Photos can help pinpoint problems that ail plants

By Ty McDonald

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Oct 17, 2011

~~<p>University-trained extension master gardeners routinely put themselves in the hot seat while fielding an array of home-gardening questions via phone and email help lines and at Plant Doctor clinics in the community. Sometimes the questions clearly describe a very distinct and common problem that yields a quick, certain identification and solution from the master gardener. In other cases more information is required to help narrow down the possibilities. This line of inquiry can include photos via email or bringing plant/pest samples to the volunteers.</p>
<p>In still other instances further diagnosis is required and laboratory analysis is recommended for exact pest identification (such as disease-causing fungi) or to rule out soil problems due to extreme pH or high salinity, for example.</p>
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University-trained extension master gardeners routinely put themselves in the hot seat while fielding an array of home-gardening questions via phone and email help lines and at Plant Doctor clinics in the community. Sometimes the questions clearly describe a very distinct and common problem that yields a quick, certain identification and solution from the master gardener. In other cases more information is required to help narrow down the possibilities. This line of inquiry can include photos via email or bringing plant/pest samples to the volunteers.

In still other instances further diagnosis is required and laboratory analysis is recommended for exact pest identification (such as disease-causing fungi) or to rule out soil problems due to extreme pH or high salinity, for example. Login for more...