A yellow leaf can be useful evidence, but only if its position and pattern are recorded. Photograph the whole plant first, then the affected leaf and nearby healthy growth in similar light. Note whether the…
The three numbers on an NPK label describe nutrient proportions, not a simple score for how good the product is. A higher set of numbers does not automatically make a feed more suitable for your…
Most dilution mistakes happen before the feed reaches the plant. Read the product instructions and work out the amount needed for the volume you are actually mixing. A dose for a large watering can should…
A kitchen ingredient may contain nutrients without being a suitable ready-to-use fertiliser. The useful questions are what is available to the plant, in what amount, and what else the material changes in the pot. Avoid…
Perlite is often discussed as though its name alone guarantees good rooting conditions. The container, the amount of water and the particular cutting still matter. Use a clean container with appropriate drainage and label the…
A potting ingredient needs more than a familiar name. A bag labelled akadama, kanuma or granular peat does not establish whether that particular grade suits your plant or container. Check particle size, condition and the…
A healthy piece of plant material is not necessarily a useful cutting. The part capable of making a new plant depends on the species and the propagation method. Before cutting, identify the plant and check…
Before bringing a chrysanthemum indoors, find out whether it is a hardy garden variety or a plant that needs protection. 'Chrysanthemum' on its own is not enough to choose a winter routine. Inspect the pot,…
Repotting a money tree into a larger container can change how long the growing medium stays wet. Do not continue the old watering timetable without checking what the new pot is doing. Compare the size…
'Periwinkle' can refer to plants with quite different habits and cold tolerance. Before buying one for a bed or container, check the botanical name rather than relying on the common name alone. A warm-growing bedding…
A lavender watering interval is useful only while the conditions behind it remain similar. A change in weather, pot size, growing medium or position can make the old routine inappropriate. Check the compost and the…
Brown leaf edges can lead an anthurium owner straight to a spray bottle. Before changing the humidity routine, check whether the plant is also too dry, too wet, cold or affected by pests. Feel the…