Mandevilla Vine

/Mandevilla Vine/

Mandevilla Vine

This is a tropical vine that can be used as an perennial 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 | 2016-02-18T14:10:26-08:00 February 18th, 2016|Vine Plants|0 Comments
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Hardy Pampas Grass

Called hardy pampas grass, native to Southern Europe and the Meditterean. Large, full flowered species grows up to 14' tall.Truly one of the giants of the grass world. Certainly its most outstanding feature is its size. The tall flower stalks of Erianthus extend high above the foliage,and appear in late September to late October. The foliage itself is a handsome gray-green mound, similar in appearance to 'pampas' grass and is often used as a substitute in northern growing areas. Prefers full sun and well-draining soil; is somewhat drought tolerant when established. Wet sites shorten its life considerably and leads to extensive winter injury. Spectacular fall color and considered deer resistant when established.

USDA ZONES: 6, 7, 8, 9
EXPOSURE: full sun
HEIGHT: 8 - 10' foliage, plumes reaching 12 - 14'
SPREAD: 6 - 8'
BLOOM TIME: late summer to early fall
FLOWER COLOR: white
SOIL/WATER REQUIREMENTS: Average Water Needs; well-drained soil; drought tolerant

By | 2017-09-11T15:49:23-07:00 February 18th, 2016|Grasses|1 Comment
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Scale Insects

You are correct. We can't see clearly what the species the scale is, but it is some kind of scale insect. These insects don't usually cause major problems to plant health unless their population is very large. However, if you don't control them, and the conditions are right for their reproduction, they can get out of control. Keep your plant healthy and it will be better able to withstand the insect feeding. Control for scales varies by species or type of scale. We've included a link for your reference in controlling them outdoors, but if this is a house-plant and the population is not large right now, we suggest you use a dilute solution of rubbing alcohol and water on a damp cloth and wipe the scales off of the leaf and stems (if they are also feeding there). Don't over-do the alcohol as you can cause damage to the protective leaf cuticle with too high a concentration. Keep an eye out and continue to remove them.
For outdoor plants: http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/QT/scalescard.html

By | 2016-02-18T12:32:01-08:00 February 18th, 2016|Plant Pests|1 Comment
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Chewing Insect

The problem may be chewing insects. Have you looked at the undersides of the leaves for a caterpillar? If you don't see an insect, we would normally suggest you cut off all the damaged foliage but since your plant is still immature without too many leaves, leave them be and check the unaffected leaves several times a day to see if it's on-going. Chewing insects are usually large enough to see with the naked eye, but they can be green, so look closely. If it is a chewing insect, spray with an organic control such as Spinosad - it has a 7-10 day residual - but spray in the early evening after the bees have returned to their hives. Once the spray has dried it is safe for beneficials. There are also synthetic systemics but make sure it is formulated for edible herbs. Suggest you show a few of these leaf samples to a horticulturist at a garden center for confirmation of the problem and suggested controls.

By | 2016-02-18T12:10:40-08:00 February 18th, 2016|Plant Pests|0 Comments
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Powdery Miildew

Inspect the leaves for a white substance known as powdery mildew. As with many plants, powdery mildew can attack curry plants, leading to distorted and discolored foliage. White spots on affected leaves are always present, and yellowish-brown spots may appear at the tips and throughout the entire body of leaves when the disease is severe. Applying sulfur and horticulture oil fungicides before powdery mildew is present helps prevent the disease. Fungicides that contain bacillus subtilis may kill the fungus after it affects the curry plant.

This is likely powdery mildew disease. It starts out looking like grey mold on the leaf and can then spread to cover the entire leaf surface. You can read more about it, along with options for treatment, here: http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/pests/plant_pests/flowers/hgic2049.html If the various treatments described in the link above do not work and If you start having some wilt on the plant too then it might become difficult to save it.

By | 2016-02-18T11:14:07-08:00 February 18th, 2016|Plant Diseases|0 Comments
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Citrus Issues

The answer to your question is: "if it was my tree, I would be concerned." There appears to possibly be a couple of things going on here: 1 - the black areas on the leaves could be a sign of a fungal leaf disease or a nutrient issue and 2 - the discoloration of the leaves are most likely a result of a nutrient deficiency. For a more positive ID on both, we would suggest taking a bagged sample into your local garden center and/or you local Cooperative Extension office. These links might be helpful:
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/GARDEN/FRUIT/citrus.html
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/C107/m107bpleaftwigdis.html
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/GARDEN/FRUIT/ENVIRON/mineraldef.html
Regarding the fertilization issue, we strongly suggest investing in a good quality fertilizer specifically formulated for Citrus and follow the directions on the container. Your local garden center should be able to make suggestions. Make sure that it includes micronutrients.

By | 2016-02-18T10:25:26-08:00 February 18th, 2016|Fruit Plants & Trees|0 Comments
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Aphids On Leafy Vegetables

You have an infestation of Aphids. They will typically feed on the newest plant growth. You can identify Aphids (with a magnifying lens) by the two "cornicles" (structures that look like tiny tailpipes) extending from the rear. If you see the cornicles, you will want to control these insects with a pesticidal soap, available at your local garden center or wash off with a strong stream of water. These insects reproduce rapidly (giving live birth, rather than laying eggs), so you can also narrow the possible insect species down if you see that some of them are smaller versions of the larger ones. Sometimes an adult will develop wings and they look a bit different than the rest, but they'll still have the "tailpipes". Also, the white bits are probably the cast-off exoskeletons of aphids, while the green or grayish moving creatures are the aphids themselves.Here is a link that you might find helpful: http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/QT/aphidscard.html

By | 2016-02-18T08:53:41-08:00 February 18th, 2016|Plant Pests|0 Comments
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Dracaena Problem

There could be one or more of several reasons why the leaves are spotting and the stem is rotting: make sure when watering (about once every 7-10 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 or stem 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-the spots may be due to leaf burn from too much direct sunlight. Finally, if the leaves continue to spot and discolor, 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 | 2016-02-18T07:31:49-08:00 February 18th, 2016|House Plants|0 Comments
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Black Spot On Rose

If this is the fungal disease called Black Spot, it is a very common disease affecting landscape roses. It is common when the weather is warm and humid. It can usually be managed by avoiding overhead watering, and removing all affected leaves as soon as they emerge. Discard them in the trash or burn them, never add to your compost. Prune out any badly affected stems.
Our thoughts are to prune your roses (making sure to discard all plant parts) as directed in this article: http://www.rosemagazine.com/pages/pruning.asp
You should also weed the bed as best you can and consider mulching to give them a good head start come spring.
An excellent product that we have used and had good luck with is the Bayer line of products for roses. The All-In-One Rose care is an excellent product for insect, diseases, and fertilization. Make sure to follow the directions on the label. They also have an organic line called Natria if that is your preference.

By | 2016-02-18T06:44:46-08:00 February 18th, 2016|Plant Diseases|0 Comments
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Plains Lovegrass

We think your grass is Plains lovegrass, 1-3 ft., tufted, perennial bunchgrass with long, narrow leaf blades. The stout, erect flowering culm supports a seed head nearly half as long as the entire plant. The airy seed head is diffusely branched with many small spikelets.

This plant grows in desert grassland, prairie, chaparral, shrubsteppe, pinyon-juniper woodland, and oak-dominated woodlands. It is often found in dry, sloping areas. It can take hold easily in disturbed habitat. It does best in sandy soil types, and areas with bimodal precipitation patterns, having wet seasons in winter and summer. In its native habitat it is one of the first plants to turn green in the spring. It has been observed to increase in abundance after wildfire.This grass makes a good forage for livestock, but it decreases with overgrazing. Some game birds have been noted to eat the seeds

Grasses can be very hard to identify without seeing the structure of the stems and leaves.

Hope this is of some help.

By | 2017-09-11T15:49:23-07:00 February 18th, 2016|Grasses|0 Comments
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