Question
Hello,

I live in the Phoenix area of Arizona.  I really love plants and I am just starting to get the nerve to really try and get things to grow. Usually what happens is, as soon as I re-pot something, it dies because of these tiny little flying bugs that seem to appear out of nowhere. Are these bugs in the new soil? How can I prevent this from happening?

I have a new houseplant, in a 4inch pot, that has large, broad leaves that seem to come from a single stalk, leaves are green, red and yellow(mixed). it's not looking so good, there is what looks like webbing in the base? is this spider mites?

I have another new plant that is also in a 4inch pot, with long, slender leaves of different shades of green coming from a single base. parts of the leaves are turning brown. what is the cause?

I also have a small rubber plant that doesn't want to grow. I have had it at least a year. I put it outside in the shade and it immediately started to grow but then stopped. I would love to get the thing to grow big! The leaves aren't even very large and I am wondering now if it is a dwarf variety, if there is such a thing.

Also, I am trying a few herbs, tomatoes, and strawberries in pots on my patio. I worry about my city water. It has a high chlorine content, so high that I can smell it when I am watering. Will this hurt my garden plants?

Thanks bunches!

Answer
Stephanie,

Most houseplant do not need to be repotted regularly, they are very happy when they are rootbound.  If you put them in too large a pot it is too easy to overwater them which causes the roots to begin to rot and that attracts fungus gnats, your little black flying bugs. Most of the problems you have described are caused by watering your plants too often. They need to dry out between waterings to allow the roots to breathe for a time period before being watered again.

Your plant that is large, broad leaves that seem to come from a single stalk, leaves are green, red and yellow(mixed) is a croton and they definitely need to dry out between waterings.

I'm not sure what the  4inch pot, with long, slender leaves of different shades of green coming from a single base is but if you want to email me a picture to [email protected] I should be able to identify it.

Your rubber tree problem is probably too much water and also are you fertilizing it at all?  Cut back on the water and fertilize it at least once a month.

The chlorine in your water can be a problem with you plants. You need to allow the water to sit in an open bucket for 48 hours then you can use it to water your plants. By then the chlorine and flouride will evaporate. It can also hurt garden plants. You can also add a couple of drops of fish tank dechlorinator to to clear the water. Good luck.

Darlene