Sophia 
You are standing in a garden center aisle with two tall, feathery palms side by side, each about the same height, and both look like they would soften that empty corner by your sofa. Deciding between a kentia palm vs majesty palm comes down to one question: how much light and attention can your home … Read more >>
You glance at the dieffenbachia by your window and notice that some of its broad leaves look paler than they did last month, with chalky or washed-out patches spreading across the green. If you are seeing dieffenbachia leaves turning white, the cause is usually something in the plant’s indoor environment that you can identify and … Read more >>
Your dieffenbachia sits a few feet from an east window, its broad speckled leaves catching the morning light, while a fresh cup of coffee cools on the counter beside the used filter. If you’ve heard that coffee grounds for dieffenbachia can feed the plant for free, you’re probably wondering whether that filter belongs in the … Read more >>
Your Christmas cactus sits on the windowsill with flat green segments and no buds in sight, and you are wondering whether that bottle of plant food under the sink would help. Feeding at the right time makes a real difference in how full the plant grows and how well it blooms. The short version: Knowing … Read more >>
Your Christmas cactus sits on the windowsill with its last faded blooms, roots poking out of the drainage hole and the soil drying faster than it used to. The short version: The best time for when to transplant Christmas cactus is in late winter to spring, roughly 4 to 8 weeks after it finishes blooming. … Read more >>
Your Christmas cactus sits on the windowsill, but the flat green segments have taken on a reddish blush along the edges, or the whole plant looks bronzed. If you are wondering why Christmas cactus leaves are turning red, the color is a signal worth reading carefully. The short version: Red segments are almost always a … Read more >>
Your cactus leans away from its pot, the top looks wider or heavier than the base, and the whole plant wobbles when you brush past the windowsill. If you’re wondering why your cactus is getting top heavy, the cause is almost always something you can see and correct indoors. The short version: Most top heavy … Read more >>
You press a segment on your Christmas cactus by the window and it gives under your finger like a deflated balloon instead of feeling firm and plump. If you are wondering why are my christmas cactus leaves soft, the answer usually starts at the roots, not the leaves. The short version: Soft Christmas cactus leaves … Read more >>
You glance at the Christmas cactus on your windowsill and notice the flat green segments have taken on a rosy, pinkish blush along the edges. If you are asking why are my christmas cactus leaves turning pink, the plant is almost always telling you it feels stressed, and the stress is usually easy to find. … Read more >>
The bloom you waited months for is turning soft, brown, or papery on your windowsill, and a few unopened buds may have dropped onto the sill below. Finding out why the flowers on your cactus are dying is usually simple, because most causes leave clear clues on the buds, the stems, and the soil. The … Read more >>