Lucky Bamboo (Dracaena) in Water for Years—Can It Go Outside in Southern Illinois? Pot It First

Cane cutting in water with rocks for years, little growth. Owner wants to plant outside in Southern Illinois. Is that okay? Its Dracaena, Not Bamboo—And Not Cold-Hardy Lucky bamboo is Dracaena sanderiana. Zone 5/6 Illin

Transplanting Travelers Palm / White Bird of Paradise Offshoots? Cut with Roots, Mother Will Heal

Can offshoots of travelers palm or white bird of paradise be dug and moved from the mother plant? Yes—With Roots Attached Dig down to include a segment of the mothers corm (rhizome) with the offshoots roots. This wont h

Tropical Plant Dying After Repotting into Clay Pot? Clay Dries Too Fast—Stem Rot from Poor Drainage

Two tropicals repotted into clay pots with new soil. Now main stem soft/discolored, leaves dying. Owner used Miracle-Gro spikes. Soil dries fast. Can they be saved? Clay Pots + Light Mix = Extreme Drying, Then Overwater

Silver Queen (Aglaonema) Repotting: Not a Bulb, Easy to Divide, Watch for Mealybugs & Ants

Owner asks if silver queen is a bulb, wants to repot huge plant (25 pot, 11 ft foliage spread) into 42 pot. Also has ants in soil. What are mealybugs? Not a Bulb—Rhizomatous, Easy to Divide Aglaonema grows from rhizomes

Red Banana Plant Growing Strange Bud 4 Feet Up? It's an Inflorescence—Fruit Will Form, Then Plant Dies

2-year-old red banana has a dense, 8x4 bud-like growth 4 ft up the trunk (not at top). No leaves since Feb. Cold winter. Owner fears its fruit (thought non-fruiting) and will kill plant. It Is an Inflorescence (Flower S

Yellow Bird of Paradise (Mexican) Dropping Yellow Buds? Check for Tiny Aphids/Mites on Buds

Mexican bird of paradise (yellow with red) dropping yellow buds. Not overwatering. Why? Bud Drop = Insect Feeding Tiny aphids or mites suck developing buds, causing abortion. Theyre hard to see—inspect closely with magn

Mandevilla Brown Spots Spreading Up from Bottom? Fungal—Spray Broad-Spectrum Fungicide, Avoid Wet Leaves at Dusk

Two mandevillas planted months ago. One died from bottom-up brown spots; second shows same. Planted in hard soil with potting soil layer. Full afternoon sun. Help? Planting Was Fine—Its Fungal Brown spots starting low a

Dieffenbachia Amoena 13+ Feet Tall in Greenhouse? In Nature They Double That—You Have a Happy Plant

Dieffenbachia amoena reached 13+ feet in a flat, moved to botanical garden greenhouse. How tall in Brazil? Owner didnt want to cut it. Natural Habitat Size In Brazilian rainforests, under canopy, they reach 25+ feet. Yo

Philodendron (Showboat/Monstera) Losing Leaves, Brown Tips? Indirect Light, Monthly High-Nitrogen Feed, Mist for Humidity

Large philodendron lost all leaves, regrows but tips brown and die. Repotted last week. New one doing okay but outer leaves lack luster. Feeds Miracle-Gro. Suggestions? Standard Philodendron Care No direct light—bright

Transplanting Elephant Ears from Pots to Ground in Central US? Better in Pots—They're Cold-Tender

Elephant ear bulbs started indoors in pots are leafing out. Owner wants to plant in ground but fears harm. Advice? Ground Planting Is Risky in Central US Winter will kill the corms. Elephant ears are cold-sensitive. Be

Removing Pindo Palm Seed Pods Won't Increase Frond Growth—It's Cosmetic Only

Pindo palm has 5 large seed pods. Husband wonders if removing them redirects energy to fronds. No Effect on Growth All palms produce seed pods. Removing them doesnt change frond production or vigor. Its purely aesthetic

Pindo Palm Seed Propagation: Possible But Impractical

Seeds Germinate, But Slowly Pindo palm (Butia capitata) seeds will sprout, but the seedling takes 5–10 years to reach landscape size. Nursery-grown plants are the only practical option.

New Pygmy Palm, Flax & Red Banana Struggling in San Diego Heat? Check Planting Technique First

Recently planted pygmy palm, flax, and red banana in San Diego heat. Used multipurpose soil mixed with dirt, watering with B-1. All struggling. Ideas? Planting Technique Is Usually the Culprit Nick asks for details: We

Fishtail Palm Trunk Splitting at Base with Ants? Too Much Water—Spray Copper, Leave Alone

Young fishtail palm in Puerto Rico has trunk splitting at soil line, hollow, blackened, ants inside. Leaves still green. Owner wants to fix the split. Cause: Excess Moisture at Base Split is likely from water accumulati

Pachira (Money Tree) Rotting at Top After Overwatering? Damage Likely Fatal—Let Dry, Hope for Best

Pachira twisted trunk plant was overwatered. Owner switched to cactus soil, larger pot, drainage, stopped watering. Now top 4 inches of two trunks look rotten. Cut them off? Rot at the Top = Advanced Root Rot Symptoms a

Best Tropical for Florida Full Sun & Sand? 'Trinette' Arboricola or Plumbago

Florida front yard: full sun, extremely sandy soil. Needs tropical plant ≥3 ft tall. Top Pick: Trinette Arboricola (Schefflera arboricola Trinette) Variegated yellow-green foliage—color all year. Thrives in sun, sand,

Sago Palms Leaning After 7+ Years? It's Normal—Watch for Scale Instead

Two 9-year-old sagos, straight for 7.5 years, now leaning. Healthy otherwise. Should owner worry? Leaning Is Typical for Mature Sagos Cycas revoluta naturally leans with age. Strong constitution—wont snap. No staking ne

Night-Blooming Jasmine Eaten Every Bloom Cycle? Systemic Drench Kills Hidden Daytime Pests

Night-blooming jasmine gets devoured each time it blooms. Caterpillar/grub treatment didnt help. Attack coincides with flowering. Pests Are Nocturnal—Systemic Works Best Night-feeding caterpillars or slugs hide in soil

Pindo Palm Fronds with Black/Brown Spots in Rainy Season? Fungal—Spray Copper on New Growth

A 3-month-old pindo palm in Central Florida has tiny dark spots and larger splotches on most fronds. Landscaper says its normal aging. Owner suspects potassium deficiency or fungus. New center fronds are clean. No fertil

Palm with Mushroom-Like Growth at Base? It's Ganoderma Butt Rot—Fatal, Remove the Palm

A palm (likely queen) has a hard, white-underside/brown-top mushroom growth at the base. All fronds dead except center spear. Friend had same—palms died. How to kill the fungus? No Cure for Ganoderma Ganoderma zonatum i