Soh Guat Hiong
The first possibility is an infestation of sap-sucking pests. Check the underside of the curled leaves for pests, but note that some microscopic ones such as broad mites are not visible to the naked eye. Pests can also spread to nearby plants.
Pest damage can be seen in leaves that have become stiff and brittle with a shiny underside. If it is a pest infestation, regular applications with lime sulphur or abamectin may help control the situation. If you find other sap-sucking pests such as aphids, spray the plants thoroughly with diluted castile soap or summer oil. In both cases, you can prune deformed and infested leaves.
Another possibility is that the plants need a change in location – for example, the area near the exhaust vents of air-cooling systems is not ideal for plant growth. Environmental stress can damage young leaves, which are soft and tender, and lose moisture easily. Environmental stress-induced damage will not spread to other plants.
Chong Chiow Mooi
The tree is commonly known as the Happiness Tree (Garcinia subelliptica) and it is a relative of the common mangosteen. It is a slow-growing tree that is often planted in Singapore’s urban gardens. The fruit, which turns orange and fragrant when ripe, is edible and has a sweet-sour flavour.
Wong Mun Wai
From the two upright petals, your orchid appears to be an antelope Dendrobium hybrid. These plants usually require at least six hours a day of direct sunlight to thrive, and regular feeding with fertiliser to promote flowering. Orchids are epiphytes and usually need chunky charcoal growing media to flourish in Singapore’s tropical climate.
Kay Wong
The plant is botanically known as Wrightia antidysenterica and its common names include Walidda, Arctic Snow, Milky Way and Snowflakes.
This plant thrives in a spot which gets direct sunlight for at least six hours a day. If you had recently moved the plant to a darker location, the sudden change in light intensity might have caused the leaves to turn yellow and fall off.
Check if your plant’s roots have filled the pot. In such a situation, the roots have little space to grow and nutrients in the growing medium may have been exhausted. The plant will also dry out quickly, even with regular watering. These factors can also lead to the yellowing and dropping of leaves. Topping off the soil will not be enough to remedy this.
Try moving the plant into a larger pot. During the process, gently untangle the circling roots and be careful not to break them. Put the plant in a slightly shady spot for it to recover for about a week before moving it back to a sunny location. Regular feeding and direct sunlight are both essential for the plant to flower.
Yeo Suat Lay
The plants are lady’s finger (Abelmoschus esculentus), commonly known as okra.
Your pot is too crowded and the plants look lanky, which indicates a lack of sunlight. Lady’s fingers are large shrubs, so it is best if you grow each plant in a pot measuring at least 50cm in diameter and depth.
At this stage, it is difficult to separate the young plants without damaging the roots. You can prune most of the plants, leaving the healthiest shoot. Move the remaining plant into a bigger pot for optimal growth.
Lady’s fingers require at least six hours a day of direct sunlight to thrive and they grow best outdoors in sunny gardens.
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MCI (P) 031/10/2021, MCI (P) 032/10/2021. Published by SPH Media Limited, Co. Regn. No. 202120748H. Copyright © 2021 SPH Media Limited. All rights reserved.