Category Archives: Plant Pests

Basic Orchid Care and Needs

Posted on January 28, 2020 by AskthePlantMaster

 Water:  Best applied at room temperature preferably early in the day.  Thoroughly wet the entire plant, except any flowers.  Follow-up with a second watering approximately 1/2 hour later to help remove any fertilizer salts on your plants.  Frequency for watering … Continue reading →

Posted in Orchids, Plant Diseases, Plant Knowledge, Plant Pests, Slugs and snails | Leave a comment

Sphaeropsis Knot Fungus on Holly Trees

Posted on January 1, 2019 by AskthePlantMaster

If you have any holly trees in your landscape you are encouraged to check them for Sphaeropsis tumefaciens – a fungus that causes galls to form on twigs and branches and witches brooms.  If let alone, can cause tissue necrosis … Continue reading →

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Spring Gardening Activities

Posted on March 29, 2017 by AskthePlantMaster

Insects –  As our temperature gets warmer, you should begin noticing a number of insect pests, including Chilly Thrips, which attack new growth, including flowers and leaves, especially on roses and gardenias.  While most insecticides are ineffective on this pest, … Continue reading →

Posted in Aphids, Brown Patch, Crape Myrtle, Fertilizing Lawn and Garden, grasshoppers, Insects, Lawn Care, Lawn Pests, Neonecatides, Plant Pests, Scale Insects, Spring Gardening, Thrips, Weeds | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Annuals for Spring Planting

Posted on February 22, 2017 by AskthePlantMaster

Now that warmer weather has arrived, it will soon be time to purchase new annuals for adding color to your landscape.  Before buying any new plants, make certain that they are the proper varieties for spring planting.  Click here to … Continue reading →

Posted in Annuals, Flower Meltdown, Plant Diseases, Plant Knowledge, Plant Pests, Spring Gardening, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Lawn Insects

Posted on July 20, 2016 by AskthePlantMaster

Here in Central Florida we have a number of insect pests that attack our lawns, which include:  fire ants, grubs, mole crickets, chinch bugs, fall army worms, and tropical sod web worms.  If you see any areas where the lawn … Continue reading →

Posted in Chinch Bugs, Grubs, Insects, Lawn Care, Lawn Pests, Mole Cricket, Plant Pests, Sod Web Worms, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Planting Flowers Under Trees

Posted on May 31, 2016 by AskthePlantMaster

In my June 2016 newsletter I responded to a question about adding plants beneath citrus trees.  My response was don’t; for the sake of potential problems, including death of the citrus tree. Since then I’ve been asked what about adding … Continue reading →

Posted in Landscape Gardening, Mulch, Plant Diseases, Plant Knowledge, Planting Techniques, Trees | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Rose Rosette Virus – An Update

Posted on April 30, 2016 by AskthePlantMaster

Because many of you have roses, I want to give you an update on Rose Rosette Virus.  According to an article published in the April 2016 issue of Grower Talks, this virus continues to be a growing problem.  It is … Continue reading →

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Neonicotinoids

Posted on April 27, 2016 by AskthePlantMaster

How many of you are familiar with Neonicotinoids?  If you haven’t, don’t feel too bad; I hadn’t either.  Recently when I purchased some annuals for my flower beds, included was a tag that identified the plant and how to care … Continue reading →

Posted in Insects, Neonicotinoids, Plant Pests, Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Cercospora Leaf Spot on Ligustrum

Posted on March 22, 2016 by AskthePlantMaster

If any of you have Ligustrum (aka Privet), plants in your landscape, there’s a good chance they may have Cercospora Leaf Spot on their foliage. Symptoms to look for include irregular brown spots with yellow margins on the upper leaf … Continue reading →

Posted in Cercospora Leafspot, Ligustrum, Plant Diseases, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Coping With Our Summer Weather

Posted on July 3, 2015 by AskthePlantMaster

1.  Plant Watering –   If you have lived in Central Florida for several years, you probably have come to realize that our summer rainfall can be either a boom or a bust.  If you’ve been lucky enough to receive … Continue reading →

Posted in Aphids, Chinch Bugs, grasshoppers, Insects, Lawn Care, Lawn Pests, Plant Diseases, Plant Pests, Sod Web Worms, Spider Mites, Summer Florida Gardening, Thrips, Watering Plants | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment