The Plant Problem Training
Rachel Suits
Master Gardener Training
January 20, 2016
Outline
• What is Plant Clinic?
• Identify challenges with Plant Clinics and dealing
with clients
• How do I know which questions to ask?
• What do I do with the information the client
gives me?
Plant Clinic
What are some challenges you
have in plant clinics?
• Where do I start?
• Asking the right questions.
• Not being able to find research-based answers.
• Wanting to give the client the management
strategies I would like to give them.
What information do I
need to know to solve
plant and insect
problems?
What do I do with the information?
When did you first start
noticing this problem?
How old are the plants?
Was the plant
transplanted?
What part of the plant is
affected?
Time of symptoms may correlate
with weather events.
What do I do with the information?
When did you first start
noticing this problem?
Time of symptoms may correlate
with weather events.
How old are the plants?
Determine lifespan of plant
Was the plant
transplanted?
What part of the plant is
affected?
What do I do with the information?
When did you first start
noticing this problem?
Time of symptoms may correlate
with weather events.
How old are the plants?
Determine lifespan of plant
Was the plant
transplanted?
What part of the plant is
affected?
Transplanting causes stress on the
plant
What do I do with the information?
When did you first start
noticing this problem?
Time of symptoms may correlate
with weather events.
How old are the plants?
Determine lifespan of plant
Was the plant
transplanted?
Transplanting causes stress on the
plant
What part of the plant is Pinpoint location of plant problem
affected?
to give clues on pest life cycle.
What does this information tell me?
Have you seen this
Timeline of plant problem
problem occur before? If
so, when?
Is the problem changing
or spreading?
Are other plants in the
area affected?
Have you pruned this
plant previously?
What does this information tell me?
Have you seen this
Timeline of plant problem
problem occur before? If
so, when?
Is the problem changing Determine how quickly the change is
happening. Changing or spreading
or spreading?
may mean biological
Are other plants in the
area affected?
What does this information tell me?
Have you seen this
Timeline of plant problem
problem occur before? If
so, when?
Is the problem changing Determine how quickly the change is
happening. Changing or spreading
or spreading?
may mean biological
Are other plants in the
Determine the extent of injury
area affected?
Have you pruned this
plant previously?
What does this information tell me?
Have you seen this
Timeline of plant problem
problem occur before? If
so, when?
Is the problem changing Determine how quickly the change is
happening. Changing or spreading
or spreading?
may mean biological
Are other plants in the
Determine the extent of injury
area affected?
Have you pruned this
plant previously?
Pruning can cause stress and
introduce pathogens.
What does this information tell me?
Is the area irrigated/watered? Incorrect watering can cause drought
What is the irrigation source? stress, attract certain insects or cause
How much and how often? bacterial diseases like root rot
Has the area been fertilized? If
so, how long ago? What type of
fertilizer?
Has any of the area been
sprayed (e.g. weed killers,
insect sprays, neighbors
spraying)?
What is its exposure to weather
(e.g. sun, shade, wind)?
What does this information tell me?
Is the area irrigated/watered?
What is the irrigation source?
How much and how often?
Has the area been fertilized? If
so, how long ago? What type of
fertilizer?
Has any of the area been
sprayed (e.g. weed killers,
insect sprays, neighbors
spraying)?
What is its exposure to weather
(e.g. sun, shade, wind)?
Incorrect watering can cause drought
stress, attract certain insects or cause
bacterial diseases like root rot
Incorrect fertilizing can cause
burning or nutrient deficiencies
What does this information tell me?
Is the area irrigated/watered?
What is the irrigation source?
How much and how often?
Has the area been fertilized? If
so, how long ago? What type of
fertilizer?
Has any of the area been
sprayed (e.g. weed killers,
insect sprays, neighbors
spraying)?
What is its exposure to weather
(e.g. sun, shade, wind)?
Incorrect watering can cause drought
stress, attract certain insects or cause
bacterial diseases like root rot
Incorrect fertilizing can cause
burning or nutrient deficiencies
Incorrect pesticide application can
cause herbicide burn, secondary
outbreaks with insects, or resistance
What does this information tell me?
Is the area irrigated/watered?
What is the irrigation source?
How much and how often?
Has the area been fertilized? If
so, how long ago? What type of
fertilizer?
Has any of the area been
sprayed (e.g. weed killers,
insect sprays, neighbors
spraying)?
What is its exposure to weather
(e.g. sun, shade, wind)?
Incorrect watering can cause drought
stress, attract certain insects or cause
bacterial diseases like root rot
Incorrect fertilizing can cause
burning or nutrient deficiencies
Incorrect pesticide application can
cause herbicide burn, secondary
outbreaks with insects, or resistance
Weather exposure can cause leaf
burn, poor growth, freeze damage
What does this information tell me?
Have you noticed holes in the Need to determine insect and
bark or insects on or around host plant to figure out problem
the plant?
Have you noticed any animals
nearby (moles, gophers, voles,
deer, etc.)?
Have there been any changes
to the environment?
Other notes:
What does this information tell me?
Have you noticed holes in the
bark or insects on or around
the plant?
Have you noticed any animals
nearby (moles, gophers, voles,
deer, etc.)?
Have there been any changes
to the environment?
Other notes:
Need to determine insect and
host plant to figure out problem
Animals evidence include
mounds, missing roots, chest
height damage, and tunneling
What does this information tell me?
Have you noticed holes in the
bark or insects on or around
the plant?
Have you noticed any animals
nearby (moles, gophers, voles,
deer, etc.)?
Have there been any changes
to the environment?
Other notes:
Need to determine insect and
host plant to figure out problem
Animals evidence include
mounds, missing roots, chest
height damage, and tunneling
Changes cause stress and can
create plant or insect problems
What does this information tell me?
Have you noticed holes in the
bark or insects on or around
the plant?
Have you noticed any animals
nearby (moles, gophers, voles,
deer, etc.)?
Have there been any changes
to the environment?
Need to determine insect and
host plant to figure out problem
Other notes:
Write something that stood out
to you while conducting the
interview
Animals evidence include
mounds, missing roots, chest
height damage, and tunneling
Changes cause stress and can
create plant or insect problems
Best Research-Based Websites
 PNW Handbooks:
pnwhandbooks.org
 Hortsense
hortsense.cahnrs.wsu.edu
 UC IPM
www.ipm.ucdavis.edu
 Other Extension
websites in the west:
Utah and Colorado
 Other Extension
websites in the east:
Cornell, North Carolina
State University (NCSU),
Maine
Plant Clinic Diagnosis Practice
 Every Saturday
during the 12-1pm
lunch hour
 45 minutes solving
and discussing plant
clinic problems
 Bring sack lunch
Plant Problem Scenario Practice
1. Choose a partner.
2. Make sure one person has the Plant Problem
Scenario (Partner 1) and one has the yellow
Plant Problem Evaluation Form (Partner 2).
3. Partner 2 asks the questions on the yellow Plant
Problem Evaluation Form and Partner 1 answers
the questions to the best of your knowledge.
4. Share the answer.
5. Switch roles and repeat 2-4.