Mid-Florida Research and Education Center

UF/IFAS MREC Courtesy Plant Clinic

Have a plant problem? We can help you determine your next step.

The UF/IFAS Mid-Florida Research and Education Center (MREC) Courtesy Plant Clinic provides preliminary plant problem diagnosis and guidance for residential and commercial clients. There is no charge for this service.

Some plant problems may require laboratory testing or specialized diagnosis. When appropriate, we will recommend the UF/IFAS laboratory or specialist best suited to assist you.

Commercial Plant Clinic Hours
Tuesdays, 1 - 4 p.m.
Assisted by UF/IFAS Extension Agents

For commercial landscape, nursery, greenhouse, turfgrass, and other green-industry plant problems.

Woman using a magnifying glass to inspect leafy green plants.

MREC Plant Clinic
Room 175
2725 S. Binion Road
Apopka, FL 32703-8504
Phone: 407-884-2034
Email: hwooten@ufl.edu

Downloads
- Commercial Plant Clinic Form

Before You Bring a Sample

Whenever possible, bring samples during Tuesday Plant Clinic hours. This allows us to examine fresh material and ask questions that may be important to the diagnosis.

Samples may be dropped off outside clinic hours, but environmental conditions and time in storage can alter plant material and make diagnosis more difficult. Extension agents and specialists are not routinely available outside Plant Clinic hours unless an appointment has been scheduled.

Bring a Good Sample
For the best chance of identifying the problem:
- Select plant material that shows both healthy and affected tissue.
- Choose samples showing early or actively developing symptoms.
- Avoid submitting material that is completely dead, dry, or decomposed.
- Bring enough plant material to show the pattern of symptoms when practical.
- Include several clear photographs of the plant and its surroundings.
- Complete the Plant Clinic intake form and provide a legible email address and phone number.
Please note: Soil testing is not performed at MREC.

Take Photos Before You Come
Good photographs can be as important as the physical sample. Please include:
- Close-up photos showing symptoms, insects, damage, or other details.
- A size reference when the size of a symptom, insect, or structure may be important.
- Whole-plant photos showing the overall condition of the plant.
- Landscape or site photos showing where the plant is growing and whether neighboring plants show similar symptoms.

Not Sure Where to Start?

Your local UF/IFAS Extension office is often the best first point of contact. Your county Extension agent can review photographs and background information, help determine what type of sample is needed, and recommend the appropriate diagnostic service.

When Laboratory Diagnosis Is Needed

Some plant problems cannot be definitively diagnosed through visual examination alone. Samples requiring specialized testing may be referred to an appropriate UF/IFAS diagnostic laboratory.

The UF/IFAS Plant Diagnostic Center in Gainesville provides laboratory diagnostic services for a fee.

Email: pdc@ifas.ufl.edu

Help Us Help You

The quality of a plant diagnosis depends heavily on the quality of the sample and the information provided. Fresh samples, good photographs, and information about the plant's history and growing conditions give us the best chance of identifying the problem and recommending an appropriate next step.