QuestionQUESTION: Help! I got an escargot begonia about 6 months ago. I am having a very tough time with it. The leaves turn brown and die and now I am down to one leaf and it's looking bad. My house is all windows on the south side. I live in upstate NY so sun is not a factor my house is always 72 or better we heat with wood so the house is very dry. Every time I water the plant it take a turn for the worse. I let it get bone dry didn't water for almost 2 weeks I gave the plant maybe a quarter cup of water in a 6 in pot and the leaf turned again. I have it in very loose soil the same I use for my violets but I just can't get this plant to thrive. All the rest of my plants are just beautiful lots of blooms,good leaves, what do I need to do for this plant to thrive.?
ANSWER: Hi Andrea, it could be a number of reasons why this Begonia is failing on you, it is more often or not a water problem, either too much or too little with Begonias, but it could also be spider mites, have you noticed any small webs? Begonias can be sensitive to changes in the environment also. I wish I could help you more, but without seeing it makes it tough to diagnose; remove it from the container its in and see if the bottom is soggy, if so, change out the soil and let it dry out for a spell.. Nick
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QUESTION: In September I brought inside the house a potted Hibicus tree, soon I noticed mites in the house (white spots on plants) I sprayed all my plants about every two weeks and moved the tree to my basement. How do I rid my house and the tree of these mites? What is the regimene to completely rid of the mites?
Answer...the only way to get rid of mites is to take away their food source or treat it so, when the feed they die; thats the first part, the second is to change out the soil, where the eggs are hatching. The house will not become infested if the source is deleted. The easiest way is to spray the plant down with a Horticultural oil or an insectecidal soap; and again,,,change out the soil. Nick
