Root Awakening: Holy Basil needs direct light (2025)

Give plant well-draining soil

I have bought Tulasi plants a few times. They remained healthy for a few months before starting to wilt and wither, with their stems blackening and leaves falling off, and white spots on the stem. What was wrong? Also, how can I keep this plant healthy?

Thirumurugan Narayanan

The Tulasi plant, also known as the Holy Basil, needs a sunny site to grow well. It is also sensitive to wet feet.

It looks as though your plant is being grown in the shade. If the roots are in a moisture-retentive mix, they may not be drying out sufficiently.

Your plant does not appear to be in good shape. Ensure it gets six hours of direct sunlight a day and water only when the growing mix has dried out slightly. Stick your finger below the surface of the growing mix to feel for moisture. Under sunny conditions, your plant will need more frequent watering due to increased water intake and loss via evaporation and transpiration.

Coconut palm has a beetle, pepper has mealybugs

My dwarf coconut palm is about four years old and has not flowered. I have not fertilised it. How can I get it to bear fruit naturally? What is this insect I found and how do I prevent it from reappearing? Also, my pepper plant’s peppercorns have a white substance on them. Are they still safe to consume?

Anil Kondath

Depending on the growing conditions and cultivar, dwarf coconut palms typically start fruiting once they are five or six years old.

The beetle looks like the coconut rhinoceros beetle. Insects of this species can damage fronds and destroy the growth point of the palm, killing the plant.

While the palm is still young and short, you can treat the problem with chemical pesticides such as cypermethrin, available from nurseries. Pour a solution of the pesticide into the palm’s crown to kill the beetles inside.

If you do not want to use pesticides, roll some plastic netting into balls and insert them between the axils of young fronds. Adult beetles will be trapped in these and die. However, check for the presence of mosquitoes, as debris may be trapped in such spaces.

The white material on the peppercorns looks like mealybugs. You can wash it off before using the produce. Check your plant regularly and act promptly to fight infestations. Small, localised infestations can be washed off or brushed away without pesticides. Spray summer oil, an organic pesticide, thoroughly and regularly to provide some form of pest control.

Vietnamese Blue Bell Tree produces violet flowers

What is this bonsai?

Albert Lim

The plant is commonly known as the Vietnamese Blue Bell Tree (Trifidacanthus unifoliolatus). It thrives in sunny locations.

This plant produces small leaves and violet flowers, and gets woody with age, making it a suitable candidate for bonsai training.

Protect Bayam spinach with a clear rain shelter

I want to harvest my Bayam spinach which I planted four weeks ago, but there are spots on the leaves. The vegetables are in a raised bed with a netting cover. It has been raining heavily the past few days. Does heavy rainfall affect the crop? What causes spots on the leaves?

Joanne Yeong

Your Bayam plant, also known as Chinese Spinach, appears to have a disease, possibly a fungal one. This is common when plants are grown close together and are exposed to the elements.

During heavy rain, the netted enclosure you used may not be able to protect your plants from rain. Rain can cause injury to the leaves and open up wounds where pathogens can enter. Rain splashes can bring pathogens to the leaves as well. This leads to infection.

Infected leaves cannot revert to their original form and should be promptly removed. Prevention is better than cure. You can put a clear plastic cover that is pulled taut over the enclosure. This can help to shield your plants from the effects of heavy rainfall.

• 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.
• Have a gardening query? E-mail it with clear, high-resolution pictures of at least 1MB, if any, and your full name to stlife@sph.com.sg. We reserve the right to edit and reject questions.

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