Root Awakening: Start small when pruning plants, as not all tolerate aggressive trimming

Four Seasons Camellia does not need extreme pruning

I bought this plant in July 2022 as a small bush. It thrived and bloomed. In November, I trimmed it to help it grow more leaves. Unfortunately, half the plant seems to have dried up. What can I do to rejuvenate it?

Cheah Chew Ping

Always test-prune on a small part of a shrub before a drastic cut. Not all shrubs behave the same way.

The Four Seasons Camellia seldom requires hard pruning. At best, prune a node or two before the tip of each branch.

It looks as though you have pruned all the way back to older branches of the plant, which may not produce new growth.

Try bending the bare branches. If they are dry and brittle, it means they are dead. To achieve a more even growth habit, try grafting new branches onto the rootstock of your plant.

Remove infected leaves of orchid plant

I have a few Phalaenopsis orchids planted on tree bark. For the first two years, they grew well with new roots and leaves. They are located in the corridor without direct sunlight. I water them often, but they have not flowered. The leaves recently started turning yellow with patches and dots under the leaves. What is wrong?

Dennis Chang

The black patches could be a sign of fungal infection. You will need to remove the infected leaves to prevent the spread of the disease. The speckles could be due to a spider mite infestation.

These two issues are quite common with Phalaenopsis orchids. Growers often have to apply fungicide, as well as abamectin or summer oil, regularly to keep such problems at bay.

Ensure your plants are well watered to prevent them from drying out, as this can lead to stress and pest issues. You may have to incorporate some sphagnum moss around the roots to retain moisture if you find that the plant dries out too fast.

It is essential to establish a conducive growing environment for these orchids before you attempt to grow any other species or hybrids.

Most of the common showy cultivars that are sold as potted display plants require cooler conditions to trigger the production of flowers. Such moth orchids usually flower only during the cooler months.

Cockscomb plant is diseased

Why have the leaves of this plant dried out? The ones in other pots are growing well.

Adrian Ling

Your plant looks diseased. The Cockscomb plant does not tolerate crowding or poorly draining soil. It needs direct sunlight. Ensure your plants are not too close to one another, as a cramped arrangement can reduce the amount of sunlight that each plant gets.

Grow this plant in a well-draining substrate and protect it from heavy rain, especially during the wet season. Wet feet can cause roots to rot and render the plant prone to disease, while heavy rain will damage the leaves and create wounds that allow infection by pathogens.

Sapling is a form of Corkwood

I have a plant growing in my garden that I would like your help to identify.

Richard Ng

Your plant is the weeping form of Corkwood (Carallia brachiata) and its cultivar name is Honiara. It has a narrow, columnar growth habit, can grow up to 10m tall and lends itself well to formal landscapes. It can also be planted closely together to form a screen.

Plant is a Drimiopsis species

What is this plant? I have had it for almost 10 years, but it has never bloomed. Is it a flowering plant? How do I care for it?

Doris Loo

It looks like your plant belongs to the genus Drimiopsis. It could be Drimiopsis maculata, commonly known as African False Hosta and Leopard Plant.

Going by its large leaves, its current location may be too deep in the shade. You may want to move the plant to a slightly brighter location, where it can get four to six hours a day of filtered sunlight, for it to flower.

Move it gradually to acclimatise the plant so it does not get sunburned. Also, do not overwater the plant. Keep it in a well-draining soil mix.

This plant is valued for its attractive growth habit and foliage. It occasionally flowers in Singapore, although the trigger for this is not well understood.