ficus emits strong musty smell

QuestionQUESTION: Quite suddenly, the 6+ tall ficus plant in the lounge at work has started to emit a nearly overpowering musty smell. Did we over-water it, or what? Its much too large for us to try repl

Bonsai Dwarf Hawaiian Umbrella Tree

QuestionMy plant is 5 years old and approx 10 high> I was told to water it every 3 days but it is in a round ceramic bowl Approx.. 6 in diameter and mounded so water runs off washing away the soil. I placed it

repotting a Boston Fern

QuestionQUESTION: I have a Boston Fern that Ive had for two years now. It is HUGE! I put it outside (northern MN) during the summer, in the shade and it loves the humidity. During the winter it doe

Sky Lighting

QuestionWhat type of lighting do skylights provide for houseplants? If you can picture this, we have a tri-level home, but it is all open, from the great-room up to the kitchen & dining room! (Dining r

coconut plant care

QuestionHi Will, I have just purchased a coconut plant and am new to the world of plants! I have just read one of your answers to someones query and would like to know, is there any way i can keep the plant warm in

Bouganvilea

Question would appreciate some help with our Bougainvillea which we bought about two months ago from a local garden centre when it was in full bloom and looking lovely. After a few weeks its leaves started to turn

help to identify

QuestionHello Mr. Creed, Five years ago my mother and I bought an interesting flowering houseplant, with no name tag. Since then it has not flowered. It seems to be happy, by sending up new shoots in the

plant roots on cuttings

QuestionQUESTION: Ive been growing pothos cuttings in water for 5 days now.when should i expect roots to appear please help Jared ANSWER: Hi Jared, It varies considerably. It usually takes at least 1-2 weeks befo

Repotting Ficus Elastica

QuestionQUESTION: Hello Will, I am about to repot a Ficus Elastica, which is several years old and about 170 cm tall. The current pot has diameter 23 cm, and seems to be far to small with roots growing out of it. Ca

Sticky Ficus Benjamina

QuestionWhat is that sticky stuff on the leaves and around my ficus benjamina? Is it a problem, or a natural occurrence? AnswerHi Carol, Although the stickiness is a natural occurrence, it is also a problem.

house plant problem

QuestionI live in Billings, Montana and have several house plants (not sure what any of them are) that sit in my bay window facing south. A few months ago I noticed a thick white dust on the leaves of severa

Ficus and Schefflera plants

QuestionI am having a problem with two of my indoor plants. the first case is a ficas, it has become very brittle and the leaves are falling off in great numbers. I do not know if im over watering or not enoug

broken corn plant

Questionhi will, i have a corn palm which i purchased 2 months ago, it has 3 canes 6, 13 & 30 and is sitting in a 5 litre pot and never re potted. My problem is that it fell over and both top branches of leaves on t

Ficus Lyrata and issues with fruit flies or gnats

QuestionI have actually two questions. The 1st is similar to the previous question about the Ficus Lyrata. I just purchased a fiddle leaf ficus from home depot. It had big beautiful leaves from top to bottom. Ive ha

Musa Basjoo

QuestionI have a Musa basjoo, which according to what Ive read is one of the most hardy banana trees. I would like to grow one indoors, but Im not sure what conditions to give it. According to the care tag that came

problems with Pilea

QuestionI bought a pilea from Home Depot. I dont know the exact species name, but I threw it away because it looked so unattractive after having it for little over a month. The leaves were drooping and the plant in

a slow growing rubber plant

Questioni have had this rubber plant for almost 6 months now throughout this time it has grown only one leaf it has got only eight leaves and i water it from the tray once or twicce a week which i have been recommen

Radermachera/China Doll

QuestionWhen I was in the states, I had a China Doll that kept getting these little brown spots-- they almost looked like trilobites-- and the stems and leaves would ooze a sticky mess. I would wipe them away with a

Roots blocking drainage holes

QuestionHello Will, My plants are going through a growth spurt, I guess because its summertime. Every year I repot them into bigger pots in the spring except for this year because I was too busy. When I went to wat

Indoor kumquat tree

QuestionWe have had a 4ft kumquat tree in our south window for about 3 years. Each year it bears fruit and is in a 3-4 gal pot.(original) It has had a fresh growth of leaves since April and May. Since last wee