Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
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Smarty Plants Question Topics
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
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| Regulations for transporting plants to Texas from Florida July 29, 2008 We are relocating to TX from FL, I have a collection of potted palm trees and quite a few potted tropical plants (none are invasive)that I would like to bring with us, we will be traveling by car and ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Failure to thrive of potted blue-green cypress July 26, 2008 I received a small 14" potted blue-green cypress for Christmas 2007. Kept it in a bright window, not direct sun. It was doing great until two weeks ago when it started turning brown from the center. ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Failure of potted verbena to bloom July 20, 2008 I have a trailing purple verbena that won't bloom. It is in a container, not in the ground, and gets lots of sun. What is the problem? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Blossom fall after rain on Polystachys lutea, Shrimp Lollipop July 17, 2008 I live in San Antonio and had previously bought shrimp lollipop plants and after the rain we had recently all the blooms fell off. So my question is did it die or should I just leave it alone? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Growing Plumeria in Ohio July 15, 2008 Can I grow plumeria in Ohio? We were in Hawaii this past week and I brought two plants home to try to grow. Thanks a bunch. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Failure of Gerbera daisies in hanging basket July 08, 2008 I had perennial Gerbera daisies in a hanging basket, the flowers died,I was not sure whether to remove just the flower or to go from the flower to the stem at the plants main stem? There is nothing re... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Darkened leaves on blueberry bush July 02, 2008 I have a blueberry bush planted in a very large pot. It has been doing very well, producing berries and new growth. All of a sudden the leaves have begun to turn dark. I have it potted in good soil... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Mites in soil of house plants June 25, 2008 Hi there! I recently noticed tiny silver mites in the soil of my plants that I only notice after watering. These plants are indoors in on a window ledge (a dwarf palm, aloe plant and Hawaiian Scheffle... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Disappearing oranges from Satsuma orange in Austin June 25, 2008 I had many tiny future oranges on my Satsuma Orange Tree until a few days ago. Suddenly, all were gone except one. They weren't on the ground and the tree itself seems incredibly healthy. It is gr... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Decline of indoor lemon cypress June 25, 2008 I received a lemon cypress as a gift. I have kept it indoors in bright light and tried to keep it moist. When I received the plant the foliage was soft and now it has become brittle and dry even tho... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native plants for hanging baskets in Abilene June 10, 2008 I live in the DRY West Texas heat in Abilene. I'd like to put some hanging plants along my back fence. Preferably something that would attract butterflies. We have a pool in our back yard and almost ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Care of lemon cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa) June 09, 2008 How do I care for a Lemon Cypress tree? Does it require a lot of sun? How often should I water it? It is 18" high and I have it in a pot on my screen porch. Thank-you View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Placement of lemon cypress tree in Miami, FL May 25, 2008 Where is the best place to have a lemon cypress tree? indoors or out? Presently in south Miami climate, Scott's potting soil, clay pot, with good drainage. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for pool area in Florida May 09, 2008 My husband and I have a pool with 4 planters and are looking for plants that we can put into our screened in pool area. We live in Central Florida and looking for ideas of plants that are slow growin... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Sides for raised gardens May 01, 2008 I am wanting to put in raised gardens. What is the best product for the sides? Wood? If so, what kind? Thank you View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native plants for container gardening in Houston April 26, 2008 Hi, we live a townhouse community in Houston, TX and have a decent sized backyard. I plan on devoting part of that to plant some potted flowers which are less than 6 ft tall (we can't plant anything ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native plants for containers April 22, 2008 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, I have found the website very helpful, but have a few questions of my own. I recently purchased the winecup plant, phlox and cedar sage perennials. I have planted them in ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Possibility of invasiveness of blackberry bush March 27, 2008 I bought a blackberry bush from Home Depot last year. My sister said if I planted it in the ground it would take over my lawn. So I put it in a big planter up against my fence, but I'd like to put it... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native plants for container gardens in Central Texas March 11, 2008 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants: I moved to TX last year, for now living in an apartment with a good-size but shady deck; my garden in VA was full of VA native plants. What TX natives, if any, can I grow in ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Containerized citrus foliage deformed January 02, 2008 I have three 2-year old potted grapefruit trees that have recently developed problems with the emergence of new leaves. The new leaves are stunted, deformed, often with wavy edges. Although it did ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Care of a sedum indoors December 16, 2007 I have a coworker who has trusted her Sedum Burrito plant into my care because it is not doing well in her office. It appears to need repotting, as it is very crowded in the pot it came in and is dif... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Indoor native container plants for Central Texas December 09, 2007 I like to model the beauty of native plants where ever possible, and would like to have some in my office. Are there any Central TX natives that will survive in an office environment? I do have a bi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Indoor pot plants November 20, 2007 I just moved into a studio apt. where a lot of heat is provided. Do you have a listing of house plants suitable for warm apartments? I have four windows, all with indirect sunlight. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Loss of blooms in potted plants in Hawaii November 11, 2007 My lanai is in strong afternoon sun and no matter what "full sun" plants I try to grow they quickly stop blooming. Plumeria, Hibiscus, Echinacea, even Bougainvillea...they continue to grow but lose... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plectranthus (native of South Africa) winter care and insects September 26, 2007 I was recently given a beautiful plant which is now in a pot in my yard. I live in Rochester, NY and need to know what to do with this plant in the fall. The plant is 'Mona Lavender' Plectranthus p... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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