Question
I brought this plant because I know that they are a really easy plant to take care of, but recently I purchased a new one and it sits in my kitchen window, with indirect sunlight.  The plant started to get a white powder looking substance on the leaves and then the stem?  I washed it all off and things was fine and a month later it was back all over the plant and little fine bugs where flying around it? Of course I put it and watch it for a few days to see what was going on and more white fungus developed on the entire plant. I watered this plant once a week.  Did I buy it with maybe a bug in it or did I do something wrong. I did give it one time one of those plant stick you feed them with.  Before I buy another one I just want to know what to look for, they are nice indoor plants.  

Answer
Tracey,

It sounds like it may have had mealy bugs, the white powder stuff, and you may have overwatered it. The fine bugs flying around were fungus gnats that attack plants that are too wet. Most houseplants do not like sitting in a swamp with their roots constantly wet. They tend to get root rot in that situation. The overwatering may have started before you bought the plant. This plant does not need watered once a week, you should not water it until it is dry and feels light weight. That will probably be about every 10-14 days depending on how much light it gets. The more sun it gets the better off it will be. It will have more variegation to the leaves and be healthier in general. Make sure the new one is in a pot with a drainage hole and it is never left sitting with a full tray of water under it. Keep the drapes or mini blinds open all day so it gets sun or at least bright light and be sure it is dry before you water it. Roots need alternating periods of moist and dry. Good luck.

Darlene