3 days ago
Root Awakening: Lizard will not harm plant
This plant's lack of leaves could be a result of it not getting enough light. PHOTO: CECILIA WONG
Plant needs more light
I discovered a lizard living on my plant. Its skin blends in with the branches. Will it harm my plant?
Cecilia Wong
Your plant is a variegated version of Ceylon Ironwood (Fagraea ceilanica) and it needs direct sunlight to thrive, so it is best grown outdoors. Its lack of leaves could be a result of it not getting enough light, which is a common problem in high-rise gardens.
While the lizard cannot be identified without a picture, it is unlikely to pose a hazard to your plant.
Star Cactus is a slow-growing species
It will take years for this plant to fill its pot.
PHOTO: LEONG TUCK SUM
I transplanted this cactus to a new pot. How big can it grow and will it fill the container?
Leong Tuck Sum
This cactus is commonly known as the Star Cactus (Astrophytum asterias). It is a slow-growing species and, though it may grow taller, will take several years to attain a size that will reach the circumference of the current pot.
Choose pumpkins suited to tropical climate
Some cultivars fare better in cooler climates, and will have difficulty fruiting in Singapore.
PHOTO: LEE YAU HOON
My pumpkin plant has fruited, but its fruit all turned yellow and fell off. How do I get them to survive to maturity? I tried to hand-pollinate the plant.
Lee Yau Hoon
When doing hand pollination, ensure you pollinate female flowers with male flowers that have opened on the same day. Flowers of this plant open only for a day. Any delay in pollination can affect fruit production.
Next, choose pumpkin cultivars that can survive in the hot lowland tropics. Cultivars differ in their sensitivity to the high temperatures that Singapore has experienced in recent months. Some cultivars fare better in cooler climates and will have issues with flowering and fruiting here.
Root damage could have caused olive plant to decline
Repotting can damage the roots of plants.
PHOTO: SHERRY TAY
I have been growing this olive plant in the corridor outside my flat for about a year. It gets three to four hours of sunlight a day and is watered every other day. Lately, its leaves have been turning brown and falling off and no new shoots have grown. I repotted it and noticed many tiny roots were brittle and had fallen off. What is wrong with the plant and how can I revive it?
Sherry Tay
Plants are sensitive to root damage or disturbance – some highly sensitive plants may even die – and repotting could have damaged the roots. Your plant's ability to take up water has likely been affected, which is why its leaves are drying up.
You may want to cover the plant with a clear plastic bag that has some holes in it, which will reduce the plant's water loss via transpiration as it recovers. Move it to a shadier area to recuperate.
Answers by Dr Wilson Wong, an NParks-certified practising horticulturist and parks manager. He is the founder of Green Culture Singapore and an adjunct assistant professor (Food Science & Technology) at the National University of Singapore.
Have a gardening query? E-mail it with clear, high-resolution pictures of at least 1MB, if any, and your full name to stlife@ We reserve the right to edit and reject questions.
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