Question
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Followup To
Question -
Thank you for taking my question.

Okay I have three plants, with three different problems. Here we go:

1) I have a 11+ foot Janet Craig Cane -- I need to know if I can safely cut off the top of the plant so that it fits in my apartment. Also the plant has some sun damage (it was just brought in from outdoors) is there a way to correct or minimize the appearance of the damage?

2) I have a 5 foot Strelitzia (banana type tropical plant -- not sure of exact name). It's healthy and happy. But the pot has a thriving community of tiny white mite-like bugs in it, and a few small worms. The bugs do not jump and tend to hang out on wood chips in the pot. They do not seem to leave the pot. What is your suggestion?

3) Finally I have a Marginata Cane Dracaena Basic. It's two feet tall and climbing. Historically it doesn't get much light, and gets dusty. The plant grows at the top, but the leaves at the bottom  and center yellow and fall out -- the plant looks thin and limp. Lately I've been taking it outside for more sun (one day, too much sun made the leaves wilt) but since getting the sun dosages it seems to be doing better. Any suggestions here?

I use a miracle grow fertilizer on all three.

Thanks,
Leo
Answer -
Hi Leo,

1) Yes, you can cut back Janet Craig stems to any height that you prefer. New growth will emerge from just below the cut and grow upward from there. The pruned off portion can be rooted in the the base of the plant, in its own pot, or in water.

If the sun damage is limited to leaf edges and tips, then it can be trimmed off with sharp scissors, cutting in such a way as to maintain the original shape of the leaves. If the damage is more extensive, all you can do is to trim off each damaged leaf entirely. There is no way to restore the original green color to the sun-damaged leaves.

2) Your Bird of Paradise is potted in non-sterile soil. Without seeing the bugs I cannot be sure just what they are. If they are fungus gnat larvae, then they will develop wings as they mature and then fly about. If you start to see gnats flying about, let me know and I will give you treatment instructions.

Just about any other insect in the soil can be ignored because they will not damage the plant or leave the pot. However, if you do not want them in there, let me know and I will provide treatment instructions.

3)Marginatas prefer a stable environment where the light is constant. They grow thicker stems and leaves in very bright light. The change from indoor to outdoor light is too great and should be avoided. If you want to keep yours as an indoor plant, I suggest that you find a spot in front of a sunny window and leave it there.

It is quite normal for Marginatas to lose older leaves as they add new ones on top. They can be pruned back, just like the Janet Craig, when they get too tall. Thin, limp leaves may be a combination of too little light and soil that is not allowed to get sufficiently dry in between waterings.

Fertilizer is over-rated. It should only be used on healthy plants that are growing vigorously and have not had fresh soil added in at least a year. Too much fertilizer is more often a problem than too little. Always use it at half strength.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

You can E-mail me directly at: [email protected]

If this information has been helpful, please remember to give me an AllExperts rating and nomination.



The bugs may actually be fungus gnat larvae -- I remember last year in early-mid summer there were gnats constantly flying near the plant. Could you provide the treatment instructionst for removing the insects?  

Answer
Hi Leo,

Adult fungus gnats fly around and are an annoyance, but they are not harmful to people. Each gnat lives for about 5 days. The trick is to get rid of the next generation - the gnat larvae that live in the top layer of the soil. The larvae feed on decaying organic matter. Decaying pine bark in potting mixes and decaying plants roots feed the larvae. Try to keep the soil as dry as possible. Remove all loose soil from the surface and put a light layer of coarse coir (coconut husk) or sand or diatomaceous earth on the soil surface. These substances have sharp edges that carve up the larvae. (Recent studies indicate that fine-textured peat moss also deters gnat larvae.)

Another safe technique is to place ?inch slices of raw potato on the surface of the soil. After a day or so, discard the slices along with the larvae inside. Repeat this until there are no more larvae in the potato.

For more serious infestations try Knock-Out Gnats to treat fungus gnats available from Gardens Alive for about $20. See http://www.gardensalive.com/item_display.asp?ProductNumber=1962.

Detection trick: Add a little water to the soil and then look very closely for tiny fungus gnat larvae swimming in the water as it pools on the surface. You need good light and good eyes to see them. If you don't, then your plant is probably gnat free.

Prevention is often the best remedy. Use sterile potting mixes that are free of bark chips. The potting mix should have ample drainage material, such as perlite so that it drains well and allows the soil to dry out frequently. Fungus gnats can nearly always be traced back to overwatering and/or poor soil quality.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

You can E-mail me directly at: [email protected]

If this information has been helpful, please remember to give me an AllExperts rating and nomination.