Ginseng Ficus Bonsai

/Ginseng Ficus Bonsai/

Ginseng Ficus Bonsai

Its form and foliage resembles the Ficus genus, possibly F. microcarpa also known as F. retusa. Ficus are known for their dramatic roots that survive above ground resembling bulbous structures. It makes an ideal houseplant/bonsai provided there is bright indirect light, regular water, and a slow release or organic fertilizer formulated for container plants. Make sure the plant does not sit in water because this may lead to root rot. Feed with a water soluble organic or slow-release fertilizer formulated for container plants at 1/2 the recommended dilution rate during its growth cycle. Again, make sure the container has adequate drainage and allow to drain out completely, but do not allow it to sit in water. Also be aware that most Ficus do not like their locations changed and will show their displeasure by dropping its leaves. Once you find a good site with bright, indirect light and it is thriving, try to keep it there.

By | 2016-02-25T10:06:40-08:00 February 25th, 2016|House Plants|0 Comments
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Cactus Scarring

It is very hard to say what's going on - could be fungal, could be bacterial, or none of the above. Many times these dry spots happen and eventually peel off. Try taking something blunt like an eraser on a pencil and gently put pressure on the largest spot. If it seems firm then don't worry about it for now. If it is soft and squishy then you know there is a problem going on. In either case, as a potential stop gap measure, lay the plant on its side with the affected area up. Shake on a good amount of ground cinnamon as you would use for baking. It is a natural anti-fungal, anti-bacterial. We usually use it to dust the surfaces of new cuttings or to pour on a nasty, squishy infection. In your case it is not going to hurt either way. Dump it on good and let the plant sit like that for about 2 weeks. After that stand it up and go about treating it like normal. See if the affected areas have changed or gotten worse. No change, great. If it got worse then it may need bigger guns for the problem.

By | 2016-02-25T08:48:39-08:00 February 25th, 2016|Plant Diseases|0 Comments
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Hens And Chicks House Leeks

European in origin and are mostly hardy to Zone 4. Sempervivum is a succulent evergreen perennial rosette with an outstanding ability to survive cold and dryness. The plants have a noticeable progression of color changes throughout the year, and are monocarpic. This means each "mother" rosette will flower and die, but they normally produce several generations of "chicks" before that happens. There are approximately 40 known species and they all apparently are capable of easily crossbreeding (hybridizing) with each other. This ability and including natural mutations and variations within the species has resulted in well over 3,000 varieties! Well draining soil is a must as they will not tolerate roots sitting in water for any length of time. They need full to part sun, and in areas where extreme summer temperatures are experienced, some light shade is beneficial during the hottest part of the day. Water thoroughly when you do, and don't water again until the soil has become fairly dry.

By | 2017-09-11T15:49:23-07:00 February 25th, 2016|Succulents|0 Comments
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Whitefly

There appears to be a couple of things on the leaf. The brownish one is not clear at all so if could describe it more and get a better picture that would help. The other white insect looks like whitefly. If you flick a leaf, do they fly away, then settle back down? If so, these are whitefly. Whitefly live on plants throughout their three life-stages. During the first stage, whitefly lay eggs which appear on the underside of leaves as white patches arranged in regular curves. Each female can produce 100-200 eggs at a time. After the eggs hatch, they become larvae that suck out the nutrients of the leaves and stems. (The stickiness you feel is called honeydew, a fancy word for the excretions of the insects.) And as adults they become flying insects that lay more eggs and the cycle repeats itself. Spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap that are direct-contact controls. Another organic remedy is Spinosad that has a 7-10 day residual. Confirm with a local garden center and recommended control. Happy gardening!

By | 2016-02-25T06:22:26-08:00 February 25th, 2016|Plant Pests|0 Comments
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Alder Buckthorn Glossy Buckthorn

This appears to be a young buckthorn but without seeing more of the plant as it matures it's hard to be sure. There are other shrubs and trees with similar foliage. Alder Buckthorn was sold regularly at nurseries as a garden shrub and hedge. This shrub or small tree reaches heights up to 20 feet. However, it has limited decorative qualities without conspicuous flowers or bold foliage. While it was brought over from Europe with good intentions about 200 years ago, this shrub is enormously invasive. All exotic buckthorns produce a fruit that is eaten by birds and other animals. However, the severe laxative effect of these fruits forces fast distribution of the seeds. These shrubs also aggressively resprout from cut or damaged stems. This shrub is invading Midwestern forests and devastating the native plants and shrubs because of the berry / bird association. Environmentally speaking, it would be proactive to remove these shrubs and replace them with something that might better attract pollinators or wildlife without leaving a devastating invasion.

By | 2016-02-25T02:41:38-08:00 February 25th, 2016|Shrubs|0 Comments
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Too Much Sun

This particular plant does not tolerate full sun in the summer. The good news is that this is not a disease, fungus, or pest. The purplish tinge is merely cauliflower being cauliflower. We blanch (cover the developing head with leaves) to make sure that we get nice, perfectly white cauliflower. But genetically, many cauliflowers tend toward purple, red, or blue pigments. When a lot of light hits the developing heads of these cauliflowers, we start to see a purplish tinge form along the edges of the heads. It's still perfectly edible, but may have a slightly "off" flavor -- raw eating is best in this case, because cooking will only increase the off flavor of the affected curds. To prevent it from getting any more purple, it's time to get that head of cauliflower covered up and out of the sunlight. To blanch your cauliflower, simply draw the surrounding leaves up and around the head of cauliflower. Tie the leaves together with garden twine. That's all there is to it, and you won't have to worry about any further coloring of the cauliflower curds.

By | 2016-02-25T01:09:45-08:00 February 25th, 2016|Vegetable Plants|0 Comments
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Excelsa Western Red Cedar

Excelsa stays smaller but still retains the relaxed appearance of the giant Western Red Cedar.
n addition to being great for screening, some of these trees make excellent hedges. If you are tired of using broadleaf evergreens for your 5-15’ sheared hedges, try some of the conifers we just talked about. I would not recommend the Calocedrus decurrens or Chamaecyparis nootkatensis ‘Viridis’ but the others make excellent sheared hedges. For a very formal look, I recommend trimming 3 times during the growing season. For a formal but softer appearance, cut it once in the spring and let it flush; this also makes it easier to design around. Using these conifers allows you to start off big without the availability and transplant problems of broadleaf plants, like English Laurel, that are commonly used as hedges.
Whether using these trees for screens or hedges, they can add beauty and privacy to your next project. Try some of the lesser-known varieties to make your landscape really stand out.

By | 2016-02-24T23:13:01-08:00 February 24th, 2016|Trees|0 Comments
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Tomato Leaf Death

This is probably not an infectious disease, bucaused by weather conditions in the recent past. You will want to pay close attention to your plants and maybe provide fertilizer at flowering and fruit set. Keep up with watering, but you may consider watering more deeply at one time and less frequently because tomatoes need water deep in the soil but don't like to have "wet feet" (too much water closer to the surface, which can happen if you water too often). If the water doesn't soak into your soil quickly, you will want to water until just before runoff starts, stop the water, let it soak in, and then apply water again in the same way; you should do this repeatedly until enough water has been applied. This will also help leach salts that can accumulate in the soil with frequent but not deep watering. HIgh salt content in the soil or water can also cause leaf damage or death. Keep the soil moist to dilute the salts, but don't overwater.

By | 2016-02-24T21:06:36-08:00 February 24th, 2016|Plant Diseases|0 Comments
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Rose Stunted Growth

It's difficult to diagnose what may be ailing your roses just by photo alone. However, most rose problems occur because one or more rose growing requirements needs attention. Here are some suggestions and a link to the Oklahoma Extension Agency for more rose growing information - http://pods.dasnr.okstate.edu/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-1077/HLA-6403web.pdf

The yellow leaf color suggests that your rose needs nitrogen or is being overwatered. All roses require regular fertilization for proper growth. Refer to the Extension Agency fact sheet for fertilization recommendations. Roses don't like to dry out and need consistent moisture. If the soil is consistently soggy or smells, however, it may be receiving too much water. Also, it's unlikely the coneflower is having any affect on your rose.

We suggest going through the Extension Agency guide to see what rose care basics may be missing or need to altered.

Kudos to you for caring about your roses!

By | 2016-02-24T20:49:24-08:00 February 24th, 2016|Plant Diseases|1 Comment
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Mandevilla Vine

This is a tropical vine that can be used as an annual in your area. It grows best in full sun and will produce lots of flowers all summer long. It will die when temperatures go below freezing, but you could bring it indoors and keep it as a houseplant, although it probably won't flower either indoors or until late in the summer next season. These plants need specific hours of daylight in order to come into bloom - they are given this at commercial growers but home owners don't tend to supply the artificial lit "long days" turning into shorter days that bring the plant info flower. So many people who overwinter this are disappointed that although the plant lives and grows well once it's outside again, they don't start to flower until sometime in August. If you want one that's going to bloom all summer, leave it outdoors as long as the weather remains frost-free or treat as an annual and purchase a new plant after danger of frost has passed.

By | 2016-02-24T19:46:02-08:00 February 24th, 2016|Annuals|0 Comments
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