For questions about how to maintain or assess a plant's health.
14
votes
4answers
105 views
How healthy are seedlings sent by mail?
I've never bought seedlings out of seed catalogs, but am sometimes tempted to (especially by the flashy free $20, no obligation seed catalogs).
I'm just wondering what the considerations are when ...
12
votes
3answers
3k views
How should a lemon tree with yellowing leaves, peeling bark, and small fruit be saved?
Our lovely lemon tree is in trouble... We live in Northern California. Starting mid-last summer our tree began yellowing.
We've called an arborist out to the house but the advice has been pretty ...
12
votes
1answer
2k views
Why has my mint plant gone all woody/sparse/stringy?
I grew my mint plant in a pot to contain the roots, and that has worked well for 3-4 months. However, the plant is not really producing fresh leaves now. Is there anything I can do?
11
votes
5answers
1k views
Chlorine vs Chloramine: Both harmful?
I've seen a lot of information saying that chlorine can be bad for some plants and the suggestion to let the water sit out for several hours before using it on plants. I rarely see anything about ...
10
votes
2answers
844 views
Will leaving fallen leaves on the lawn during winter damage the grass?
I have a lot of leaves on my lawn (in Oklahoma). Will it hurt the grass if I leave the leaves there over the winter?
10
votes
1answer
10k views
What conditions are necessary to make a potted aloe vera bloom?
I have a potted aloe vera that I keep indoors during the winter and outside the rest of the year. It has leaves one foot long and two inches wide at the base. I fertilize it with tea from my ...
10
votes
1answer
346 views
How to help a Jade plant heal?
I have a couple of Jade plants ( Crassula ovata ) that I have grown from leaf pieces over the course of the last 10 years or so. This year, for the first time, they appear to have been attacked by ...
9
votes
3answers
421 views
Cherry sapling has orange dots on its leaves and the tips are wilting. What could be wrong?
I recently planted a cherry tree sapling about two weeks ago. It's about a handspan high, and has four leaves. I noticed that it had orange spots on one of the leaves when I planted it.
Click on ...
9
votes
2answers
632 views
What are the disadvantages of having creepers or normal plants indoors?
I never had indoor plants before. Are there disadvantages to having indoor plants in a dusty environment?
If the plant is a creeper, is there a way that I can clean its leaves? Probably by spraying ...
9
votes
1answer
745 views
Are the yellow leaves on my Massangeana due to root rot?
I bought my Massangeana (Dracaena fragens) 15 months ago, and he's be doing really well. Started off with a few burnt ends, but I switched to filtered water and he was good again.
In the last couple ...
9
votes
1answer
255 views
What causes spruce branches to drop their needles?
I have a spruce tree that has a problem. Every year, some branches suddenly drop all of their green needles and die. I would like to prevent this, but I don't know what the cause is. What causes this ...
8
votes
2answers
149 views
What could be the cause of death for my carnivorous plants?
In the past year I've had a venus flytrap and two sundews that each arrived healthy, flourished (and ate!) for a month or two, and then died (after which I tried again and bought a new one!). They all ...
8
votes
2answers
263 views
Why are there kinks in my aloe vera leaves?
On several of my aloe vera plants, the leaves suddenly became kinked. The leaf would get very thin in a spot and bend over. It starts near the tip and is most noticeable on older leaves. What is ...
8
votes
2answers
332 views
What should I do after a pepper plant has partly broken under its own weight?
So, I'm sitting here on my computer and get the life scared out of me by a horrible cracking, rustling, thudding sound. I turn to find one of my peppers plants has broken - apparently one of the upper ...
8
votes
2answers
2k views
My basil had a shock after transplanting. What did I do wrong?
First a little backstory: I bought the basil at a supermarket, where it came in a small plastic vase. I kept it in this vase for three weeks. During these three weeks, I did the following:
kept it ...
8
votes
1answer
862 views
Why does my pepper plant have yellowing, drying and curling leaves?
One of my pepper plants has so far suffered from pests, blossom end rot and odd skin blemishes. Unfortunately, the plant is now taking a turn for the worse and looking rather unhealthy.
The leaves ...
8
votes
2answers
656 views
How do I treat rhubarb rust?
I have a small rhubarb plant and one of the stems has gotten some rust on it. What should I do? (there are only 3 small stems on the plant)
8
votes
1answer
143 views
How long do amaryllis bulbs live?
I've had an amaryllis bulb in a pot for about 5 years now and the bulb hasn't been doing much for, I reckon, over 6 months. When should I consider getting rid of it? Could it have run its course?
8
votes
1answer
261 views
Why did the stem suddenly weaken in my oriental poppy?
I have an oriental poppy 'Patty's Plum' growing in new potting compost in a pot with good drainage. It sits in full sun, and I water it as needed in the recent dry weather. I purchased it from a ...
8
votes
1answer
263 views
Should my spruce tree roots be covered?
This Norway spruce's roots have always been on top of the ground. The soil it is growing on is very hard white dry soil with a layer of decayed needles on top. It has been growing fine so far, but ...
8
votes
1answer
503 views
How do you save an aloe plant whose stem is weak and appears to be rotting?
I have a large aloe plant that is probably 5 years old and has bloomed twice. Stem is very tall and leaves are approximately 2½ to 3ft (750 to 900mm) long and still very green except at the stem ...
8
votes
1answer
117 views
Does Rebutia grow better when grafted onto an Echinopsis?
I have tried growing rebutias before, and failed because the plants lacked vigor and grew slowly. Would they do better if I flat-grafted it onto a columnar Echinopsis, to increase vigor? Are there any ...
7
votes
1answer
350 views
When should I transfer from pod to pot or ground?
Since the pre-sprouted plant season is in full bloom, what is a good indicator of the time to transfer a pre-sprouted plant? For instance I have a mexi-bell pepper in a plastic pod and two basil ...
7
votes
2answers
2k views
How does pH affect plant growth?
I am aware that different plants thrive/need different pH levels to grow. What is it about the alkalinity/acidity of the soil that effects how a plant grows?
Note: I understand that this could have ...
7
votes
2answers
740 views
A few leaves on my peppers are showing multiple small holes, should I be worried?
I've noticed that a small number of the leaves on my pepper plants are showing several tiny holes through their surface. These are focused towards the stem of the leaf, and not so much towards the ...
7
votes
2answers
75 views
Is it possible to get a plant that is just a genetic dud?
Is it possible that an instance of a plant could just be a dud. As in even with great care it is never healthy?
7
votes
1answer
175 views
Can this peace lily be saved?
We have bought this peace lily plant one or 2 months ago, but suddenly all life seems to have gone out of it. Can we still save it?
We watered it once a week, so I don't think that is the issue.
7
votes
1answer
391 views
What are the optimal growing conditions for chives?
I have a few questions about starting chives (Allium schoenoprasum) and keeping them happy. I understand chives can survive and grow in many conditions, but what are the best conditions? A few ...
7
votes
2answers
234 views
Cut lupines to the ground, will they grow back next year?
Our lupines (also called lupin in the UK) were done flowering for the year and were harboring an aphid infestation... so I mowed them. Are the "stumps" likely to regrow next year or do the plants rely ...
7
votes
1answer
446 views
How can I help a sunburned jade tree recover?
I put my jade tree out to get some sun yesterday, and apparently the sun was a little too blazingly direct. Instead of the healthy red edges I was expecting to see, several of the leaves are now ...
7
votes
1answer
712 views
Should you trim off half yellowed leaves on an indoor plant?
My mum has a plant (Aglaonema modestum) which she doesn't quite take care of, and it is messy with dead leaves and half yellow, half green leaves.
I find them very ugly and want to trim them off. The ...
6
votes
2answers
116 views
What is this fungus or weed growing in my flower bed?
I came home today and noticed two patches of this stuff in my flower bed. I recently put down new mulch and I just started watering my lawn again. I live in Texas.
1) Is this a fungus?
2) Is it ...
6
votes
2answers
394 views
Why are my basil seedlings failing to thrive?
I have grown basil from seeds in a large pot. They have germinated but are now failing to thrive. They are now about 3 weeks old.
They get the afternoon sun and are watered daily. I applied Seasol ...
6
votes
1answer
514 views
Can an aloe plant that's completely rotten at the base be cured?
I had a potted aloe plant that looked like a set of leaves coming out of a single spot at ground level. One day it just fell apart - the leaves and the roots got completely rotten at ground level and ...
6
votes
1answer
465 views
Why do my gardenias turn yellow before they bloom?
My gardenias seem to be happy all year around, but when they bloom, they turn half yellow. Is there a way to keep them green through the bloom phase?
6
votes
1answer
71 views
Will a winter-damaged hosta self repair?
In winter, the next-years growth spikes of some of my Regal Blue Hostas got trampled off, and now that they're up, the leaves all have blunt-ended, ragged ends that curl and ripple. This is right by ...
6
votes
1answer
93 views
Potted sweet peas have shot up quicker then expected
Please help i've never grown sweetpeas and wasn't sure what to expect when I chucked the seeds that had started to grow in the packet in with the ones i'd started already and now they have all grown ...
6
votes
1answer
65 views
Can multiple arborvitaes be made to grow uniformly to the same height?
Arborvitaes grown in rows often grow unevenly with some growing twice as much as others of the same age and with the same care. Is it possible to prevent this, and make all the trees in one row look ...
5
votes
3answers
5k views
Why has our lucky bamboo turned yellow?
Our lucky bamboo has turned yellow in a very short time, after we've had it for almost 2 years. We've trimmed all yellow leaves, and changed the pebble to clean the green algae - what else can be ...
5
votes
2answers
1k views
Does Arugula/rocket flowering mean the plant's crop season is over?
I sowed arugula/rocket in an outside pot 2 months ago. As it was my first sowing of rocket, it turned out to be too dense so I have thinned it out.
It was growing nicely, but all of a sudden it ...
5
votes
3answers
2k views
How do I stop dog urine from killing grass?
Everywhere I've lived, the dog urine just kills the grass. I've found nothing on the internet and the garden person at the local hardware said it's impossible. Any suggestions?
5
votes
1answer
236 views
What is causing diseased leaves on my French beans?
My French bean plants have diseased leaves as shown below:
What can be causing this? The beans themselves are relatively plentiful.
Location: India. Weather In May-June: Hot! > 95F days.
The ...
5
votes
1answer
240 views
What Should I look (out) for when purchasing a hydrangea plant?
I was about to buy a potted hydrangea as a last minute gift. I looked at the stem and it appeared dry, brittle and brown at the base of the plant. It's nice and green and firm near the heads of the ...
5
votes
1answer
294 views
Why is my hosta shrinking?
I have a blue giant hosta. It is in fertile soil and gets plenty of water. I had been dividing it every few years but lately it has started to shrink. I don't want to lose it. How can I get it back?
5
votes
1answer
169 views
Can I cover an evergreen shrub in winter?
I have a small evergreen shrub that gets frost burn in winter. I had been told to use tar paper on it over winter, but I was concerned that since it is a broad-leaved evergreen it might need light in ...
4
votes
2answers
739 views
Can portulacas be overwintered indoors?
My portulaca is growing a clump of short stems at the base of the plant like a sedum. The sedums use this to grow the next years growth. Could I dig my portulaca up and overwinter it indoors?
4
votes
2answers
104 views
What is this little narrow leaved rosette forming plant?
I have a little plant and don't know it's name. I don't know how to maintain it or what kind of soil or fertilizer it needs. Any suggestion is welcomed in advance!
Edit1: Can I bring out the root, ...
4
votes
1answer
366 views
What is the best way to keep a tree growing straight?
When most trees get over ten feet tall, they seem to be trying to grow every way but up. Staking would be impractical because of scale, and pruning often helps but does not force the tree to grow up. ...
4
votes
2answers
323 views
Restoring overwatered rosemary
I have several rosemary bushes in the backyard; I live in San Francisco and rosemary thrives here.
However, the landlord overwatered one of the bushes for several months. It's now got some kind of ...
4
votes
1answer
227 views
What's causing these yellow veins on my Okra leaves?
My Okra leaves have turned as shown below
Is this a deficiency or a disease? How can I remedy this?
Location: India. Weather In May-June: Hot! > 95F days.
Current: Overcast with light rains.
