Root Awakening: Long bean plant’s roots may have been compromised

Long bean plant does not tolerate waterlogging

My long bean plant was thriving, but its leaves started to turn yellow and had to be pruned. The plant appears weak. What is wrong?

Julia Lee

Did the issue arise during the wet season? The roots of the long bean plant will be waterlogged during the rainy season if the plant is grown at a site with poorly draining soil. Prolonged wet feet can lead to root rot and disease, and affect the plant’s ability to take up water. This, in turn, can lead to leaves drying out and falling.

Consider growing your plants in a raised bed with well-draining soil. You can also try to grow crops primarily during the drier part of the year or build a shelter with a clear roof to protect your plants from excessive rain.

Basil’s poor growth could be due to lack of light

This basil plant was taken from the stem of a bigger one. I kept it in water till roots appeared and then potted it, but it will not grow. What is wrong? My mint plant has a similar problem.

Victor Choong

Where in your home garden is the basil plant located? Aromatic cooking herbs such as basil and mint require at least six hours of direct sunlight to thrive.

A lack of light can lead to lanky plants with thin leaves and soft growth. The growth rate will also be slower than that of a plant grown under optimal light conditions. Consider moving this basil to a brighter location or installing grow lights.

Water plant regularly to prevent leaves being aborted

The leaves of my Fiddle-leaf Fig are turning yellow and falling, while others have brown spots. What is wrong?

Sherry Young

How often is your Fiddle-leaf Fig being watered? Letting this plant dry out excessively will damage the roots, and cause older leaves on the lower part of the plant to turn yellow and fall. Water your plant regularly to keep the root zone moist at all times.

Also, is the plant pot-bound? A plant whose roots have filled the pot entirely will dry out faster and will need to be repotted in a bigger container. A larger amount of growing media can retain more water.

Note that this plant requires at least six hours of direct sunlight to thrive. It is not an indoor plant and will not survive in deep shade.

Jade Plant needs cooler, drier conditions

Is it possible to grow a healthy Jade Plant (Crassula ovata) in Singapore’s climate? My plant’s leaves have dark spots and appear dull. Sometimes, they are shrivelled, do not plump up after watering and even fall off at a touch. What is wrong?

Daniel Tan

The Jade Plant, being a succulent, requires direct sunlight to thrive. It is not an indoor plant and the lack of light will lead to poor plant growth. However, it still needs some water, as roots can dry out and prevent the plant from taking up water, leading to shrivelled aerial parts.

The heat and humidity in urban, tropical Singapore mean that this plant often succumbs to disease. Many succulents fare better with cooler nights (below 25 deg C) daily, which can be difficult to achieve here.

Ficus may be declining due to lack of light

My bonsai has been shedding leaves recently. I water it twice a week and it gets morning sun on my balcony. It was healthy when I got it around Chinese New Year, but it is now balding with yellowing leaves. The bottom tier of leaves seems to have shed more.

Li Ling Chng

Your bonsai is a Ficus species and needs a site with six hours of direct sunlight a day to thrive. Its poor health could be due to a lack of light, as it will not grow well in deep shade.

Place it in a sunny spot and rotate the plant regularly to ensure all parts of the plant are exposed to sunlight.

Also, was the plant allowed to dry out before? Its small pot size means the plant can dry out quickly. This can cause damage to the roots and leaves can fall as a result. Bonsai plants, due to the limited soil volume they are grown in, require regular watering to keep the root zone moist at all times.