Root Awakening: Dragon fruit plants produce aerial roots

Dragon fruit plants can grow on trees as epiphytes

I found this dragon fruit plant growing on the branches of a rain tree. It is flowering and fruiting. How is this possible? Did birds deposit seeds on the branches?

Leong Tuck Sum

The dragon fruit seeds could have been brought to the site by birds which had consumed the fruit.

Dragon fruit plants are epiphytic cacti and produce aerial roots that can help them attach to porous surfaces like tree bark. They have been observed to produce fruit on mature plants with arching stems.

Foliage plants need good light to thrive

What are these plants? How do I care for and propagate them? Also, what are the lighter green features on the taller plant?

Ng Kim Liang

The plant on the left is commonly known as the Ming Aralia (Polyscias fruticosa). It is a slow-growing plant that needs at least four hours of filtered sunlight in a high-rise setting to grow well.

It can be adapted to grow outdoors under direct sunlight, and propagated via stem cuttings. Trim it if it gets too tall.

The plant on the right is the Ming Asparagus Fern (Asparagus retrofractus). It has the same growth requirements as the Ming Aralia. It has spines, so be careful when handling it.

You can propagate it by dividing its root ball. You may also want to give the plant a stake or some other form of support, as its sprawling growth can look untidy.

The light green leaves are new growth, which will darken with age and sufficient light intensity.

Lack of seeds in bean pods could be due to growing conditions

I planted long bean plants from seeds, but the beans do not look like the ones from the market. Some are thin and some are devoid of seeds. What is wrong?

Chua Swee Tieu

Are you growing your long bean plants in a high-rise setting? The lack of seeds could be due to sub-optimal growing conditions. Environmental stressors like a lack of sunlight and fertiliser could result in plants not developing properly. Make sure the plants get at least four to six hours of direct sunlight, as they are a sun-loving species. Fertilise them regularly to boost growth and vigour, and ensure their containers are large enough.

Check Monstera’s potting mix

My Monstera is located by a window where it gets sunlight all day. It is watered weekly and fed liquid fertiliser once or twice a month. I had previously placed clay balls on the soil as top dressing, but removed these when I noticed the leaf tips browning.

I repotted the plant a few months ago when a new leaf was forming along the stem. This seems to have stalled the leaf’s growth, and the plant has not put out any new leaves since. However, I have noticed roots trying to creep out. 

What is wrong with my plant?

Sam Yeo

Check the potting mix. If the plant’s roots are creeping out, the mix may be too wet or compacted. If the mix stays wet for too long, the leaf margins can turn necrotic.

If this is the case, you may want to move your plant to a more suitable growing mix. The Monstera is an epiphytic aroid and needs to grow in a moist, aerated mix. Let it dry out slightly before you water again.