Dracaena fragrans

[Newt]

Hi R0za,
I would love to know if the leaves are turning color before they drop, and if so, what color. Take a look to see if it's rootbound. You will probably see roots coming out of the drainage hole. If so, repot in a pot that is 2" larger. Another situation that will stress acubas is too much sun. They like bright light, but not direct sun. Take a look at this site to see if this could be your problem. They also need good drainage and don't like to sit in damp soil. Let soil dry on the top 2" before watering. Don't let it sit in a saucer of water for more than an hour.

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/pp/not...od21aucuba.htm

Take a look here for more culture info.

http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/shrubs/AUCJAPA.PDF

Hope this helps. If not, let me know.
Newt

[r0za]

Hello Newt, No the leaves not turning color before they drop, the leaves feels dried, just like when flowers are dried. No it's not rootbound, but when you say just 2'' larger pot, I'm thinking I put the plant in too bigger of a pot. Also it is by a window with a lot of light, some morning sun does come in. I never let any of my plants sit in water. I did moved the plant from the window and I'm going to put it a smaller pot tomorrow {Saturday} and while I'll do that I will check to see if the soil is too wet. It's just a small plant and I seen on one of the sites that you sent me they grow slow. Thank you. :) r0za P.S. do you own the plant ideas site?

[Newt]

Hi R0za,

No the leaves not turning color before they drop, the leaves feels dried, just like when flowers are dried. Also it is by a window with a lot of light, some morning sun does come in. I did move the plant from the window

I think your acuba has had too much sun and moving it is the right thing to do. One site I referred you to said "Leaves on plants recieving sun in summer or winter will become chlorotic." That means that the leaves will yellow or whiten. I still think it got too much sun.

I'm thinking I put the plant in too big of a pot. I'm going to put it a smaller pot tomorrow {Saturday}

To measure the size of a pot, measure from the bottom to the top of the rim. It's best not to go too big on a pot. If the plant was removed from a pot that had other plants and you aren't sure what size pot to use, the rule of thumb is a pot 1/3 the height of the plant, not including the roots.

P.S. do you own the plant ideas site?

Thank you for the compliment!! :D No, I'm just a gardener with a lot of time on my hands right now. With the snow and cold weather, it's my way of 'gardening' in the winter by answering peoples questions on gardening forums.

Hope your acuba recovers.
Newt

[r0za]

Thanks Newt, :D you are so nice answering my :?: 's By the way the plant was removed from a pot that had other plants. I love plants, don't know how to take care of them unless the little tag comes with them telling me how :lol: I think I have other questions for you with my other plants. Hey Newt, by the way the acuba is 8 inches high not much leaves on it now it is in a 8'' pot Is the pot too big :?: The plant looks so sad with a lot of the leaves off...looks like I feel with me losing my baby boy... :cry: .....Do you know how to plant grass?????Where we just moved to still moving by the way don't have grass at all. They told us the lady that rented the house before us, use to babysit a lot of kids and they were out side all day every day which messed up the grass. I have a 2 year old daughter and I want her to be able to play in grass when warm weather comes, not dirt which that is what it is now........r0za

[Newt]

Hi R0za,
I understand what you mean about not knowing how to care for plants if they don't have a label. Do save that site I gave you to help id plants. That way you'll be able to tell what you have and get some general care info. Also, and maybe more important, you will have the botanical or Latin name. Here's the site.

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/i...leryindex.html

This one lists common names and gives you the botanical name.

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/i...dexcommon.html

Once you know which plant you have you can go to www.google.com and put the botanical name in quotes to search. You can also click on 'Images' at google and often get pictures.

I would recommend that you put the acuba in a 4" pot if it doesn't have a large root system. An 8" pot sounds too big. If the roots fill up at least half the pot then it might be ok.

Congratulations on your new home! As to your grass, I'm guessing that the soil is probably compacted from not having any grass in spots and the patter of little feet. I would suggest you rent an aerator this spring as soon as the ground isn't frozen anymore. Here's some sites that will help you to get the grass growing. Though fall is the best time to plant a lawn, spring will be good too. I'm including a couple of sites that will help you to maintain the lawn as well. For this first site, I don't use herbicides so I don't recommend them as he does in his second technique. If you need sites where you can get environmentally friendly solutions to pest and weed problems, just let me know. I don't use chemicals and have lots of wildlife in my small yard. If you have large areas that are just dirt, you might want to till it up, add organic matter and put down seed or lay sod. Take a look at the third link here for that one. By the way, the preparation for seeding is the same as laying sod.

http://www.freeplants.com/lawnrenov.htm
http://www.hortmag.com/articles/seedinglawn.asp
http://www.garden.org/articles/scrip...&subch=default

Here's some good stuff on maintaining your lawn organically. I think the best thing you can do is to keep weeds away and avoid drought stress is to keep the grass at 2 1/2" to 3" tall.

http://www.theorganicreport.com/page...ucontentID=436
http://www.members.tripod.com/~Garde.../index-11.html

Here's a couple of sites from This Old House with some good info on lawns. The second one talks about fall renovation, but you can use these techniques in spring too. It also shows a picture of an aerator.

http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/know...347183,00.html
http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/know...482229,00.html

I'll be travelling through your state on Friday. I have to go to Newport News to take care of my mil and an elderly aunt for a week. My hubby will stay home and take care of the animals! Just thought I'd mention it, though I don't know where in Virginia you are. Come to think of it, it may be warm enough for the ground not to be frozen where you are. You might be able to do the aeration and apply some compost now and then seed in another month or two. You could contact your local extension service to find out when is the best time to seed a lawn.

http://www.ext.vt.edu/

Hugs,
Newt

[r0za]

I put the acuba in a 4" pot, it don't have a large root system.
The dirt is very hard here. I don't think I would use chemicals either we have lots of squirrels and of course birds. The whole yard is just dirt, the more leaves we rake up the more dirt we have. It's not a big yard but big enough for our 2 year old. I see some people cut their grass so close to the dirt just so they won't have to cut it again as soon. It suppose to snow here tonight (Sunday) 3 inches. Our 6 inches of snow just melted last couple of weeks. We live in Richmond Va. I know where Newport News is. Been there many times. I use to live in Hampton, then moved to Williamsburg in '93 then just moved to Richmond a year ago. Which I like Williamsburg better, people are a lot nicer there then here. But cause of my husband's work we don't really have much of a choice. :roll: I have a palm that someone sent to my son's funeral. It's so beautiful. Not sure what kind but I have it on my kitchen table and it gets lots of light but no sun.......so far it is doing good :) it's only about 19 inches tall, it's in an 8 inch square pot..HOPE THATS' THE RIGHT SIZE POT FOR IT. I bought a tree (not sure what kind) at Food Lion (food store) it's about 5 feet tall in a 10 inch pot which looks like it needs to be in a bigger pot..about a 12'' pot or bigger :?: it's sitting at a window not getting a lot of light but some. I always wanted a tree. I like to put christmas lights on it, I had a brother in-law that had a big beautiful tree in his living room with christmas lights on it. He had his tree sitting in front of the window not getting a lot of light either. So hope my tree won't die on me. It was only $18.00 any way. I just don't have a green thumb. Hope you are having nice week-end. r0za

[Newt]

Hi R0za,

I have a palm that someone sent to my son's funeral. It's so beautiful. Not sure what kind but I have it on my kitchen table and it gets lots of light but no sun.......so far it is doing good it's only about 19 inches tall, it's in an 8 inch square pot..HOPE THATS' THE RIGHT SIZE POT FOR IT.

Sounds good. It's about one third the size of the plant. Check the drainage hole to see if you see roots. If so, then it's time to move it up to a pot 2" larger.

I bought a tree (not sure what kind) at Food Lion (food store) it's about 5 feet tall in a 10 inch pot which looks like it needs to be in a bigger pot..about a 12'' pot or bigger it's sitting at a window not getting a lot of light but some.

You can use that site I gave you to id your tree. I'll bet it's pretty. To see if it needs a larger pot, take a look at the drainage holes at the bottom. It's usually best to wait about 2 weeks before repotting a new plant. It gives the plant some time to adjust to it's new home and causes less stress. If the plant is in danger of tipping over, then you can repot it.

I just don't have a green thumb.

Sure sounds like you're doing a good job to me! You did say that your palm is happy! 8)

Regards,
Newt

[r0za]

Hi Newt, it looks like roots are just starting to come out of the holes very little. Getting back to my son's acuba plant, Do you think the leaves will come back at the bottom since I pot it in a smaller pot :?: r0za

[Newt]

Hi R0za,
Sounds like the one with the roots showing needs a pot 2" larger. As for the acuba, most likely it won't grow new leaves, especially if the wood has hardened and looks more like bark on a tree. If the wood is still soft, it just might sprout new leaves.

Good luck with it,
Newt

[r0za]

Newt, I will make sure to put the tree in a 2'' bigger pot this week...and Thanks Newt for all your help. Hope you will have a safe trip to Newport News. r0za :)