Plant questions

Real questions from home gardeners, the kind people post with a worried photo, answered by GrowPls: what's likely going on, what to do about it, and when to worry.

Showing questions tagged #outdoor · show all

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  What is this unknown garden plant with glossy, lobed green leaves?

  From the photo alone it’s hard to confidently give a precise ID, as many young shrubs and perennials have similar glossy, lobed leaves. Let it grow a bit and watch for flowers, fruits, or any thorns, and take clearer photos of the whole plant and stem to narrow it down.

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  What is this cloud of tiny insects over my garden soil?

  That moving “mist” is most likely a swarm of tiny flies/gnats breeding in the damp leaf litter, not smoke or spores. Drying the area a bit and disturbing or cleaning the decaying material will usually make them disappear.

Got a question about your own plant?

Snap a photo and ask GrowPls. It remembers each plant's history. Free on iPhone and Android.