Root Awakening: Propagate Camellia with stem-cuttings

Camellia can be propagated via stem-cuttings

I have been growing this flowering plant for a few years. New shoots growing from the roots are visible, and l would like to remove them to grow them separately. What should I do?

Jennifer Oh

It appears that you have a Camellia plant and this can be propagated via stem-cuttings. The procedure is easy for novices.

The shoots growing at the base of the plant could have arisen from the rootstock. If your plant is a grafted specimen, avoid taking these shoots as they will not be the same as the grafted plant above.

Take stem-cuttings and apply some rooting hormone powder at the cut end. You can follow the steps shared by online videos on how to do stem-cutting propagation. The cutting will take some time to produce roots, so be patient.

Small white dots on Ficus stem are its breathing holes

What are these white streaks on the stem of the plant?

Jocelyn Ng

The small white dots on the stem of the Fiddle-leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata) are likely its lenticels. These structures are common on woody plants and they allow gaseous exchange between the external environment and the plant’s internal tissues.

Do not let Podocarpus dry out

My plant shed leaves recently and the rest are turning brown. How can I revive it?

Wong Leong Eng 

Did your Buddhist Pine (Podocarpus macrophyllus) dry out excessively, especially during hot weather? This plant does not tolerate such treatment and its sensitive roots and leaves will dry out and die.

As your plant is a sculpted specimen that is often grown in a small pot with limited soil volume, ensure that you water it regularly.

There is little you can do with the dried sections. Wait for a while to see if the plant recovers and produces new growth in those branches. The dead portions will eventually become brittle and these should be pruned or they will ruin the appearance of the tree.

The grafting of new growth to replace the branches may be the only way to salvage the sculpted look of the specimen. However, this is an advanced technique that is done by skilled personnel, and will take time and effort to achieve.

Avoid overfeeding and underwatering of plant

I kept my potted plant in a well-ventilated place by the window.  However, the tips of the leaves have begun to turn yellow. Please advise how I can prevent my plant from deteriorating further.

Ellen Choo

Dried or dead leaf tips could appear due to a number of reasons. First, do not let your plant dry out so excessively that it wilts. This can cause leaf tissues to die due to the lack of water.

Also, do not expose your plant to direct sunlight immediately, especially if it has been grown in a shaded corner for a while. Intense sunlight can cause the leaf tissues to burn.

Avoid feeding your plant excessively. If you are growing it in hydroculture, the nutrient solution should be changed regularly. Excessive salts taken up by the plant can accumulate in the leaf tips of plants and cause the tissues to die.

The dead portions cannot be revived. You can prune these portions or the entire leaf. If the growing conditions are improved, new healthy leaves will grow and gradually replace those removed.