Plant questions

tomato

What plant is this seedling I planted?

The seedlings in the photo are tomato plants. Give them strong sun, a bigger pot or bed, and support as they grow taller.

tropical canna or banana-type plant

How can I overwinter the tropical “palm” in my big patio pots?

That center “palm” can be saved, but it’s a tropical (not frost‑hardy), so you’ll need to lift it from the mixed pot before frost and keep it inside in bright light with much less water. The flowering trailers around it are usually treated as annuals and are hard to carry over.

protea

How can I save my potted protea that is browning and sparse?

The protea in the photo is stressed, likely from a mix of poor drainage/over‑watering and an unsuitable potting mix. Trim back the dead stems, improve drainage, and refresh with a very free‑draining, low‑fertility mix, then water deeply but only when the top of the mix has dried out.

How often should I fertilize plants grown in pots, and what should I use?

Potted plants usually need light, regular feeding because nutrients wash out faster than in the ground. Start with a balanced, water‑soluble or slow‑release fertilizer at half strength every 2–4 weeks in the growing season, and always follow the label.

hydrangea

Why is my five-colored hydrangea not blooming in a pot?

This hydrangea looks healthy but is likely missing the right light or has had its flower buds pruned off. Give it bright morning sun, avoid heavy pruning, and use a bloom fertilizer lower in nitrogen to encourage flowers.

butter daisy (Melampodium)

What is this bushy plant with many small yellow daisy‑like flowers?

This looks like a Butter Daisy (Melampodium), a compact, sun‑loving annual with lots of small yellow daisy‑like flowers. Plant it in a sunny spot with well‑draining soil and it will bloom for months with minimal care.

strawberry

Why do strawberry runners need to be removed from the mother plant?

Strawberry runners are like little baby plants that steal energy from the mother plant. Remove most of them if you want bigger, better fruit, or let a few root if your goal is to make new plants.

Mexican petunia (Ruellia simplex)

What is this tall plant that suddenly grew in my pot?

This looks very much like a young Mexican petunia (Ruellia simplex), a common ornamental that often self‑seeds into nearby pots. Let it grow a bit and watch for purple, trumpet‑shaped flowers to confirm.

purple shamrock (Oxalis triangularis)

What is this purple plant with triangle leaves and pink flowers?

This is a Purple Shamrock (Oxalis triangularis), also called False Shamrock. It’s a bulb-like houseplant with purple, triangular leaves and pale pink flowers that does best in bright, indirect light and lightly moist soil.

cucumber or other cucurbit vine

Why are the leaves on my potted vine turning yellow and crispy even with daily watering?

Those yellow, crispy leaves are usually from stressed roots – often a mix of overwatering in a small pot plus strong sun and poor soil. Let the top of the soil dry before watering, improve drainage, and trim the dead leaves so the plant can try to recover.

Is my young potted plant stressed after moving it indoors from the heat?

From the photos the plant looks generally healthy, with only mild wilting or drooping likely from heat and the sudden move indoors. Check soil moisture and light, then let it settle instead of making big changes every day.

eggplant (brinjal)

What plant is this with purple fruits and star-shaped flowers?

This is an eggplant plant, also called brinjal. Give it plenty of sun, a bigger pot or ground space, and regular feeding for better growth and more fruits.

bougainvillea

How should I repot a rootbound bougainvillea that isn’t growing or flowering?

The bougainvillea is rootbound and stuck in a narrow soil column. Shift it into a slightly larger pot, gently loosen and tease apart the outer roots, and prune only a small amount if they’re tightly circling. Use very well‑draining soil and full sun to get new growth and future blooms.

Boston fern

What can I do with large porch ferns before winter if I lack indoor space?

Large porch ferns that can’t be overwintered indoors can be divided into smaller pieces, shared with others, or treated as annuals and composted after frost. To donate or give them away, take them out of the heavy pots, shake off extra soil, and send them in lighter plastic bags or smaller containers.