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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| Transplanting blue agave pups in Arizona February 03, 2009 I have a blue Agave with lots of pups, how do I transplant a few pups into planters. What kind of soil and how much water will they need? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Fertilization of recently-transplanted yucca January 26, 2009 I planted a soft tip yucca a week ago, the spineless type. I was doing a landscaping job, it was dug up, left for a week without any dirt around the roots, and when the customer did not want it, I pl... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Strange form of Dasylirion sp. (sotol) December 27, 2008 Mr. Smarty: I have a client with a huge (2 ft. diameter trunk), multi-headed dasylirion. On one or more of the heads, the leaves arch inward instead of outward. Someone said this is because of an inju... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Trimming of dead foliage on trunks of yucca in California December 21, 2008 There is a Yucca plant in the back yard. I want to know how to get the old foliage that has died off of the trunks, it looks kind of ragged. The foliage is about three feet from the green. Can you ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Use of Century Plant bloom as indoor decoration December 09, 2008 Mr. Smarty Pants, After living in Arizona and now San Antonio, I am in search of a Century Plant Bloom. I cannot have an evergreen because my cats climb them. I would shellac the stalk and blooms a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Is a Texas Mountain Laurel too messy for swimming pool area? November 24, 2008 Our landscaper has recommended a Texas Mountain Laurel to plant beside our swimming pool. We recently removed Cherry Laurels from the same location because of the mess they made in the pool (especiall... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Cactus failing to thrive in New York City November 21, 2008 My cactus seems to be either weak or dying. Its long stems are bending and softer than the rest. What is happening to it? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Cochineal bugs on cactus November 18, 2008 Mr. Smarty plants. I have purple prickly pear cactus that are developing small white flake like spots, mostly where the thorns would be. Why is this happening and how can I cure it? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Are century plants (Agave spp.) poisonous? September 24, 2008 About 2 weeks ago, I was poked in the arm by a Century Plant, which caused a pretty big bruise to form. I didn't think much of it at first, but now, 2 weeks later, the bruise hasn't healed at all. S... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Damage to Agave in New Braunfels, TX August 21, 2008 In a flower box, I have an Agave on which the leaves have been damaged. It looks as if a deer rubbed his antlers on it. Is there any animal in south central Texas that would try to eat an agave? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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