Plant Care

All the plants you have in your garden and also inside the house, should be cared for correctly. This will ensure you get the best displays and long-life from them.

Common House Plant Problems

Problems and possible causes guide

- Leaf edges brown and dried = Too much heat, lack of humidity.

- Rapid defoliation = Rapid changes in temperature, or light, possible overwatering, underwatering, or exposure to drafts.

- Failure of blooming plants to flower = Insufficient water or light, over fertilizing.

- Flower buds drop before opening = Temperature fluctuations, drafts, lack of humidity.

- Silver or red blotches on foliage = Too much direct sun.

- Gradual defoliation (lower leaves yellow and fall) = Overwatering (root damage), underwatering (not enough water to support full foliage), lack of sufficient light, or lack of fertilizer.

- New Growth Wilted, or burned = Too much fertilizer (leaching needed), cold drafts, hot drafts, to dry, sunburn, too warm, or freeze damage.

- Entire plant wilted = Too little water, too much water (roots rotted), too much fertilizer, or exposed to cold temperatures.

- Spotted foliage = Overwatering (check roots), burn from direct sun, cold water on foliage, fungal infection, or pollutants in the air.

- Foliage is pale and weak looking = Insufficient light conditions, too dry (soil or air), or lack of fertilizer.

- Browning of leaf tips or leaf margins = Lack of humidity, fertilizer burn, poor water quality (chlorine, fluoride, etc.), incorrect fertilizer, spray damage (insecticides, oil, leaf-glossing materials), incorrect soil pH or pollutants in the air (gasses etc.).

- Stunted plants= Excess fertilizer (root damage), lack of water, or overwatered (root damage).

- New foliage is small, pale, and spindly = Lack of light, lack of fertilizer, or soil too dry.

- Leaves yellowed between veins (veins remain green) = pH either too high or too low, iron deficiency (high pH), or magnesium deficiency (when pH is too low or acidic).

- Leaves drop continuously, new leaves on tip are small and curled = Unburned gasses in the air, spray or vapor damage from cleaning fluids, industrial pollution, or general pollutants in the atmosphere, possibly aphid or mite damage.

- Tiny white spots on leaves = Primarily spider mites.

- Sticky spots on foliage = Primarily aphids

- Small brown bumps on stems or foliage = Scale insects

- Fuzzy, grey mould that covers flowers, leaves and stems = Botrytis blight - fungal disease generally caused by dead leaves and spent flowers being left on the plant, too much humidity or poor ventilation.

- General drooping of the entire plant = Crown, stem or root rot - caused by overwatering, especially during the winter months when plants are dormant and do not need much moisture.

- Brown or yellow leaf spots = Fungi which usually develops when water is allowed to remain on the leaves. Cold water can also be a cause of spotting. Use room temperature water for misting and watering, and make sure the foliage dries before night.

- Mildew = Powdery mildew is an airborne fungal disease. African violets and Begonias are particularly susceptible.