Palm Houseplant White Bumps: Asian Cycad Scale or Mealybug?

Palm houseplant Observation White bubbly things on frond fronts of large-fronded palm houseplant. Expert Response (Kathy) Identifies as Asian Cycad Scale (on sago palm/Cycas). Recommends Atomic Grow: dehydrates scale,

Loquat Sudden Decline: Expert Recommends Local Diagnosis

Case 4-yr-old loquat: sudden leaf yellow→brown→die. One branch dead, others following. Healthy 3 yrs with fruit. No bark/trunk marks. Expert Response (Steve) Hard one! Several possibilities. Best: contact local nursery/

Mango Houseplant Leafhopper: Identification and Soap Spray Options

Case 2-month-old mango seedlings (indoor): bright green tiny bugs on leaf undersides, jumping like micro-grasshoppers. One at a time. Photos show stuck on sundew (Drosera). ID: Leafhopper Suck plant juices (not chew).

Crimson King & October Glory Maple Issues: Planting Stress and Phyllosticta Leaf Spot

Case Long Island, NY: Crimson King + October Glory planted early June. Mild, wet summer. Crimson: dry curled leaves despite watering. October Glory: small black leaf spots, some damage. Fertilized with PHC Tree Saver. P

Weeping Willow Leaf Spot: Fall Sanitation and Spring Spray Program

Case South-central TN: Multiple weeping willows (largest 20 ft, 4 yrs). Small dark spots → yellow → drop. Cool wet spring, below-normal summer temps, above-avg rain. Copper fungicide + fertilizer + raking done; persists.

Tulip Poplar Slime Flux: Wetwood Management

Case Tall tulip poplars: wet line down trunk from 20 ft up. Wife concerned. Tree 15–20 yrs old. Diagnosis: Slime Flux (Wetwood) Bacterial disease: fermentation in heartwood → gas pressure → sap forced out cracks/wounds

Sudden Aspen Decline (SAD) in Pacific Northwest: Beetle Link and Forester Help

Case PNW: Quaking aspen clumps around property. Sawdust at bases, holes in trunks, green foliage. Spreading between clumps (20–30 ft apart). Regional Context: SAD USFS research: Sudden Aspen Decline killing 10% of aspe

Potted Plant White Root Spheres: Mystery Organism Needs Lab ID

Case Houseplants: white spheres on roots, spreading pot-to-pot over months. Decimated cacti, killing jade. Some hosts look healthy. Fungicide failed. Expert Response Luke: Not sure. Clip root with spheres → County Exten

Mature Tulip Poplar Limb Drop: Heart Rot Ecology

Case 70+ ft tulip poplar, 45+ yrs on property. 2 large lower limbs dropped in 6 yrs (latest after heavy rain). Broken limb: darker core 2 ft from trunk, softer center, no insects/mush. Near old septic, trout stream. Dia

Queen Sago Root System and Asian Cycad Scale Warning

Plant Profile Queen sago (Cycas circinalis) in pot → planned for ¼-circle planter (6×4 ft) by pool (2 ft from water). Cocoa, FL. Morning/evening shade. Size Reality Check Queen sago = large palm-like cycad: 20 ft tall,

Corkscrew Willow Leaf Spots: Rake and Fertilize, Don't Spray

Case Corkscrew willow: black spots on leaves. Remedy? Expert Advice (Steve) Large tree = spraying impractical/uneconomical. Leaf spots rarely impact health significantly. Rake/destroy fallen leaves before spring (reduc

Bonfire Japanese Maple Sudden Branch Death: Drought or Decay?

Case Seattle: 3-yr-old Bonfire Japanese maple. Sudden whole-branch death. Dry summer (no rain). Owner waters? Unclear. Whitish bark on dead parts; dead parts black. Expert Analysis (Steve) Drought stress = gradual (wil

Three Plants Dying in Line: Investigating a Linear Death Pattern

Case Section of flower bed: azalea dying → adjacent Texas jasmine (different bed) dying → adjacent gardenia (different bed) dying. Grass fine. Linear pattern. Diagnostic Questions (Steve) Physical damage at base of eac

Japanese Maple Truck Damage: Insurance Arborist Conflict

Case Bloodgood Japanese maple hit by commercial truck. Multi-trunk (6 at ground). 2 main trunks (16 ft) sheared off, 2 large branches destroyed. Insurance arborist claims tree will live, can be trimmed symmetric, will re

Willow Leaf-Rolling Caterpillars: Cocoons in Leaves, Low Impact

Case Willow: cocoons wrapped in leaves, other leaves nibbled. Japanese beetle battle distracted owner. Tree size unknown. Expert Assessment Likely caterpillars (leaf-rollers/tier-makers) pupating in leaf rolls. Large t

Live Oak Trunk Split: Lightning, Decay, or Oak Wilt?

Case Zephyrhills, FL: 40–50 ft live oak, 3 ft DBH. Vertical split 1.5 ft long, 1 wide at base, bark falling off. Tree leaning. No leaf symptoms. Lost 3 oaks to lightning previously. Expert Analysis (Steve, ex-Fort Myers

Fasciation and Witches' Broom: Growth Anomalies Explained

Professional Gardeners Observation Central CA: Citrus, francoa, Asiatic lilies show fused, flattened stems, distorted leaves, multiplied flowers. Freaky, like celosia. Suspected mites, then read article calling it a phen

Pencil Holly Leaf Drop: Nematodes or Pot-Bound? Alabama Case

Case 3-yr-old pencil holly (Ilex sp.) in pot by door (AL). Leaves dropping middle to top; new growth at top. One of two plants affected. Possible Causes CauseEvidenceAction Pot-boundRoots circling, soil depletedRepot l

Tulip Poplar Drought Response: Deep Watering and Trunk Protection

Tulip poplar leaf Case 15-yr-old tulip poplar (MI): leaves yellow/brown, black veins, shedding. Dry summer. No changes around tree. Diagnosis: Drought Stress Tulip poplars drop leaves when thirsty. Black veins = vascu

Crabapple Defoliation: Identify Pest Before Spraying

Situation 3 crabapples: leaves eaten, only stems left. No insects, caterpillars, nests, webs visible now. Expert Advice Past pest gone? Or hiding? Do not spray blindly. Wrong insecticide = waste + harm beneficials. Col