028 GGW – What’s Wrong with my Plant; and how do I fix it? An interview with authors David Deardorff & Kathryn Wadsworth

Finally, the book we’ve all been waiting for is here. What’s Wrong With My Plant? (And How Do I Fix It?) provides an easy system for visually diagnosing any problem, and matching it to the right cure. This podcast interview with the authors provides a delightful overview of the book, as well as valuable insights into preventing problems in the first place. Finally, we have one copy of this book to give away. Listen to the show to see how you can be eligible to win.

Part One presents easy-to-follow, illustrated flow charts — organized by where on the plant the symptoms appear — that allow readers to accurately diagnose the problem. The format is so simple it doesn’t even require knowing the name of the plant; all you need to know is whether the problem is affecting its roots, stem, flowers, or leaves. It does not matter whether the plant is a houseplant, perennial, vegetable, tree, or shrub.

Part Two offers a 100% organic way to fix the problem. From improper growing conditions and environmental factors, to molds, pests, and diseases, every problem has a safe, natural solution.

Part Three shows photographs and drawings of stressed, damaged, and diseased plants that help with accurate comparison.

Whether your garden consists of herbs on a kitchen windowsill, a vegetable garden, an elaborate backyard border, or a container on a patio, What’s Wrong With My Plant? is an indispensable resource. If you can see it, you can fix it. Curing a sick plant just doesn’t get any easier.

David Deardorff, Ph.D

David Deardorff, Ph.D., botanist and expert plant pathologist, loves to write and lecture about how to grow healthier plants. As a research biologist David has lived and gardened in many environments, from the desert southwest to the maritime northwest to the tropics. Currently, he and co-author / wife, Kathryn Wadsworth can be found presenting workshops around the U.S. on a wide variety of topics, from ecology to gardening. David earned his Ph.D. in botany from the University of Washington. He coordinated plant pathology research at the University of Hawaii and served as faculty advisor to the Master Gardener Program at Washington State University. He also co-founded Plants of the Southwest in Santa Fe, one of the first native plant nurseries in the country. He has served as Research Director at Island Biotropix, an orchid nursery and tissue culture laboratory, which he co-owned with partner and co-author Kathryn Wadsworth.

Kathryn Wadswort

Kathryn Wadsworth, writer, photographer, and naturalist, enjoys sharing the wonders of the natural world with others. While leading eco-tours around the world she has studied plant life and explored natural history from Australia to Alaska. Currently, she and co-author David Deardorff can be found presenting workshops around the U.S. on a wide variety of topics, from gardening to ecology. In graduate school Kathryn studied film-making and communications at the University of New Mexico, where she made documentary films on a wide variety of topics ranging from the California Gray Whale to the impact of mining on the Navajo Nation. She has owned and operated a film production company, an orchid nursery, and a tissue culture laboratory. With her partner and co-author David Deardorff, she has lived and gardened in many environments, from the desert southwest to the maritime northwest to the tropics.

This podcast is produced by The joe gardener® Media Network. If you have a comment our hotline is always open at 206.337.0375 or send us an email at heyjoe@joegardener.com.

You can access the show notes from previous shows on our website here. You can also order a personally autographed copy of my latest book, The Green Gardener’s Guide and don’t forget to check out my blog; Compost Confidential.

Special Thanks:

MSC Certification Label

This podcast episode was made possible thanks to the support of the Mulch & Soil Council. If you want to know that the bagged mulch or soil that you’re buying is free of unacceptable contaminants, such as arsenic from pressure treated wood, make sure that it has the certification seal on the bag. Learn more at their website; mulchandsoilcouncil.org.

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