14
votes
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Ants on trees - ok or bad?
The trees have probably got aphids. From the RHS website here:
Ants may be found climbing plants with aphid colonies, they tend the
aphids obtaining honeydew as a reward. The ants will remove aphid
...
- 3,762
14
votes
Ants on trees - ok or bad?
I agree with the other answers, you probably have an aphid infestation.
But rather than spraying your trees to get rid of the aphids, you may try putting a ring of glue on your tree, to get rid of the ...
- 141
12
votes
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What is this plant with red-pink lines/veins on its big green rounded leaves?
This is the Prayer plant (Maranta leuconeura), named because the way the leaves fold up at night is reminiscent of hands held together in prayer. This particular plant is M. leuconeura var. ...
- 7,199
11
votes
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Why is the foliage turning yellow on this climbing indoor vine?
Looks like natural variegation to me...looks like a typical golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum). It's supposed to have these marks. They show up and contrast best with good lighting.
Don't worry about ...
- 51.7k
10
votes
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What are these tall, tree-like shrubs and how often should I water them?
Judging by the new growth being red, I'd say these were Photinia fraserii 'Red Robin'. I can't tell if they're pleached or not, can't see any framework within the foliage, so its possible they're just ...
- 132k
10
votes
What plant is this and how should we take care of it?
First, let me assure you there is no need to apologise for 'your ignorance'; you're not the first to not know a plant name and you certainly won't be the last! That said, this is Schlumbergera ...
- 132k
9
votes
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Pest, etiolation, soil or overwatering? Other causes of pale-brown tips in Aloe Vera
Based on the plump, browning tips on the leaves, this initially appears to be classic aloe over-watering response. BUT, once every three weeks isn't necessarily an unreasonable watering schedule for ...
- 5,839
9
votes
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My basil is "rotting", here's all the clues I have gathered
Looks like a heavy whitefly aphid infestation - they're usually underneath the leaves and suck the sap within, causing the leaf to shrivel and die. You can't treat with pesticide because it's an ...
- 132k
9
votes
Ants on trees - ok or bad?
The problem with not treating for aphids is it's likely to get worse, especially with ants warding off aphid predators. With large trees, it's obviously next to impossible to treat for aphids because ...
- 132k
9
votes
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What to do if too many seedlings are in the same pot?
You seem to have more than a hundred seedlings overall. Are you willing to grow every single one of them into adult plants? I'm assuming not. If that's the case, you'll be discarding them at a later ...
- 301
8
votes
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Need help identifying this plant
This is Equisetum arvense, the field horsetail or common horsetail. It is a herbaceous perennial plant, native throughout the arctic and temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. ~Wikipedia
...
- 3,046
7
votes
Accepted
What is this small plant with large dark green leaves, and how do I care for it?
It's a Fiddle-leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata). Here are some conditions to provide:
Pot/mix: These have large, invasive root systems and need large pots. They like a well drained, peaty mix with some mineral ...
- 51.7k
7
votes
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How can I save these etiolated aloe crowns with under watered stems?
Actually, I was in a similar situation a few weeks ago: A friend gave me an aloe crown that looked exactly like yours (i.e. slightly dry stem, no roots). What worked for me was to simply plant it into ...
- 558
7
votes
How often should I water an Amaryllis plant?
How much to water is a complex question where you have to evaluate how much light is present, the relative humidity and the water needs of the plant. Bulbs do not normally like wet feet. The ...
- 58k
7
votes
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Care for an indoor hyacinth after blooming
Couple of things - when you bought your hyacinth bulb, was it a prepared, pre treated one, sold specially for growing indoors? Or was it just an ordinary outdoor one? It's usual to buy a prepared one ...
- 132k
7
votes
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Growing hot peppers indoors on the West Coast
Read all you can about indoor growing & seek out varieties that are know to do well in containers. (Example 1: Datil Pepper) (Example 2: Pineapple Rocoto) (Example 3: Bhut Jolokia / Ghost)
The ...
- 1,760
7
votes
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How should I take care of a Hyacinth bulb growing in a vase of water?
On the assumption you mean indoors in the sun, it would be best if it wasn't in full, hot sun all day because it might affect the roots - the glass may magnify the sun's rays and cause burning, and ...
- 132k
7
votes
Accepted
Orange spots on Polypodium
I can't get a close enough image to examine the spots thoroughly, but because they're evenly spaced, its most likely these are sporangia, or spore cases. It's a sign of a healthy plant and the spores ...
- 132k
7
votes
Accepted
Benefits of wiping the dust/dirt off the leaves?
Cleaning of plant leaves is usually only done on houseplants, because they're inclined to accumulate a lot of dust over time. Outdoors, exposed to the elements, plants get 'cleaned' by moving air (...
- 132k
7
votes
Can I leave a second, 2 spike phalaenopsis orchid attached to the parent plant for now?
Wow! Why do my orchids never do that? ;-)
As you can read, I have no hands on experience with this, but I know this phenomenon. It is called a Keiki, a baby orchid. The baby is a clone of its mother. ...
- 13k
7
votes
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This plant doesn’t want to stay alive
It's a Fittonia, common name Nerve plant. These can be difficult to keep healthy because they require high humidity, draught free conditions and steady, warm temperatures. They do not appreciate ...
- 132k
7
votes
Accepted
Does it make a pure utilitarian sense to have indoor plants for dark rooms solely for the purpose of purifying the air?
The air purifying meme is based on a study by Nasa in 1989 and has been enthusiastically promoted by anyone who likes or sells plants. Other studies have found that when you do not put the plants in ...
- 58k
6
votes
Accepted
Coleus - annual or 'tender' perennial?
It's listed as an annual many places because any amount of frost is likely to be fatal to an unprotected plant. Fortunately, in your zone frost is not really a certainty.
If the winter is on the mild ...
- 5,839
6
votes
Accepted
When Will Radicchio Leaves Change Colour
You can't judge what a plant will be like from the cotyledons, or first set of leaves, they're almost always green - the true leaves will be much more representative, and should show some colour and a ...
- 132k
6
votes
Dracaena Fragrans Grafting?
Yes, in good light the Mass Cane, or Dracaena massangea as it is also called propagates readily without grafting.
If the stem has died you take a sharp knife or sequiteur and cut off the healthy ...
- 58k
6
votes
Accepted
Brown spots on my Fiddle Fig plant
Will my plant survive?
Yes, but you may wish to consider cutting back the stem to a 6 or 12 inch length to encourage new growth.
Should I cut the brown foliage off?
Too early to say, this looks like ...
- 58k
6
votes
Accepted
Office plant identification and care
I hope it's still alive,
It's definitely a fern, which usually grows beneath the canopy of trees where it's usually shaded and humid. Picture a walk through a misty forest, full of moss and ferns in ...
- 86
6
votes
What's the best way to take care of my potted orchid?
Orchid need light. You should keep it in a well-lit place, but avoiding too much sunshine.
Temperature should remain above 18°C.
Orchid need to have breathing roots: you must make sure your pot allows ...
- 3,729
6
votes
My aloe plants turned grey when I took it outside
Too much sun, no easy, slow transition from dim inside light to right out in the harsh sun - Aloes really hate that, IME.
Put the poor things in the shade and give them time. Eventually they can be ...
- 22.5k
6
votes
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Quality of soil in plants sold in 6" pots sold at retail stores?
Not initially, no, it's not necessary, but within a short space of time during the growing season, you'll find they need bigger pots anyway as they grow because they'll need more root room, so do it ...
- 132k
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