Morgan Creek TropicalsGuide to Plant

Problems

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Introduction

This guide will give you a step-by-step manual on how to take care of your plants.If there is already a problem with your plants, look it up on the guide and therewill be a solution to help you. There are also ways listed to help prevent thesetroubles.

There are a few things to remember when taking care of your plants:**When using an insecticide or fungicide, it is important to make sure your plant islisted on the label and be sure to follow instructions carefully****To avoid having to deal with problems, always check your plants to make sureeverything looks okay. It is a lot easier to deal with the problem if it is caught earlyon. This way, the plant is sure to be saved.****Like in most cases of life, your plants need balance. This is the successful way tokeeping plants alive. Even if your plants are healthy, reading this can give youpointers to catch any problem that may arise in the future.**

Insect Problems: Pages 2-7

Disease Problems: Pages 7-9

Cultural Problems: Pages 9-14

To provide you with this guide, plenty research was gathered. A lot ofthe information gathered was found in an Ortho Book: Complete GuideTo Houseplants. For a more detailed view of plant problems, along withgreat pictures, check out this book. There is a variety of pictures ongoogle.ca as well.

For further assistance, do not hesitate to call us: 1-866-576-1156

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Insects:

**Many insects in small amounts willnot harm the plant. Once the populationof the insect grows, more harm will bedone**

Aphids:

Problem: In small numbers, aphids are

not a problem, but because of thepopulation build up, many aphidscreate a danger to plants

Aphids suck sap from leavesand stems

Because an aphid does notdigest all the sugar of the plantsap, the fluid is excreted onto theleaves of the plants, resulting inhoney dew.

Honey dew leads to virusesand fungus (Sooty Mold). Thiswill kill the plant.

What to look for: New leaves are curled/

discolored & smaller than normal Sticky or shiny substance

may coat the leaves 1/8th inch, green insects

without wings cluster onto thebuds, young stems and leaves

Solution: Wipe off small infestations

using a damp cloth Rinse the foliage under the

faucet for a few days in a row(2-3) If conditions continue, takefoliage outside and knock off theaphids with a strong spray ofwater.

If absolutely necessary, spraywith insecticidal soap specific to

aphids (repeat until the aphidshave disappeared)

Cyclamen Mites:Problem:

Flower buds do not develop properly/ donot open

These mites are extremely small andrelated to spiders

Attack many types of houseplants but arespecific to cyclamens

Most damaging to the newest growth ofthe plant but moves on to other plantssurrounding the infested plant.

What to look for: Stem tips become severely stunted

Leaves become stunted, brittle, and do notgrow (may be curved)

Color varies: bronze, gray, tan The flower buds may not open

Solution: Use a insecticidal soap or a specific

miticide to spray plant several times

Move mildly infested plants aside,while treating the problem, to make surethe mites do not spread

Remove severely infested plantscompletely

Observe surrounding plants to catchthe mites if they have spread

Avoid touching leaves of infestedplants before touching leaves of healthyplants.

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Fungus Gnats:

Problem: Gnats are more of a nuisance

than a dangerous problem to theplant. They fly throughout thefoliage and can cause problemsin the soil.

Only dangerous in largeamounts after laying eggs. Thelarvae will feed on the plant rootsand kill the seedlings.

Many generations of gnats canbe born on the plant throughoutthe year. It is important to stop thegnats before more larvae aremade.

What to look for: Small, dark insects (up to

1/8th-inch) fly around the plant. Found in soil, throughout

the foliage, and on windowssurrounding the plant

Solution: Since larvae cannot survive in

the dry soil, let the soil in the potmostly dry out before wateringthe plant again.

Hang sticky traps around theplant which is infested. This willcatch the adult gnats.

Leaf Miners:

Problem: Leaf miners lay eggs in

groups, on the underside of theleaves

Leaf miners will spread through plantsand easily come through open windows.

Although the damage of the miner isunpleasant to the eye, the problem can beeasily controlled.

What to look for: Irregular patches or tunnels, usually

brown or white, appear on the upper leaves

Solution: Remove infested leaves Keep the plant isolated in case the leaf

miners have spread

Choose an insecticide solution to work atthe roots, not at the surface of the problem. Theroots will take the solution up to the leaves,where the larvae will be feeding.

Mealybugs:

Problem: Mealybugs will feed on all parts of the

plant, especially the new, sensitive shoots

Honey dew (a sticky fluid) may be presenton the foliage or on surfaces below the plant.

Leaves are spotted and deformed; theplant will not look pleasant, will not be ableto grow, and could die.

What to look for: Mealybugs are white waxy insects that

cluster onto the undersides of the leaves, onstems, and the crevices, where the leavesattach to the stem.

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Egg clusters can be spottedon the foliage or on the pot

Solution: If you notice only a few

mealybugs, wipe them off with adamp cloth: wipe of all egg sacspresent under the rims of the pot.

If you notice a large amountof mealybugs, spray stems andboth sides of the leaves. Use aninsecticidal soap.

If mealy bugs are in the soil,soak the potting mix with theinsecticide.

If the foliage is severelyinfested, discard the plant.

Narcissus Flies:

Problem: Flies cause Amaryllis bulbs to

rot and fail to produce new leavesWhat to look for:

Found specifically onthe Amaryllis Bulb

At the base of the bulb,brownish insect excretions can befound. If squeezed, the bulbs seem tobe soft and the inside of the bulbwill contain a large brown larvaalong with rotting material.

The adult Narcissus fly willhover around the plant and maybe mistaken for a bumblebee,because of the black and yellowstripes.

Solution: To reveal where the insect

came from, unpot the plant andremove all the soil

Cautiously, remove thelarvae with a piece of wire

Dust the opening of the bulbwith powder sulfur to stop therotting or cut the bulb open toremove all the rotting material.

Once the open wound hasclosed in, repot the bulb and soakthe soil with a specific insecticideand keep in a cool, indoor place.

Narcissus flies areconsistently outside so avoidplacing amaryllis bulbsoutdoors.

Scale Insects:

Problem: Scales suck plant sap: this

weakens and damages the plant Scales attack houseplants Scales feed on the sap: their

legs will disappear, keeping thescales at their location to suckmore plant sap.

Scales will develop a hard orsoft covering that will be seen onthe foliage.

What to look for: Leaves, stems and nodes are

covered in brown crusty bumps,white cottony clusters, andreddish-brown scaly bumps thatscrape off easily

Leaves drop after turning yellow Honey dew (sticky fluid)

covers stems and leaves, anddrip onto surface below.

Solution:

Use soapy water and a softtoothbrush to clean off the plant.

Specific insecticidal soap maybe needed to get the youngerscales. Repeat if necessary.

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Spider Mites:

Problem: Spider mites' perfect

temperature is that of a house.During the winter, these spidermites become particularlydangerous to plants.

Damage is caused whenspider mites suck sap from theunderside of the leaves.

During warmtemperatures, spider mitesmultiply quickly.What to look for:

Leaves are yellow, dried out,and dirty. After time, the leavesmay drop

Webbing can be seen amongthe foliage

Tiny green, red or yellowspecks crawl around (can be seenon a white piece of paper)

Solution: Rinse the infected

plant thoroughly withwater Spray with insecticideseveral times a week

Increasing the humiditywill decrease the chance forspider mites to multiply

Springtails:Problem:

Lower leaves and youngseedlings are eaten by springtails

Mature plants are not asaffected as the younger plantswill be.

What to look for: Small white or black insects

jump around when the foliage iswatered

Springtails can be foundmost commonly in rich, moistpotting mixtures.

Solution: Allow the potting mixture to

slowly dry out between waterings Cover seed containers to

avoid small pests getting in andnibbling at the young seedlings.

In severe cases, take the plantoutside and spray with aninsecticide containing malathion.

OR drench the plant withwater to bring the springtails tothe surface. Spray with aninsecticide containing pyrethrins.

Thrips:

Problem: Thrips damage the plant

surfaces by sucking the sap withtheir raspy mouths.

What to look for: Leaves and blooms are

streaked with silver, and may bedistorted

Pollen sacs (on AfricanViolets) spill open, releasing ayellow powder onto the flowers.

Solution: Remove damaged leaves

and flowers to reduce theinfestation

Apply an insecticide to theinfested plant weekly until thereare no signs of thrips.

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Because thrips hide in crevicesof the plant, it is important tospray the plant from every angle.

Whiteflies:

Problem: Whiteflies suck sap from the

underside of the leaves. Becauseof the sugar in the plant sap,whiteflies excrete honeydew,which leads to mold fungus.

What to look for: Tiny, white insects fly around

the plant when touched. Leaves are discolored and yellow

Solution: Use sticky traps to catch

the mature white flies Wipe off the plant with a

damp cloth to rid of all thelarvae. Vacuum the mature whiteflies by shaking the plant andthen sucking up the cloudabove the plant.

Spray a strong insecticideweekly until there are no signs ofwhiteflies.

Diseases:

Bacterial Stem Blight:

Problem: The leaves pull at the stem even

after wilting. The stem will rot

Do not re-root any stemsthat have brown streaks. If youare determined to save thehealthy roots, be careful to cutfar away from the diseaseinfected plant.

What to look for:

Soft sunken areas withexcess water

Cracks may appear inthe affected area

Leaves turn yellow andbegin to wilt

The inside of the stem is brownSolution:

There is no cure forbacterial stem blight.

You can prevent this diseaseby using a potting mix that drainswell and avoid getting water onthe leaves when you water theplant. Air circulation is critical toavoid bacterial stem blight.

Botrytis:

Problem: A brown-grayish mold covers the

foliage and will spread quickly.

Botrytis is not specific to any plant,and will affect a wide range of plants

When the plant stembecomes infected, the wholeplant will rot away.

What to look for: Light brown patches on

leaves, stems and flowerseventually darken the plant,making it soft and moist

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Infected parts of the plantwill curl up and fall off.

Solution: Remove the infected parts of

the plant and spray the rest of theplant with a fungicide.

Avoid Botrytis byavoiding humidity andkeeping air circulation high.

Do not mist plants thatare questionable of Botrytis

Crown, Stem, and Root Rot:

Problem: Plants are unable to grow Once the rotting spreads, all

roots are affected and the plantwill wilt away and die

By watering too often, ornot providing a well drainagesystem, rotting will begin

If the soil remains wet, therot will spread.

What to look for: Slow growth and discolored

leaves are sure signs of a rottingplant

Leaves are dark green butchange to black as the rotcontinues to spread

Solution: Let the soil dry before you

water the plant again Change the drainage system to

allow the water to circulatethrough the potting mix and drainout.

Discard severely rottedplants and soil mixtures

Wash pots in bleach andwater. Rinse with water, and drybefore using again.

Leaf Spot:

Problem: Leaves which are severely spotted

will turn yellow and die The leaf spotting is caused by a

fungus In most cases leaf spotting is not

harmful but in some cases, the leaveswill become weak and die

What to look for: Rounded reddish brown spots begin

to show on the leaves (sometimes inclusters)

Yellow areas surround the spotsSolution:

Remove badly spotted leavesfrom the plant

When watering, be careful tokeep the leaves free of water and freeof fungus.

If the spotting is spreadingamong the plant, be sure to use afungicide.

Powdery Mildew:

Problem: The mildew is caused by

several types of fungus

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The fungus can spreadthroughout the plant, or move tonear by plants through the wind.

Leaves will begin to droponce affected by the mildew

What to look for: Whitish gray powdering

mildew shows on the leaves,stems and blooms

The foliage under themildew usually turns yellowor brown

Solution: Spray plant with a fungicide

after removing the infected areas.Use the fungicide until the diseaseis gone

Prevent powdery mildewfrom appearing on your plantsby keeping them in light, in aconsistent temperature with fairair circulation.Virus:

Problem: Plants grow slowly without

any staminaWhat to look for:

Leaves are blotched,marked or ringed with yellowspots. Leaves becomedistorted in shape.

Solution: There is no cure for plant

viruses. The plant must beremoved before the virus canmove on to other plants.

To prevent plant viruses, tryeverything to keep insects awayfrom the plant. Also, viruses canspread by infected gardeningtools. Be sure to disinfect toolsafter using every time.

Cultural Problems:

Bud Blast:

Problem: Flowers will bud but will never open

This is caused by: dry air, air pollution,extreme temperatures (too warm or toocold), too much fertilizer, extreme amountsof water (too much or too little)

Note: that bud blasting can occur when aplant has formed more buds than it has theenergy to look after. Often, this happenswith young plants producing buds at thefirst flowering. Under these conditions, budblasting is normal.

What to look for: Buds may turn brown after developing.

Sometimes, buds will drop off withoutany sign of a bud blast

Solution: Increase humidity and decrease direct

sunlight around the plant.

Be careful to keep your plants awayfrom air conditioning vents.

Edema:

Problem: Cells swell with water and

burst. Scab tissue forms aroundthe tissue.

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Spider mites and othersucking insects may also causeedema.

What to look for: Brown cork-like blotches

on stems and leavesSolution: Scratching away the cork like

substance will reveal new andhealthy cells on the plant. Youmay also cut away at the affectedareas.

Look for spider mites andtreat if needed.

Prevent edema by wateringless often, especially when thelight quality may not be as high,or when humidity is high.

Guttation:

Problem: Drops of water or sap appear

on the end of the leaves. Thiswill cause crystals or the leavesto blacken.

When a plant is over-watered,the plant will absorb more waterthan necessary.

What to look for: Excess water in the soil,

and blackened tips of leaves.Solution: Lessen the amount of

water being used. Improving light quality will

help the plant to use the excesswater.

Increase air circulation anddecrease humidity to help theexcess water to evaporate, rather

High Temperature:Problem: Plants do not grow in high

temperatures. This will causestems to become soft, plants stopflowering, and leaves to losegreenness and die.

Cool temperatures are neededfor plants to bud; when there is aconstant high temperature, thisstops the plants from formingbuds.

What to look for: Yellow leaves, and in

severe cases, brown leaves. Lack of growth or blooming.

Solution: If a plant is supposed to be

in a cool environment, be sureto allow at least a breeze on theplant, if a cool room is notavailable.

Alternating differentenvironments will help yourflowers to last longer.

In times of high temperatures,be sure to keep plants sufficientlywatered.

Insufficient Water:Problem: Plant will not have the energy to

grow and leaves will stay small Eventually, the plant will die

What to look for: Parts of the plant will begin

to wilt or the entire plant ifsevere enough

Edges of leaves will become dried out and brittle.

The veins and edges of theleaves will become bleached orbrownish

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Solution: As soon as you notice

this problem, water theplant immediately andcontinue watering withjudgment. If soil is completely dry,you may want to soak the potwater for a few hours.

Iron Deficiency:

Problem: Because some plants work

best in an acidic environment,when the pH is higher in thesoil, iron is not as available forthose plants.

Leaves turn yellow, staysmall and do not grow

What to look for: Yellow marks around the

outside of the leaf, and in moresevere cases, the entire leaves willbe yellow.

Solution: Use a solution with chelated

iron and spray the soil and theplant. Use a fertilizer with chelatediron and apply to the soil.

When planting foliage whichmay be an acid-loving plant, usea fertilizer which is acid based.

Lack of Bloom:Problem: A plant will not bloom during

it's flowering seasonWhat to look for: The plant will look healthy,

aside from no blooms showing.

Solution: Note: some houseplants may

not bloom the first year becausethey are still too immature. It maytake several years for the firstbloom to occur.

It is most common that theplant does not have enough light,humidity and the temperature isnot optimum.

Check for infestation incase insects may be suckingthe plant's strength.

Lack of Light:Problem: Plants will fail to grow to

the optimum measurements Flowering plants will not bloom;

variegated plants will lose color. Plants with high color will need

much more sunlight than greenfoliage plants.

What to look for: Leaves will not be as dark and

may be smaller than normal. Plant is bending towards the

small source of light Colorful plants become pale

Solution: Move the plant towards a

better lighted location. Be careful that direct

sunlight does not beam onyour plant because of thesensitivity involved.

Low Humidity:Problem: Plants may not grow quickly

and require often watering. When the air is not humid,

the soil cannot get enoughwater because the air will suckit up first.

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During the heated season,this becomes a problem formany.What to look for:

Leaves curl downward; tipsturn brown and dry out.

Soil seems dry, even shortlyafter watering.

Solution: Try to keep plants near a

humidifier or on a humidity tray. Moving plants together,

away from direct sunlight, in acool location will naturallyincrease humidity.

Misting the plants often willhelp if frequent watering is notpossible.

Nitrogen Deficiency:

Problem: During waterings, the

nitrogen can leave the soil. It isthe nutrient which the soil ismost likely to lack and this willcause a problem.

Growth will slow down, andonly the newest leaves will begreen. Foliage plants need morenitrogen than flowering plantsdo.

What to look for: Leaves, usually lower ones,

turn yellow and may fall off. New leaves that do appear

will stay small.

Solution: Replace soil when the

plant shows signs ofnitrogen deficiency

Try to choose a soil which isrich in the first labeled number(23-19-17) of the fertilizer soil.

For a temporary fix, sprayleaves with a foliar fertilizer

Salt Damage:

Problem: Common to container-

grown plants Salts will come from:

water, usage of fertilizers andin the potting soils.

If plants are not wateredthoroughly, salt will accumulatein the soil.

What to look for: Leaf tips will become brown

and very brittle. In severe cases, the new leaves will

also be affected and the leaves may turnyellow and die.

Solution: Flush water through the

plant thoroughly. Do not let plants stand in

the drainage water. If a plant is too large to lift,

remove the drainage water with aturkey baster.

Trim the dead tips withsharp scissors.

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Sudden Leaf Drop:Problem: When the plant is moved to a

new location, stress occurs andthe leaves fall off.

If the plant is exposed to a colddraft, leaf drop will also occur.

What to look for: Rapid loss of leaves with only the

newest leaves being green andattached to the plant.

Solution: Prevent the problem by

purchasing plants that havebecome accustomed to localconditions.

Plants should be placed inthe brightest light withincreased humidity.

Newly arrived plants can becovered with a clear plastic bag.This will increase humidity andhelp the plant to get used to thenew environment.

Sunburn or Leaf Scorch:

Problem: Exposed, direct sunlight will

scorch the leaves Severe sunburn occurs only when

the plant dries out, without receivingwater.

What to look for: Tan or brown patches appear on

the leaves, resulting in dead leaves.Solution: By moving a plant to a shaded

spot, trimming off the dead

Too Much Water or PoorDrainage:

Problem: Plants will fail to grow Roots take up too much water which

causes problems throughout the plant.

Soil becomes soggy with anunpleasant odor

If severe, plant may die

What to look for:

Plant will wilt

Leaves become dull, lightgreen or yellow

Brown roots without anywhite tips

Solution: Do not water plants until the

potting soil is nearly dry. Remove plants which are

extremely wilted and thosewithout white tipped roots

Prevent this problem byusing a lighter potting soil witha good drainage system.

Water Spots:Problem: Common problem for fuzzy-

leaved plants, especially AfricanViolets

When cold water is splashed up atthe leaves, water spots occur.

What to look for: White or light yellow

spots appear on leaves.

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Within the spots may be browndiscoloration

Solution: Spotted leaves will not return to their

normality. You may pick these leaves off.

Prevent water spots by keeping coldwater away from the leaves while watering.

Use warmer water because if the waterdoes splash at the leaves, it should not causespotting.

Water fuzzy-leaved plants at the bottomin the potting soil.