Below are the answers to two gardening questions that were published in the Root Awakening column on Straits Times Life! on 17 April 2010.
The first question was about the browning of leaves and subsequent decline that were observed in palms growing indoors. Note that palms are best grown in a sheltered, semi-shaded location at home. Depending on the species, most ‘indoor palms’ are best situated in a location such as the balcony or corridor where the leaves can receive at least 6 hours of filtered sunshine daily.
If one is growing it deep indoors, attempt to rotate the palm plant with another plant in a brighter location. A plant grown deep indoors will not receive sufficient sunshine and will decline over time. Avoid disturbing the plant’s root ball too much when you attempt to move it to another pot. Mishandling can bring about excessive damage to the roots can cause a plant to experience transplant shock. A newly transplanted plant should be moved to a shady place protected from excessive winds for at least a week to help recovery.
The next question was about the growing of the cat’s whiskers plant and how to get it to bloom. Note that the cat’s whiskers plant is a sun-loving plant. It grows best if it is grown in a sunny area with at least 6 hours of direct sunshine. Check the duration of sunshine that one’s plant is receiving. Prune plant back abit after flowering as this has been noticed to promote the production of new flowers. Next, do feed plants with a fertiliser for flowering plants. Avoid feeding plants with fertiliser rich in only nitrogen as that will promote the production of leaves over flowers.
Root Awakening on Oct 23 pg E11 Regarding Passion Fruit not fruiting. True its due to lack of pollination BUT there must be another plant in close proximity as cross pollination is required to produce fruits. I always plant 2 passion plants close together and use a paint brush to transfer pollen between the 2 plants’ flowers. U can see the fruits in 2 days!
Hi Betty,
I note your input on the need to have another vine nearby to help set fruit. But this depends on the cultivar that one is growing (I am fully aware that you won’t know what you are getting in SG nurseries). Those that I have grown borne fruit easily even I only have one vine around.