Gardening FAQ #26 – What You Need To Know

In this article, we share what is stopping your seed raising, how to germinate your seeds, how to prevent plant sunburn and much more.  Let’s go through the common gardening FAQ, problems and solutions you need when growing your plants either indoor and outdoor.

Seed-raising media may be too dry – a common question in gardening FAQ

I tried growing the seeds but they do not seem to be growing. I tried cultivating the chye sim seeds using the egg crate method. It has been a week and nothing seems to be sprouting.  What is the problem?

The seed-raising mix appears to be suitable for germinating seeds. However, it looks a bit too dry. When germinating seeds, the mix should be kept moist at all times. Seeds that are sown on the surface can easily dry out too.

The drying out of the mix or seeds at any juncture can lead to poor germination. Depending on the conditions of the environment, you may need to water one to two times daily to ensure the mix stays moist.

Another common reason for poor germination is where seeds are sown too deeply or the seed-raising mix is perpetually soggy. In both situations, low oxygen levels can deprive seeds of oxygen needed to germinate. Try moving up nearer to the surface.

If you want to do such transplant easily, you should explore using grow bags.  See my other post on grow bags.  Or another alternatives is to consider using raised garden kits.  You can read our guide on using raised garden kit for more information.

Below is a short video showing you how to start seeds for beginners. It goes over the basics of soil mixture, water mixture and the different types of seeds. the planting depths and times to plant your seeds.

Monstera may be sunburnt

My variegated Monstera Thai constellation was healthy all this time. Last week, it started to have this symptom after I used poly fertiliser 21-21-21 mixed with water. I am not certain if this is the cause. Could you help?

The leaves appear to be sunburnt, and suffer a secondary fungal infection.

Most nurseries produce and grow this plant under shaded conditions. Is the sunlight intensity of your growing area too strong for your plant?

For now, if the affected parts are not too widespread, prune them to arrest the spread of the infection.

Moving the plant to a brighter area should be done in a gradual manner, from lower to higher light levels. This plant can be adapted to grow under higher light levels.  If you want to grow this better under control lighting, you can consider using a grow light.  Read up my post on growing lights fixture where I show you the top 4 things you need to know.

Fertiliser burn can occur if the dosage of the solution is too high. If you are using a product for the first time, you may want to concoct a solution at a lower strength than what is instructed on the label. Also, apply it on a small and inconspicuous part of the plant to check for phytotoxicity.

Get professionals to help germinate the seeds of orchids

My orchid bloomed and withered, but two of the withered flowers turned into these. What are they and are they of any use?

Your orchid plant has produced a fruit, commonly called a “seed pod” by gardeners. Unlike most other plants, orchid seeds are very small and must be penetrated by a specific fungus to germinate.

If you want to germinate your orchid seeds, you may want to engage the orchid seed germination service that is provided by several large orchid nurseries in your area.

Orchid seeds are germinated via in-vitro culture using a defined, sterile medium.

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Gardening FAQ #25 – What You Need To Know

In this article, we share what impact germination, how to apply fertilisers and much more.  Let’s go through the common gardening FAQ, problems and solutions you need when growing your plants either indoor and outdoor.

Germination depends on seeds, conditions – a common question in gardening FAQ

I received black sunflower seeds in Hokkaido last year. I read that they can be grown directly in the soil. I have tried to germinate two seeds on moist tissue for six days, but nothing has sprouted. I live in a high-rise flat and have pot space and sunlight near the lift. How do I grow the seeds?

When seeds do not germinate, one of the most common reasons could be that they are not fresh and hence not viable.

Seeds have a lifespan and most species need to be sown fresh to ensure germination.

Another reason could be non-ideal seed germination conditions. If you are using tissue paper, ensure that it is neither too wet nor dry as either condition can impede germination. The tissue paper should be moist – not dripping wet – and be placed in a covered container to prevent it from drying out.

Finally, sunflowers can be challenging to grow in high-rise apartments. They require large pots – one plant should be grown in a pot of at least 30cm in diameter and get at least six hours of direct sunlight. Small pots and the lack of sunlight will result in weak and scrawny plants that produce rather small flowers.

If you want to do such transplant easily, you should explore using grow bags.  See my other post on grow bags.  Or another alternatives is to consider using raised garden kits.  You can read our guide on using raised garden kit for more information.

Below is a short 2.5 minutes video on how to grow sunflower at home in 8 days.

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions when applying fertilisers

I never know when the right time is to fertilise my potted plants and fruit trees. Do I fertilise after the rain or when it is hot and sunny, or when the plants are bearing buds and about to flower or after they have flowered? How often should I fertilise my plants and how much fertiliser should I use?

The amount and frequency to feed your plants should be done with reference to the manufacturer’s instructions on the fertiliser’s label as well as your plant’s size and vigour.

You can use less for a start because too much will result in fertiliser burn. Excess fertilisers can be leached away during rain or watering which leads to wastage.

You can apply the fertiliser during fair weather as rain can wash away its water-soluble portion. Apply the appropriate fertiliser just before the stage of growth that you wish to promote.

If you want to grow this better under control lighting, you can consider using a grow light.  Read up my post on growing lights fixture where I show you the top 4 things you need to know.

Succulent plant is likely the Christmas Tree Plant

What is the name of this plant? Is it a medicinal herbal plant? If so, what are its uses?

With sparse morphological details seen in the picture, the plant may be the Christmas Tree Plant. Its botanical name is Kalanchoe laciniata.

The plant grows as a succulent that shows some drought tolerance. Its leaves and growth habit make it an attractive plant to grow. Its leaves have been reported to be used in traditional medicine and valued for their anti-inflammatory properties.

Do not attempt to self-medicate with medicinal plants without professional supervision. This genus of plants contains toxic cardiac glycosides. Keep the plant out of reach of young children and pets.

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Gardening FAQ #24 – What You Need To Know

In this article, we share how to allow pumpkin vine to mature correctly, what is stopping your plant from growing, what is properly killing your tomato plant and much more. Let’s go through the common gardening FAQ, problems and solutions you need when growing your plants either indoor and outdoor.

Allow pumpkin vine to mature to produce flowers – a common question in gardening FAQ

I grew this from a slice of pumpkin bought from the supermarket. The plant has been growing quickly, but there are no flowers. Should I prune the top to stop it from spreading over the rock garden? Will that also help it to flower? I apply pellet organic fertiliser for fruit and vegetables once fortnightly.

Your pumpkin vine appears to be still young and may take more time to produce flowers.

You should not prune it at this stage. Usually, the male flowers will be produced first and in abundance, followed by female flowers which will produce the fruit.

Avoid using too much chemical pesticides – it will affect pollinators like bees. You need natural pollinators to help with the production of fruit.

You should grow the vine in the ground the next time to allow more root space for the plant to flourish. The pot you are using may be too small and this means you need to water the plant quite often as it grows larger.

If you want to do such transplant easily, you should explore using grow bags.  See my other post on grow bags.  Or another alternatives is to consider using raised garden kits.  You can read our guide on using raised garden kit for more information.

Below is a short 4 minutes video on simple to tip on how to grow bigger pumpkin.

Vine likely a sweet potato

I have this plant in my garden. Is it edible?

It is likely a sweet potato plant.

Have you ever sown a sweet potato tuber in your garden? That could have grown into this plant. Or it could have come up from stem remnants that were not cleared completely if you had a similar sweet potato crop before.

The leaves of the sweet potato are edible and can be stir-fried. The young shoots and leaves are usually harvested as they are tender.

If you want to grow this better under control lighting, you can consider using a grow light.  Read up my post on growing lights fixture where I show you the top 4 things you need to know.

Plants may need more space for roots to grow

Why are the leaves of my plants turning yellow? The plants are both potted as well as grown in the ground.

The older leaves of your ficus tree and palm are yellowing.

You may want to check if they have sufficient root space. In constrained spaces, roots would fill the space over time.

Hence water and nutrients become limited and plants will experience nutrient and water stresses, which will manifest in the symptoms seen.

If the plants are potted, move them into larger containers.  In future, if you want to do such transplant easily, you should explore using grow bags.  See my other post on grow bags.

For those grown in the ground or in a planter box, you may want to loosen the top few centimetres of soil around the plants, taking care not to damage existing roots, and then incorporate good quality compost with some organic fertiliser added to provide nutrients.

Tomato plants may have broad mites

The top leaves of my tomato plants have turned brown and brittle. What is wrong?

The plants may be infested with broad mites, which are microscopic sap-sucking pests. Deformed leaves cannot be saved and the plant’s growth is halted with the growing tip being damaged by the pests’ feeding activity.

Organic methods of controlling broad mites include applying sulphur soap solution (made by dissolving a bar of sulphur soap in some hot water and topping up with tap water at room temperature) or lime sulphur insecticide sold at nurseries.

Neem oil may also be used. Regular pesticide applications are needed to manage the pest population and should be done during the cooler part of the day to avoid damaging the leaves.

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Gardening FAQ #23 – What You Need To Know

In this article, we share how to handle snails, slugs, leaf miners, larvae, caterpillars and much more. Let’s go through the common gardening FAQ, problems and solutions you need when growing your plants either indoor and outdoor.

LEAVES OF ORCHID EATEN BY SNAILS OR SLUGS – a common question in gardening FAQ

My orchids were growing well, but the leaves were attacked by a pest. The pots are placed on a high metal rack and get direct sun for half a day. There are squirrels and snails in my garden.

It appears that your orchid leaves have been eaten by snails or slugs.

You may want to check the potting media for the pests as they tend to hide in dark and moist places in the day. Hanging up your potted orchids can deter access by these pests.
You can also check for their presence at night, especially after wet weather, and remove the pests seen on your plant.

Putting snail and slug poison bait pellets may help reduce their population, but keep them out of reach of young children and pets.

Slugs and Snails cause a lot of damage to gardens by chewing on edible leaves, vegetables and fruit. In the video below, it shows you 5 easy ways to control snails and slugs in your garden.  The 5 ways are:

1. Water your plants early in the day
2. Setup beer trap to catch snails and slug
3. Hand-picking them off
4. Use snail and slug bait (iron phosphate)
5. Use copper strips

SHRUB NEEDS MORE SUNLIGHT TO FLOWER

What is the name of this plant? I was told it produces fragrant flowers, but there have been no blooms even after I apply flowering fertilisers. The leaves also turn yellow and drop off sometimes. Why is that happening?

From the leaves, it appears that your plant is a species of Cestrum. Flowers are needed for a more definitive identification of the species.

The lack of flowers could be due to a lack of sunlight. Most flowering shrubs require at least six hours of direct sunlight to thrive and produce blooms.  Or you may want to put this under a grow light first to nurse it back to health before putting it out to the final location. You can read up my post on growing lights fixture where I show you the top 4 things you need to know.

The yellowing and dropping of leaves, especially those found on the lower portion of the plant, is an indication of a lack of water.

Your plant may be pot-bound – a situation where the roots have filled the pot. It may have to be moved to a larger pot, which can hold more soil and hence moisture for the plant.

If you want to do such transplant easily, you should explore using grow bags.  See my other post on grow bags.

KAILAN INFESTED WITH LEAF MINERS

My kailan plants were growing well, albeit slowly. I transplanted the seedlings in early June and the leaves have not grown to full size yet. But recently, yellow streaks started appearing on the leaves. The new leaves also looked dried out. I check the soil’s moisture and water the plants regularly. What could be the problem?

Your plants are infested with the larvae of leaf miners. The adults are small flying insects that lay eggs on leaves. Larvae that hatch burrow into leaf tissues, leading to the white tracks seen on the leaves.

Leaf miners can be difficult to control. You may want to invest in a white fine netting that prevents the egg-laying adults from reaching the plants.

Organic pesticides like neem oil are reported to have some repellent effects.

Another method is you can try using sticky traps.

As for the slow growth of your plants, you have to feed them as they are in the active growing stage and require nutrients. Ensure that the plants are receiving enough direct sunlight as overcrowding and shading will slow the growth rate.

Smaller plants can be picked first to give more space for the remaining plants to reach full size.

FIDDLE-LEAF FIG AND SAGO PALM INFESTED WITH LARVAE AND CATERPILLARS

Every time new branches grow on my palm, they would die quickly with some infestation. Why is this so? The leaves of the ficus plant on my balcony are also infected and are drying out from the inside. How can I fix the problems?

Your fiddle-leaf fig (Photo 1) is infested by bagworms, which are larvae of moths that cover themselves within a case made from various materials.

The young leaves of the sago palm (Cycas revoluta, Photo 2) are being eaten by caterpillars of the cycad blue butterfly. Adult butterflies are attracted to the young emerging fronds and lay their eggs there.

You can spray a pesticide such as spinosad and abamectin to eradicate the leaf-consuming larvae. They are very effective as they are absorbed into the leaf tissues after they have been applied, so they will not be washed away by the rain.

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