Ask the Expert: Can you help with soil condition of spaths?

We purchased 4 spath gigantica plants for our church @ Easter. The soil on all has a white sticky residue that makes the water milky. Leaves are dark green with new growth of white ‘flowers’ so it plants appear healthy. Any idea what’s wrong with soil and will it eventually affect plant?
Thanks for any info.  Carol

Ask the Expert: I live about 20 miles north of Montgomery, AL and

I would like to know more about the white bird plant.  Can it be planted outside and how can it be propagated?

Hi Jamie,

I have a dumb cane that was given to me.  I sat it in water to root.  Once it rooted I potted it.  The plant has not grown and still have the same 9 leaves as it did when I started.  Where did I go wrong and how can I correct it?

Thank you

Sharon in Chicago

Ask the Expert: i have a very rare plant that i can’t find the name

i have a houseplant that i took a clipping from and started it at home. it has green heart shaped leaves and the flower is amazing. it is red, wax like, with a middle
that looks like a spiked light green yellow i don’t know what to call it. could it be a lily of some kind. it looks almost tropical but it is not a floor plant, it is table size plant.  Louise Read the rest of Amazing Red Flower With Heart Shaped Leaves »

Ask the Expert: My cactus is growing white hairs. Is this okay?

My cactus, which I keep in the kitchen has begun to grow a lot of short white hair at the top of the plant. I’m wondering if this is natural, or if maybe I’m over/under watering it. I attached a picture of it.

Thanks for your help. Sammy

Ask the Expert: Can you please tell me the name of this flower?

I bought this plant because I loved the delicate white flowers. It had no information at all on the container, no name of the plant, what type of sun exposure or soil it prefferred…nothing, just that it was an annual. My girlfriend bought the exact same plant because she liked it so well and the same thing…no information. We are stumped, we’ve asked everyone we know and no one has a clue. Please help us with any information you can. Thanks, Kim

Every week I get at least one lucky bamboo question. Yesterday I received a call from Stephanie who was having trouble with her lucky bamboo. During our conversation I ask if she could send me some photos of her lucky bamboo. She was gracious enough to do so and below are the photos she sent.

So often I have to explain the how to correct problems with lucky bamboo with out the benefit of photos. With Stepahanie’s photos I am going to walk through the procedures and reference the photos.

Read the rest of We Are Not Always Lucky With Lucky Bamboo »

Ask the Expert: I saw these flowers in TN and would like an ID

On vacation in the Smokies, we saw these in someone’s front yard.  We’d like to have an I.D. if possible.

Ask the Expert: Flamingo Lily care

I recently acquired a plant at a yard sale. The lady who had it didn’t know what it was but said that she kept it in direct sunlight and when she moved it it didn’t bloom. She also said it was quite huge and she had given it a “hair cut” and it’s come back beautiful.
I did some research and found out it’s a Flamingo Lily? It has beautiful Salmon pink blooms. It looks very healthy , and is starting to get root bound in its 6″ pot. My question is this.. I’ve tried to research proper care for this plant and have come up with variations from full sun to shade, and from keep it wet to dry it out. The only common factor is to keep the humidity up by misting it. HELP!! Also, how root bound do they like to be? Should I be transplanting it to an 8″ pot? What kind of fertilizer should I use, how often?
I’ve attached pics of my Flamingo Lily?

Thank you for taking the time to read, and answer my question. Shannon

Read the rest of Proper Care For An Anthurium Flamingo FLower »

Ask the Expert: Yellowing leaves

I have a large peace lily that has yellowing leaves, it gets misted once a week and gets early morning sun. I transplanted it last fall and it was doing well until recently. I water every 4th day. The entire plant is now looking very yellow and I’m afraid there is something else going on can you help?