Another problem could be that the soil was inconsistently watered. In order for the plant to absorb and move that calcium from the soil, into the roots, up the stem and then into the fruit, a consistent supply of water is necessary. The calcium is dissolved in the water and moves up the stem in the water. If the soil gets very dry, the plant will stop moving water through the plant in an effort to keep from drying out and dying. As a result, the calcium also stops moving up the stem. Since tomatoes need LOTS of sun and a bit of warmth to make great tasting fruits, the soil that they are growing in can easily dry out. I would recommend using a mulch over the soil to decrease the rate of evaporation of water from the soil.

Calcium deficiency in the plant can occur because of a number of things. First off, plain and simple, your soil may be deficient of calcium. Maybe a previous crop removed the calcium from the soil. There is a difference between calcium deficiency in the soil and in the plant. You can have a soil that is chock full of calcium, but the plant is still deficient in calcium. One reason why this could be is because of the soil pH. The soil should have a pH of around 6.5.

Hey Willie...you can tell your wife that she is correct. Blossom end rot is a disorder that is found often in solanaceous plants (in other words tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, etc.). Luckily, it is not caused from a bacterial or fungal infection. It's not because a worm decided to nest inside your tomato fruit. It is caused by a calcium deficiency in the plant when the fruit is developing. When I was in grad school, we had a visiting professor come into the lab who did some research that showed that a manganese deficiency exacerbates the problem and causes the calcium deficiency threshold to be higher than normal. Lucky for tomato growers, manganese is needed in such low quantities this is rarely a problem. In the following post I will tell you how to treat it.

Hey Barbara...I like your suggestion. I'm on it! Thanks, Robby

Lol...I like how bluntly you stated your last sentence. It is true that part of gardening is having to pull out the plants that you deem as weeds. Creeping Charlie can be controlled chemically, but you should be careful not to kill any plants that you want to keep. You should use a weed control that has the active ingredients: 2, 4-D and MCPP. Also known chemically as 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and methylchlorophenoxypropionic acid. These compounds work on broad leaf plants and will not affect grasses (unless they are used in extremely high concentrations). If you find a weed killer that also has the compound dicamba (3,6-dichloro-2-methoxybenzoic acid) in it, it will be even more effective. Once again this compound will not affect grasses. The best time to apply this compound is in fall when the temperatures start to cool (around 65F). Also, be sure not to apply this compound if there is rain in the forecast. Be sure not to completely soak the plants. You merely have to wet the leaves. I hope this is helpful. Robby

Hey Dee...I assume you are talking about Trollius europaeus? If so, I will definitely add that to the list of plants for our next plant database update. Let me know...Thanks, Robby.

Hey Kathleen...The Night Blooming Cereus is normally grown outdoors and does best in full sun to partial shade. If you were to grow it indoors, I would suggest either a west or south facing window (preferably south facing). These windows would get the most light. I hope this is helpful...Thanks, Robby.

Hey Chester...Cindy is correct!!! Thank you Cindy for your quick response!!! I appreciate it. If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask. Happy Gardening! --Robby

Hey Dalia....I would agree with James 100%!!! Thanks James for the answer. I appreciate the help. :) Robby

Hey Juan...I wouldn't be surprised if what you have is a Benjamin Ficus, also called the Weeping Fig. It is probably the most popular of the figs. Try checking on that in the database. Also, don't be surprised when you see that your little potted plant is said to grow very big. In their natural environment, weeping figs can get rather tall. If kept in a pot, they will stay rather short in comparison however. I hope this helps. Robby