Boston Fern Fronds Turning Oily Brown Near Window: Soft Rot

The Symptom Half the fern (nearest window) became dark brown, oily, odorous within a week. Winter, low light. Cause Soft rot. Fronds touching cold window → poor air circulation + condensation + warmth → bacterial/fungal

Filamentous Lichens on Trees in Western NC: Harmless Epiphytes

The Question Usnea‑like lichens on trees in western North Carolina. Will they harm the trees? Answer Lichens are not plant pathogens. They grow on bark surface, don’t penetrate tissue. Indicate good air quality. Resour

Gardenia with Webbing, Black Buds, and Leaf Drop: Spider Mites and Sooty Mold

The Symptoms 2‑year‑old gardenia in CT (Zone 6) brought inside for winter. Leaves and buds turn black, dry up. Fine silk webbing, no visible bugs. Sevin failed. Diagnosis Spider mites: Tiny, 8‑legged; webbing. Sevin do

Meyer Lemons Rotting from Stem End: Alternaria or Freeze Injury?

The Problem 15‑year‑old Meyer lemons on Oregon coast: fruit rot inside, look dried. One tree affected, one not. Freeze possible? Possible Causes Alternaria fruit rot: Brown/black discoloration at stylar end, spreads to

Navel Oranges Hard and Dry: Not a Disease, Check Water and Soil

The Complaint Navel oranges are hard, not juicy, every year. Black spots on leaves. Owner asks about fungicide, fertilizer timing. Expert View Hard fruit is environmental or varietal, not infectious. Black spots need ID

Small Bumps on Young Red Oak Bark: Fungal or Water‑Related?

The Observation A 4‑year‑old red oak planted last year has a 5″ patch of small bumps on bark. No other symptoms. Expert Guess Possibly a fungal disease favored by excess moisture. Oaks dislike wet feet. Suggestions Ch

Columnar Apple Tree Tip Dieback: Fire Blight Suspected

The Symptom A 2‑year‑old columnar apple has leaf wilt 8–10″ down on 3+ branches; tips brown, fold like umbrella. Flowers but no fruit. Fire Blight Hallmarks Branch tips die, turn brown/black, curl (“shepherd’s crook”).

Miniature Orange Tree Leaf Curl and No Flowers: Pot‑Bound or Pests?

The Symptoms A 2‑year‑old potted miniature orange has curling leaves (not yellowing/dropping), no flowers for 6 months. Watering unchanged. Checks Root‑bound? Roots circling pot → repot 2″ larger. Aphids on curled leaf

Indoor Lemon Tree Losing Leaves in Winter: Normal Cycle or Stress?

The Case A 3‑year‑old indoor lemon drops leaves after summer. Owner asks about fertilizer and watering frequency. Normal Behavior Citrus shed inner leaves in late winter to make room for spring flush and bloom. They can

Bright Yellow Rings on Birch Branch: Unknown, Monitor

The Observation Four bright yellow rings around a birch branch noticed while watering. Expert Reaction Never seen this. Could be unusual lichen, insect egg mass, or abiotic staining. Recommendation Send a photo. If no

Ornamental Plum Trees Holding Leaves in Winter: Variety or Environment?

The Puzzle Two ornamental plums in Southern California (planted spring) look healthy but haven’t dropped leaves. Owner worries about flowering. Expert Take Likely variety‑specific or environmental—some plums are semi‑ev

Yellow‑White Coral‑Like Growth on Terracotta Pot Rim: Harmless Fungus

The Find A raised, coral‑like yellow‑white growth on the lip of a terracotta pot with a rose, eating the pot edge. Verdict Cosmopolitan saprophytic fungus—feeds on organic residues, not the rose. Purely cosmetic. Simpl

Bonsai Coral Bark Maple: Root Stress After Repotting and Worms

The History Coral bark maple bonsai lost all leaves, branch tips blackened 2 months ago. Owner repotted, found worms, cut dead tips, increased water, fertilized weekly. No improvement. Root Cause Root/soil stress. Leaf

Waxleaf Ligustrum Stripped by Kids: Will It Regrow?

The Situation Kids repeatedly pull foliage and break branches on 5‑year‑old waxleaf ligustrums by a road. Owner fears death. Expert Reassurance Waxleaf ligustrum is tough; leaf stripping alone rarely kills branches unl

Lady Palm with Yellow Mushrooms: Classic Overwatering Sign

The Signs Yellow mushrooms on soil, yellow patches on soil surface, brown leaf tips, dead stalks. Diagnosis Overwatering. Mushrooms thrive in soggy media; brown tips confirm excess moisture. Fixes If potted: empty sau

Oak Tree Weeping Black Tar: Borer or Wetwood?

The Observation A mature oak in Melbourne, Australia, developed black tar ooze mid‑trunk over 2 months, worsening. Possible Causes Borer injury: Insect entry allows microbes in; sap ferments. Bacterial wetwood (slime f

Mulberry Tree with Borer Holes: Ambrosia Beetle Suspected

The Damage A large mulberry in central California has ½″ holes in trunk and boughs. Gardener pollarded; holes remain. Likely Pest Redbay ambrosia beetle (or related Euwallacea spp.)—bores, carries symbiotic fungus that

20‑Year‑Old Hoya Not Blooming: Light, Pruning, and Fertilizer Fixes

The History A hoya bloomed in an east window at daughter’s house. Returned 5 years ago, no blooms, only long leafless shoots. Fed African violet food in summer. Why No Flowers? Insufficient light: Hoyas need bright, in

Jasmine Vine with Webbing: Neem Oil for Spider Mites

The Problem A jasmine houseplant has white web pockets; Sevin failed. Owner considers neem oil. Why Neem Works Smothers mites and insects. Bitter taste deters feeding. Systemic absorption—rain/ watering doesn’t wash it

Angel’s Trumpet Transplant Shock, Whiteflies, and Freeze Damage

The Chain of Events An angel’s trumpet moved to full sun, got whiteflies, lost all leaves, developed black mold on trunk, then froze for a week (Naples, FL). Branches now hollow, black, or mushy. Assessment Freeze like