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Spoon Mum

This is spoon-petal mum, so named because of the shape of its petals. They are often sold for Easter or Mother's day plants, and should be considered a long-lasting "cut flower" not a plant that will be hardy though the winter. But since there are many varieties of these spoon mums, and some of them can be hardy on Long Island, you could keep it alive indoors until late May and then plant it outside to see what happens. Be sure to remove any gift foil that might be on the pot, and don't' let the plant dry out and wilt. Gift plants like this are usually root bound and will dry quickly. By the same token you don't want to keep mums constantly wet or let the pot sit in a saucer of water because this causes root rot and a yellowing/dying of the foliage. Plant this outside in a sunny location and water when dry at first, then once a week after the end of June. Cut the faded flowers off the top, leaving at least 6 inches of leaves and stems. After that you'll have to let the plant go through the next winter to find out if this one is hardy for you.

By | 2016-02-14T20:37:30-08:00 February 14th, 2016|House Plants|0 Comments
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Dracaena Problem

There could be one or more of several reasons why the leaves are turning brown: make sure when watering (about once every 7 days) that the soil feels dry down to the first knuckle before watering again and that the water drains out without allowing the plant to sit in water (if there is a saucer under the plant and it is sitting in the water after watering, then this may lead to root rot); feed with a slow-release or organic fertilizer formulated for container plants; the potting soil should be a well-draining commercial potting soil or cactus potting soil (sterile and well-draining); needs bright, indirect light. Finally, if the leaves continue to brown, suggest you switch to steam iron water - many houseplants come from the rainforest and are sensitive to the salts in tap water. There could also be some disease issues. Here is more info: http://www.hgtv.com/landscaping/qa-leaf-spots-on-dracaena/index.html

By | 2016-02-14T10:36:29-08:00 February 14th, 2016|House Plants|0 Comments
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Edema On Schlumbergera

Your Thanksgiving/Christmas cactus may have Edema, also called Oedema. This leaf condition happens on plants for a variety of reasons, and to discover why it might be going on do the following: 1. This sometimes happens when a plant is root bound and the roots are now clogging the drainage hole, or the potting mix has gotten very compact and broken down. If your plant has been in the same pot for awhile it probably needs a new pot with new potting mix. Be sure the pot has a drainage hole and don't put any rocks, shards etc in the bottom of the pot.
2. If this plant is sitting in a saucer of water frequently it may be happening because it's being kept too moist. Edema often occurs when plants are taking up more moisture than they respire - it can be an issue in the winter if the plant is in a cool room as well.
3. Plants in soil that is low in potassium and calcium are more prone to edema - fertilize with a good, all round houseplant fertilizer used according to directions.

By | 2016-02-13T22:29:58-08:00 February 13th, 2016|House Plants|1 Comment
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Moth Orchid Care Notes

Here are a few care tips for your moth orchid, (Phalaenopsis species): This is a very drought tolerant orchid. Because it's leaves are succulent, it can also tolerate normal household humidity. Moth orchids bloom once or twice a year. In between they'll produce a few new leaves. Don't expect them to bloom continuously. How often are you feeding them? In winter (slow growth time) they don't really need food. If your orchids are potted in bark, once a week thorough watering is good. If they are potted in long grain sphagnum moss, then push your finger into the moss and if it feels dry an inch down, it's time to water. Feed with a slow release or organic fertilizer formulated for blooming container plants and provide bright, indirect light indoors (as you noticed, it is best not to place close to a window during frosty temperatures). Do not allow the plant to sit in water as this may lead to root rot. It is best to water in the sink, flush out any excess salt build-up, allow to drain out completely before setting it back on a saucer.

By | 2016-02-13T17:46:16-08:00 February 13th, 2016|House Plants|0 Comments
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Dracaena Problem

We are so sorry your plant is not recovering and we may be the bearer of sad news. The root rot may have been too advanced for any remedy, but was the potting soil a commercial potting soil or cactus potting soil (sterile and well-draining)? It appears quite dense - we hesitate to suggest you re-pot it and add about 20% perlite or vermiiculite to lighten it up because the plant has been so stressed, it might be at a point of no return. Perhaps at this stage, it is best to make sure when watering (about once every 7 days) when the soil feels dry down to the first knuckle that the water drains out without allowing the plant to sit in water (are there saucers under the plants - if so this may have been the problem). Also only feed with a slow-release or organic fertilizer (we mentioned this before) formulated for container plants. Again, the damage may be too extensive, but we are hopeful for you. One final note about transplanting, it needs to be at the same soil level as when it was in its original container.

By | 2016-02-13T14:54:19-08:00 February 13th, 2016|House Plants|0 Comments
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Keeping Poinsettia From Year To Year

To keep your poinsettia for next year you can do the following:
1. Remove foil so that the plant has good drainage. Keep it in a very bright window and water before the plant wilts, but don't let it stay swampy wet.
2. In May transplant to a larger pot, put outside in morning sun and afternoon shade. The red color will have faded by that point and some of the leaves may have fallen off.
3. Fertilize regularly through the summer and don't let the plant dry out.
4. In September bring it in again. In September provide a constant 14 hours of darkness out of each 24 hours to stimulate color on the bracts. That means no lights in a room, or light from a streetlight for 14 hours. If you don't do this the plant may get a faint red color in January, but won't be really red as it is now.
5. Poinsettias that have been kept as houseplants for awhile are "leaner and meaner" than the ones we buy at Christmas time; those are greenhouse plants raised in the idea environment of water, fertilizer, light etc so they are big and lush. Without a greenhouse it's difficult to produce the same look again the following year, but they still make interesting indoor plants.

By | 2016-01-25T20:21:01-08:00 January 25th, 2016|House Plants|0 Comments
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Spider Mites

This looks like spider mite damage. We can see that we earlier suggested your damage might be from piercing sucking insects. Spider mites fall into this category of plant pest. Look for the fine webbing and small spider like mites on the under sides of the leaves. The mites themselves are very difficult to see with the human eye, so hold a piece of paper below the leaf and tap or shake slightly to see if anything falls off, or, take a spray bottle of water and spray it in the leaf axils. While the mites are very difficult to see, their webs catch the water and becomes more easily visible. You may wish to show your photo to a local garden center for confirmation of the problem, so they can help you select the right control.

Are you growing under artificial light? Spider mites thrive in hot dry conditions and plants growing under artificial lights are often especially hot and dry. (The distorted light in your photograph is typical of fluorescent lighting, which is why we ask.) Spider mites spread quickly, so check any other plants growing in this area for signs of a problem.

By | 2016-01-25T14:35:32-08:00 January 25th, 2016|House Plants|0 Comments
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Root Rot Or Pot Bound

Without taking the plant out of the pot it's impossible to know for sure, but this looks like signs of either root rot or the plant being too "pot bound." Sometimes these go hand in hand because when a plant is very pot bound (there are too many roots filling the pot and it's too crowded) the roots clog the drainage hole so instead of draining as it should the pot retains too much moisture and the roots rot.

Here's what you need to do to confirm our thinking here: Tip the plant upside down holding your hand around the stem of the plant to support the soil. Remove the pot. If you see a mass of congested roots you'll know that the plant is indeed too pot bound. If those roots are brown instead of white, you'll know that root rot is going on. Healthy roots should be white in color.

If you want to save the plant, get a new pot that's about 2" larger on all sides and bottom, and transplant the plant into this using new potting soil in the spaces. Do not put any rocks, shards or other debris in the bottom "for drainage" no matter what your neighbor or mother might have told you. ;-) Professional growers know that stuff in the bottom of pots is bad for plants. Be sure the new pot has a drainage hole and that you have a saucer under it to catch excess water. After two weeks in the new pot, use a general fertilizer meant for houseplants according to directions.

By | 2016-01-22T16:05:41-08:00 January 22nd, 2016|House Plants|0 Comments
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Yellowing Leaves Lemon Tree Indoors

This is a common problem and there are several things that cause yellowing leaves on citrus at this time of year.
1. Lack of light. Plants will drop leaves if they aren't in enough sun. Citrus want lots of light inside and do best in a south-facing window in direct sun.
2. Over or under watering. Citrus do best with steadily moist soil but not swampy wet. Make sure that when the plant is watered you're getting the entire root ball wet, but don't let the pot sit in the saucer of water for more than an hour. You can use an old bath towel to soak up the excess.
3. Lack of nutrients. Citrus should be fed regularly - unlike other houseplants that are given a rest in the winter, citrus can use fertilization 12 months a year. You can buy organic citrus food online and feed according to directions.
4. Mites are common on citrus indoors and can cause leaf yellowing and drop. Wash underside of leaves with a damp, soft cloth regularly to help control citrus mites indoors.
5. These plants are also prone to scale although that doesn't cause yellowing of leaves - we're just mentioning it and if your plant gets sticky, scale is probably the cause. Look for tan bumps on stems and leaf veins on top of and underside of leaves.

By | 2016-01-22T14:27:10-08:00 January 22nd, 2016|House Plants|0 Comments
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Peace Lily Problem

We do not see any disease problem but there are a few cultural care tips that might help. Peace Lily plants do best indoors in bright, indirect light, w/regular water, but do not allow the plant to sit in water as this may lead to root rot. Since peace lilies are low light plants, do not place where there is direct sunlight, but do provide bright, indirect light. Black or brown leaf tips sometimes develop when humidity is low or irregular watering practices; place your plants on a pebble tray with water just up to the bottom of the pot to raise ambient humidity. Peace lilies are susceptible to salts in tap water which sometimes causes blackening of leaves. Try using distilled water (steam iron water). Some other things to check on: how often do you fertilize? Make sure you feed with a slow-release or organic fertilizer low in salts that is formulated for container houseplants. Again, make sure the pot has drainage holes, water in the sink and allow the salts to leach out and do not allow it to sit in a saucer or pot with water. Peace lilies are dramatic wilters when they get too dry. They bounce back but it weakens the plant.

By | 2016-01-22T09:34:28-08:00 January 22nd, 2016|House Plants|0 Comments
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