 |
|
<%=tDate%>
|
|
Q. What's this sticky stuff on the leaves of my citrus plants?
A. You may be seeing a sticky material on the leaves of citrus or other outdoor plant you've brought in for the winter. It's like a really concentrated sugar water that's been dropped on the leaves. It's coming from various insects. On indoor citrus, most likely it's scale or white flies, although aphids can also leave sticky material on the leaves. These are all piercing/sucking insects that drink the juices of the plant, but they drink them in such volume that juice heads out the other end of the bug and drops down as what we call honeydew. It then starts to grow a sooty mold. Sooty mold isn't so much of a problem; it's the insect that's our concern. With indoor plants, especially plants we're eating, we want to be careful about pesticides. The best option would be a horticultural oil or a summer oil. You may need to take them outside or to the garage to spray them to get a good coating. Almost always these pest are under the leaves, so you want to make sure to spray upward from underneath the plant. You want to make sure that you coat the insect well enough to smother it. Insecticidal soap works with some pests in the nymph stage, but I would go ahead and go to the horticultural oil and be ready to repeat it occasionally on throughout the winte
|
|
<<view
past Questions of the Week
|
 |
 |
 Agave
Agave provides a unique structural element in the landscape. In winter when most plants are losing their appeal, agave remains an attractive feature in the overall design. From the large century plants to short, squatty species that grow to less than 2 feet in size, there are numerous species and varieties to choose from. Here in Central Texas they are a wonderful, no-care plant that adds a dramatic western flair to our landscapes. Most species need full sun and a location away from pedestrian traffic as the pointed leaves are very sharp!
|
|
<<view
past Plants of the Week
|
|
 |
- It's important to let lawns like St. Augustine get sunlight throughout the winter, so rake the leaves and take to the compost pile. If you have grass under a deciduous tree, this is a chance for it to grab a bit of energy from the sun.
- Your leaves are free fertilizer. Grind them up and use them as mulch or put them in a compost pile. Some people run a lawn mower over them to break them down.
- Feed flowers and vegetables. Microbial activity slows down in cooler weather, so a light dose of fertilizer every few weeks will keep them producing.
- And if you have any weeds or problem plants, perhaps some that died from disease, let's clean those up now for a fresh start in spring.
|
|
<<more
Planting Tips
|
|
 |
