Question
QUESTION: Hi David,

I bought an English ivy plant last summer and until February it was growing fast. But unfortunately in the last 2 months, some of the stems dried. It started from the bottom and it was strange to see a stem half dried, half green. I cut 3-4 stems because of this and I'd like to know the reason. I never let soil completely dry out between waterings but at the same time, I don't think that I overwater it. I check with my finger and if 1-1.5 inches of the soil is dry, then I water it. I also started using water-soluble fertilizer last week. What am I doing wrong?

My second question is about a little date plant. I planted a date seed in a pot of white ribbon plant. After a week or so, I planted another one in another pot. First one came out first and grew rapidly for a few months but then I saw little insects on the white ribbon and used diluted dishsoap to get rid of them. The insects are gone but both my date plant and white ribbon stopped growing and the tip of the date plant became brown. But the rest seems fine. I compare the date plants' heights and the second one has already outgrew the first one by 1.5 times of its length. Is there anything I can do after this point?

Thanks,

Betul

ANSWER: I will answer the date plant question first since it is easier.  Using dishwashing liquid as an insecticide will kill the bugs.  However the kind of soap that you buy at the grocery (e.g. Dawn) will also eat the wax away on the leaf surface and can cause a browning or burn just as you describe.  You should be using Safer Insecticidal Soap, which is a potassium based soap that will not eat the wax and suberin off of plant leaves.

Now---to the Ivy.  It doesnt sound like you are overwatering the plant.  Keeping it in a pot will be harder than planting it outside however.  There are fungal diseases that will attack the stems and cause them to turn brown and die.  I would cut out any brown plant tissue and continue with your scheduled program of fertilizer.  If you see more dead stems, then respond back and I can recommend a fungicide you can try. I want to see what happens before just blindly treating with a chemical.  Good Luck.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi David,

I cut all the brown tissue on my English Ivy and put it outside. The weather is nice in Cambridge, MA so I didn't worry about it. It was fine for a few weeks but some other stems became brown in the last couple of days. There're still very healthy looking branches, though.

About the white ribbon - is there a way to save the plant after this point? (unfortunately I used diluted Dawn as pesticide) Should I cut and propagate new plants? Will it work? The other date plant I have (propagated from seed) has a brown tip now. It was growing very fast and I did nothing out of the order but the tip turned brown all of a sudden. Is it possible to grow a date plant from date seeds or is it a common faith for all seed-propagated dates?

My last question is about the crassula ovata I have. It is with me since last September and was growing fast. I, even, cut and propagated a new plant out of it. But today I saw very little white bugs. They are so little such that I might have thought it was just dust (but I saw them moving) What is the safest way to treat it? I can't send a picture because they really are very small. I put the plant outside (partial shade) for now to keep my other plants bug-free.

Thanks,

Betul

Answer
OK-- The English Ivy may have a fungal disease.  You may want to find a fungicide called Daconil.  The active ingredient is called Chlorothalonil and is a vary safe and effective fungicide.  buy the smallest quantity you can find.  Mix according to label instructions for ornamental plants and spray until runoff.  Repeat about 7-10 days later and then just watch it for a while.

You can always try to propagate plants.  Make more cuttings than you need, as most may die.  I have no experience with date palms as far as culture.  I would search the internet for more information about growing them.

The bugs be may spider mites or aphids if they are that small. Try Safer's Insecticidal Soap.  You should be able to find that at a good garden center.  You will have to treat every 3-4 days for about two weeks to completely rid the plant of them.  They are a very difficult insect to kill.

I hope this info helps you some.  Good Luck.