Isolate Pests to Prevent Spread to Other Plants
QUESTION: I recently discovered some little white fuzzy creatures on my favorite Chinese evergreen plant. Are these mealybugs? And if so, how do I get rid of them?
ANSWER: Yes, they’re mealybugs, which look like tiny little balls of cotton. The first thing you should do when you discover any pest on a houseplant is isolate it so the infestation won’t spread to your other plants. If your Chinese evergreen is heavily infested--lots and lots of mealybugs all over its stems and leaves--it’s probably best to discard the plant.
If you spot a pest problem early enough, however, the best remedy is several applications of commercially available Safer Insecticidal Soap according to the directions on the bottle. If two or three sprayings don’t work, that probably means the mealybugs have laid eggs in the soil of the plant, which would necessitate replanting your Chinese evergreen into a clean pot with completely fresh potting mix and continuing the treatment with the insecticidal soap.
Grow Herbs Inside in Sunny Location
Q: I love the taste of fresh herbs but have no back yard in which to grow them. Is it possible to grow herbs indoors?
A: Absolutely! All you need is a bright, sunny window and you can grow lots of different herbs indoors almost all year round! You can start your herbs from seeds or buy small herb plants already under way. The easiest herbs to grow in your sunny windowsill are oregano, thyme, sage, basil and rosemary.
Maidenhair Fern Needs High Humidity
Q: Is it possible to grow maidenhair fern indoors? I love the way they look, so I keep on buying them, but no matter what I do they shrivel up and die within a couple of weeks. What’s the secret?
A: Alas, there is no secret. The only way to grow maidenhair fern successfully indoors is in a greenhouse--or a terrarium. They need an extraordinary amount of humidity which is virtually impossible to provide, even in a bright, sunny bathroom. I love the way they look, too--so I buy one every month and consider the three or four dollar investment a whole lot cheaper than cut flowers would be in that same spot!
Cyclamen Will Bloom Again Next December
Q: I bought a cyclamen last December and it’s finally died all the way back. Should I throw it out or will cyclamen rebloom?
A: Cyclamen grows from a tuber, and yes, it will rebloom. Put the pot containing the tuber in a cool dry spot (don’t forget about it!) and bring it out into a sunny spot around the beginning of October. Begin watering and feeding weekly and by mid-December it should be in bloom again.
Be Sparing With Water for Donkey’s Tail
Q: I recently bought a very unusual plant called a donkey’s tail. I placed it in an eastern window and watered it once a week, but the little green leaves are falling off like crazy. What’s wrong?
A: Not enough light and too much water. The donkey’s tail (Sedum morganianum) can be very rewarding hanging in a sun room or a bright, bright window. A southern exposure is best--enough sun and it will grow bigger and bigger and get longer and longer.
Being a succulent--a plant that stores water in its leaves--overwatering can be killer, so let it dry out completely before watering again. I love donkey’s tail, and consider it a must for the serious cactus-and-succulent collector.
