palm plant problem

QuestionI have a Howea Forsteriana. I have noticed a cottony white substance on the new growth. I have cleaned them off with alcohol, but am wondering if this is a fungus or pest problem? Would I be bett

propagate

QuestionMy violet was doing great until just recently. I was going to add more soil and tried to get to the bottom when the stem gave way from the roots. Now I have all the leaves, new and old, attached to jus

Palm tree pests

QuestionHi Will, I have a Palm I keep indoors. I recently repottted it (5 months ago) and it seems to be doing well, but there are many work like insects at the base of the plant. Sometimes they are dea

hot tub plants

QuestionHi Darlene, We have a spa room which we want to have plants around. will the clorine fumes damage the plants? they are placed approx 5 feet from the tub, and we normally open the door for ventilation, the s

plant flies

Questiongreetings. i have a few tropical plants and for the past few days i have been getting bit by something while i sleep. it is getting out of control. could it be the plant flies biting me? &n

lily

Question ------------------------- Followup To Question - An Easter lily was a gift, I tried to keep it alive. I repotted it, watered according to the (limted) directions, etc. It is now on its last l

Bringing English Ivy cuttings indoors?

QuestionI want to bring one single cutting inside from my outdoor english ivy plant. I have a glass vase I put it in and I filled the bottom with little pebbles. (like how lucky bamboo is often paired with). &

Curly willow/Corkscrew willow

QuestionI was at Whole Foods and they were selling bunches of curly willow cuttings/branches. They had them in water and some were rooting. I loved the way these looked! Could they be an indoor plant and stay alive

madagascar palm-slender leaves

Questionwe have a two foot madagascar palm that went into domancy and dropped it leaves. a few months later, it began to sprout its leaves again and we noticed the leaves turning black on the ends and eventual

Winter in Chicago

QuestionDarlene, I have a deck with: millions bells, quick fire, bridal veil, honey maid holly and verbena. Can you tell me if these plants will make it through the winter outside in Chicago? Which do I need to brin

I blew it; repotting

QuestionOK, I bought a plant and I repotted it. I just read your FAQ on repotting and realized that I made a mistake. Now my poor Maranatha looks so sad with curling browning leaves. Can this be fixed? Tricia A

Peace Lily / Spathiphyllum / Flame Plant

QuestionI have recently got a peace lily, but I am not sure how to care for it. How much water, sunlight and plant food does it need? Thanks sooo much! AnswerDear Denise, The expert whom you firs

Ficus pruning

QuestionHi- I recently purchased a ficus that is in a young shrub form. How do I prune it so that it will develop a trunk and grow into a tree. The nursery said this was possible by continuing to trim th

Madagascar Palm (can it be left outside)

QuestionWe have a Madagasar Palm we let outside in the summer. It is in a 30 inch pot and it 9 feet tall. It has little light in winter and was last potted about 3 years ago. Since it has grown to the height it is w

Crying Pothos Plant

QuestionI just moved a 15+ yr old Pathos Plant into my bedroom from another house. It has began to get droplets of water at the tips of its. It is losing some of its leaves not facing the window, but that is to be e

white fungus? on pots

QuestionThanks for the quick answer. I live in WV - just moved here from Florida and brought most of my orchids with me. I dont know about the water, but it is pretty hard. Sally ------------------------- Followup

Identify 2 houseplants please

QuestionI have a plant given to me as a housewarming 4 years ago. It had no label and it seems to have survived more through luck than judgement so far. It has long thin leaves, around 6 long, which are

Reading of plant symptoms

QuestionHi, I have a large Madagscar Dragon tree whos leaves are turning yellowish and falling off. Ive had it for 3 years and recently repotted it to find that the old soil was very wet. I have not watered it since

Ficus leaf drop

QuestionI have conquered the scale and none have reappeared for 6 months. However, the leaf-drop continues. What else could be going on? AnswerHi Diane, Ficus trees drop leaves if anything at all is wr

my aloe plant

Questionmy aloe plant is ggrowing, not offsprings just new leaves but the roots are very dry and dark. they almost look like they are rotting. i do not want this plant to dye it was given to me by my son inlaw he ha