RIVER TARENNA A FRAGRANT NATIVE SHRUB OF SINGAPORE

My friends and I visited HortPark and were attracted to a lovely, sweet smell that came from this shrub with white and yellow flowers. Is the plant local and how does it propagate? Is it available for sale in nurseries?

Vanisa Lee

The plant, commonly called the River Tarenna, is a native plant of Singapore. Its botanical name is Tarenna fragrans.

It needs to be grown under direct sunlight outdoors and is best propagated from seeds. Stem-cuttings can be challenging to root.

The plant may not be widely available for sale locally, but it can sometimes be found at major nurseries in Singapore.

SMOOTH JOYWEED IS EDIBLE

My friend gave me this plant. What is it?

Kris Ang

The plant is botanically known as Alternanthera paronychioides and its common name is Smooth Joyweed. It often grows in wet places and its tender young shoots and leaves may be consumed as a vegetable. The plant propagates easily from stem-cuttings, which should be first rooted in water.

BLACK SPOTS ON POINSETTIA BRACTS MAY BE DUE TO FUNGAL DISEASE

I received two potted poinsettias for Christmas. They look full and continue to grow new leaves, but they also shed both dried brown leaves and healthy-looking red and green ones. Some leaves have dark brown spots which become holes, while others produce a milky white substance. I give each pot about half a cup of water every few days. They get 10 hours of filtered sunlight and 14 hours of darkness - I read that it gives the leaves their red hue. To ensure complete darkness, I move the plants into the storeroom. How can I prevent them from losing leaves? What are the black spots and milky white substance and how do I get rid of them?

Stephanie Chia

The white milky substance is the sap that is characteristic of plants which are relatives of the poinsettia, in the family Euphorbiaceae. The sap is somewhat toxic, depending on the plant species, and should not come in contact with the eyes. If the sap gets onto any part of the body, wash with water and seek medical attention.

As for the black spots, they could be due to fungal infection of the colourful bracts. They may have been caused by rough handling or injury which allowed disease-causing organisms to invade the plant.

Keep the plants in a bright and ventilated location. The media should not be too wet. The dropping of leaves could be due to the lack of light caused by the heavy canopy of leaves of the plant.

The poinsettia is best treated as a festive display plant and discarded after it passes its prime. It can be difficult to get the plant to produce the characteristic red bracts again in the lowland tropics of Singapore.

BIRD'S NEST SNAKE PLANT REQUIRES SUNLIGHT TO MAINTAIN ITS COMPACT GROWTH HABIT

I have had this plant for years. It gets partial morning sunlight. It tends to keep growing taller until it cannot support its weight. I had pruned the top before, but it keeps growing. Is this due to insufficient sunlight? Also, recently, there have been baby plants sprouting from its side, which has never happened before. Can I remove the plants to propagate in a new pot?

Frank Tan

The plant is commonly known as the Bird's Nest Snake Plant. It is a cultivar of Sansevieria trifasciata and its cultivar name is Hahnii.

Unlike other Snake Plants, this cultivar needs to be grown under stronger light to maintain its compactness and sturdy leaves. From your description, your plant may be lacking sunlight.

The suckers that grow from the plant after it has been cut are normal. They come from the dormant buds in the plant. When they are large enough to handle, you can carefully detach them and pot them separately in a well-drained soil mix. Let the cut ends dry out before planting to prevent rot.

• Answers by Dr Wilson Wong, an NParks-certified practising horticulturist, parks manager and ISA-certified arborist. 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@ sph.com.sg. We reserve the right to edit and reject questions.