ... | |
| transplanting massangeana cane | 10/14/2008 |
| Q: Bought a massangeana cane plant at Home Depot, which appeared to have outgrown it's pot. Does this ... A: these plants are very hardy, but they tend to be top heavy, because their root systems are small in ... | |
| Bird of Paradise | 10/14/2008 |
| Q: Hope you enjoyed your vacation! I received a "dish garden" and it contains 2 Birds of Paradise. ... A: how are you?:)...dish gardens tend to contain numerous plants that look great in the initial stage, ... | |
| bannanas | 10/14/2008 |
| Q: how can i tell when my bananas are ready to cut A: as the banana fingers swell, they lose the rectangular look and begin to become oval; when you ... | |
| sad cane yucca | 10/14/2008 |
| Q: i got a cane yucca at a garage sail that had been sitting in a 5-gal. bucket of stagnate water. I ... A: it sounds like it is suffering from rot, from the water it was sitting in; the roots were probably ... | |
| burning lychee leaves | 10/5/2008 |
| Q: I received this emperor dwarf lychee a few months ago and have noticed that the leaves have begun to ... A: I wouldn't be too concerned about it, watch to make sure new tip growth continues; tip burn is ... | |
| wintering an hibiscus outdoors | 10/4/2008 |
| Q: I live in northern part of Virginia and would like to keep my hibiscus that is planted in the ... A: truth is, this measure is only effective in an 8 or 9 zone, when protecting against the occasional ... | |
| Bird of Paradise | 10/2/2008 |
| Q: I live in South Texas, about 100 miles south east of San Antonio & I just bought 2 of the most ... A: my you are an early bird! lol..I live in South Florida and they pound that into us here, at the ... | |
| bougainvillea | 10/2/2008 |
| Q: I live in Montreal, Canada, zone 5 in Canada, probably 4 in the USA. I just purchased 2 ... A: Oh I'm sorry, I misunderstood, ok, they are very drought tolerant, show don't over water them while ... | |
| Banana Palms | 10/2/2008 |
| Q: I purchased 3 banana palms 3 years ago, 2 of them were 2 years old and the other was only a year ... A: ..cut it right back to about a foot of the ground, and it will send out new growth from the center ... | |
| Banana Palms | 10/2/2008 |
| Q: I purchased 3 banana palms 3 years ago, 2 of them were 2 years old and the other was only a year ... A: ....yes, just cut it at ground level, it will not regenerate, because it already did its ... | |
| bougainvillea | 10/2/2008 |
| Q: I live in Montreal, Canada, zone 5 in Canada, probably 4 in the USA. I just purchased 2 ... A: oh my! you have a tough row to hoe here, Bougs are tropical and having worked in Montreal for 3 ... | |
| Banana Palms | 10/1/2008 |
| Q: I purchased 3 banana palms 3 years ago, 2 of them were 2 years old and the other was only a year ... A: Bananas grow from an underground rhizome called a corm, it is like a big potato underground, and all ... | |
| Bird of Paradise | 10/1/2008 |
| Q: I live in South Texas, about 100 miles south east of San Antonio & I just bought 2 of the most ... A: first of all, thank you for your kind remarks on my previous reply, it is appreciated:)...now for ... | |
| Bird of Paradise | 10/1/2008 |
| Q: I live in South Texas, about 100 miles south east of San Antonio & I just bought 2 of the most ... A: I would put it in a larger container and place it in a protected spot where it will be protected ... | |
| banana tree | 9/29/2008 |
| Q: How do I kill or get rid of overgrown banana trees? I recently moved and our new home is over run ... A: Dianne, the only way to erradicat a banana "mat" is to kill the underground corm, which is like a ... | |
| yacca palm | 9/28/2008 |
| Q: I bought a 7' Yucca Palm tree from Home Depot in June 2008, put it in a larger pot and placed it on ... A: you need to make sure the container contents doesn't freeze, so mulch the surface with a 3 inch ... | |
| banana palm babies | 9/25/2008 |
| Q: I planted a banana palm in the spring & it has sent out all these baby plants. Is there a way I can ... A: yes! but you must wait until they have developed several leaves, so you get a pup with roots ... | |
| Here is the picture of our little tree!! | 9/25/2008 |
| Q: we just bought a nice tropical house plant. a small tree with leathery long green leaves that grow ... A: you have what looks like either scale or meal bugs (hard to tell with picture), spray them with ... | |
| What is wrong with my Foxtail Palm trees? | 9/24/2008 |
| Q: We moved into a house in South Florida that has 3 Foxtail Palm trees in our front yard....but they ... A: well, without a history its tough, but from what you describe it sounds like they have definitely ... | |
| sago palms | 9/24/2008 |
| Q: What can I do to get rid of a white fungus on my palms?? A: its not a fungus, but an insect, Aucalaspis Scale is an insect that makes the fronds look like they ... | |
| Red Banana Tree leaves browning and dying | 9/23/2008 |
| Q: I bought a red banana tree potted in July and it was growing well. Now the outside edges are ... A: Randy, I often get questions on growing bananas in containers, even the super dwarf banana is ... | |
| Droopy palm | 9/23/2008 |
| Q: I have about 6 palm trees that I have grown from seeds. They're about 12 months old. Some are ... A: Kendall, try planting them just a little deeper, it sounds like the roots are are little too ... | |
| Sago Palm | 9/22/2008 |
| Q: I have black sticky substance on this plant. What is this called and how can I cure this plant ... A: its secretions from feeding insects, get a quality Horticultural Oil and spray the entire plant down ... | |
| coconut palm | 9/21/2008 |
| Q: I live in northern Highlands county where coconut palms are marginal. I bought a $10 plant from ... A: you can prune back the sea grape anytime now through the end of the month, but just be careful not ... | |
| Boganvillias not flowering | 9/21/2008 |
| Q: I have several boganvillias around the yard and they all seem quite healthy and lush, but none of ... A: Bougs are at their best during the cooler seasons beginning in October; during the hotter time of ... | |
| Hurricane damaged queen palm | 9/20/2008 |
| Q: After Ike, one of the queen palms had the center stalk snap in half. The palm still has a dozen or ... A: Mike, if the frond broke in half, and the lower half is still emerging or at least is still attached ... | |
| Celosia | 9/20/2008 |
| Q: Could you please help me? I planted some celosia seeds-cockscomb-and now find the tops of the plants ... A: they look like they are infested with "leafminor" an insect that burrows into the vein of a leaf and ... | |
| banana palm | 9/19/2008 |
| Q: Can a large potted banana palm be split at the root like Hostas? This thing has gotten too big and ... A: The main growth of the banana is only cut after it produces fruit, the bird is different, you would ... | |
| Wintering over Mandevilla Plants | 9/17/2008 |
| Q: Is is possible to keep a Mandevilla Plant alive over the winter in Illinois. If possible how? A: I get this question often, and depending how deep the ground freezes in your area will determine ... | |
| Saga Palm | 9/17/2008 |
| Q: How tall can a Saga Palm get? What does it mean when the leaves turn yellow? A: is it a Queen Sago or King Sago? the Queens get up to 10 feet, while the Kings top out at about 7 ... | |
| mandevilla plants | 9/16/2008 |
| Q: I have a mandevilla plant and wish to give one to my daughters. My question is how can I start new ... A: Mandevillas are like most plants when it comes to propagating; 2-3 inch tip cuttings dipped in a ... | |
| What is the white dots on my plumeria plant? | 9/15/2008 |
| Q: I have a plumeria plant in a large pot. The top of the leave are green and beautiful, however, on ... A: No, this will not kill your Plumeria (Frangipani in Hawaii)..the only thing that many people do that ... | |
| What is the white dots on my plumeria plant? | 9/14/2008 |
| Q: I have a plumeria plant in a large pot. The top of the leave are green and beautiful, however, on ... A: sounds like scale insects or whitefly larvae, either way get some common household isoprohyl alcohol ... | |
| tropical plants | 9/14/2008 |
| Q: Planted a praying plant (from the store where purchased)into a larger pot in order for it to grow. ... A: it won't hurt the plant to take a cutting and place it in some moist vermiculite, this will also ... | |
| ethiopian red banana & chinese yellow banana | 9/14/2008 |
| Q: our plants seem to be doing ok, but we are wondering if we should move them to the sunnier side of ... A: ..they are small enough to lift the entire plant, so dig out the whole root corm with soil attached ... | |
| ethiopian red banana & chinese yellow banana | 9/14/2008 |
| Q: our plants seem to be doing ok, but we are wondering if we should move them to the sunnier side of ... A: I am assuming they are in the ground, so here goes, the Banana (all varieties) grow from an ... | |
| Chusan Fan Palm | 9/13/2008 |
| Q: I have bought the fan palm and it seemed to have rooted well. I have planted it with stones in the ... A: that is really somewhat normal, the lower fronds provide nutrients to the upper fronds as they ... | |
| Foxtail Palm | 9/13/2008 |
| Q: We had a frond pop open before it came out of the trunk. Now the plant is not doing growing or ... A: that happens and all you can do is gently pry the opening somewhat to alleviate the jam, but don't ... | |
| sea grape root system | 9/13/2008 |
| Q: my neighbor just recently planted 3 sea grape trees. each approximately 5 feet from our hollow tile ... A: I will tell you that any large tree will have the potential to damage structures close to it with ... | |
| white bird | 9/12/2008 |
| Q: My white bird's main stem is about 10 ft tall before the stalks with leaves (which are torn up by ... A: no a travelers palm is a different strain, cutting the stem does eliminate that entire stem, but ... | |
| white bird | 9/12/2008 |
| Q: My white bird's main stem is about 10 ft tall before the stalks with leaves (which are torn up by ... A: ,ok, picture a huge potato under the ground, coming from this is all the stems; you can cut away as ... | |
| Yucca, Dragon and Snake Plants | 9/12/2008 |
| Q: Nick, It is Sherri in South Carolina again. Incidentally, my Hibiscus plants are doing fine own ... A: nice to hear from you again:) ok, down to business,,,all you have told me lead to one major problem, ... | |
| giant yucca cuttings | 9/12/2008 |
| Q: I've got two giant yuccas that have grown from barely 18" when I bought them in 2 quart pots 5 or 6 ... A: ...I wish I knew the details on how the professionals do it, it has something to do with cutting ... | |
| giant yucca cuttings | 9/11/2008 |
| Q: I've got two giant yuccas that have grown from barely 18" when I bought them in 2 quart pots 5 or 6 ... A: the only way I know of propagating Yuccas is with the offshoots, cutting them and dipping them in a ... | |
| Bouganvilla | 9/11/2008 |
| Q: Nick I live in the Mojave Desert and some times in summer it gets up to 112 or more = is direct sun ... A: ...yes, mulch the root system to retain a cool soil base and as I said, water when the leaves begin ... | |
| Bouganvilla | 9/10/2008 |
| Q: Nick I live in the Mojave Desert and some times in summer it gets up to 112 or more = is direct sun ... A: Bougs thrive in hot sun, just make sure they get sufficient irrigation and there won't be any ... | |
| Coconut Palms | 9/10/2008 |
| Q: Is it necessary to trim coconut trees every six months. If not, how often should they be trimmed. A: contingent on how you want your palm to look will determine when to prune it; if you like the look ... | |
| New Ficus Benjamina Dropping Leaves | 9/9/2008 |
| Q: I purchased a Ficus benjamina (approx. 6 ft tall) ten days ago and the leaves have been dropping off ... A: ) certainly, it is always a good idea to keep water to evaporate around your tropical plants to ... | |
| New Ficus Benjamina Dropping Leaves | 9/9/2008 |
| Q: I purchased a Ficus benjamina (approx. 6 ft tall) ten days ago and the leaves have been dropping off ... A: your Ficus is reacting to its new surroundings and too much water; Ficus doesn't need this type of ... | |
| Hibiscus plants | 9/9/2008 |
| Q: What should I do to winterize 2 potted Hibiscus shrubs that are potted? I live on Cape Cod. A: bring them in during the night and out during the day and this will gradually adjust them to their ... | |
| Mandavilla winterizing Cape Cod | 9/9/2008 |
| Q: I saw the answer for winterizing Mandavilla plants for PA. and wondered if there was much difference ... A: not really, Cape Cod is in about the same climate zone as PA, and as I said before, a gradual ... | |
| Fox Tail Palm frost | 9/8/2008 |
| Q: We planted our three foxtails over two summers ago. The frost hit us this winter like everyone else ... A: its funny you ask that question, for I too have one I am watching, that is exactly the same; my ... | |
| Fox Palm | 8/29/2008 |
| Q: My fox palms new prawns are very green but VERY quickly turn brown and the stem seems to be spotted. ... A: The fronds turning brown is usually a problem with too much moisture at the root ball, make sure ... | |
| Christmas Palm | 8/29/2008 |
| Q: I live in Florida and I have a 3 cluster Christmas Palm and a Foxtail Palm, we did not cover them ... A: I too have a foxtail I am trying to nurse back to health, it has 3 spears that are green but they ... | |
| petra croton not doing well | 8/28/2008 |
| Q: I recently bought 3 croton to put in front for landscaping. They were planted right in front of my ... A: sounds like too much water, they are stressing from their roots getting soaked, Crotons don't need ... | |
| Majesty Palm | 8/28/2008 |
| Q: Hi is their a way that i can stunt the growth so they don't grow so tall thank you A: not really, but if you are worried about the optimum growth given for the palm (20 feet), don't be, ... | |
| Foxtail Palms | 8/27/2008 |
| Q: two large great looking foxtails in front yard and suddenly they look like they are dying? Limbs ... A: I need more info on this question, there are so many variables for ailing palms; let me know how ... | |
| Song of India, Bamboo palm and yucca cane | 8/25/2008 |
| Q: I am new to houseplants. I recently purchased two song of India plants, one bamboo palm and a yucca ... A: ....cut back well below the rot, the color of the cane should be the same as the other healty ones, ... | |
| Hibiscus Plants | 8/25/2008 |
| Q: Hope you enjoyed your vacation. To bring you up to date: Before I had a chance to purchase the ... A: good to be back:) sounds like it will be fine, but the copper should be applied once every couple of ... | |
| Song of India, Bamboo palm and yucca cane | 8/25/2008 |
| Q: I am new to houseplants. I recently purchased two song of India plants, one bamboo palm and a yucca ... A: without seeing them it is difficult, but from what you told me, you could be giving them too much ... | |
| Mandevilla problem | 8/25/2008 |
| Q: We have had Mandevilla plants each year growing on a post/trellis for 15 years (Michigan). The last ... A: because you are unable to locate them during the day tells me your Mands are being attacked by ... | |
| sticky palm frond | 8/24/2008 |
| Q: My indoor palm tree has a new frond that has developed a sticky residue. None of the other fronds ... A: it sounds like you may be developing an insect problem, most likely mites; as they feed they give ... | |
| Can we save the bananas? | 8/16/2008 |
| Q: Last night some critters finally reached their goal and broke our banana tree w/about a half ripe ... A: don't fret, you really should have cut the stalk off while it was still green, but plumped out to ... | |
| White Bird of Paradise Pruning | 8/16/2008 |
| Q: My plant is inside a pool enclosure. It's about 12 feet tall. I need to cut it back to about 6 to 8 ... A: it won't, I'll explain, Birds grow from underground corms, and when you cut one out, its merely ... | |
| Yellow gardenia blossoms | 8/16/2008 |
| Q: I recently purchased a beautiful Gardenia tree with many blossoms...until I got it home and into my ... A: Hey Ed, Bostons my old stomping grounds:)...sounds definitely like an environemtal reaction, plants ... | |
| Queen Palm | 8/15/2008 |
| Q: The trunk of the palm at about 15 feet has a a horizontal crack almost like someone took an axe to ... A: that is actually a common phenomenon with Queens, there really isn't much to be concerned about, it ... | |
| Hibiscus plants | 8/14/2008 |
| Q: I'll start with particulars. Have 2 hibiscus... We live in South Carolina and keep in containers our ... A: ...Hi again:)..if there is no indication of insects then it has got to be a fungal problem, try ... | |
| Majesty Palm with a white mold | 8/14/2008 |
| Q: I already sent one question.We live in Albuquerque NM.My palm is indoor plant and we keep it not on ... A: a picture is indeed worth a thousand words! what you have isn't mole, it is an insect called ... | |
| Hibiscus plants | 8/13/2008 |
| Q: I'll start with particulars. Have 2 hibiscus... We live in South Carolina and keep in containers our ... A: Well, I will tell you one thing Sherri, that is one of the most concise questions I have ever ... | |
| yellow alamanda | 8/12/2008 |
| Q: i have a yellow allanada planted next to a pink hibiscus. they are beautiful when blooming at the ... A: I have a dog and 2 cats and they totally ignore my Allamanda and Hibiscus, so I wouldn't be too ... | |
| Indoor palm | 8/12/2008 |
| Q: I've acquired an indoor palm that looks like the bottom trunk is a pineapple. It isn't, but that's ... A: any indoor palm will fare just fine with filtered light and irrigation when dry to touch; be on the ... | |
| my Hibiscus plant | 8/12/2008 |
| Q: I Live in Arizona were the temp hit 120 degrees, I have a hibiscus plant that i brought indoors ... A: when you brought it in it adjusted from the hot temps outside, but I am thinking you may have given ... | |
| bananna plant | 8/11/2008 |
| Q: i do not want my banana plant to flower/fruit because i know it will die, can i stop this by cutting ... A: actually the only way to prolong your plant is to cut the trunk itself, it will then send out a new, ... | |
| banannas | 8/9/2008 |
| Q: is there a way to get bannannas to ripen faster? A: no, they will plump out gradually over a span of 2-3 months; the key is to cut them off the plant ... | |
| aloe plant care | 8/7/2008 |
| Q: I was given an aloe plant, but the leaves are very flat, not full of sap like I am used to. I water ... A: there are different varieties, some are flat,but have the same substance when cut, but not the ... | |
| Damaged bougainvillea trunk | 8/7/2008 |
| Q: I recently purchased a young bougainvillea plant which I wanted to turn into a bonsai. Unfortunately ... A: Anisa, as long as it isn't completely severed, there is a chance of it mending, but slight, as far ... | |
| Sago Palm browning | 8/6/2008 |
| Q: I have 6 Sago Palms in my yard. 4 of them are green as can be and beautiful, but two have new ... A: Frizzle top is more common in other palms, and Magnesium Sulphate deficiency is usually the reason, ... | |
| indoor tropical plant too big for ceiling | 8/6/2008 |
| Q: . i rescued a tropical plant years back and it has done well in my home- i think its a ficus.. with ... A: Ahhh, ok now we can push on here...(and thanks for the compliment!:))..they only thing you can do ... | |
| Ponytail Palm | 8/6/2008 |
| Q: I have inherited a three foot tall Ponytail Palm that was generally healthy when my grandfather was ... A: Ponytails need very little water, that bulbular bottom is a resevoir; I am thinking you provided too ... | |
| indoor tropical plant too big for ceiling | 8/5/2008 |
| Q: . i rescued a tropical plant years back and it has done well in my home- i think its a ficus.. with ... A: it needs to be pruned way back! get yourself a pair of hand trimmers, and shape it as you cut it ... | |
| tropical plants | 8/5/2008 |
| Q: I was surfing the net and came up with this site. It's great! I live in the Buffalo area and ... A: I probably should not have mentioned fruiting, that would be for the experienced, so I am going to ... | |
| Majesty Palm black mold and scab looking prob. | 8/4/2008 |
| Q: I have two Majesty Palms on my front porch with black mold on them. What should I do to help? I've ... A: the black mold is called "sooty mold", it is considered an innocous fungus that is feeding off the ... | |
| Gardenia Bush | 8/4/2008 |
| Q: What kind of soil do I plant a Gardenia bush/tree in? I plan to keep it in a large terra cotta pot ... A: normally it would be a light potting mix, if planted in a plastic container, but with a Terra Cotta, ... | |
| mass cane temperature tolerance | 8/4/2008 |
| Q: I purchased a mass cane yesterday, repotted it and today the leaves are darker in color and starting ... A: I have two outside of my patio, and they get exposed to direct light/sun all day; here in Florida we ... | |
| night blooming jasmine ( Cestrum nocturnum ) | 8/3/2008 |
| Q: I Live in Florida where its been raining allot for the past few weeks. I have 2 night blooming ... A: its either scale or mealy bugs...same cure for both is either an insecticidal soap or horticultural ... | |
| House Palm -not sure what species | 8/3/2008 |
| Q: Sticky gooey film on some leaves? Is it some type of infestation? Worth spraying or should I get ... A: its the residue of tiny insects (probably mites) feeding on your Palm (probably a Majesty); wipe the ... | |
| Alocasia polly | 8/2/2008 |
| Q: WILL THIS PLANT HURT MY KITTEN IF SHE EAT IT . JUST GOT IT TODAY ,ITS ALOCASIA POLLY. A: ...I have 2 cats and a dog and Elephant Ears abound in my garden, have no fear with your kitten, ... | |
| Queen Palms | 8/2/2008 |
| Q: I have some very big queen palms which have dropped a bunch of seeds and now they have rooted and ... A: yeah, if you don't prune those inflorescence off and allow the seeds to develop and eventually ... | |
| tropical plants | 8/1/2008 |
| Q: I was surfing the net and came up with this site. It's great! I live in the Buffalo area and ... A: good for you! tropical plants in Buffalo though is kinda like wanting snow in southern ... | |
| indoor palm tree needs help! | 8/1/2008 |
| Q: A friend of mine asked me to take care of his 6 foot indoor palm tree while he is out of the country ... A: without seeing it makes it difficult for me to really diagnose what is going on with this palm, but ... | |
| Banana plant with sticky leaves | 7/31/2008 |
| Q: My banana plant was so healthy then I noted that one of my other plants had white stuff all over its ... A: sounds like its being attacked by White Fly Larvae, is it like bits of cotton badding? without ... | |
| Princess Flower | 7/19/2008 |
| Q: I have a few princess flowers zone 10. Some of the princess flowers have lost almost of their ... A: ...it could be, any plant will react to too much irrigation, the difference is, a plant that loses ... | |
| Princess Flower | 7/18/2008 |
| Q: I have a few princess flowers zone 10. Some of the princess flowers have lost almost of their ... A: Tibouchina needs to be watered on a regular basis, and also they react to insecticides or anything, ... | |
| Red banana palm pest | 7/18/2008 |
| Q: I live in PCB, NFL and planted two red banana palms about three months ago in my yard. One plant is ... A: it is either slugs or a bee called the leaf cutter; if the holes are perfectly symetrical, then its ... | |
| Transplating Queen Palms | 7/17/2008 |
| Q: Can queen palms be successfully tranplanted after that long of a time? If so, what are the tips for ... A: Ok, the smaller 3 should be no problem, just make sure you get the entire root ball; the 2 big girls ... | |
| bouganvillea not blooming | 7/17/2008 |
| Q: I have a 5 foot tall bougainvillea plant that is potted in a large whiskey barrel and brought inside ... A: Bougs usually show their best color when the temps are cooler, summer is not their heyday by trait; ... | |
| dwarf cavendish | 7/17/2008 |
| Q: We were wondering how long from the first pup we see coming up how long does the plant take to ... A: the very first banana pup will produce a small bunch in about 13 frost free months, it will be the ... | |
| Pygmy palm appears to be losing a trunk | 7/16/2008 |
| Q: I have a 4-trunked pygmy palm in my southern California yard that was planted 8 years ago. It ... A: this is actually a common occurrence with multiple trunk palms, especially Pygmy Dates; the usual ... | |
| QUEEN PALM PODS | 7/16/2008 |
| Q: CAN WE USE THE SEEDS FROM THE POD TO GROW NEW PALMS? HOW WOULD WE BEGIN THIS PROCESS? A: you can, but they won't be ready until they have turned orange, at this point they usually fall off ... | |
| mushroom in soil of goldfish plant | 7/15/2008 |
| Q: I have a goldfish plant. I think it's a tropical plant but I'm not sure. I have it on a sunny ... A: don't be freaked out..lol..this is common in soil that is wet and the surrounding environment on the ... | |
| Dying Queen Palms | 7/14/2008 |
| Q: I have several queen palm trees in my landscaping at my home in Tampa, FL. We had several freezes ... A: if you had said there was a white growth at the base of the trunk, I would have told you they are ... | |
| Bird of Paradise | 7/13/2008 |
| Q: I planted two bird of paradise in my yard a few years ago. One is in a hot bright sunny spot, and ... A: Hey Stan, Birds are real temperamental when it comes to flowering, there isn't anything you are ... | |
| elephant ears transplant | 7/12/2008 |
| Q: Should I cut the ears back after transplanting? They are pretty dried up. I know the bulbs are ok ... A: they both like copious amounts of water and wilt if it isn't provided (especially the elephant ... | |
| White bird of paradise | 7/11/2008 |
| Q: I am considering buying a White Bird of Paradise that is about 6 feet tall at a local nursery. I ... A: Birds do best in a 9zone or higher, but if you are successfully growing Bananas, and getting them to ... | |
| Brown Frond tips | 7/10/2008 |
| Q: I just bought a small Pygmy date palm. I brought it home and replanted it in a slightly bigger pot ... A: Ok good! keep it in a dappled shady area until it shows new fronds that are nice and green; the ... | |
| Droopy transplants | 7/10/2008 |
| Q: Nick, Several of my neighbors have been donating plants for us to landscape our new home. A lot of ... A: watering them won't stop the transpiration (plant equivalent to evaporation), they plants are losing ... | |
| Bougenvilla | 7/10/2008 |
| Q: I live in Las Vegas and planted several of these wonderful plants. I know you say to get them to ... A: Bougs are primarily a hot weather plant, so don't be too concerned about them panting...LOL...but do ... | |
| Brown Frond tips | 7/10/2008 |
| Q: I just bought a small Pygmy date palm. I brought it home and replanted it in a slightly bigger pot ... A: ok, I got some of the info I need, but I need a tad more..were there any brown fronds on it when you ... | |
| Repotting White Bird of Paradise. | 7/7/2008 |
| Q: I have a White Bird of Paradise that has been in a pot for about 4 years outdoors on a window ledge. ... A: if you can find a deeper container that would certainly help, but you really are trying to fit a ... | |
| indoor tropical fig tree | 7/7/2008 |
| Q: I have 2 indoor fig trees. One is about 20 years old. In the last year the trees started excreting ... A: the secretion isn't be secreted by the plant, its the tiny insects that are feeding on it; let me ... | |
| Bird of Paradise unwell and infested | 7/6/2008 |
| Q: I'm in the UK, and I've been growing a BOP - its about 4 foot tall now and in my kitchen. Recently ... A: Amie, the only thing to do at this point is change out the medium, I am not sure what type of insect ... | |
| my poor yellow banana palm | 7/4/2008 |
| Q: I'm having trouble with my banana palm it's turning a yellowish color. We've been experiencing 118 ... A: ,,,,ok, it has a well established root system, so given the size and magnitude of lifting it, this ... | |
| myers lemon | 7/4/2008 |
| Q: I am enclosing a copy of my previous question. I think the tree is now ready to replant. I also have ... A: ok, I am assuming it has recuperated in the container, that is great! now you need to dig a hole ... | |
| Potted Palm Trees Cracked | 7/4/2008 |
| Q: I own 2 potted palm trees since Fall 2001. They lived in Virginia for 4 years, including being in a ... A: Jessica, I don't really know what this affliction is, but the main thing is that the Dracaena is ... | |
| my poor yellow banana palm | 7/3/2008 |
| Q: I'm having trouble with my banana palm it's turning a yellowish color. We've been experiencing 118 ... A: Yes, actually take your spade and dig down on both sides and lift the entire corm (root ball) out ... | |
| palm | 7/3/2008 |
| Q: Hi I transplanted my palm the other day and I am not sure what kind of palm but it is not a majesty ... A: it sounds like a Washingtonia or a Paurotis, but I would need to see it to be sure; in either event, ... | |
| my poor yellow banana palm | 7/3/2008 |
| Q: I'm having trouble with my banana palm it's turning a yellowish color. We've been experiencing 118 ... A: it sounds like you have instigated a root rot situation with the increased watering; when a banana ... | |
| Cutting back an indoor banana plant | 7/2/2008 |
| Q: I have an indoor banana plant that has reached about 6 feet tall. It was a beautiful plant as it ... A: growing Bananas in a container is not the easiest thing to do, they will never produce fruit in a ... | |
| Orange Bird of Paradise | 7/1/2008 |
| Q: I have a 2 year old orange BoP in the house in England. I keep it indoors and have a very sunny room ... A: it sounds like it is indeed pot bound, and another indication is when the new leaves are somewhat ... | |
| Fiddle Leaf Fig | 7/1/2008 |
| Q: I have a large fiddle-leaf fig plant that I recieved about 4 months ago when my Mother passed away. ... A: yes you are a bit too cold for outdoor planting, so, the container you put it in should be fine, ... | |
| Ficus trees and strange, sticky, curled leaves | 6/29/2008 |
| Q: I have two ficus trees. One is 21 years old and the other is 18 years old. They are potted and ... A: its probably a fungus, have you been getting a lot of rain lately, if so, fungal problems are going ... | |
| palm tree(maybe parlor) plant | 6/29/2008 |
| Q: why does the plant give off a sap-like substance that get on the table on which the pot sits on? A: When small insects feed they give off this substance, check real close at the underside of the ... | |
| yucca stems | 6/28/2008 |
| Q: I am enjoying five yucca plants in my yard that have already bloomed (white flowers on tall stems). ... A: let it brown out and then snip it off near the end of the stalk (flower stalk); it will probably ... | |
| Fiddle Leaf Fig | 6/28/2008 |
| Q: I have a large fiddle-leaf fig plant that I recieved about 4 months ago when my Mother passed away. ... A: it needs to be put in a larger container (or the ground for that matter) with a new soil base; line ... | |
| Foxtail palm | 6/28/2008 |
| Q: I live in zone 10 and planted 2 foxtails 3 years ago. In the last three weeks one is dead. The ... A: Hey Zeke, no just pull it, sounds like a crown rot or possibly root rot situation; the palm must ... | |
| palm plant | 6/27/2008 |
| Q: I received a palm plant from my Dad's funeral March 2007. Not sure what kind of palm it is but the ... A: Ok, its probably a Majesty or Areca (parlor palm), that is the most common household palm, that ... | |
| palm tree dying | 6/27/2008 |
| Q: I am not sure the exact type palm,it looks like a coconut palm but has like berries it grows.The ... A: Chris, cut it off at the soil level and don't plant anything else there (palms anyway), Ganoderma ... | |
| palm plant | 6/27/2008 |
| Q: I received a palm plant from my Dad's funeral March 2007. Not sure what kind of palm it is but the ... A: I need to know what type of container it is in and if you have done anything to it since you ... | |
| palm tree dying | 6/26/2008 |
| Q: I am not sure the exact type palm,it looks like a coconut palm but has like berries it grows.The ... A: its probably a Queen Palm and the mushroom type growth at the bottom is called Ganoderma, its a ... | |
| Spots on Pindo fronds | 6/26/2008 |
| Q: We had a Pindo palm planted in our Central Florida landscape 3 months ago. It has done very well, ... A: with out rainy season kicking in it is most assuredly a fungal problem, this is the season that ... | |
| Night Blooming Jasmine | 6/24/2008 |
| Q: My night blooming Jasmine is still being eaten alive every time it begins to bloom I followed the ... A: its probably night feeding catepillas or slugs (also night feeders)...try a insectecidal drench like ... | |
| Tropical plants | 6/24/2008 |
| Q: I bought 3 tropical plants in mobile, AL I live in Talladega, Al Zone 7 and would like to know how ... A: ok, the Bird needs full sun and kept moderately watered, mist the leaves whenever possible, ... | |
| Leaning Palms of Katy | 6/24/2008 |
| Q: I have 2 SAGO palms which are about 9 years old. Fo over 7 1/2 years they grew straight as an ... A: Hey Steve, no, no worries, Sagos are known for that, they have a nice strong constitution, it would ... | |
| tropical plants for sandy soil | 6/23/2008 |
| Q: I live in Florida and my front yard gets full sun and has extremely sandy soil. What is a good ... A: are you looking for color and a made to order care free plant? then you can't do better then ... | |
| Pachira Twisted | 6/21/2008 |
| Q: I brought a pachira twisted when it was looking a bit poorly. I over watered it slightly, before ... A: these are more often then not, killed by people who buy them; unfortunately they often over water ... | |
| SPLITING TRUNK | 6/21/2008 |
| Q: I live in Puerto Rico and about six months ago did a little landscaping which included a fish tail ... A: Marie, this is usually an indication of too much water at the base of the palm; my advice is to ... | |
| various tropicals | 6/21/2008 |
| Q: We live in San Diego. It's particularly warm right now. We just planted a pigmy palm, a flax and a ... A: tell me about your planting technique, many times the problem with new palms/trees struggling ... | |
| Pindo palm seed pods | 6/20/2008 |
| Q: I just read the question and answer about removing seed pods. My question is can you use what's ... A: actually the seeds themselves will germinate, but the process and ensuing palm is so slow going, ... | |
| bouganvilla | 6/19/2008 |
| Q: My bouganvilla plant has been healthy for several years, but this spring several "branches" did not ... A: Bougs don't need much attention, very little water and once a month fertilizing with a low nitrogen ... | |
| Pindo palm (butia capitata) | 6/18/2008 |
| Q: Nick - My pindo palm has sprouted abt 5 large seed pods this yr. The pindo is probably 8 ft tall. ... A: a common question, the fact of the matter is, all palms set out seed pods, and whether you remove ... | |
| bougenvillia | 6/18/2008 |
| Q: What type of fertilizer is recommended. My plant does not bloom. A: the secret to getting Bougs to bloom is to (believe it or not!)..stress them! very little water and ... | |
| foxtail palm | 6/18/2008 |
| Q: i planted 10 fox tails they are 1 inch on bottom and about 6ft high they seem to be growing slow i ... A: it isn't necessary to fertilize at planting, the palm needs to establish itself before it can take ... | |
| Elephant Ears | 6/17/2008 |
| Q: My friend gave me some of her elephant ears. I dug them up this morning and planted them in my yard. ... A: Elephant ears like a shadier environment and lots and lots of water; they wilt fast after transplant ... | |
| Silver Queen Plants | 6/17/2008 |
| Q: Is the silver queen a bulb plant or not? I'm planing on replanting mine in a bigger pot in a couple ... A: ..ah! to be needed...lol.....ok, mealy bugs look like little puffs of cotton balls, if you ever get ... | |
| White Bird of Paradise | 6/17/2008 |
| Q: Nick, I have 3 very large white bird of paradise plants, that were planted about two months ago. We ... A: Sure, go ahead and prune off the dead leaves, that is actually a normal occurance; keep your bird ... | |
| transplanting elephant ears | 6/15/2008 |
| Q: I live in the central US and started elephant ear bulbs in pots in my family room til they sprouted. ... A: you can, but they are cold sensitive, and winter will do them in, ( central U.S.), my suggestion is ... | |
| showboat or monster philodendron | 6/15/2008 |
| Q: i bought a huge one of these least year,,,it has lost all its leaves,,it does get new ones,,the ... A: I am surprised that it is giving you this much trouble, they are normally a very forgiving plant and ... | |
| white Bird of Paradise | 6/15/2008 |
| Q: I bought this plant 6 years ago. It is around 6'to 7' tall. I was told it had to be rootbound to ... A: The rule of thumb is to keep it crowded and it is more apt to bloom; the worse thing you can do is ... | |
| dieffenbachia amoena | 6/15/2008 |
| Q: I would like to know how tall can a dieffenbachia amoena can grow, mine was to high for my flat so I ... A: Thats a pretty big dumb cane! in its natural habitat it grows under a canopy and can get twice that ... | |
| hardy banana tree | 6/13/2008 |
| Q: I see someone has asked you about their banana tree so I'm giving my question a shot. I have the ... A: Unfortunately a frost will knock them back to ground level every time, and then new ones develop ... | |
| Mandevilla ( Ruby Red) Brown spots on bottome leaves | 6/13/2008 |
| Q: I have 2 Mandevillas which I purchased and planted in the ground several months ago. They were doing ... A: It sounds like your planting technique was fine, so I'm thinking that they are having fungal ... | |
| Mandevilla ( Ruby Red) Brown spots on bottome leaves | 6/13/2008 |
| Q: I have 2 Mandevillas which I purchased and planted in the ground several months ago. They were doing ... A: I often get questions that I need more info on, this is one of them, the problem may have been in ... | |
| Yellow Bird of Paradise | 6/12/2008 |
| Q: Up till now it had that beautiful yellow flowers with touch of red.Now they started falling off. I ... A: ok check the buds real close and see if there are tiny dots on them, this would be indication of ... | |
| red banana plant/palm | 6/11/2008 |
| Q: I have two red banana plants about 2 yrs in the ground, 1 of them has grown what look likes a new ... A: Ok, from your description I am inclined to think you have the beginning of an inflorescence that ... | |
| banana palm | 6/11/2008 |
| Q: My 8 foot banana palm (dont know what type) has yellow edges to bottom 3 leaves. What might be ... A: this is actually a normal occurrence for bottom leaves, but the emphasis here is "bottom leaves", if ... | |
| Tropical plants | 6/10/2008 |
| Q: My friend gave me a huge (8 feet) tropical plant with very large leaves. She said it was some kind ... A: if it is indeed a Banana, then it can be cut back and will send out a new stem from the cut point; ... | |
| Silver Queen Plants | 6/9/2008 |
| Q: Is the silver queen a bulb plant or not? I'm planing on replanting mine in a bigger pot in a ... A: no its not a bulb, and it is easy to transplant, in fact you can separate it when you remove it from ... | |
| tropical plant help | 6/8/2008 |
| Q: I have a tropical plant indoors, and it is not doing so well. I transplanted it into a clay pot 2 ... A: part of the problem is indeed the clay pot, they are very porous and will dry out extremely fast, ... | |
| pygmy date palms | 6/7/2008 |
| Q: I planted 2 pygmy date palms about 2 years ago, they were great until recently, limp, new growth ... A: Tom, when planting a palm the backfilling is real important, as you backfill, (and with existing ... | |
| Traveler's Palm/White Bird of Paridise | 6/6/2008 |
| Q: Am I able to transplant the 'off shoots' via digging & moving them from the 'mama plant'? Have lots ... A: yes, but make sure you cut down and get as much of the shoots roots as possible, which will ... | |
| cane plant | 6/6/2008 |
| Q: I GOT A CANE CUTTING YEARS AGO.THIS CUTTING WAS IN A BOTTLE OF WATER WITH ROCKS IN IT.IT REALLY ... A: I think your are referring to lucky bamboo, which is really a Draceana; if you put it in soil, put ... | |
| pygmy date palms | 6/5/2008 |
| Q: I planted 2 pygmy date palms about 2 years ago, they were great until recently, limp, new growth ... A: first of all, fertilizer sticks are useless, they provide fertilizer only to the immediate roots ... | |
| Oleanders | 6/5/2008 |
| Q: I have several oleanders (red and white), their leaves are turning yellow and dropping off in large ... A: I think you asked me about palms in another question, overwatering could very well cause defoliation ... | |
| Yucca Plants | 6/5/2008 |
| Q: I have a Yucca in my yard. It bloomed and now the blooms are off. I was wondering if I am to cut ... A: It is suggested that the bloom should be left to its own means, but there is no harm in accelerating ... | |
| silver buttonwoods | 6/4/2008 |
| Q: I have a hedge of silver buttonwoods and recently it seems that I am finding a lot of dead ... A: it is a common occurance with hedge plantings eventually, as with any older plantings, they begin to ... | |
| palms & bougainvillea | 6/4/2008 |
| Q: Can I plant a coconut palm and bougainvillea together? I have a coconut palm growing (about 6 ... A: in my humble, but experienced opinion...no; The Coconut Palm will shade the Boug and hinder its ... | |
| Plumeria problem | 6/4/2008 |
| Q: I have a plumeria planted in the back yard, coming up on 2 years old. Until just recently it looked ... A: I would take as many 6inch or biggier cuttings as I need and start new plants, and then hope the ... | |
| Giant White Bird of Paradise | 6/4/2008 |
| Q: I have a few Giant Bird of Paradise's that I planted a couple months ago. One was split into two ... A: its sounds like when you split them out of the pot, you damaged the roots (which had undoubtedly ... | |
| Yellow Alamanda bushes | 6/2/2008 |
| Q: Nick, we planted all new plants in the front of our house late last summer in Central FL. All ... A: APHIDS! that definitely explains it, spray them down with a horticultural oil (ACE hardware has a ... | |
| madagascar palm | 6/2/2008 |
| Q: I have a madagascar palm indoors in bright eastern light. The leaf tips are turning black and ... A: they don't need much water at all, that trunk is a storage container for water; let the soil dry out ... | |
| Plumeria problem | 6/1/2008 |
| Q: I have a plumeria planted in the back yard, coming up on 2 years old. Until just recently it looked ... A: it sounds like too much water, which can cause just what you are describing, a rot sets in; you may ... | |
| Croton Petra | 6/1/2008 |
| Q: I am also an expert but in insurance law. My wife and I recently bought four beautiful Croton Petra ... A: high humidity (no problem where you live) is imperative; other then that, very easy plant to care ... | |
| Yellow Alamanda bushes | 6/1/2008 |
| Q: Nick, we planted all new plants in the front of our house late last summer in Central FL. All ... A: it sounds like you did everything by the book Jeanne, but the Alamandas need full sun to flower, ... | |
| King Palms with stubble frond leaves | 5/31/2008 |
| Q: I live in Huntington Beach, CA and have 2 30+ foot King Palms, which are about 10-12 years old. ... A: these palms need a well balanced palm fertilizer,not just magnesium sulfate, they need manganese ... | |
| Yellow Alamanda bushes | 5/30/2008 |
| Q: Nick, we planted all new plants in the front of our house late last summer in Central FL. All ... A: it sounds like they haven't broke out of their root ball yet, check to see if they have, often if ... | |
| pygmy date palms | 5/30/2008 |
| Q: I planted 2 pygmy date palms about 2 years ago, they were great until recently, limp, new growth ... A: Pygmy Dates can't get too much sun, so thats not your problem, it is assuredly a nutrient problem ... | |
| Hibiscus tree | 5/29/2008 |
| Q: I have had my hibiscus tree for about four years and it has always been full of leaves and flowers, ... A: I am assuming this is a "tropical Hibiscus" which can be a very temperamental plant even under ideal ... | |
| CONFUSED BEGINNER | 5/29/2008 |
| Q: Ok i have some questions for you...sorry they are not of a particular plant. The first question is ... A: Bromeliads produce side plants, these are what you are referring to as pups, they are self ... | |
| Ponytail plant bugs | 5/28/2008 |
| Q: next to windows w/pretty sunny eastern exposure, for about a yr -- they're in separate rooms. ... A: You spray the alcohol undiluted, and that could very well be an additive the nursery used (the ... | |
| crown rot on king palms | 5/27/2008 |
| Q: I have a customer who is telling me that he has established king palms that appear to have crown ... A: it sounds like "frizzle top" which is a nutrient deficiency, Palms need a well balanced fertilizer ... | |
| Tibouchina grandiflora | 5/27/2008 |
| Q: My husband bought a Tibouchina in S.C. and brought it home to upper East TN. It is still in the ... A: I would not give it much chance of surviving beyond Dec. the first frost would stress it and the ... | |
| bird of paradise | 5/25/2008 |
| Q: 1) how do I control a bird of paradise from spreading. 2) I have been told 2 ways to get rid of the ... A: The Bird of Paradise develops from an underground rhizome called a corm; this corm is like a big ... | |
| dessert rose | 5/25/2008 |
| Q: I have two sago palms planted outside in the yard. Each time a new group of limbs grow, the leaves ... A: its called Alacaspis Scale, and it is the nemesis of Sagos, both Queen and King; there is no way to ... | |
| washington palms | 5/24/2008 |
| Q: I have a cocoon built on two of the fronds. I is made of the palm frond and angular in shape. Do ... A: its either a moth or butterfly, in either event it isn't harmful to the palm, and its just mother ... | |
| Ponytail plant bugs | 5/24/2008 |
| Q: next to windows w/pretty sunny eastern exposure, for about a yr -- they're in separate rooms. ... A: spray the mealy bugs with household isopropyl alcohol, this will take care of them; The small green ... | |
| White Bird of Paradise | 5/23/2008 |
| Q: I have a beautiful White Bird of Paradise (actually three plants in one pot) that has grown ... A: ok, a couple of things are going on here, first the change of venue most likely stressed it and it ... | |
| Pygmy date palm | 5/22/2008 |
| Q: We have a pygmy date palm tree which is exactly the right size for our landscaping. We don't want ... A: ...no it will be fine, just don't take too many off, as I said previously, no more then 9 and 3 and ... | |
| monstera slipt-leaf | 5/22/2008 |
| Q: I have to large monstera split leaves, I live in S. Colorado and they are doing great. But they are ... A: don't cut them, this is part of their root system that is above the soil level, if you want to start ... | |
| Pygmy date palm | 5/22/2008 |
| Q: We have a pygmy date palm tree which is exactly the right size for our landscaping. We don't want ... A: you can't contain its vertical growth, but you can trim the lower fronds; picture a clock, and the ... | |
| Tropicals in Zones 7a-7b | 5/20/2008 |
| Q: Nick I, and others in my area, am interested in what can grow up here in North Georgia that will ... A: Go to your local Cooperative Extension Service, and speak with the Extension Agent, he can assist ... | |
| Pygmy Palm | 5/20/2008 |
| Q: I water my pygmy palm 3-4 times a week, but i noticed the trunk and leaves are getting an orangish ... A: thats too much irrigation, and you are tempting fate by laying too much water on those roots; palms ... | |
| Hatching Fox Tail Palms | 5/19/2008 |
| Q: I have bunch of big red berries for the first time on my Fox Tail Plam, i would like to hatch the ... A: the seeds need to be mature first of all, meaning when they fall off the pod easily; then its a ... | |
| Watering of Palm trees | 5/19/2008 |
| Q: Nick, I have two majesty palms, a travelers palm, a king and a king kong palm. I fertilize every ... A: Ok, so you just augmented the bottom of the hole with compost, ah, thats fine, I thaught you filled ... | |
| ponytail palm tree | 5/18/2008 |
| Q: I have a ponytail palm tree in the backyard, height approx. 8'. Doesn't get a lot of water, never ... A: something shocked it, albeit doesn't need a lot of water, it does need occasional irrigation; if it ... | |
| Watering of Palm trees | 5/18/2008 |
| Q: Nick, I have two majesty palms, a travelers palm, a king and a king kong palm. I fertilize every ... A: one of the problems right off is using the soil to augment your existing soil; what happens is the ... | |
| Bouganvilla | 5/18/2008 |
| Q: Live part time in tropical area where bouganvilla grows well...can cut branches be rooted? If so, ... A: they will root in moist vermiculite ideally, but I have seen them root also in plain water; another ... | |
| Watering of Palm trees | 5/18/2008 |
| Q: Nick, I have two majesty palms, a travelers palm, a king and a king kong palm. I fertilize every ... A: I need to know how old these palms are, and when they were planted; this will determine the amount ... | |
| indoor palm tree | 5/17/2008 |
| Q: My palm tree plant seemed to be doing fine until recently. I've re-potted it at least 3 times over ... A: when you repotted it did you line the bottom of the container with some kind of drainage medium? ... | |
| mandevilla | 5/16/2008 |
| Q: I was cutting my vine from a wood trellis to put it on a old metal trellis and accidentally cut a ... A: actually, take a tip cutting from that piece and it will root; put it in a container with moist ... | |
| Hardiness of Dwarf Cavendish | 5/16/2008 |
| Q: I have 3 dwarf cavendishs and have been reading about the hardiness zones for them. I have heard ... A: I would love for you to be able to grow beautiful lush, tropical (I emphasize "tropical") Bananas, ... | |
| Foxtail Palm Tree | 5/16/2008 |
| Q: We will be moving soon and wanted to take them with us. They are only 1 meter high and were in the ... A: depending on how many roots were damaged when your husband dug them up will determine if or when ... | |
| Christmas Tree Palm | 5/15/2008 |
| Q: My palm tree was knocked over by severe wind and the tree snapped where the fronds meet the tree ... A: if it was completely severed, then there is nothing you can do, but if it is still attached then ... | |
| peace lilly | 5/15/2008 |
| Q: can you put a peace Lilly in a pond outside? A: no you can't, they need good drainage and only enough water to keep them hydrated, they will let you ... | |
| Palm Tree - Branches Breaking | 5/15/2008 |
| Q: I would kindly like to know if you know of any reason why my palm branches are breaking off. It ... A: I spoke with my local Cooperative Extension Service Agent, and he never heard of this happening here ... | |
| Palm Tree - Branches Breaking | 5/14/2008 |
| Q: I would kindly like to know if you know of any reason why my palm branches are breaking off. It ... A: are the fronds being snapped off, or chewed, and what kind of palms are they? it is normal for lower ... | |
| sea grape tree | 5/14/2008 |
| Q: I honeymooned in Jamaica and my wife and I just fell in love with the sea grape trees on the beach ... A: first of all, congrats to you and your bride, that said, Sea Grapes are large and take a lot of root ... | |
| dying Bouganvilla | 5/14/2008 |
| Q: I just planted my bouganvilla against the house about a month ago, and it seems to be dying already. ... A: Bougs are one of those rare plants that require extremely low water intake; believe it or not, you ... | |
| majesty palm | 5/13/2008 |
| Q: I have just purchased two majesty palms...and did not realize that they will grow 40x20. I wanted to ... A: absolutely, Majestys can grow that big in the ground, but I have had one in the ground for 5 years ... | |
| bouganvillea | 5/13/2008 |
| Q: I brought a bougainvillea home a couple weeks ago, my 1st. After I got it home, I realized that the ... A: .that was damage already done by either caterpillars or slugs, as long as the culprits are not still ... | |
| Planting and Growing Ixora coccinea In North Texas | 5/13/2008 |
| Q: I am wanting to plant some different colored Ixoras in our shrub garden that was planted when we had ... A: you could try by mulching them heavily (covering most of the plant) when a freeze threatens; but if ... | |
| Planting and Growing Ixora coccinea In North Texas | 5/12/2008 |
| Q: I am wanting to plant some different colored Ixoras in our shrub garden that was planted when we had ... A: you didn't allude to your climate zone, Ixoras are tropical plants and need a zone 9a at least; they ... | |
| Mandevilla | 5/12/2008 |
| Q: I got this beautiful plant for mother's day. I have cats and dogs are these plants toxic in anyway ... A: It is considered in the list of poisonous plants, but allegedly its toxicity is very low, and no ... | |
| royal palm tree | 5/11/2008 |
| Q: we planted 3 royal palm and two foxtail palm trees last saturday. leaves are turning very dark and ... A: Fill the berm once in late morning, that will suffice, and again make sure it is draining off in a ... | |
| banana plant fruit | 5/10/2008 |
| Q: I am from Shreveport, La. and I love tropical plants. I cut my banana plant back to the last leaf ... A: good news and bad news, yes you will get a bunch to develop from that inflorescence; the bad news is ... | |
| Cotton Palm Trees dying after re-location | 5/10/2008 |
| Q: We have 2 much loved Cotton Palms (Washingtonia robusta ‘Washington’ Palms), 6ft tall, that we ... A: the rootball is the entire root structure, save the lateral roots that can span out as far as 6-15 ... | |
| royal palm tree | 5/10/2008 |
| Q: we planted 3 royal palm and two foxtail palm trees last saturday. leaves are turning very dark and ... A: this is a common occurrence, it could just be transplant shock, but at this stage you have to assume ... | |
| Cotton Palm Trees dying after re-location | 5/9/2008 |
| Q: We have 2 much loved Cotton Palms (Washingtonia robusta ‘Washington’ Palms), 6ft tall, that we ... A: sorry to hear this, I need more info to properly help you out here; crucial is "transplant ... | |
| hardy banana tree | 5/8/2008 |
| Q: I see someone has asked you about their banana tree so I'm giving my question a shot. I have the ... A: you won't see growth from that actual stump, it will come from the "corm" that its attached to; let ... | |
| silver queen palm | 5/8/2008 |
| Q: I have a silver queen withh three very healthy fronds, but the spike in the middle is bent over and ... A: ..usually crown rot can be blamed on either too much moisture in the root system, or the palm being ... | |
| silver queen palm | 5/8/2008 |
| Q: I have a silver queen withh three very healthy fronds, but the spike in the middle is bent over and ... A: it sounds like it has "crown rot", and if so, it is in fact doomed (there is no correcting it); wait ... | |
| pineapple(s) | 5/7/2008 |
| Q: McCann : I have two pineapple plants that have pineapples the size of a "Softball", maybe ... A: when they begin to turn yellowish brown in color, they are at their optimum size; this is directly ... | |
| jacaranda tree | 5/7/2008 |
| Q: I stared my jacaranda tree from a seed 10 years ago. It is huge probably 20' high but no flowers ... A: I researched any reason why your Jacaranda isn't blooming and can find no viable reason for it; one ... | |
| Windmill Palms | 5/6/2008 |
| Q: We live in North Carolina, and last year planted 3 windmill 1-2' plams, two in the ground and one in ... A: They don't go dormant, and if you neglected to water them through the winter, they probably ... | |
| jacaranda tree | 5/6/2008 |
| Q: I stared my jacaranda tree from a seed 10 years ago. It is huge probably 20' high but no flowers ... A: the seeds are flat and mahogany colored, I am assuming you are sure you have grown a "jacaranda"; it ... | |
| damaged foxtail trunk | 5/6/2008 |
| Q: I was transplanting some 12-15 ft. foxtails and I skinned and knicked up the trunks on them from ... A: as long as the cuts are superficial and no deep penetrations occurred, you will be fine; the ... | |
| Majesty Palm | 5/5/2008 |
| Q: Can i place a majesty palm on the bgack of my patio with direcxt southern sun? of under a porch ... A: Majestys do better in a morning sun exposure; mine is in a dappled shady area and the fronds are ... | |
| hibiscus & bougainvillea together | 5/5/2008 |
| Q: I bought a bougainvillea plant and a hibiscus "tree" to plant in the same large pot. I wanted to ... A: well, there is a limited amount of root space (as Grandma had said), so I would stick with just the ... | |
| hibiscus & bougainvillea together | 5/4/2008 |
| Q: I bought a bougainvillea plant and a hibiscus "tree" to plant in the same large pot. I wanted to ... A: well Grandma is partially right,but a more important problem with doing this is the irrigation each ... | |
| Foxtail Palm | 5/4/2008 |
| Q: I have 4 Foxtail Palms that are about 2 years old. This past winter, the temp dripped into the ... A: if that center emerging spear pulled out then it is indeed gone:(.....(crown rot)..the cold, damp ... | |
| anthurium outdoors | 5/3/2008 |
| Q: I just got an anthurium plant and would like to know if it is ok to put it outside in summer. I ... A: do not put it in direct sunlight, keep your flamingo flower in a container that will compact the ... | |
| King Palm - Brown/dead leaves | 5/3/2008 |
| Q: 6 weeks ago I planted 8 King palms - 6' tall - They get full sun. Several of the leaves are ... A: many palms go through a transplant shock when first planted, its the existing fronds that will show ... | |
| twisted hibiscus trees | 5/3/2008 |
| Q: I bought 2 small (1 gallon) twisted hibiscus trees. I planted them by the deck of my pool. My ... A: you can put your husbands fears to rest, Hibiscus have a very small root system, in fact, they are ... | |
| areca palm trimming | 5/3/2008 |
| Q: i have a 6 foot areca palm in my yard. i've read they can grow up to 20 feet tall. as it gets ... A: Hey Jeff, yes but you need to do it correctly so as not to ruin its tropical flare; don't just cut ... | |
| Propagating Japanese Aurelia | 5/3/2008 |
| Q: How do I propagatemy Japanese Aurelia? Would "tip stem cutting" work? The plant has done wonderful ... A: yes, stem cuttings is the method used to propagate them, be careful not to touch newly developed ... | |
| crown rot in pygmy date palms | 4/30/2008 |
| Q: I am losing two of my three trunk pygmy date palms and it seems to be crown rot. I would like to ... A: crown rot is usually caused by too much moisture, especially when too much mulch is piled at the ... | |
| saga palms | 4/30/2008 |
| Q: I have several saga palms that are suffering from frostbite. If I cut the ends off where they have ... A: The Sago Palms will grow new fronds from the top, new growth will emerge (they will grow from the ... | |
| pygmy date palm | 4/29/2008 |
| Q: My friend had a pygmy installed by a landscaping company 5 months ago. 1/3 of the root ball is ... A: any palm should be planted with the top portion just above the soil line, but the tale of the tape ... | |
| scheffelera (Umbrella Tree) wilt | 4/29/2008 |
| Q: Nick, I live in So FL and noticed my tree that has been in my atrium (gets very little sun) forever ... A: how long has it been in the container? this could be the problem; a build up of salt from ... | |
| Red banana tree is coming up this season with holes in the leaves | 4/29/2008 |
| Q: We purchased a red banana tree last year and it grew so well, so fast. But now that it is starting ... A: looks like the slugs have found your banana, put some "slug bait" around the base of your plant; ... | |
| sago palm help | 4/28/2008 |
| Q: I relocated my sago from the back to the frontyard 3 weeks ago. I planted it properly but it's ... A: thats just transplant shock, snip off any brown or snapped down fronds, then back off the watering, ... | |
| Queen Palm Tree Seed Pods | 4/27/2008 |
| Q: We have 9 palm trees planted around our pool. Some but not all grow what can turn into large seed ... A: if there was a way, the palm trimmers down here in south Florida would be in the unemployment line; ... | |
| bougainvillea cuttings | 4/26/2008 |
| Q: How do I take cuttings from the bougainvillea..put it in water and after it grows roots, plant it? ... A: take firm tip cuttings (3 inch) dip them in a rooting hormone and then place them in a container of ... | |
| Propagation of bougenvilli and lantana | 4/26/2008 |
| Q: My bougainvillea and lantana are growing wildly. I would like to trim them and use the cutting for ... A: both can be propagated from firm tip cuttings, place them in a container with damp sand with a tray ... | |
| Sea grape tree | 4/26/2008 |
| Q: I have a sea grape tree planted in a concrete planter box between the pool and the hot tub. ... A: Its very possible that it is the cause of the cracks, can you change this by pruning it back? no, ... | |
| white bird of paradise | 4/25/2008 |
| Q: Nine years ago I planted a white bird of paradise in my yard in Pasco Co. Florida. I didn't realize ... A: underground is what looks like a big potato, this needs to be cut out to stop it from forming new ... | |
| House plant | 4/25/2008 |
| Q: Can you prune (cut back) a fictus elastica rubber tree house plant? A: sure, they are very resilient, use a very sharp knife or pruning shears and be careful because they ... | |
| Foxtail yellowish green instead of full color | 4/24/2008 |
| Q: I planted a Foxtail last February that has a trunk diameter of about 9 inches at the base. It grew ... A: what you have done is sufficient to get the required nutrients into the palm, the existing pale ... | |
| mulching around a bananna tree | 4/22/2008 |
| Q: Is pine straw ok for mulching a banana tree. I live in northeastern North Carolina, have just ... A: anything organic on Bananas is perfect, they like anything that will break down and enrich the soil; ... | |
| broken limbs on a banana tree | 4/22/2008 |
| Q: I recently planted my banana trees back outside (I grew them in pots during winter months), and ... A: don't be concerned about the broken leaves, this is common with bananas in windy conditions, mine ... | |
| hawaiian ti plants and mandevilla outdoor planting | 4/21/2008 |
| Q: We live in New Orleans La, and have decided to go tropical with all landscaping,most of which is in ... A: well they are both tropical by nature for sure, and a winter had freeze would do them in; I'm not ... | |
| Another mussaenda question from SOFLA | 4/20/2008 |
| Q: I, too have a mussaenda plant, but I neglected to cut it back last fall. It still has no leaves ... A: it probably is just looking ratty, cut out the dead leaves and trim it back if you like (they are ... | |
| mandevilla | 4/17/2008 |
| Q: When it started getting cool I cut the plant down to the dirt. I also put a layer of mulch over it ... A: If it is still viable it will show growth in a week or so but don't water it so much, the roots will ... | |
| mandevilla | 4/17/2008 |
| Q: When it started getting cool I cut the plant down to the dirt. I also put a layer of mulch over it ... A: John Mandevilla aren't like a bulb, they can't be put in a dark area to rest and then replanted the ... | |
| caffeinated corn plant | 4/15/2008 |
| Q: A coworker and I both have corn plants - mine has been about the same size for many years, and ... A: if your coffee is with cream, then you are adding a tad of calcium to the soil, the coffee itself ... | |
| aucalaspis scale on sagos | 4/15/2008 |
| Q: We have to two sagos with the white scale you mentioned before in response to a question in 2007 ... A: try to find an oil called "ultra-fine oil" , make sure you apply it per instructions during the ... | |
| Too cold? | 4/14/2008 |
| Q: I bought some potted palms so I could dress up the yard for an upcoming wedding in May. The weather ... A: you didn't mention what type of palms they were, but palms are tropical by nature and Maryland? I ... | |
| Banana Trees | 4/14/2008 |
| Q: I live in Corpus Christi, TX. I moved into a home 3 years ago that has a stand of banana trees in a ... A: ok, time for banana 101, First of all one bunch per stalk and then after you cut the bunch off, you ... | |
| palm fronds on sego palm | 4/14/2008 |
| Q: Our landscape people cut every last palm frond off our 20 years old sago palm with nothing left but ... A: albeit it wasn't the wisest thing for your landscaper to do, if it was infested with acalaspis scale ... | |
| kentia palm dying? | 4/13/2008 |
| Q: I bought a tropical plant (a kentia palm, I believe) at Walmart at the end of the summer. I ... A: Kentias do indeed like a dappled shade, but it seems from what you are telling me that you are ... | |
| care of ficus tree | 4/13/2008 |
| Q: I just got a ficus tree that is about 25 years old. I need general info on how to care for it. It ... A: ...that will do just fine, Ficus is not fussy but mist it occasionally to keep spider mites at bay; ... | |
| care of ficus tree | 4/13/2008 |
| Q: I just got a ficus tree that is about 25 years old. I need general info on how to care for it. It ... A: well you inherited probably the easiest tree to care for, it is one of most resilient of foliage ... | |
| bouganvilla | 4/12/2008 |
| Q: I have a beautiful bougainvillea (or had) and this week the leaves are drooping..starting to get ... A: a ground drench used for eliminating bushes and shrubs will act on any root it encounters; roundup ... | |
| Banana tree | 4/12/2008 |
| Q: Our plumber has told us one of our banana trees needs to be removed as it's roots are going into ... A: the root system is like a huge potato with fibrous roots, you need to kill this "corm" (as it is ... | |
| Tropical Plants | 4/11/2008 |
| Q: I live in Alabama and am wanting to know what kind of plants will survive around our pool? ANSWER: ... A: depending on what part of Alabama you are in, climate zone wise, as long as you don't experience a ... | |
| queen palm transplant shock | 4/9/2008 |
| Q: I dug up 3 10-15 queen palms from across town. Cut through most roots but left about 8-16" on all of ... A: Jeff, not a good sign that most the existing fronds turned brown, they would have wilted somewhat ... | |
| Outdoor potted ficus | 4/9/2008 |
| Q: We're in south Louisiana. In Nov. 07, we inherited, from previous homeowners, a large(6ft) potted, ... A: it sounds like it froze bac | |