Root Awakening: Mushrooms in soil not a cause for concern
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These mushrooms are generally harmless.
PHOTO: DIANE YEO
Wilson Wong
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Fungi appear in moist organic substrates
What are these mushrooms? They are growing in the same pot as one of my plants. Are they harmful? If so, can I remove them without damaging the main plant?
Diane Yeo
Fruiting fungi that appear on growing substrates of potted plants are generally no cause for concern. They appear due to the presence of undecomposed organic materials, which they grow on and break down under natural conditions. Using fungicide to get rid of them can negatively impact the overall growth environment.
If their appearance bothers you, try incorporating coarser components into the soil and reduce watering where possible. This will create a drier environment that will reduce the likelihood of such fungal fruiting bodies appearing.
Sweet potato plant often grown as ground cover
Sweet potato stems can climb around a garden support when available.
PHOTO: HSU LI REN
Is this a sweet potato plant?
Hsu Li Ren
From the appearance of the vine, this is most probably a sweet potato plant. It is a relative of the morning glory and mostly grown as ground cover. Its stems can climb by twining around a support when available.
King of Bitters is a self-sowing plant
The plant is a short-lived perennial – meaning it regrows every year – that produces numerous seed pods.
PHOTO: LIN MEIXIU
These plants sprouted in a large pail of soil, though they are not growing much. What are they and are they edible?
Lin Meixiu
The plants appear to be seedlings and young plants of King of Bitters (Andrographis paniculata). It is widely grown as a medicinal herb and its bitter leaves are used to treat ailments such as a sore throat.
The plant produces numerous seed pods, and seeds will fall from the fruit and grow around the parent plant. You may have had adult plants growing in the same pot or nearby.
Holy Basil often used in Thai cuisine
This plant is a relative of the common Sweet Basil, but with a different scent and flavour.
PHOTO: ANG YIT BENG
Is this a basil plant? It looks different from a previous basil plant I had.
Ang Yit Beng
This plant is the green version of the Holy Basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum). It is a relative of the common Sweet Basil, but with a different scent and flavour. You can use its leaves to brew tea or stir-fry them with meat in a Thai-style dish. This plant produces seeds and new seedlings grow readily around the mother plant.
Answers by Dr Wilson Wong, an NParks-certified practising horticulturist and parks manager. He is the founder of Green Culture Singapore and an adjunct assistant professor (Food Science & Technology) at the National University of Singapore.
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