Epiphyllum Oxypetalum: The Night-Blooming Cereus

When Dale inherited a mature Epiphyllum oxypetalum—commonly called night-blooming cereus—he was surprised to see shoots stretching over two feet long. He wondered whether the spectacular flowers emerge from those long sh

Rose Black Spot and Aphids: Organic Neem and Cultural Controls

UK gardener: 12 roses, all got black spot last year. Wont replace (cost, neighbors spores, resistant not immune). Wants non-chemical control for black spot and aphids to protect bees. Bee-Safe Strategy Spray on cloudy d

Dormant Oil Spray for Leaf Spot: Timing, Coverage, Cleanup

New gardener sprayed 1:2 horticultural oil:lime sulfur (Dormant) on willows, maples, other trees before bud break for black leaf spots. Asks if correct, frequency, coverage adequacy. Good Start Early spray = preventive,

Transplanted Kumquat Browning: Shock, Don't Top

Kumquat dug from back 100 acres, planted in front. Leaves browning. Wants to shorten 8–9 ft tree. Transplant Shock Likely cause, especially if done in heat. Best transplant time = dormant season. Temporary—watch 2–3 week

Night Jasmine and Gardenia Pests: Neem and Bt

Tampa: night jasmine eaten (holes), gardenia blooms full of thrips (tiny black lines). Soap spray helped briefly. Night Jasmine Holes = insects. Soap too weak. Spray Neem oil (organic, stronger). Or Bt (Dipel/Thuricide)

Redwood Top Dieback: Internal Decay, Monitor for Hazard

40-ft blue aptos redwood: top 4–6 ft brown/dead. Neighbors had blight years ago, trees removed. Assessment Top dieback = internal decay (fungal/bacterial). Slow, progressive. Many organisms persist on dead wood indefinit

Arizona Mulberry Bark Peeling: Sooty Canker, Prune and Treat

Three mulberries (two 70-yr fruiting died with bark peeling; third male has peeling trunk). Deep flood irrigation. Diagnosis: Sooty Canker Fungal disease (Hendersonula toruloidea). Symptoms: wilted leaves, moist bark cra

Bloodgood Japanese Maple Winter Dieback: Check for Life

3-year Bloodgood: leaves browned last fall, didnt drop. Spring: no growth, brown leaves attached. Test Scratch bark on small twigs with fingernail/knife—green = alive. Check several. Over next 2–3 weeks, watch for new gr

New Wisteria Yellow Dust: Box Store Plant Stress

Home Depot wisteria: fine yellowish particles on upper leaves, wipe off but return daily. Cause: Unhealthy Plant Box store plants grown in dark, forced with fertilizer/pesticides. Weak, pest-prone. Fix Use Atomic Grow (o

Sago Palm Scale: Horticultural Oil Spray

Brown bumps on sago fronds—likely scale from earlier answer. Confirm: Scale Regular pesticides fail. Spray lightweight horticultural oil (SunSpray) thoroughly—top/bottom fronds, center. Sunny day best (lifts honeydew). R

Sago Palm Female Cone: Healthy and Normal

San Antonio, 10-year sagos: one has purple seeds with root-like structures, spongy brown lace. Owner worries its disease. Great News: Female Cone Its a blooming female sago. If male sago blooming nearby, pollinate by sha

Bradford Pear Trunk Fungus: Remove and Spray Neem

7-year Bradford pear: 3-inch white clump on bark base after heavy rain, good drainage, pine bark mulch. Action Remove all white fungal material. Spray area with Neem to prevent spread. Let mulch dry before watering. Bra

Meyer Lemon Leaf Spots: No Serious Pathology Seen

Photo of Meyer lemon leaves with spots. Expert sees no clear disease symptoms. Advice If few leaves affected, hand-remove and discard. Watch for new issues. Nothing serious apparent.

Korean Snow Pear Dieback: Fire Blight or Natural Aging

Branches dying from tips, progressing. Started last year. Other limbs okay. Possibilities Fire blight: Sudden blackening, scorched look. Prune dead, clean debris, spray preventive (best before symptoms). Borers: Holes c

Korean Snow Pear Fire Blight: Prune and Spray Copper/Streptomycin

6-year tree: branch tips died last year; this spring whole branches dead, progressing. Part in bloom. Diagnosis: Fire Blight Common on ornamental pears. Sudden wilting, blackening, scorched look. Treatment Prune dead wo

Japanese Maple Bagworms: Remove Bags, Spray Bt

Maryland suburb: small light cocoons on fine threads at top of dwarf Japanese red maple. Top defoliating, spreading down. Identification: Bagworms Caterpillars in silk bags camouflaged with plant bits. One generation/yea

Hibiscus Orange/Red Larvae: Caterpillars, Hand-Pick or Bt

Tiny orange/red worm-like larvae on hibiscus. Identification Butterfly/moth larvae. Eat leaves/flowers. Wont kill plant but stress it. Control Hand-pick with gloves (spines may sting). Spray Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)

Pothos Stem Bumps: Scale Insects

All pothos have brown wart-like bumps on stems. Are they bugs? Spread? Cause? Yes: Scale Immobile bumps under hard shell. Spread easily (airborne larvae, hitchhiking). Control Spray horticultural oil (not cooking oil) th

Potted Jasmine Leaf Drop and Scale: Water Less, Spray Oil

Two potted jasmines (6 & 8 yr) in high desert, under 85% shade cloth. Green leaves desiccate and drop. Larger plant has tiny waxy bumps on stalks/leaves near veins. Copper spray failed. Two Issues Watering: Too frequent

Pin Oak Iron Chlorosis: Soil pH and Treatment

Wichita KS mature pin oak: 1/3 SE canopy not leafing, leaves thin/yellow. Dead lower limbs. Nearby pin oak also yellow. Pruning now okay? Diagnosis: Iron Chlorosis 7), clay soil, or root damage from fill/compaction. Pin