In the first instalment of the Root Awakening column for June 09, three gardening queries were given answers. The first was about pitcher plants and how to increase the number of pitchers that are produced by the plant. Unlike normal plants, it is important to note that pitcher plants are carnivorous plants that do not require frequent fertilisation like the common plants we encounter.
In fact, overfertilisation can cause plants to stop producing pitchers and lead to the production of extra large and lush green modified petioles (the so-called ’leaves’) without pitchers. Some sensitive species can suffer from burns and die away. In general, pitcher plants do fine without added fertiliser. Humidity and light must be sufficient for them to produce pitchers. Grow only the lowland species as highland ones may not do well here.
The second question was about the growing of orchids and the appearance of white spots on the leaves of the plant. White spots can appear on leaves can be due to fertiliser burn when droplets of overly concentrated fertiliser salt solution get onto them. If one wants to feed plants via foliar feeding, it is best to do so using a diluted dose of the fertiliser solution and spray it on a cool day.
The third and last question was about a caladium that was infested with aphids. Water jets to wash these tiny pests away will only work if the population is small. Larger ones require chemical control. I always recommend the use of neem or white summer oils that can be mixed in water and then sprayed onto the plants. These two pesticides are relatively non-toxic and environmentally friendly compared to synthetic chemicals.
