Some women get flowers; I get bags of insects and dead and diseased plants. But I love it. During my travels to garden shows around the country, I connect with thousands of gardeners, field their burning backyard questions and offer diagnoses. Here are six of the most common questions they ask.
1. How often should I water indoor plants?
This probably isn’t the answer you want to hear: It depends. The amount of water a plant needs is based on type, light exposure, potting mix, temperature and humidity. If your house is warm and you’re growing a tropical plant in a sunny window, you need to water more often than someone who keeps a cool house and has less light. When in doubt, test the moisture level by sticking your finger into the top inch or two of potting mix. Cacti and succulents like to go a bit drier, while tropical plants prefer consistently moist, not wet, soil. Pour off excess water that collects in the saucer beneath the planter to prevent root rot. (Check out my tips for reviving potted plants!)
2. What’s wrong with my plant?
I see this question every time I open my email inbox. First, identify the plant and get to know its ideal growing conditions and common ailments. Make sure you’ve got the preferred soil and are providing the right amounts of water and sun. Next, do an internet search for insect and disease problems common to the plant. Local university and botanical garden websites are your best online resources. If the problem is cosmetic and won’t compromise the plant’s health, you may want to live with it, since the plant can. But if the plant’s health is in danger and you want to save it, use the most eco-friendly option available.
3. What is this plant?
Make plant ID easier for yourself, or whomever you enlist to help, with basic information about the subject, such as age, size, growth habit and bloom time. If possible, take close-up pictures of the leaves, stems and flowers and then the whole plant. Or take a physical sample to your local garden center or extension office. Make sure the leaves, and, if present, flowers are attached. All these clues lead to a quicker and more accurate plant identification.
4. Where did the holes in my hostas come from?
Slugs are the main culprits, but earwigs, hail, frost and even falling maple seeds pierce leaves. Slugs and earwigs prefer the cool, dark locations that hostas thrive in. There’s an easy remedy, though. Sink a shallow can filled with beer near the hostas, or set a half-empty beer bottle on its side in the hosta area of the garden. Attracted to the fermenting yeast, the slugs crawl into the container and die. You can set a trap for earwigs. Place a piece of crumpled paper under an overturned flowerpot overnight. In the morning, lift the pot and shake the paper over a can of soapy water. This is a natural way to check for, and control, backyard earwig populations.
5. Is it a weed or a flower?
First, keep in mind that a weed is just a plant out of place. Even good plants are deemed weeds if they’re unwanted in your garden. If a mystery plant fits any or all of these descriptions, you may have a weed on your hands:
- It’s multiplied considerably since last year.
- It’s sprouted up throughout the bed and surrounding lawn.
- It has been in the garden for a few years, never seems to bloom and has unimpressive foliage. (But remember: Perennials and biennials do not bloom in the first summer, and some plants need a few years to establish and flower.)
- You don’t like it. Once you decide a plant must go, keep the aggressive ones out of your compost pile or they will return. Dispose of them as recommended by your municipality. If it’s just a matter of taste, find a gardener willing to take an ugly duckling off your hands.
6. Why is there white powder on my plant’s leaves?
It’s a fungal disease called powdery mildew. Over time, it blocks sunlight, causing foliage to turn yellow and, in severe cases, drop off. Fortunately, this disease doesn’t usually kill healthy plants, though it does affect appearance and reduce vegetable productivity. If this disease is an annual problem in your garden, it may be time to take action. Plant something a bit shorter in front of the susceptible specimen. The shorter plant masks the unsightly mildewed leaves but allows you to enjoy the blossoms. If you want to take a more aggressive course of action, organic products are available. Do a thorough cleanup and discard infected leaves in fall to reduce the source of disease next year. Stop powdery mildew before it starts by choosing mildew-resistant varieties whenever possible. Give plants plenty of room and sunlight; sufficient light and airflow reduce the risk of the disease.
Elaine Sutherland says
Thank you for all of your help.
Elaine Sutherland says
Thank you for all of the information that you gave me. It will be very helpful this spring.
Denise Iams says
Great article! Could you address white flies in the future? Thank you for enlightening me and your consideration.
Pat Anderson says
May I “second” that request regarding white flies? They attack my broccoli, kale, and Swiss chard every year.
Anna Cooper says
I have a small yard & I was wondering about tomatoes & the fungal disease they have. I can’t change the location, & the sprays I get don’t seem to work well. Thanks enjoy your help. Anna
Dave B says
Are the bottom leaves yellowing? The fungus is being splashed up from the soil. I mulch with newspaper, leaving room around the base for watering (the newspaper will decompose eventually). Just cut off the yellowed leaves as they occur – the fungus won’t spread and the plant will survive. A copper-based fungicide applied to the soil can help.
Patty Lange says
Very very helpful, I got a lot of useful information. Thank you.
Violet Latham says
Violet Latham
I live in an apt. with many indoor plants. Thanks for all your help as I do appreciate it.
Connie says
My garden book also says that if hostas are in the sun, holes can be sun scorch.
mary cooper says
My Lupines get this powdery fungus no matter what I do.
Carol Hoover says
My Lily-of-the-Valley plant leaves get dark brown spots as they mature. They’re beautiful when they first bloom. What is it? How do I prevent or cure it?
Anastasia Kreft says
My phlox get this powdery mildew each summer and I believe it is because they don’t get enough sunlight. Thanks so much for your great tips
Sandra White says
do not plant them too tightly or have tall plants next or around them. Phlox need to be able to have air around them….lots of it…..best to plant the taller phlox in the back with much smaller plants in front or just ground cover in frontl
Marlys says
Do you have any recipes for organic bug killer?
Greg Gabel says
I have 2 majestic palms one on the patio and one in the house both in sunny areas but not direct sun. both are constantly getting brown leaves. I have fed them with palm food and water soil until just damp. what is causing the brown leaves. both look nearly dead
MH Brosnahan says
Can’t believe that in this day and age you started your article with “some WOMENget flowers”. I am by no means a raving feminist but this just was not acceptable.
Renee says
Um, the article was written by a woman. I believe she was speaking of her counterparts.