Garden Diary – April Ups and Downs and ChatGPT Plant Doctor

AS we move into April with another sunny week, I share some of my ups and downs for this week’s Six on Saturday. For every three plants I buy or am gifted, I swear two will die or struggle to survive. But the joy they give me in the first two weeks in my care is still far cheaper and more satisfying than a bouquet of cut flowers.

Blisters on Kalanchoe Leaves

Have you ever used ChatGPT to help identify a plant problem?

A couple of weeks ago I noticed blisters appearing on some of the leaves of this Kalanchoe and then a brown burn mark. Up until that point, the plant, a birthday gift from my sister, had been perfectly healthy. The only thing I can think of is that (and confirmed by ChatGPT), when I was spraying the Queen of the Night with copper sulfate, some of the spray drifted onto this plant.

Chat GPT response to picture: —if the spots are liquid-filled blisters rather than hard bumps, and the plant was near copper spray, this is much more likely leaf edema or chemical burn, not insects.

Most likely cause: copper spray injury

Copper sulfate can easily mark succulent leaves because succulent tissue is very sensitive. When droplets sit on the leaf, they can cause:

• tiny blister-like raised spots
• dark speckling
• brown dead patches later
• water-soaked marks that dry into scars

Also possible: edema (water blisters)

Edema happens when roots take up water faster than the leaves can release it, especially in shade or humid air. That creates little blisters that later turn corky.

IT’s advice?

What to do now

• Stop spraying this plant with copper products
• Keep leaves dry
• Water only when the soil is completely dry
• Give bright air circulation, but not harsh sun 🌤️
• Don’t remove damaged leaves yet unless they become mushy

Important

The damaged spots will not heal, but new leaves should come out normal if conditions improve

Watch for this

If patches become soft, black, or spread quickly, that suggests rot instead of surface damage.

From your photo, the center growth still looks healthy, which is a very good sign

If you want, send a photo again in 5–7 days, and I’ll tell you whether it’s improving or if something else is developing.

Pink Lampranthus

I bought three Lamranthus plants in February. Two of the three drowned thanks to the heavy rain. I should have known better. I bought them when it was raining, and the roots were already waterlogged.

Cyclamen with mushy stalks

I bought two beautiful, healthy cyclamen plants at Silves Market on the 16th March. The plants were dry, so I watered them regularly.

Three weeks later, the stalks are mushy, and the leaves are beginning to wilt.

Repotting the Camilla

A few weeks ago, I bought a beautiful, healthy Camellia from Lidlyls. Yes, Lidyls. Huge plant in a tiny pot I decided to repot it. A friend who has a beautiful specimen growing in ther garden offered some advice: Use ericaceous compost and keep the plant located near an east-facing wall out of the midday sun.

After a trek around our usual local garden centres, we finally found the specialist compost at the Q Garden centre in Lagos at a whopping price of 8.75€, which was almost the price of the bargain plant.

Caterpillar season

Yep, they’ve arrived on my nasturium plant.

Pelargonium

The whole tub is finally in full bloom! IT’s moments like these that make the downs of gardening worthwhile.

and the beautiful but straggly burgundy variety planted in the ground is also in flower.

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That’s my six for this week. My featured image is a bonus. I discovered the bottle brush is offering such a fantastic display this year, I could not resist including it. I’ve never seen so many flowers!

Happy Easter to all and HAPPY GARDENING!

My thanks to Jim at Garden Ruminations for hosting the Six on Saturday gardening meme.