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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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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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Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

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Thursday - April 16, 2009

From: Punta Gorda, FL
Region: Southeast
Topic: Non-Natives
Title: Problems with non-native ixora in Punta Gorda, FL
Answered by: Barbara Medford

QUESTION:

We are having problems with our Ixora plants. The leaves turn yellow, then fall down.

ANSWER:

Ixora coccinea is native to tropical Asia, and therefore out of our range of expertise at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. We are dedicated to the care and propagation of plants native not only to North America but the the area in which they are being grown. We found a Floridata website, Ixora coccinea, which may be able to give you some help. We did notice that this plant does not do well in alkaline soil, and suffers from chlorosis in that kind of soil, which causes leaves to yellow. 

 

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