As with orchid leaves turning yellow, orchid leaves turning brown can be due to a variety of problems. The key to narrowing down the real issue, whether it’s environmental, a care issue, pests or disease, is to notice where the leaf has turned brown. And if it’s just the older leaves or the newer ones as well. This guide helps you become the detective you need to be to identify and solve these problems. I start with what I think…
Poinsettia leaves curling is usually a reaction to an environmental problem usually related to watering and temperatures. This is good news as these problems are easily solved, and your poinsettia should return to good health. Over-watering If your poinsettia leaves are curling downwards, the most probable cause is over-watering. While these plants like a moist environment, they don’t like being in standing water. If the soil becomes overly damp, the oxygen availability decreases and the roots can’t absorb what water…
First of all, don’t be too sure that you have a dying poinsettia plant on your hands. Pests, diseases and environmental conditions can all contribute to a plant that looks like it’s on its last legs. Take a close look at your poinsettia to determine what’s causing the problems of yellow leaves that may be wilting and falling off or soft and squishy stems. This guide discusses how to fix many of these issues and revive your ‘dying’ poinsettia plant…
Just a few problems are likely to be the cause of your poinsettia leaves turning yellow and wilting. If they have been exposed to cold temperatures even for a few minutes while taking them from the store to the car. However, they usually just start to drop their leaves. So if there yellow and wilting, there is probably another cause. Over- and under-watering is a common cause Over-and under-watering can directly result in poinsettia leaves turning yellow and wilting. With…
There aren’t any exclusive poinsettia pests and diseases to watch out for and on the most part, if grown indoors, there usually pest and disease free. These plants are, however, sometimes susceptible to the usual range of pests and diseases that plague any houseplant. As such, dealing with problems such as grey mould, scale insects, and thrips is quite straightforward. And none of these is fatal to your poinsettia. If you are having problems with your poinsettia, below are some…
The substance likely making your poinsettia sticky is called honeydew, and it’s bad news. Honeydew is a clear, sweet and sticky substance that’s excreted by some insects and aphids after they suck the sap out of your plant’s leaves. In itself, honeydew doesn’t do any damage, but the insects that create it and the insects and diseases it attracts certainly do. If your poinsettia is sticky, the most likely culprits are usually scale insects. However, you may also be referring…
Early or late-season frosts can damage plants that are normally hardy in your environment, especially if they had lots of new soft growth because this is more vulnerable to frost. The short answer to the question of whether you should cut back any frost damaged plants is ‘Not unless the risk of frost has passed’. This is statement is vital to follow if frost is still being forecasted. Don’t worry just yet though. If you have hardy plants such as…
What is Verticillium Wilt Fungus? Verticillium wilt fungus is not a common disease, and when it does occur, unfortunately, it’s untreatable and can be very damaging to your plant. It’s also a little difficult to identify correctly because symptoms such as yellowing and wilting leaves are also common symptoms of many other diseases too. However, there is a way to tell which I touch on in more detail below. This fungus spreads through the soil and enters the plant via…
What is a Bacterial Canker? How to identify and treat it Bacterial canker (Pseudomonas syringae pv. morsprunorum and P. syringae pv. syringae) is a bacterial disease that only seems to affect the Prunus species of trees. It appears to be a lot more common in plums and cherries, however, I have also seen it affect apricot and peach trees. It’s also worth noting that it does affect both the ornamental and edible varieties of Prunus. Evidence of this disease is found from mid-spring through summer so be…
What is Anthracnose? Anthracnose is actually a group of fungal diseases that are related. Believe it or not, it can surprisingly take on varying appearances on different plants, but also at different stages too. This, unfortunately, is one of the reasons it can be a little harder to identify. We have included a series of pictures in this guide to show you how different it can present between plant species. They typically cause dark discolouration on leaves and dark lesions….