Root Awakening: Hibiscus lacks nutrients

Fertilise hibiscus regularly

My hibiscus was thriving for a few months with healthy green leaves. Lately, the leaves have been discoloured and crumpled, and are clustered together, though they are not dying. What is wrong?

Dasgupta Sudhansu Ranjan

Your hibiscus looks like it lacks nutrients such as iron, and the deficiency is presenting as chlorotic new leaves. Hibiscus plants are prone to this issue. This can be caused by soil with pH levels that are too high (alkaline soil), as well as wet feet and a lack of fertiliser.

Feed your plant regularly with a fertiliser that contains essential nutrients such as chelated iron. The growing mix should be slightly acidic, with a pH level between 6.5 and 6.8, and well-draining. Let it dry out between watering sessions.

Give your plant at least four to six hours of direct sunlight daily, as well as air circulation. Its current location is not ideal.

Succulent needs more light, less fertiliser

My plant gets about an hour of morning and evening sun from the patio daily. It is watered every three or four days. Why are the leaves turning black at the ends?

Dorjee Lim

Your plant is a type of Pachypodium and it sounds as though it is not getting enough light. It needs at least six hours of direct sunlight a day.

With too little light, the leaves will be soft and vulnerable to damage and disease. Also, avoid over-fertilising your plant, as it can cause leaf burn.

Peace Lily needs light to flower

How do I get my Peace Lily to flower? It is normally placed about 2m from a window and gets filtered morning light.

Diane Yeo

Your Peace Lily appears to be a variegated cultivar. In general, variegated plants are less vigorous and floriferous.

How many hours of sunlight does your plant receive daily? It should get at least four to six hours of filtered sunlight a day. Filtered sunlight will cast a dark but fuzzy shadow. A lack of light will cause plants to be in a vegetative state.

Your plant’s current location may not be bright enough for a variegated Peace Lily.

Curling of tomato leaves could be due to multiple reasons

The leaves of my tomato plant have been curling for weeks, even though it is getting liquid nutrients and the substrates are not drying out. The plant is also fruiting as usual. What is wrong?

Adrian Ling

Your tomato plant seems to be growing inside a greenhouse and the leaves may be curling due to heat stress. In an enclosed environment such as this, there is often a build-up of heat and a lack of air circulation.

Ensure that the plant is not overwatered or infested with common sucking insects such as whiteflies, as these can spread incurable viral diseases to your plant. Consider these factors and optimise the growing conditions for your plant.

Pineapple cultivar and growing conditions will affect fruiting

It has been more than three years since I planted the crown of a pineapple fruit in a pot before transplanting it into the soil. The plant has grown but not flowered. What can I do to encourage flowering and fruiting?

Joachim Sim Khim Huang

The time needed to produce flowers and fruits by your pineapple plant will depend on the growing conditions and cultivar. A pineapple plant grown by this method will take at least two years to flower and fruit.

The pineapple plant requires at least six hours a day of direct sunlight. A lack of light will lead to long and floppy leaves, and the plant will be slow to mature.

Move it to a sunnier spot and place it in a larger pot with fertile, well-draining soil for the plant to develop a healthy root system.