Claw‑Like Leaf Curl on Crabapple: Need a Photo for Diagnosis

The Symptom Upper leaves on an ornamental crabapple curl claw‑like from top down. Lower growth healthy. No bugs, mites, mildew seen. Slight tip browning. Australia, recent drought. Expert Response Without a photo, possi

Key Lime Leaf Drop in the Florida Keys: Water, Wind, or Fungus?

The Scenario A 2‑year‑old Key lime in the ground (full sun until 3 pm) had 50+ fruit last season but now heavy leaf loss after record lows (48 °F, 30 mph winds). Some drop started before cold. Analysis Water: 3.5″/week

Boston Fern Tip Dieback After Transplant and Cold Exposure

The Timeline A Boston fern transplanted, left outside, then brought in when cold. Tips brown and die upward on new growth. Low light, kept moist. Likely Causes Transplant shock + cold stress. Overwatering in low light.

Pummelo Tree Branch Dieback: Prune Out Disease, Don’t Just Spray

The Case A 10‑year‑old pummelo in Hawaii has bark eroding on branches, wood exposed, tips dying. Diazinon failed; Daconil applied recently. Expert Advice Symptoms suggest branch canker/dieback fungus. Fungicides don’t p

Sticky Honeydew on Indoor Lemon and White “Sand” on Rieger Begonia

Lemon Tree Issue A 3‑year‑old potted lemon in Massachusetts has sticky leaves and tiny brown spots underneath. Soapy water helps temporarily. Diagnosis Honeydew from scale or aphids. The sticky residue is insect excreme

Japanese Plum Tree with Borer Holes: Insecticide or Organic Option?

The Problem A young Japanese plum has woodpecker‑like holes around the trunk; a previous tree died similarly. Owner suspects borers. Borer Management Conventional: Trunk spray with permethrin or bifenthrin in spring wh

Cycads in Large Pots Developing Orange Spots: A Serious Disease?

The Report 18 cycads in 52″ concrete pots show orange spots and tips on leaves. Owner seeks cause and cure. Expert Opinion The expert claims a “very serious disease killing cycads” and recommends Atomic Grow as the only

Dwarf Arizona Sweet Orange: Bumpy, Bitter Fruit from Rootstock Suckers

The Symptom A 14‑year‑old dwarf Arizona Sweet orange near Phoenix produces normal sweet fruit low on the tree, but bumpy, thick‑rinded, seedy, bitter fruit high up. Cause Rootstock suckers. Citrus are grafted; shoots ar

Reviving Overwatered Dracaena deremensis in a Humid Greenhouse

The Situation Dracaenas on a mesh bench in a moist, 29–35 °C greenhouse show stem/leaf rot, stay wet, and decline. They were elevated from concrete. Immediate Fixes Stop watering until the root ball is nearly dry. Chec

Loblolly Pine Decline: Soil Testing Is the First Step

The Case Two loblolly pines in an unknown location show no green after a year of care. Owner tried iron; no improvement. Root‑Zone Investigation Yellowing with no green suggests root dysfunction—compacted soil, poor dra

King Sago Houseplant: Brown Tips from Overwatering or Low Light

The Setup A 2‑ft king sago in an east window in Maryland, watered when dry, fertilized quarterly with Palm‑tone. Some leaf tips brown. Common Causes Overwatering: Sagos need fast‑draining soil; water only when top 2″ a

Persistent White Scale on Sago Palm Fronds: Systemic Treatment Is Best

The Challenge Flea/tick spray and malathion failed to control scale on sago fronds. Why Contact Sprays Fail Scale insects protect themselves under waxy covers; sprays rarely penetrate. Dead scales also stay attached, ma

Orange Growths on Japanese Maple Bark: Scale Insects, Not Disease

The Observation Clusters of 1/16″ orange bumps on bark of an ‘Okagami’ Japanese maple. Owner fears a deadly disease. Expert Evaluation Photos reveal the bumps are scale insects (likely cottony maple scale or similar), n

Nashi Pear Core Rot: Insect Damage, Not Disease

The Issue A 3‑year‑old Nashi pear bears abundant perfect‑looking fruit, but the core is rotten at harvest. Likely Cause Internal feeder insects—codling moth, oriental fruit moth, or pear midge larvae tunnel to the core.

Flattened, Swirled Stems on Cotinus and Pyracantha: Phytoplasma or Borers?

The Symptoms Shoots become flattened, thickened at tips, and swirl instead of growing straight. Cross‑sections show dark pith. No visible pests. Possible Causes Phytoplasma (mycoplasma‑like organisms): Cause witches’‑b

White Mold Spreading on Ferns: Powdery Mildew or Mealybugs?

The Problem A snow‑white, dust‑like mold attaches to fern stems, spreads up and down, then leaves die. Soap, water, and fungicide failed. It came in on a palm and spares philodendrons and cacti. Two Likely Culprits Pow

Black Ooze on Cycad Seed Cones: Fungus, Insects, or Sap?

The Observation A 15‑20 year‑old female cycad has black, thick ooze on leaves surrounding the seed cones, gluing them shut. No insects seen. Possible Causes Sooty mold on honeydew: Check for scale insects on cone scale

Kumquat Not Fruiting Indoors in Chicago: Light, Temperature, or Age?

The Situation A 2‑year‑old kumquat in a 50‑lb pot fruited last winter but dropped leaves this fall and set no fruit. It’s indoors all winter under low light. Why No Fruit? Insufficient light: Kumquats need 6–8 hrs dire

Evergreen Bushes Browning Under Decks: Water or Disease?

The Scene Evergreens around a deck (junipers, cypress, arborvitae) are brown inside and up to 6 ft, but tops are green. Owner watered heavily for 3 weeks; edges are greening. Backyard plants are fine. Key Insight Needle

Sapsucker Damage on a Young Tree: What to Do

The Damage A newly noticed pattern of ½‑cm holes in horizontal rows on a 16‑inch‑diameter tree, starting 1.5 ft above ground. Cause Yellow‑bellied sapsucker—a woodpecker that drills sap wells. The holes are shallow, jus