Root Awakening

Cacti in general are not shade-tolerant. Even in semi-shade, most species will not fare well. They will produce elongated and soft growth that is not visually appealing and will be more vulnerable to pests and diseases.

Edible cacti can produce fruit, but only large, mature plants that are left to grow will flower and fruit. Cacti that are constantly harvested for their pads will normally not do so.

The edible cactus shown in the picture is Nopalea cochenillifera, which should be grown and harvested such that each pad is severed at the base where it connects to another pad below. This creates a small wound that will heal easily.

Do not overharvest a cactus' pads. Take only one or two, depending on the plant's size, so the plant has the chance to regenerate. Commercial farms grow a large number of plants for this purpose; plants usually do not grow that quickly. New cacti can be propagated by planting a pad that has been harvested.

The greyed-out parts of the plant could be due to scarring from infestation by scale insects, or a physiological disorder called oedema, which is a result of wet, poorly drained soil. This can occur during the rainy season in open areas.

Common organic pesticides cover and suffocate existing pests on infested plants. Hence, thorough coverage is essential, especially on leaves' undersides and in tight corners like leaf axils.

Repeated applications and regular inspections are required to deal with new or remaining pests. Ants may bring mealy bugs and you may need to keep them in check as well.

Pest management requires a multi-pronged approach. You may want to rotate between a number of pesticides to ensure adequate control.

Consider using pyrethrins derived from insecticidal chrysanthemum flowers, as well as microbial pesticides that are based on entomopathogenic fungal species, such as Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae and so on.

Your lady's finger plant likely has a fungal disease, probably mildew. It is a common occurrence if plants are grown too closely to one another, in a shaded area and during the rainy season.

Prune the affected leaves and apply a fungicide to manage its spread. Follow the label's instructions in making the appropriate concentration to spray on the plant.

Be sure to observe the withholding period (the minimum length of time that must pass between applying fungicide and harvesting fruit for consumption).

Wash any fruit thoroughly before cooking and eating them.

You can also consider growing disease-resistant varieties during a hotter and drier time of year. Ensure plants are adequately spaced out.

Your plant looks quite stretched, which is a sign that it is not getting enough sunlight. Roselle plants grow best in a location with at least six hours of direct sunlight a day.

Try moving your plants to a larger pot for better growth. Aim for one plant for every 30-cm pot for best results.

The change in hue may indicate a lack of fertiliser - especially nitrogen, which plants need during their rapid growth phase.

You can use either organic or inorganic fertiliser pellets to feed your plants to ensure nutrients are given at the same pace as the plants' growth rate.

Always follow the application instructions on the labels as overfeeding your plants may burn them.

The plant you have is likely an Anthurium species - possibly a Flamingo flower cultivar, which produces attractive inflorescences that have a colourful sail-like spathe with a rod-like spadix which contains the plant's actual flowers.

This plant cannot be grown in deep shade and a lack of light can gradually lead to a host of problems, such as making the plant more vulnerable to pests and diseases.

You may want to move it to your balcony or corridor where it can be exposed to at least four hours of filtered sunlight a day.

The growing medium should not be too heavy and, ideally, be aerated and moisture-retentive. Let it dry out slightly so that the plant's roots and crown do not rot.