BDN speaks with Garland about troubleshooting plant problems

The Bangor Daily News spoke with Kate Garland, a horticulture professional with University of Maine Cooperative Extension, for the article “What’s wrong with my seedlings? A short troubleshooting guide for finicky plants.” If your seedlings are struggling, Garland said not to jump to fertilizing as a solution, as it can exacerbate the problem. “For those that are seeing not perfectly green leaves, don’t just jump on the fertilizer bandwagon thinking that will solve your problem,” she said. “Most of the time it has to do with the environmental conditions: too cold, or too hot, or too much water.” Black spots on plants can be a sign of a fungal pathogen, and Garland recommends reaching out to your local cooperative extension for guidance. “Whenever concerns related to spots on a leaf or discoloration on leaves, they can send us pictures,” she said. “It’s not something we can easily diagnose through a description. We can find out by looking at a picture in an email.”