Diagnosing Yellow Leaves and Brown Tips on a New Tropical Houseplant

First-Week Troubles for a Repotted Tropical A week-old repotted tropical shows yellow leaves and brown tips. Owner waters 1-2 times, fertilized lightly, placed near bright window with shade. Quick Fixes Yellow leaves =

Majesty Palm Outdoors in South Carolina: Zone Concerns

Can Majesty Palm Survive Lexington, SC Winters? Owner in Lexington, SC (zone 6-7) wants to plant a majesty palm near a septic tank to deter drivers. Asks about root size and cold hardiness. Expert Caution Zone 6-7 risk

Fixing Brown Tips on Fan Palm and Lemon Tree Leaf Drop

Two Common Indoor Plant Problems Solved A fan palm has 4-5 inches of brown tips; a potted lemon tree has fruit but no leaves. Both share a pot with thirsty smaller plants. Diagnoses Fan palm: Brown tips = low humidity.

Zebra Plant Indoor Care and Flower Pruning

Complete Indoor Care Guide for Zebra Plant New zebra plant owner in Indiana asks how to trim spent flowers, summer outdoor placement, and general care. Care Summary Light: No direct sun; dappled shade outdoors. Humidit

Majesty Palm Container Woes: Wilting and Spots

Troubleshooting Repotted Majesty Palms Several majesty palms wilted after repotting (roots loosened). Others from last summer have black spots and brown frond tips. Causes and Cures Wilting = transplant shock. Ensure d

Propagating Lakeview Jasmine from Cuttings

How to Root Jasmine from Semi-Hardwood Cuttings Owner has a Lakeview Jasmine with red berries and wants to know if theyre seeds or how to propagate from cuttings. Cutting Method (More Reliable) Take 4-inch semi-hardwoo

Queen Palm Pest and Disease Management

Diagnosing Spots, Scale, and Uneven Growth in Queen Palms Fifteen queen palms show brown spots, white/silver residue on frond skeletons, and two same-age palms grow at vastly different rates—one sickly. Three Issues, Th

Spring Pruning for Overwintered Hibiscus

Should I Cut Back My Potted Hibiscus in Spring? A Georgia gardener brought a large potted hibiscus indoors for winter. Asks if and how far to prune in spring. Pruning Advice Nick says hibiscus responds well to pruning b

Stopping Slugs from Eating Bird of Paradise Blooms

Protecting Bird of Paradise Flowers from Night Feeders Bird of paradise blooms are eaten as they open. Owner suspects bugs. Slugs Are the Culprit Nick says slugs hide in soil by day, feed at night. Use slug bait around

Freeze-Resistant Hibiscus Alternatives

Hardy Hibiscus Options for Cold Winters Tropical hibiscus froze in an unusually cold winter. Owner seeks a freeze-resistant type and source. Available Options Nick explains all tropical hibiscus are cold-sensitive. Alte

Bougainvillea Leaf and Bloom Burn in Ground

Why Are My Bougainvilleas New Leaves and Flowers Burning? A 2-year-old in-ground bougainvillea produces new growth that looks burnt and dies before maturing. Two Likely Causes Nick says its either: Night-feeding insect

Bottle Palm Frond Discoloration and Fertilizing

Normal Aging vs. Nutrient Issues in Bottle Palms A year-old bottle palm shows yellow/brown edges on lower fronds. Owner asks about fertilizing schedule and type. Expert Advice Yellow/brown edges on lower fronds are nor

Repotting a Baby Queen Palm Correctly

First-Time Repotting Guide for a Young Queen Palm A new queen palm owner needs step-by-step repotting instructions. Simple Steps Remove from nursery pot with as much soil on roots as possible. Pot into a 1-gallon conta

Reviving a Neglected Indoor Palm

Can a Palm Survive Weeks Without Water? A 2-year-old indoor palm went 3-4 weeks without water repeatedly. Now most fronds are brown; only 3 remain greenish. Owner moved it outside, added lawn fertilizer, watered heavily,

Diagnosing Foxtail Palm Yellowing and Browning

Why Is One Foxtail Palm Declining While Others Thrive? Three foxtails planted together; two grow fast, but the smallest suddenly shows yellow/brown new fronds and a stunted, brown-tipped spear. All get palm food and extr

Blue Java Banana: Not Suited for Indoor Containers

Can I Keep a Blue Java Banana Small Indoors? Owner bought a 4-foot Blue Java (Ice Cream Banana) and wants to keep it under 10 feet inside. Expert Reality Check Nick says Blue Java grows 12+ feet with a massive root corm

Identifying and Treating Banana Leaf Damage

Whats Eating My Banana Leaves? Outdoor bananas show rows of small holes and half-oval chunks missing from leaf tops. Owner suspects insects, not wind. Pest ID and Treatment Nick identifies leaf-cutter bees (neat, cookie

Indoor Palm Decline in British Columbia

Reviving a Struggling Indoor Palm in Canada A small indoor palm (likely majesty) in BC has brown fronds after inconsistent watering. Owner waters weekly, mists, keeps in medium light. Asks if it will recover in summer.

Colorful Shade Plants for Coastal Beach Areas

Best Tropicals for a Shady North-Facing Wall in the Tropics A gardener on the Tropic of Cancer needs colorful plants for a shady, coastal, drip-irrigated spot. Top Picks Nick recommends: Arboricola Trinette – green/yel

Royal Palms Dying from Overwatering

New Royal Palms Turning Brown: Too Much Water? Five newly planted royal palms in sandy soil get 30 minutes of daily watering. Theyre browning, including new shoots. Nursery said no fertilizer for 30 days. Diagnosis Nick