Bougainvillea Hard Pruning and Relocation Timing

Hard Pruning Mom cut bougainvillea to ground after 3 freezes. Its regrowing. Hard pruning stimulates growth but 6 inches is extreme; 2–3 ft is better. Relocation Do NOT move in fall. Spring is correct time. If must move

Queen Palm Seed Pods: Cannot Reduce, Must Prune Carefully

Answer No way to reduce pod production. Some years are naturally prolific. Pruning Caution Remove pods carefully—do not nick green fronds. Even a small saw cut on a frond causes it to die. Palm needs all fronds for photo

Ice Cream Banana in Container: Will Not Fruit Well

Reality Check Farmer sold 3-inch Ice Cream banana for 35-gal pot with winter prune/wrap. Central Texas. Expert Opinion Bananas need in-ground for real fruiting. Container stress prevents quality bunches. Even in South F

Bougainvillea in Hanging Basket: Move to Large Container

Problem Mothers Day bougainvillea in hanging basket stopped blooming after deadheading. In NC. Diagnosis Bougainvilleas are not hanging plants. Nurseries force them temporarily. They need in-ground or large container to

Musa Basjoo Pup Separation: Wait for ⅓ Size

Timing Pup is 8 inches with 3 leaves; parent is 7 ft tall. Too small to separate. When Ready Wait until pup is ⅓ parent height (~28 inches). Then use long-bladed spade: cut straight down parallel to parent pseudostem, pr

Elephant Ear Pruning: Cut Above the Collar

Technique On the petiole (leaf stem), near the main junction, there is a visible collar. Cut the petiole just above this collar. Leave the collar—it produces new growth.

Sago Palm (Cycas) Fertilizer: Balanced Palm Formula

Recommendation Any labeled palm fertilizer works. Lesco is excellent; major brands (Scotts, Vigoro) are fine. Application Spring + Fall only. Rate: ~1 lb per 3 inches trunk diameter. Spread evenly from trunk to frond ti

Fertilizer Guide for Mixed Indoor Tropicals

Plant Groups & Feeding Low feeders (Spring + Fall only): Ponytail palm, Yucca elephantipes, Mass cane, Madagascar dragon tree. Use Osmocote or Expert slow-release 19-6-12. Monthly soluble: Anthurium, Ivy. Use Peters 20-

Transplanting Large Queen Palm: Hire a Pro

Situation Bid on a 4–5 meter blown-over queen palm on Trademe. Never transplanted a palm this size. Reality Requires heavy machinery (crane, bobcat) to lift with root ball intact. Root wrap needed. Cost: hundreds of doll

Chinese Hat Tree and Ginger: Flowering Triggers

Ginger (Alpinia) Blooms when mature; no forcing possible. Avoid afternoon sun, keep moist. Chinese Hat Tree (Holmskioldia) Prefers partial shade. Lack of flowers often due to high-nitrogen fertilizer promoting leaves ove

Viburnum Hedge Fungal Spots: Copper Fungicide Timing

Situation Viburnum hedge (150 plants) has yellow/brown leaves with spots. Organocide applied but rain follows daily. Better Treatment Use copper fungicide (better for pure fungal issues). Apply early morning. If rain sa

Foxtail Palm Frost Damage: Don't Decapitate

Situation Three of five foxtails in Port Charlotte, FL appear dead after winter frost. Neighbor cut off crowns of their damaged foxtails. Critical Error Cutting off the crown (top) kills the palm. The crown contains the

Queen Palm Flower Pod Removal: Safe at Any Stage

Answer Removing queen palm inflorescence (flower/fruit stalk) at any stage—before, during, or after bloom—does not harm the palm. Tips Wait until inflorescence opens for lighter weight and cleaner cut. Be careful not to

Mass Cane (Dracaena fragrans) Green Trunk Algae: Wait to Repot

Situation Mass cane in 12-inch pot, 3 trunks, 2 show green on bark. Using self-watering globes. Owner plans spring repot. Advice Spring repot is fine. Green on bark is likely algae/moss from moisture—harmless. Self-wate

Crape Myrtles Near Pool: Manageable with Pruning

Situation Three mature crape myrtles and a bougainvillea near new pool. Concern about flower/leaf litter. Advice If no screen enclosure, prune crape myrtles as flowers fade (summer) to reduce litter. Bougainvillea can be

Tropical Plants in New Mexico (Zone 7a): Container Strategy

Feasibility Adventurous gardener in Rio Rancho, NM (zone 7a, 5200 ft elevation) wants tropicals like plumeria, protea, heliconia. Guidelines All must be containerized for winter indoors. Minimum temp: 40°F; below that c

Pygmy Palm Spongy Bark and Insects: Harmless Decomposers

Situation 15-year-old pygmy palm has spongy lower bark with white sticky insects (likely snails/slugs) on debris. Assessment Insects are scavenging on decaying bark, not harming the palm. Spongy bark is normal aging. Act

Banana Trees Need 14 Frost-Free Months to Fruit

The Problem Six-year-old bananas hit by winter frost each year never fruit. Requirement Bananas need 14 consecutive frost-free months to flower and fruit. Any freeze resets the clock to zero. Solution Only in truly frost

Desert Rose (Adenium) Yellow Leaves and Spider Mites

Diagnosis Newly repotted desert rose in cactus soil shows yellow leaves and spider mites. Causes Overwatering: Desert roses store water in swollen stems; need very little water. Spider mites: Thrive in dry conditions.

Sea Grape Roots and Seawalls: No Threat

Observation Two 12–15 ft sea grapes (Coccoloba uvifera) planted 1 ft from block seawall in Florida. Canal is 6–10 ft deep at wall. Expert Experience Sea grapes are commonly planted near seawalls throughout Florida. Even