Diagnosing problems with plants:
Brown or Scored leaf tips-
- Poor root health from overwatering, excessive soil dryness between waterings, excessive fertilizer or other soluble salts in the soil.
- Low humidity
- Pesticide injury
Leaf spots, blotches, blemishes, blisters or scabby spots
- Intense light (sunburn) associated with a recent move of the plant or excessive soil dryness and wilting.
- Chilling injury
- Overwatering
- Fungal or Bacterial infections
Foliage Yellow-Green : older leaves:
- Insufficient fertilizer, especially nitrogen
- Poor root health, pot bound growth, compact soil
Foliage Yellow-Green : General
- Too much light
- High temperatures, especially associated with dryness
- Insect infestation or root rot disease
Leaf Drop:
- Overwatering
- Excessive dryness
- potbound roots
- Sudden change in light, or temperatures
- Root rot disease
Wilting or drooping of Foliage:
- Overwatering
- excessive dryness between watering
- Compact soil
- Toxic chemical poured into soil
Yellowed leaves with tiny speckling; leaves later bronzed and drying, webbing noted near growing points:
- Spider Mites infestation
Leaves covered with sticky substance; dark mold growing on leaves; tiny brown or white objects seen on leaves or in crotches of branches; leaf drop or branch dieback:
- Scale or Mealy Bug infestation
Pests: can be easily removed : use rubbing alcohol and a Q-tip, dab the leaves and stems of the plant, remove plant from the light for 2 days. Wait one day and dab alcohol once again to make sure all the eggs are killed. After one more day place the plant back to it’ s normal place.
Compact soil – remove plant from pot, use potting mix and add perlite to the soil. Soil should always be damp not soaked in water but damp. I also mix Cactus soil in with potting mix and perlite to give it better drainage and a healthier root system.
