Assessing Palm Survival After Extreme Cold: A Case Study from Ireland

Six Weeks at -12°C Is Likely Fatal Palms in Ireland subjected to prolonged deep freeze (minus 12°C nightly for six weeks) with all fronds fallen off are almost certainly dead. The growing point (crown) in most ornamental

Growing Tropical Hibiscus and Bananas in Cold Climates: Container Strategies

No Varieties Survive Connecticut Winters Outdoors Hibiscus and bananas cannot overwinter in the ground in zone 6. The only option is container growing with seasonal movement. Hibiscus in Pots Use a large container (18+

Growing Hibiscus Indoors: Managing Pests and Preventing Infestations

Spider Mites Are the Real Indoor Threat Mealybugs, whiteflies, and scale rarely invade homes unless brought in on an infested plant. The primary indoor hibiscus pest is spider mites, which thrive in dry, warm air. Preven

Pruning Frost-Damaged Areca Palms: When and How to Cut

Only Remove Completely Brown Fronds After a freeze, areca palms with new green growth emerging should keep all fronds showing any green. The outer trunks (2–3 inch diameter) without fronds but with green bases should be

Saving a Declining Yucca or Dracaena: Root Stress and Soil Solutions

Daily Watering in Clay Soil Is Fatal A plant (likely Yucca or Dracaena) moved from pot to ground last summer, now yellowing and dropping leaves, is suffering root stress from poor drainage and overwatering. The soil cont

Areca Palm Recovery After Severe Freeze Damage

Arecas Are Tougher Than They Look Ten- to twelve-foot areca palms (Dypsis lutescens) that lost all fronds and have brown stalks halfway down can still rebound. Arecas are clumping palms with multiple stems; new growth em

Assessing Freeze Damage in Robellini Palms: Signs of Life or Death

How to Tell If Your Robellini Is Still Alive After a hard freeze and pruning, a Robellini palm with no new growth for weeks may still be viable. The definitive test is the crown (heart). Signs of Life Crown tissue firm,

Diagnosing Leaf Curl in Container-Grown Calamondin Citrus

Root Stress, Not Watering, Is the Culprit A calamondin (Citrus × microcarpa) with leaves curling under or cupping like tacos—despite adjusted watering—is likely root-bound or suffering from compromised roots. The tree is

Caring for Freeze-Damaged Princess Palms: Stop Overwatering

Watering Daily Is Killing the Roots An 18-foot princess palm with freeze damage and daily watering is at high risk of root rot. Stressed roots cannot absorb excess moisture, leading to suffocation and decay. Correct Prot

Best Cold-Hardy Alternatives to Christmas (Adonidia) Palms

Why Christmas Palms Fail in Freezes Adonidia (Christmas) palms are highly cold-sensitive. After a severe winter, many are killed outright or left so weakened they succumb to the next cold snap. Top Substitute: Foxtail Pa

Reviving a Ponytail Palm After Cold Damage

Dont Remove Yellow Fronds Yet A ponytail palm (Beaucarnea recurvata) that turned yellow after a harsh winter but shows new green growth at the top is still alive. The yellow fronds are still photosynthesizing and helping

Recovering Robellini Palms from Frost Damage

Patience Is the Best Medicine Robellini palms (Phoenix roebelenii) hit by frost often lose all fronds. The key is to wait—sometimes until the rainy season (June/July in Florida)—before deciding if a trunk is dead. New gr

Identifying and Treating Spider Mites on Indoor Palms

The Hidden Threat: Spider Mites Indoor palms often develop brown leaves and a fine, cotton-like webbing under fronds. This is classic spider mite damage. These tiny arachnids thrive in warm, dry indoor air—exactly the co

Saving an Overwatered Corn Plant (Dracaena) After Repotting

Rescuing a Waterlogged Corn Plant A corn plant (Dracaena fragrans) that has been accidentally overwatered—especially after repotting into moisture-retentive soil—can show dramatic distress: leaves droop, shrivel, and tur

Calamondin Cold Snap Survival in Colorado

N. Colorado (NE Denver). 3 calamondins in pots indoors. Nice Sunday (70-85°F)—put on covered patio. Rained hard, snowed overnight (~1). Husband thinks not below freezing. Will they die? Cold-hardiness? Expert Advice Ci

Mandevilla on Queen Palm: Poor Support Choice

Rotonda West, FL. Plant mandevilla on either side of queen palm, use tree as trellis. High tree, good sun. Hardy here? Feasible? Expert Advice Mandevilla needs full sun and trellis/fence. Queen palm poor choice—fails u

Elephant Ear Indoors: Feasibility & Better Alternatives

Feasible to grow elephant ear exclusively indoors, or must be outside? Expert Advice Many cultivars—some shade, some sun. Common variety likes lots of water, shade—indoors fine. Mist every other day for humidity (deter

Queen Palm Freeze Damage & Ambrosia Beetle Infestation

Original: SE Texas, terrible winter. 7 queen palms brown/dead. 4 started oozing reddish substance from pinholes in trunk—look like bleeding, sawdust at base. No bugs outside, looks like eaten inside out. Smallest queen:

Sea Grape Bush Winter Survival in Zone 8b

Planted 3 sea grapes last year—grew wonderfully. Thought zone 8b ok (saw them like weeds in S. FL medians). Heavy mulch over winter. Mid-May—no sign of return. Dead? Too cold? Other tropicals (BOP, plumeria) fine. Exper

Zebra Plant Bloom Removal & Winter Care in Florida

Original: Zebra plants (this year) blooming beautifully. When remove old blooms? Necessary for continued bloom? Planted outdoors shady spot, ~2 hrs AM sun. Follow-up: Read zebras dont live under 30°F. Central FL—several