My Sunburned Cattleya
It is a crime to neglect all my plants, I know that..but alas I have no time and opportunity to lavish any one of them with the old tender loving care.
The cattleya I brought from old home seems to be doing fine until I moved the pot to a new location. Little did I notice that the new position got so much direct sun light during day time..huhu! Thus the sunburned leaves..sigh!
Despite that the purple cattleya still wanted to cheer me up with her blooms.
I am yet to prune the sick leaves since my gardening shears are rusty (see? I have been abandoning all my gardening tools for so long..isk!)
Taken from the page on Problems With Orchids:
Sunburn
Description
Black or black-edged patches on leaves can indicate sunburn. The leaves of some of the Odontoglossum purebred hybrids can become red during the summer.
Causes
Black patches occur when the sun has shone directly on a portion of leaf for too long; it takes less than an hour for the sun to burn the leaves. A little redness in odontoglossums is acceptable, but if they receive too much sun, the leaves will suffer and be prematurely shed.
Cure
Once burned, the mark will remain. Prevent sunburn by sheltering plants from the sun. particularly in spring, when the plants are still in their winter quarters and the sun is becoming increasingly bright.
Published by Hati on January 27th, 2010 tagged Flowering Plants | Comment now »
Bunga Kertas - Bougainvillea glabra
I’ve had these 3 pots of bougainvillea for the past 6 years. When we moved to this new house, I thought of leaving them, but SIL advised me to pruned all the sharp thorny stems and transported them together with other plants.
So after a few months of adapting to new surrounding and location, they are finally blooming with great flowers.
Info taken from plantoftheweek.org:
“Bougainvillea was named after the world traveler, Louis de Bougainville, who discovered it in Brazil in 1790 and brought it to Europe where it became both widespread and popular.
It is the bracts that make the plant so eye-catching. The actual flowers are located in the center, and are usually creamy yellow.”
From coolexotics.com:
General aspect and origins - Bougainvillea glabra is also known as bougainvillea or paper flower. This vine is native to Brazil. Its woody stems can reach up to 15 to 30 ft (5 to 10 m) long, if not pruned back. Bougainvillea flowering is very showy, and can be of various colors, depending on the different cultivars.
Leaves - Bougainvillea glabra has an evergreen foliage, which can be semi-decidious in colder places. Leaves can be of different shapes, depending on the different varieties, and can be up to 4 in (10 cm) long.
Flowers - Flowers are insignificant, tubular and white-cream. They are surrounded by colorful bracts, which can be orange, pink, purple, red, yellow, white depending on the varieties.
I never know that the actual flower are actually the tiny tubular white inside the colorful bracts. The colorful papery bracts are the reason why people name it as paper flower. This Bougainvillea glabra also known as lesser bougainvillea, is the most common species used for bonsai. (I’ve been meaning to try my hand with bonsai, but Hubby is against the idea..huhu!)
I love this one with its striking contrasting green and white variegated foliage. As of the time I’m updating this entry, it is flowering but I am too occupied to snap some new pictures.
My next mission is to find a pot of Bougainvillea with rich bright red bracts. Will update more if I could find one in the nursery nearby..heh!
Published by Hati on December 5th, 2009 tagged Flowering Plants | Comment now »
Asplenium australasicum - Bird’s Nest Fern
It took me some times to identify the name of this plant. I only know it as Bird’s Nest Fern. But when I did some research, there are actually many species. I hope I get it correctly after reading the description on the page of Australian Native Plants Society (Australia) - ANPSA - Asplenium australasicum.
At first I thought it is Asplenium nidus or Asplenium phyllitidis after reading the page of Tropical Fern and Exotic Plants Society on Bird’s Nest Fern.
It is said in most website that this Asplenium australasicum may be confused with Asplenium nidus. Taken from wikipedia,
“Apparently, most plants sold in America as A. nidus are actually Asplenium australasicum. A. australasicum has longer sori, and the midrib has a different shape.”
Quoting from tfeps.org page,
“A. australasicum is nearly always epiphytic, growing on the limbs and trunk of trees but it will occasionally be found on rocks or even in the ground when a mature plant has fallen. There is a variety that has lobed fronds and is known as A. australasicum ‘ Multilobum’.
As epiphytes, all of these bird’s-nest ferns should be potted in a very coarse mix with great drainage. They should be under-potted to prevent accumulation of too much moisture although double-potting with the outer pot filled with gravel or the like may be necessary to provide a heavy enough base to support the large fronds. They should be lightly fed at frequent intervals during the growing season.”
Oh, Malays call this plant pokok langsuyar which somehow gives a spooky and horror connotation to the ghost of lady with long hair..huhu! One thing I noticed since I grow this plant, it could not stand direct heat and drying sun as the leaves will get tattered, turn brown and withered very fast.
I am yet to try spore propagation. Will share later if and when my Bird’s Nest Fern has spore to propagate..heh!
Published by Hati on October 5th, 2009 tagged Green Plants | 1 Comment »
Floria Putrajaya 2009
I went to Putrajaya every time they have Floria or flora fest. Last year it was held in Johor Bahru, the year before it was grand with the parade and all. I think this year the lack of budget make it a less grand affair. Floria Putrajaya 2009 will be held from 1st August till 9 August at the Waterfront, Presint 2.
Nevertheless these are among the pictures I managed to take in such a hot weather..huhu! I assume that the tall flower arch symbolised keris..haha!
See those 2 budding DSLR photographers. You could find many more pro photog wannabe in the flower tent..heh! I have to be happy with my point and shoot camera, thus the quality of my floral pictures.
Among my favorite, the purple tapir and her offspring. I really want to see how do they do it, I mean the work of art that these floral contractors do, do they use wet floral foams to keep the flowers fresh all throughout these 8 days?
Check out closely the body of this rhino. It was built using kuaci and all sort of seeds and herbs. Creative, huh?
The seed rhino is accompanied by a few peacocks. I think the theme is Taman Syurgawi - the garden of Eden.
This reminds me of the folklore of sang kancil and buaya. But then here is a tiger embellished with flowers..haha!
I leave you readers with this bed of roses. Oh, they have many more colorful bed of roses in the exhibition tent. Go see the real flowers for yourselves!
Published by Hati on August 4th, 2009 tagged Flora Related | Comment now »
Anthurium Acropolis - Flamingo flower, Tail flower
Anthurium, from anthos, meaning flower, and oura, meaning tail, refers to the many tiny true flowers that form in the yellow tail-like spadix. (Taken from hawaiitropicals.com)
For many years I grew a pot of anthurium in my garden, but lately the one and only pot of anthurium seems to be dying. So since I went to IKEA a few weeks ago, I decided to buy another pot. As per above picture, it states that the botanical name is Anthurium Acropolis. However once home, I googled and found out that the cultivar acropolis usually has flower in white. The one bought in IKEA is red (??)
Nevertheless I hope this anthurium will last long. I found Anthurium Plant Care Instructions online and I hope I would be able to follow the guide.
Note to myself, don’t overwater the plant! hehe..
Published by Hati on June 7th, 2009 tagged Flowering Plants | 1 Comment »
Make Your Own Water Fountain
SIL bought this ready-to-assemble water fountain a few months back during her shopping spree at Nilai 3. It took her a few days to chase after the gardening shop to send the items to her house, and once assembled this is how it looks.
Anyway the only thing that she got after paying RM1k++ is the fountain. All the plants she bought separately at the nearby nursery. She even bought some goldfish to put inside the small water container (and she has to clean the water every week ever since..sigh!).
Now that I have moved to my own house, I feel like making my own simple water fountain. From what I read in the gardening magazines and on the Internet, the basic tools needed for any kind of water fountain would be pots, stones, tubing and a pump.
Of course if I want something like what SIL bought, I have to buy a separate unit of resin containers. From what I read, it says that resin is a highly durable material and easier to work with than stone, concrete or other traditional fountain materials.
I will do more local research to find which shop sells such items with good bargain, and hopefully next time, I will be able to do extensive entry on how to DIY my garden water fountain soon..heh!
Published by Hati on May 26th, 2009 tagged Flora Related | Comment now »
Cabbage Rose - Rosa centifolia
I think what I have in my garden is Centifolia rose, also known as roses with a hundred petals or cabbage rose. Well, at least until I get myself confused with Bourbon rose..huhu! So if there is any rose expert out there, please clarify my confusion.
Taken from the website : Heirloom Roses:
Centifolias are a complex breed of roses that have a sub class called the “Moss Roses”. All are hardy and exude a strong perfume. Bushes range form small to very large depending on the variety. They can be prone to blackspot in areas that have rainy summers. Most are once blooming with a few varieties that are remondant - (meaning they will flower more than once a season).
What I am sure of is that the rose I have belongs to the group of Old Garden Roses. The American Rose Society grouped all the rose types created prior to 1867 in the Old Garden Roses category.
I am not sure what variety or cultivar, my “ros kampung” belongs to. I have tried reading through most of the varieties descriptions but couldn’t find the exact match. However for those looking for fragrant blooms, this is definitely the winner.
I bought this in a home nursery during my balik kampung trip many months ago. I finally managed to get myself a pot of ros kampung..if you remember my previous entry on roses - Rose, Roses Are Red.
Hopefully this one will last long. I have pruned the plant after the first season of blooming is over and now I am waiting for the next bloom.
Published by Hati on April 29th, 2009 tagged Flowering Plants | Comment now »
Jarum Tujuh - Pereskia sacharosa/saecnarosa
When I was given this plant (or rather the cutting of it) by MIL, she told me that it is called Jarum Tujuh and has the medicinal benefit to cure cancer. Since I collected herbal plants, I decided to try and plant it.
It does has sharp thorns along its thin stems, thus the name of Jarum Tujuh. It is said that there are 7 thorns or spines along one stem (which I can’t vouch for since I never check and count it..heh). Some people eat the crunchy leaves or make tea out of it to cure colon, nose and other type of cancer. It is also known as Bintang Tujuh, Cancer Plant and Chat Sim Chan.
Further reading, I found out that Pereskia is a genus of about 25 tropical species and varieties of cacti that do not look much like other types of cacti. Pereskia is the only cactus genus that has persistent non-succulent leaves. It is believed that this is the origin of other cacti.
It propagates through cuttings and seeds. Since the leaves are non-succulent, they drop easily if they don’t get enough water or if it is too hot or dry but can grow back quickly once they get sufficient watering.
Published by Hati on February 21st, 2009 tagged Herbs | 3 Comments »
Aloe Vera - A.barbadensis Mill
I’m sure many of us are very familiar with these Aloe Vera plants. While researching for this entry, I found out that it actually belongs to lily family. The species also has many synonyms : A. barbadensis Mill., Aloe indica Royle, Aloe perfoliata L. var. vera and A. vulgaris Lam.
It has been suggested that the species is originally from Southern Africa and was introduced to China, India, Pakistan and various parts of southern Europe in the 17th century. Known for its medicinal purpose, Aloe Vera is a stemless or very short-stemmed succulent plant which can grow up to 60–100 cm. It spreads by offsets. The side of the leaf is serrated and has small white teeth.
From my experience, it is quite a hardy plant that prefers to be completely dry before re-watering. It is also resistant to many insects although mealy bugs, scale insects and aphid species may cause decline in its health.
Aloe Vera has been utilized by many for its healing benefit, mostly to cure injury and wound. The gel derived from the plant are used as a first aid for burns, injuries, eczema, sunburns, insect bites and fungal infection prevention.
Published by Hati on October 31st, 2008 tagged Green Plants | Comment now »
Cattleya Orchid
It took me sometime to find the correct group which this orchid belongs to. Initially I was given the bulbs by my SIL and since I never see the flower, I was not sure whether it is the usual dendrobium or something else.
After researching further, I think it is really a Cattleya orchid. You see, with that group of orchid the basic description is like this:
This group of orchids have short thick stems topped with usually a single stiff leaf. The flowering spike emerges from the top of the short stem surrounded by a papery sheath (like a pea pod). This is burst open by the growing flowers within.
These are often quite compact plants that flower easily and are available in a mouthwatering range of colours. Some have beautiful scents too as a bonus. (Taken from easyorchids.co.uk)
From website orchid.org.uk:
The plants produce strong ‘pseudobulbs’ topped with one or more leathery leaves.
Each year a dormant bud at the base grows into a new shoot. This thickens to produce the current year’s pseudobulb.
The flowers arise from the axil of the current year’s leaf where a protective sheath usually develops, and come in a range of colours from white and pink to green and purple, depending on the parentage and genera. Some flower twice yearly.
For those interested to try their hand in growing Cattleya orchid, be warned that this kind of orchid is quite a tough plant but do not over water them. For feeding requirement, use high nitrogen feed to boost growth and high potash feed to ripen the bulbs.