Q.Christmas Trees - Is there anything I should add to the water to keep the Christmas tree fresher longer?
A.There are many additives on the market that are supposed to help keep the tree fresh. However research has shown that just plain water is really all that is needed. Before placing the tree in its stand you should cut ...Read MoreQ.Water And Plant Growth - I would like to know more about basic plant growth.
A.I recommend that you go to the Gardening Know How website and do a search on this topic. There are alot of great articles there on various plants and tips on how to grow the ones of interest best. When ...Read MoreQ.Protecting Hibiscus From Cold - We are in Houston. It will be getting down to 25 degrees F tonight, with the next day 50 degrees ...
A.Cover the plant with a sheet or blanket. Make sure to remove it first thing in the morning. This will help insulate it from the cold.Read MoreQ.How Much Water (in Liters) Does Aloe Vera Need? - Could you tell me how much water (in liters) does an aloe vera plant need? I am developing a project ...
A.The aloe vera are very drought tolerant so they do well on not much water. They do not tolerate frosts and also alot of water will kill them quickly. When grown in a container I let the plants get dry ...Read More
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Q.Cottony Disease On Indoor Palm Plants - My indoor palm plants have been dropping leaves due to a cotton-like substance at the base of the leaves. What ...
A.That is mealybugs. This article will help you get rid of them: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/mealybugs-white-residue-on-plants-leaves.htmRead MoreQ.Hibiscus Winter Storage - I have about 10 Hibiscus that I would like to save over the winter but do not have the room ...
A.Yes, you can do this. Make sure the location is cool (not cold) and that you dip the roots in water once every 4-5 weeks while you are storing it. It will look dead during this time, but ...Read MoreQ.What Type Of Grow Light Would I Use For A Meyer Lemon Tree? - I want to give my lemon tree some extra light when I can't take it outside and I don't know ...
A.If you are just looking to overwinter a plant, a standard florescent bulb placed 6-12 inches from the plant will suffice. It does not provide a complete light spectrum, but it is enough for a plant for a few ...Read MoreQ.Pansy Problems - I have some 'Pansy' sweet pea plants purchased as plugs from Jersey Plants Direct. They have developed black spots on ...
A.It does sound like a mold or fungus of some kind, which is generally lumped under the heading of "black spot". It is similar to the black spot that is common on roses. High moisture does aggravate the issue. That ...Read MoreQ.Can Gypsum Effect Plants - I recently added gypsum to my soil to combat heavy clay soil then planted a snowfake hibiscus and a syzygium, ...
A.Mostly no, but if large amounts are added to the soil, it can create a few nutrient deficiencies. Gypsum can reduce the amount of iron, manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, copper and zinc a plant can take up, but it would have ...Read MoreQ.Transplanting Climbing Rose - My fiancee brought the roots and stems of a climbing rose to Atlanta Ga. from Toulouse France. It is Fall ...
A.In your area, I would recommend placing it outside for the winter. They need a bit of cold. Place it in a sheltered location, like next to the foundation of a house. Pile up mulch around the ...Read MoreQ.Science Fair Project - I am currently doing a science fair project. The title is 'Do vitamins have an effect on plant growth?'. My ...
A.The information I have read on this subject states that vitamin C appears to have an impact. The amount could be a subject for your project. Give each of say 5 different lima bean plants different doses of vitamin C ...Read MoreQ.Fertilizing Citrus - Is manure (cow, horse, chicken) good fertilizer for citrus trees?
A.As long as it is well composted, it is good. I would use the chicken manure lightly though. It is high in nitrogen and this may cause the tree to produce less fruit.Read MoreQ.Wintering Succulent - My flowering succulent (in a pot) wilted with a light freeze outdoors, can I save it?
A.As long as some part of it is still alive, it can regrow, but be aware that it will look rather shabby for quite some time as it recovers. Sometimes it is just easier to throw the plant out ...Read MoreQ.Are Hibiscus Leaves Toxic? - I have an indoor hibiscus plant. Are the leaves toxic if eaten by an animal? I have a pot belly ...
A.It is hard to say for certain as applies to pigs, but hibiscus is not toxic to humans. Pigs are very close to humans from a biological standpoint (even at one time being used for heart transplants) so we suspect ...Read MoreQ.Maggots In Peaches - My peaches are full of maggots and dropping off.
A.Is there a walnut tree nearby? It sound like it may be walnut husk flies. They primarily attack walnuts, but will also attack peaches. Here is more information: http://jenny.tfrec.wsu.edu/opm/displaySpecies.php?pn=160Read MoreQ.Gardenia Buds Being Eaten - We have just planted a couple of gardenias, which are healthy apart from the fact that something is eating the ...
A.It sounds like you may have thrips. This article may help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/insects/controlling-thrips.htm This article may also help if you have not read it: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/gardenia/gardenia-flowers-gardenia-buds-falling-off-plant.htmRead MoreQ.Name Of Weed - Need to identify a weed in our lawn at Cromwell. It is like a prostrate, creeping clover-like plant with small ...
A.It is probably either Yellow Trefoil or Yellow Oxalis.Read MoreQ.Leaves Curling Up - I just planted four eucalyptus trees and the leaves have started curling up.
A.This is not normal. It may be that the plant has some air pockets around the rootball that were not filled in correctly when the plant was put in the ground. Step firmly around the base of the tree to ...Read MoreQ.Cutting Down Dead Tree - I have a dying tree near the house and need to have it cut down. Should I be concerned about ...
A.No, this should not be a problem. Just make sure to plant grass or some other vegetation there in the near future so that as the root system decays, and is not able to hold the soil together, another root ...Read More