Spiked Pepper is a weed

What is this plant in my garden?

Yeo Ah Moey

This plant is the Spiked Pepper or Matico (Piper Aduncum). It is a relative of the plant that produces the peppercorns used in cooking.

In Singapore, this plant is a weed and commonly found in sunny spots in wasteland.

Beetle larvae and springtails are found in decomposing plant matter

I discovered these two insects in my compost. Will these harm my plants if I lay the compost around them?

Lee Chee Chee

The larvae on the left are those of beetles, which are commonly found around decomposing organic materials. Their presence indicates that the compost is still immature. Let your compost continue to mature. Ensure that it is not too wet, get the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio right and turn your pile regularly to add oxygen.

Beetle larvae are generally harmless to larger woody plants, but may accidentally consume plant roots. Do not use this compost around vulnerable plants like seedlings and leafy vegetables.

The organisms on the right are harmless springtails, which are part of the plant nutrient cycling process.

Philippines Simpoh fruit is edible

This fruit is from a tree in a public area. Is it a nutmeg? Is it edible?

Pan Tek Teo

This fruit is most likely produced by the Philippines Simpoh (Dillenia philippinensis). This tree is widely used in local parks and gardens. It produces large white flowers with red centres, followed by round green fruit. 

The green fruit shown in the picture is enclosed within thick green sepals. The fleshy fruit is edible and is used as a souring agent.

Lavender needs well-draining soil

My lavender plant was full of green leaves when I bought it two weeks ago. Now, the leaves are turning brown. How do I care for the plant?

Jun Loy Sook Kuan

Commercially available lavender plants are raised in a cocopeat mix that is unsuitable for growing under local conditions. The growing mix soaks up too much moisture and dries slowly. Prolonged wet feet can lead to root rot or disease.

Also, lavender plants require direct sunlight to thrive. In an apartment setting, they need at least four hours of sunlight a day.

Many gardeners take tip cuttings from healthy lavender plants and root them in a well-draining growing mix made up of coarse perlite, fine expanded clay pellets and peat moss.

You can experiment with the ratios of the components, as the ideal mix will vary according to your growing environment.