Traditional Jade Plant

/Traditional Jade Plant/

Traditional Jade Plant

Your plant is likely a jade plant, Crassula argentea, a popular succulent. Grows well indoors in very bright indirect light or outdoors in full sun, but does not tolerate freezing temperatures. Water when the soil feels dry down to the first knuckle. Do not over-water. Also make sure if in a container has drainage holes. Do not allow plant to sit in water as this may lead to root rot. Common names can be confusing, entertaining, and interesting! Also known as Chinese rubber
tree, money plant, or dollar plant, these plants were once thought to bring good luck to their
owners so were often given as housewarming gifts. Many people who practice Feng Shui say that having one of these plants in your home, with their roundish leaves like coins, helps to bring money into your life. Also the fact that fallen leaves can readily start new plants is another
analogy for increasing wealth and abundance.

By | 2016-03-06T18:53:35-08:00 March 6th, 2016|Succulents|1 Comment
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Pests Of Avocado

Its hard to say because we can't see enough detail of these organisms to make a definitive ID. It looks like it could be a sap sucking insect; either: Wooly Aphid - though they aren't common on Avo (that we know of), or it could be Mealybug. We can't say if the larger insect is an adult stage of male mealybug, but we don't really see any adult females that would be ready to mate either. This larger insect could be a beneficial insect preying on the other smaller white organisms, or it could just be a different insect altogether, that happened to be present when you saw it. It does appear as if there may be some feeding damage (again, its hard to see in this photo), so we recommend removing these organisms with a cotton swab or other cloth, and continue to monitor for more signs of them. If you see them again, we recommend you use a pesticidal soap or horticultural oil on the organism directly (you may not need to treat the whole tree). Follow all product label directions to avoid causing damage to plants.

By | 2016-03-06T18:36:09-08:00 March 6th, 2016|Plant Pests|0 Comments
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Paint Brush

Your lovely plant is likely H. albiflos, native to South Africa and is an evergreen, bulbous type plant with smooth, strap-shaped leaves and umbels of white "flowers" (stamens) that have yellow tipped anthers. Flowers are followed by berries. Provide dappled shade and regular to moderate water once established. Indoors in regions where the autumn and winter months are prone to frost outdoors, place in an area that receives bright, indirect light, rotate the pot regularly so that it receives an even amount of light and water when the soil feels dry down to the first knuckle. Hopefully the container has drainage holes - water in the sink allowing the water to drain out completely before returning to a cover decorative pot or saucer. Do not allow plant to sit in water as this may lead to root rot. Feed with a slow-release or organic fertilizer formulated for container plants during its grown and "bloom" cycles.

By | 2017-10-08T01:37:25-07:00 March 6th, 2016|Perennials|0 Comments
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Dracaena Problem

There could be one or more of several reasons why the leaves are falling off: make sure when watering (about once every 7 days) that the soil feels dry down to the first knuckle before watering again (but no drier) 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 and leaf edge browning); 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 fall off, 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 | 2016-03-06T17:49:05-08:00 March 6th, 2016|House Plants|0 Comments
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Scale Insects On Camellia

Scale insects are not uncommon on camellia, nor are aphids, mealybugs, whitefly and spider mites; they often coexist on stressed plants. As they feed, the leaves turn yellow, often develop spots, and fall off. There can be webs and sticky exudate that soon grows black sooty mold. Start gaining control by spraying the plants thoroughly, if temperatures permit, with a horticultural oil spray. These oils are highly refined and will not burn if used as directed on the label and should be used each winter on camellias. In hot weather, use a non-oil control product made for piercing and sucking insects such as pyrethrin or neem. Spray the trunks and upper and lower leaf surfaces. This looks like a serious infestation so do consider also using a systemic insecticide to continue control this year. Keep fallen leaves raked up; water and fertilize as usual. The plants are tough; with your help, they'll shake off the insect issues.

By | 2016-03-06T16:36:08-08:00 March 6th, 2016|Shrubs|0 Comments
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Horn Or Nose On Tomato Fruit

When tomatoes get a “horn” or nose it is a physiological/genetic disorder. Such distorted growth starts when the tomato is just a microscopic speck. A few cells divide in an odd way and the fruit produces an extra locule. Locules are the interior segments you see in a tomato – if you cut the fruit in half horizontally you’ll see between 4 and six separate segments, right? Well such growths happen when a cell divides in an odd way and starts to make an extra segment that gets pushed up out of the fruit structure. This is often caused by weather – either very cool or very hot – while the tomato is fruiting. Scientists report seeing fewer such mutations when weather is constantly in the 70 to 85 degree range. It also happens more frequently in heirlooms, but you will see a genetic mutation about 1 in 1,000 plants…not too common but not very rare either!

You can have fun with such fruit – ask your friends to say who it looks like, or develop a caption for what it’s thinking!

By | 2016-03-06T15:34:15-08:00 March 6th, 2016|Vegetable Plants|0 Comments
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Weeping Mulberry

This appears to be a weeping mulberry. There are several species, red, white, and black mulberry. Some bear fruit. The fruit resembles miniature blackberries. Needs full sun and regular to ample water. Mulberries can get quite tall and aggressive. Prune back after the berries have been harvested to control its size.

Glossy, deep-green summer foliage cascading from its ground-dusting stems is the most attractive feature of the weeping mulberry (Morus alba). The two main types of weeping mulberry are the cultivars "Pendula" and "Chaparral," both commonly known as white mulberry for their greenish-white but inconspicuous spring blossoms. "Pendula" bears edible fruit; "Chaparral" bears no fruit but is needed for pollination. Weeping mulberry is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 8. Unless you are growing this mulberry to feed silkworms, the last thing you want are creatures eating your mulberry leaves. Don’t panic. Controlling these pests is relatively easy.

By | 2016-03-06T15:13:54-08:00 March 6th, 2016|Trees|0 Comments
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Agave

Agave potatorum "kiji-jo-kan" is a very unusual, rare color form of agave with striped foliage and rusty thorns. Also known as the “Butterfly Agave” for the shape of the leaves that resemble butterfly wings. The rosettes are wider at the bottom. It may not bloom until it is 10 years old.

Cultivation: Agave potatorum is a relatively easy-to-grow species, though not as cold-hardy as many of the more northerly-occurring species (Winter hardy to around -3° C degrees) But it is best to protect it from frost to avoid disfiguring the foliage. Suited for light shade to full sun, but better with some shade in summer. It needs a very well-drained soil. It grows fairly fast in summer if provided with copious water, but allow to dry thoroughly before watering again (the more water and fertilizer this plant gets, the faster it will grow). During the winter months, one should only water enough to keep the leaves from shrivelling.

By | 2016-03-06T11:54:14-08:00 March 6th, 2016|Succulents|0 Comments
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Azalea Dieback

This looks like an ailing Azalea. It may be that this plant suffered winter damage in the past cold season, and or drought-damage from the dry conditions the past summer. In any event, you can try to bring it back but many people find that when an azalea has significant dieback such as this the plant doesn't become more attractive again.
However, if you want to try here's what you do:
1. Prune out all dead wood. Any twigs that snap off easily are dead - remove them.
2. Apply a light application of an organic fertilizer such as Hollytone.
3. Water the plant deeply once a week, even through this fall.
4. Apply a layer of composted cow manure all around the plant after you've spread the fertilizer.
5. Next year be sure to water deeply once a week - mulch on top of the composted manure at a depth of 2" will help - keep mulch away from the stem, however, as azaleas and rhody's don't like their stems buried.

By | 2016-03-06T11:48:56-08:00 March 6th, 2016|Shrubs|0 Comments
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Poison Ivy

We can't say for sure, but it looks like poison ivy. Until we figure this out, please don't touch the plant. But if you could take another photo, showing whether the plant has groupings of 3 leaflets or 5 leaflets, that would help. The adage "leaves of 3, let it be" is important for poison ivy because it can be a clump, shrub or a woody vine. Found most everywhere, it adapts to sun or shade conditions, various soil types, as well as wet or dry environments and can have different leaf shapes. But usually when the plant is young, its stems are a light reddish-green and can be hairy or hairless. When the plant matures more, the stems become brown and woody. If it is growing in your garden as a volunteer, suggest you dig it out as a precaution and wear gloves in case it is poison ivy. Dispose in the trash, not a compost pile. You also have other weeds and ivies growing in there so it would be best to clear out the whole area and start over.

By | 2016-03-06T04:46:04-08:00 March 6th, 2016|Weeds|0 Comments
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