Gardening

Plant Parenting

Underground edible plants to grow for Chinese New Year

These underground edibles – Chinese arrowhead, water chestnut and yam – are popular festive plants. Their food storage organs are botanically called corms, and can be used for planting.

Root Awakening

Hibiscus likely infested with scale insects

Unless the plant is small or weak, it may be best to prune the more infested portions first to reduce the pest population.

Root Awakening

Aloe plant looks injured

The red patches indicate an injury, such as one from chemical sprays or sunburn.

Root Awakening

Spiked Pepper is a weed

The Spiked Pepper, or Matico, is a relative of the plant that produces the peppercorns used in cooking.

Root Awakening

Olive plant may lack nutrients

The chlorotic and misshapen leaves indicate a lack of nutrients.

Plant Parenting

Start your stem-cuttings strong for the new year

(From left) Mint, cassava and Philodendron can be propagated from different types of stem cuttings.

Root Awakening: Curry leaf plant infested with sap-sucking pests

Environmentally friendly pesticides like summer oil can be sprayed to manage the pest population.

Root Awakening

Moth orchid has been damaged by slugs or snails

Plants sometimes need to be hung or mounted in such a way that pests cannot access them.

Root Awakening

Bodhi Tree propagated by air-layering

The Bodhi Fig thrives in a sunny location with well-draining soil.

How to turn houseplants into home decor

Confined to a pot, with some top growth and maybe their roots pruned, even ones that would become small trees in the wild are essentially transformed into bonsai.

E-paper

Newsletters

Podcasts

RSS Feed

About Us

Terms & Conditions

Privacy Policy

Need help? Reach us here.

Advertise with us

MDDI (P) 046/10/2025. Published by SPH Media Limited, Co. Regn. No.202120748H. Copyright © 2026 SPH Media Limited. All rights reserved.