bougainvillea cultivation

QuestionI have a very successful climbing bougainvillea which I would like to replicate in other sections of my house and fencing. To maintain the same color can I cultivate from the existing plant AnswerHi Brian,

dracena spikes (lucky bamboo)

QuestionI live in Pslm Beach Florida and have many plants indoor and out. I have taken an interest in dracena spikes in water. Should bottled water be used and what type of fertilizer and how often? &nbs

musa

QuestionQUESTION: My banana has brown spots, that are kind of large on the pseudostem, or trunk. Do I need to be concerned with this? It is in a pot indoors, until it is warm enough to plant outside. One

Miniture orange tree

QuestionI have a small lemon and orange tree,the lemon tree will set fruit each year and yield about 6 to 8 lemons,but the orange tree will set lots of oranges but they fall off when they get to be about the size of

Bouganvillia plant

QuestionI would like to know why the leaves on my plant keep getting brown spots and then eventually die off. I am getting alot of new sprouts growing and I would like to keep it growing so it can produce the flower

chamaedorea palm/ Parlor Palm

QuestionIm sure this is the palm I have. Its about 8 months old but is December (cold) here and lately, all the fronds have turned brown on the ends. Is there a way to fix this? I have tried different watering metho

Transplanting Queen Palms now

QuestionHi Nick, I need to transplant 2 queen palms, both about 10-12 ft. tall, this month. This needs to be done now to make room for a new project. I live in Santa Barbara, Ca. Please advise on how to

decorative banana palm

QuestionI need to transplant the above asap and need advice on how to do this. It is rather large with a trunk diameter of about 14 inches. Thanks. AnswerHi Wendy, when you say transplant I assume you m

fruit flies on my tropical plants

QuestionHi i have a question about fruit flies they are on my tropical plants. They were fine when i bought them in october and a month later my house was infested.. I am wondering if these plants are causing the in

tree fern transplant

QuestionHi Nick I have a five foot tree fern growing out of a small brick retainer and a concrete pathway. What is the best way to minimise damage of the root system during removal to make it suitable for transplant

Lemon tree losing leaves

QuestionI have an indoor, potted lemon tree which is dropping a lot of leaves. I sprayed it with K+ Neem because there was some sort of pest living in small cobwebs up near the top. I also removed some of the affect

Bougenvillia

QuestionMy potted plant is doing great, however we will soon get freezing weather. Its on the porch next to the house. How else can I help my plant survive the cold? Should it be pruned? AnswerHi Carol,

Aloe vera plant

QuestionI live in St. George, Utah. I have a potted aloe vera plant under a shaded patio. Wondering what cold temperature it can tolerate? Any suggestions for protecting it outside if needed? Its too lar

Ficus Problem

QuestionAll the new growth leaves close up and have bugs or spots on them. What do I do? AnswerHi Dale, you need to treat it with a Horticultural Oil or an Insecticidal soap; if it isnt too bad, then you can

bulbless elephant ears

Questiondo I need to dig up my black magic elephant ears for the winter? they appear to have roots and not bulbs.sometimes the temp drops below freezing. AnswerHi Linda, no, mulch them over to insulate them and the

Musa plant

QuestionI have two small (2high) plants growing in the pot of my Musa plant. They appear to be small musa plants. What should I do with them. AnswerHi David, these are babies, and when they are about one third the

Quen Palm - Bent

QuestionIm in the Houston area, and from hurricane Ike, Ive got a queen palm basically bent over at the top such that the new growth is at roughly a 45 degree angle. Its been 3 months now, should I expect the

Palm Tree yellow with brown spots

QuestionI have a palm tree that is turning yellow with with brown spots. I have applied palm fertilizer. A friend said the soil might be too acidic so I watered in baking soda. Its been over a mont

bouginvilla tree

QuestionMy tree is blooming on top but other than a few spotty leaves there is nothing in the middle or on the bottom of the tree. It is in a sunny area and has been fertilized. Last year it bloomed beautifully. S

Ponytail plant

Questiongeneral care instructions, please AnswerHi Irma, one of the easiest plants to care for, that swelled bottom is a reservoir for water, so very little water is needed for this plant; Fertilize it with a well