What Are These White Spots?
Question: What are the white spots on my trailing ivy?
Answer: Well, they could be lots of things… A really great thing to do would be to invest in a magnifying glass (I use the word “invest” here loosely, since magnifying glasses can be bought most anywhere and are pretty cheap). It is underestimated how helpful [...]
Croton Comparison
Question: I have two curly leaf Croton plants and one is losing its leaves. From the top to the bottom to the plant is becoming bare. It’s potted outdoors and the soil seems moist enough. New foliage seems to be coming in the same area as the fallen leaves. Why do you think it’s losing [...]
Autumn is Upon Us!
The last day of summer has passed, but fall is finally here!
Beautiful foliage, pumpkin picking, mums in full bloom. Every gardener delights in the harvest season. Since the warm weather is coming to an end, the next few weeks Ask Ivy will concentrate on how to winterize your plants. I will be sharing steps to [...]
Banana Answers
Question: I bought two dwarf banana plants. I kept one and gave the other one to my sister. Well, mine died, but hers is still growing. I don’t know why. Do you know where I can get another dwarf banana plant?
Answer: Try looking up some local greenhouses in the phone book. This is a tropical [...]
Keeping Your Zanzibar Gem Zesty
Question: Why are leaves of zanzibar gem going yellow after transplanting?
Answer: There could be several reasons for this. My guess is that you may have over watered when you re-potted it. The Zanzibar Gem, also known as a ZZ plant, Latin name Zamioculcas Zamiifola, is a succulent that doesn’t appreciate being soaked. Most plants like [...]
Croton Likes the Sunshine
Question: Is it good to put a Croton plant outside?
Answer: In the Summertime, yes it is. Croton loves sunlight and your back yard, or sunny porch would be a great place for it. Make sure the soil doesn’t dry out, this is NOT a drought resistant plant.
If you choose to put it outside, keep an [...]
Christmas Cactus Questions
Q: I have five Christmas cacti that had flowers on them when I brought them home but haven’t re-bloomed yet. What’s the deal? I have them in bright light and I feed them violet food, but no flowers, what should I do?
A: There’s a lot going on in this question. First, when did you bring [...]
Gardenia Growing
Q: I have a gardenia topiary in a North facing window in my house. Some of the leaves are turning brown and some of the branches are wilting. Why? Please help!
A: Ah, gardenias. The famous white bloom Billie Holiday wore in her hair. Popular in the Southern US, these plants are native to Asia and [...]
Petunia Problems
Q: I think I over watered my petunias. They look like they died, can I bring them back?
A: This classic gardeners favorite doesn’t require much water, so it is likely you have given them more than they could handle. The soil in which you grow petunias should be very well drained. If planting them in [...]
Support for Ivy
Q: My indoor ivy plant is drooping. Is it because I over watered it?
A: It may just need some support! It’s hard for me to guess exactly what you mean by drooping. If you mean the plant is splaying out, and the stems are starting to hang, then not to worry! This is totally normal. [...]