Botanic Garden >> Gardening > >> Question and Answer >> Plant Diseases

Jelly-Like Crystals in Garden Beds: Likely Soil Polymer Granules

Mysterious Jelly Crystals? Check for Water-Holding Polymers

Clear, jelly-like crystals that swell when wet are often superabsorbent polymer granules added to soil to retain moisture. They're harmless but indicate a soil amendment was used.

Plant Diseases: Tiny White Bugs in Houseplant Soil: Fungus Gnats or Springtails?; Arborvitae Browning on Slope: Clay Soil and Water Issues; Yard-Wide Stunted Growth: Soil Compaction, Nematodes, and Testing; Herbicide Damage on Peppercorn Trees: Will They Recover?; Gardening in Pure Manure: Dilution Is Essential; Cliff Stabilization Plants for Puget Sound Bluff: Deep-Rooted, Salt-Tolerant Natives; Planting Around Redwoods: Avoid Adding Soil Over Roots; Troubleshooting Exotic Angel Plants from Home Depot; Yellow Fuzzy Particles in Soil: Perlite or Fungus?; Building a Safe Planter Around a Pine Tree for Hostas

Garden Articles

Greenish Growth on Cherry and Lilac: Lichens Signaling Tree Stress

When to Fertilize Apple Trees: Soil Testing Over Guesswork

Diagnosing Yellowing Citrus in Arizona: Fertilizer, Drainage, and pH

Mysterious Root-Like Clumps in Garden Soil: Fungal Mycelium or Something Else?

When Bedding Plants Fail but Shrubs Thrive: Diagnosing a Decomposed Organic Layer and Root Disease

Custom Potting Soil Recipes for Different Plant Types

Improving Garden Soil with Humus and Managing Fertilizer Frequency

Plants

Persistent White Mold on Houseplant Soil: Control, Not Cure

Best Plants for Clay Soil and Planting Size Advice

Mold on Indoor Plant Soil: Why Repotting Is the Best Cure

Watering Trees in Sandy Soil: Don't Overwater

Evaluating Growing Conditions for Venus Flytrap, Sarracenia, and Drosera adelae in Alabama

First Steps for New Carnivorous Plant Owners: Potting, Light, Water, and Outdoor Transition in Zone 6

Choosing Replacement Soil for a Combination Bowl