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Ask the Plant Expert: Transplanted and Re-Potted But Looking Sad

May 12, 2014 by

Dear Plant Expert:

Besides the green plant, there is the azalea, the Kalanchoe and African violet. I have re-potted all of them, but they are really looking a bit sad … can you please provide any thing that I can do to help revive them? Should I plant the Azalea outside? I brought these from Dallas to Atlanta after Mom passed and would love to see them be healthy for a very long time.

Thank you! :)

Mimi

african-violet indoor azalea Kalanchoe-2 uknown-plant

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Plant Expert Reply:

Mimi,

All plants will look a little rough right after transplanting. Give them a little time to recover and they should bounce right back.
As for the Azalea, you could plant it outside. Make sure you place it in an area that gets at least 6 hours of sun a day and is in well-drained soil. You could also grow it in a sun-room if you have one.
As for the African Violet, they need bright filtered light. Never expose the plant to intense heat or bright sunlight. Keep them moist but not soggy. For more African Viloet Care Instruction go to https://www.flowershopnetwork.com/flower-pictures/pl00107/african-violets-basket-of-plants/. Scroll down until you see the care instruction area.
As for the Kalanchoe, they can tolerate a wide variety of light options. They prefer bright light and slightly dry conditions. For more Kalanchoe care instructions go to https://www.flowershopnetwork.com/flower-pictures/pl03002/flowering-kalanchoe-kalanchoe-blossfeldiana-/
And finally for the Schefflera, they prefer a lot of bright filtered or indirect light and a moist environment. For more care instruction go to https://www.flowershopnetwork.com/flower-pictures/pl00701/green-schefflera-plant-brassia-actinophylla-/.
Hope this information is helpful. Please let me know if I can help with anything else.
Jamie Jamison Adams
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Easter Flower Traditions

April 9, 2014 by

Easter is on the way, and there are several holiday traditions of which you need to be aware. Some are religious, some are family-oriented but all of them are centered around flowers. And why not? Easter is a spring holiday and spring is all about nature coming back to life after a long, cold winter. What better way to celebrate a return to life than with flowers?

Walking on SunshineTranquil LightDel Sol

Flower Traditions

  • The Corsage – The Easter corsage is an older tradition, but it is an important one for those who still honor it. The corsage is most often worn to church services and are given as a sign of love, most often given to a wife by her husband or a mother by her children. The flower used is not important unlike Mother’s Day corsages which have different meanings assigned to different flowers and colors.
  • The Lily – Or, as it is more commonly known, the Easter Lily. This white flower is considered a symbol of purity and goodness and can be gifted either singly or as part of a larger arrangement.
  • Passion Flower – These flowers are full of symbolism for the Christian faith. The three stamens represent the Holy Trinity or the three nail wounds of Christ. The circle of petals is said to represent the crown of thorns that Christ wore, and the pointed leaves are supposed to represent the spear that went into Christ’s side as he hung on the cross.
  • Flower Festivals – Churches all across the world hold flower festivals on Easter. The entire church is filled with spring flowers in a celebration of the renewal of life that spring brings as a symbolic testament to Christ’s resurrection.

Flowers are an important part of most holidays, but never more than Easter. The return of beauty, warmth and life to the world are perfectly captured in the fragile beauty of spring flowers. Don’t miss your chance to celebrate Easter the right way this year. Celebrate with flowers!

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Ask the Plant Expert: What is this Sticky Substance on my Schefflera?

March 27, 2014 by
Dear Plant Expert:Schefflera with Sticky Substance
Our schefflera has a sticky residue on its leaves and underneath the plant itself.  After looking closer, while taking the picture, I see what appears to be little white bugs.  How should I clean it and treat it?
Thank You for Your Assistance,
Vicki
Plant Expert Reply:
Vicki,

You will need to apply a houseplant spray to the plant in order to kill the insects. In the meantime, you can take a wet rag and clean the leaves. The rag needs to be dipped in lukewarm water that has a couple drops of liquid soap (use a non-antibacterial soap).  Good luck and let me know if you need help with anything else.
Sincerely,
Jamie Jamison Adams
FSN Plant Expert
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Ask the Plant Expert: A Torrid Tale of Oaks and Azaleas

March 24, 2014 by

Dear Plant Expert:

I have 6 matured live oaks in my front yard. Can I plant azaleas around the bottom of these trees?

Candace

Plant Expert Reply:

Candace,

Azaleas and oaks can live together quite happily. However, azaleas do not due well in deep shade so plant them as far away from the base of the oak as possible to give the azaleas access to the better light. Also keep in mind that you may need to water the azaleas in the summer since the oak trees will use most of the available water.

Hope this information was helpful!

Jamie Jamison Adams

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Ask the Flower Expert: Can You Tell Me the Name of This Plant?

February 28, 2014 by

Dear Flower Expert:

I bought this at a local grocery store around Valentine’s Day. It didn’t have a tag on it. Can you please take a look and let me know what this is?

Thanks,

Kris

20140220_145020 20140220_145010 20140220_145048

Flower Expert Reply:

On first appearance it looks like it might be a type of Scilla hyacinthoides. The genus Scilla contains around 90 different specious. These bulbous perennials are often used as a naturalizing element under trees and shrubs. In recent years, the plant has been cultivated for cut flower production or as a blooming potted pant. Hope this helps!

As with all plant identification, I welcome any input from our readers. Let us know if you think this plant is a Scilla or something different!

Thanks,

Jamie Jamison Adams

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Ask the Plant Expert: My Schefflera Started Losing Leaves

February 10, 2014 by

Dear Plant Expert:Schefflera Shedding Leaves

My schefflera just started losing leaves, even healthy ones, and I’m not sure what to do for it. I live in Michigan, and it lived on my back deck where it absolutely loved it. I’ve had to move it back inside and it’s not happy right now. What might be a few causes to my problem? Help!

Loretta

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Plant Expert Reply:

Loretta,

Scheffleras do not like temperatures below 60 degrees or cold drafts. With this in mind, I would say your plant is showing signs of cold damage. Since you have moved it inside, this should help. Make sure the plant is not in direct line of any cold drafts. Within a few weeks the plant should recover.

Good luck and please let me know if I can help with anything else.

Thanks,

Jamie Jamison Adams

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Ask the Plant Expert: Please Help My Corn Plant – What Am I Doing Wrong?

January 14, 2014 by

Ask The Plant Expert:Sun Damaged Corn Plant

What is wrong with my plant?

I received this plant as a condolence at my mothers funeral. When I reviewed it there were no problems with it, but about two days after bringing it home the leaves started to brown … that was about a week ago. Now it looks like this. I would really love to save this plant. Can you help?

It is located in front of my French doors that do not have curtains and is about two feet away from a heater vent, but the vent does not blow directly on it, and the temperature is kept at around 72° in the house. I have watered it once since bringing it home. The care instructions said moderately bright light and only water when soil is dry, so I’m not sure what I’m doing wrong.

I had problems sending multiple photos so I just included the whole plant. If you need others please email me a location that they can be sent.

Angie

Plant Expert Reply:

Angie,

I think the plant is suffering from too much direct sunlight and not enough humidity. If the plant is closer than 18″ from the French doors, the sunlight may be too strong. Keep in mind the glass from the door can cause the sunlight concentration to intensify. This will cause a burning effect on the leaves. Low humidity can also cause browning of the tips and leaves.

I recommend you pull the plant at least 18″ from the window and mist the air around the plant every other day with lukewarm water. You should see new growth within a couple of weeks. You can remove any of the severely damaged leaves.

One more thing. Check your pot and make sure any excess water can drain away from the plant.

Good Luck and keep me posted.

Thanks,

Jamie Jamison Adams

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Broad Mites Might Be The Problem With Your Schefflera

January 8, 2014 by

Ask The Plant Expert:Schefflera With Board Mites

Hello, Through unfortunate circumstances I have become the keeper of 2 Schefflera plants. One is a pretty good sized ‘bush’ and the other is much smaller.

They both came from a florist and looked extraordinary 5 days ago. The problem started surfacing the day we brought them home, the leaves started wilting, turning a dark greenish-brown and then falling off. On the smaller plant some of the leaves actually look shriveled and dried (mostly the smaller newer growth). There are a few leaves that have spots on them.

I’m having a hard time telling if they are dry, the soil seems to be deep in the pot and it seems to just be the vine/stem in the soil. Because of this they have been watered thoroughly and drained before putting them back in their decorative pots. They are both in a brightly lit room, the smaller one has been placed near a great vent so I just moved it today.

The larger one is in the same room but not near a vent. They were shipped to a visitation and then put in the car for a few hours before coming home with me – the temp that day was in the single digits. When I first noticed these symptoms it reminded me of what lettuce looks like when it gets frozen then thawed, I thought the extreme temps did something to some of the branches so I trimmed quite a bit of the sickly looking leaves/stems from them. Regardless of doing that they are rapidly losing life. They are holding a sentimental value right now for me and I would really love to keep them happy but not sure how to fix the problem.

Marci

Plant Expert Reply:
Marci,

Wow. It does look like your plants are having a bit of trouble, but I think your plants are still in fairly good condition.

Exposure to cold temperatures may have caused some of the problems you are seeing. But from a glance, I would say the plants could have a broad mite problem. Broad mites will often cause new leaves to cup downward and pucker, as well as cause leaves to be stunted with serrated margins. You will need a magnifying glass to identify the mites. If your plant does have mites, I recommend removing all damaged leaves and stems and treating with a miticide. Your local garden center should have one that will work.

The sticky substance could also indicate an aphid problem. If you have aphids, you should be able to see them without a magnifying glass. Look at the underneath side of the leaves. If aphids are a problem, you will need to treat with an insecticide.

I am not sure what you mean when you say ” I’m having a hard time telling if they are dry, the soil seems to be deep in the pot and it seems to just be the vine/stem in the soil. Because of this they have been watered thoroughly and drained before putting them back in their decorative pots.”

If you can give me a little more information or a picture of the soil, I think I can help you avoid water stress issues.

At the bottom of our Dwarf Schefflera page you can find a list of care instruction that might help.

I hope this information is helpful.

Thanks!

Jamie Jamison Adams

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Caring for a Six Trunk Norfolk Island Pine

December 9, 2013 by

Norfolk Island PineAsk The Plant Expert:Just bought a Norfolk Island Pine…actually six trunks…three feet high for Christmas. Read your YouTube article and wish to thank you. Would you mind telling me if I can or should separate the clump of six, or will they need to remain together? Can the plant(s) be safely re-potted as you usually re-pot plants, or is there something special I need to know? I live in Austin, Texas in an apartment with a nice patio where it should do well until summer, at which time it will need to come inside.

Thank you, Georgia Willis

Plant Expert Reply:

Georgia,

How very unusual. I haven’t seen one with six trunks. Whether you have three or six trunks, the recommendation would be the same, do not try to separate the trunks. If the plant seems happy in the current container leave it alone. However, you will need to make sure that the container allows for proper drainage. If you need to re-pot the plant, choose a container with a good drain hole that is 1 1/2 times larger than the current pot. Fill the pot with a general purpose houseplant potting soil so that the top of the current rootball is about 1/2″ to 3/4″ from the top of the new container. Do not add soil to the top of the rootball; simply fill in around the sides, then water thoroughly. For more care instruction, you can check out our Northfolk Island Pine page.

Hope this information was helpful.

Jamie Jamison Adams

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Common Name of Two Plants

October 21, 2013 by 2 Comments

Ask The Expert: “One you will laugh I need a spelling lesson. sheffeleria? even the spell check cannot help me. the other is what is the common name for phothos? and spelling for both.” – Patricia

Plant Expert Reply:

Patricia,

Schefflera is commonly referred to as octopus plant or umbrella plant. Pothos is the common name for Epipremnum aurem (syn Scindaspus Aureus). Hope this information helps.
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