Our Jungle Cacti
06 Nov 2009 5 Comments
in 1. Cactus and Succulent Tags: Colourful flowers, Epiphyllum, Gardening, Jungle Cacti, Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri, Zygocactus
Most cactus plants originally grow in sandy desert, but the moist and humid forests in South America have their very own species. Most of them, in natural environment live as epiphytic plants that grow in tree or rock crevices.
There are many species of jungle cacti and the most common name for them is “Holiday Cacti” like for example Thanks Giving, Christmas, and Easter Cacti. For me personally, these holiday names are very confusing and I am more familiar with the proper names for them. At home we have three kinds of jungle cacti: Epiphyllum (=Epis, Orchid Cactus); Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri (Sunrise cactus) and Zygocactus truncates (Schlumbergera truncata Hybrids/Crab’s Claw cactus)
At the moment as the last month of spring is warming up here in the Southern part of the world (Australia), only the Epis and the Rhipsalidopsis are blooming. Zygocactus will flower later in the summer time in late autumn to early winter.
- Epiphyllum: It is said that originally natural Epis have mostly white or creamy colour flowers. Only the hybrid varieties have more colourful colours like red, pink, salmon or mauve. The ones that we have is a bigger variety with large bright red blooms and the other one is smaller variety with pink and white colour. Unfortunately we have no records of the cultivar names.
Although these three species have flat stems (leaves), Epiphyllum consists of broad and long flat stems with lobed edges (without sections). The flowers grow from the aereole on the outer edge of the stems.
- Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri has smaller flat stems (leaves) which come in sections. The edges of the stems are rounder and the flowers grow from the tip of the stems. The bright coloured blooms are star shaped and they are closed at night and will open up when exposed to the sunlight during the day.This is why it is also named Sunrise cactus.
- Zygocactus has claw like stems (leaves) which grow in sections. The flowers that grow from the tip of the stems are irregular/ asymmetrical in shape and come in many different colours such as red, pink, salmon, white, mauve or purple.
The easiest way to differentiate these three plants is by looking at the shape of the leaves. They are hardy and easy to grow in warmer areas. The smaller varieties are suitable to grow in hanging pots for a beautiful display of flowers.
Happy Gardening!
November 13, 2009
Photo update of the pink Epiphyllum hybrid (Deutsche Kaiserin). Now in full bloom………….
Update: Friday August 6,2010:
I was cleaning one of the ceramic jars and in there I found an old tag of the pink orchid cactus above that was long forgotten. The botanic name is Nopalxochia phyllanthoides and apparently it is also called: Epiphyllum ’Deutsche Kaiserin’ . This is the tag with picture and plant info:
My Orchid Is Turning Green
14 Sep 2009 6 Comments
in 3. Orchids Tags: Changing Colour, Cymbidium, Gardening, Orchid, Plant
Help! My Cymbidium orchid is turning green this year. I hate green flowers!
Last year I bought this Cymbidium orchid in Caribbean market (in Melbourne, Australia)and the colour was bright yellow with dark red throat. The reason I bought it because I liked the colour and also it was quite cheap in the market.
I don’t know exactly what kind of Cymbidium orchid it is as the seller herself did not know the name for it. After flowering last year, I re-potted it as it had already over crowded and almost cracked the pot. I found that whoever grew it did not even bother to use orchid mix/medium. It was grown in ordinary soil and it had become so compacted so it was so hard to loosen the roots. I was so afraid that I damaged them. Anyway, I managed to transfer it to a slightly bigger pot and I used proper orchid mix which consists of old wooden chips.
A year later today, it is having five spikes of blooms. I have applied special fertilizer for orchids and I also used sea weed mixture. However, I can’t believe what I see! My Cymbies have turned green with only a very slight yellow tint. I am not really happy to see this colour as I don’t like green flowers.
Does anyone also have the same problem? What can cause Cymbidium orchid to change colour? Is it because of the amount of the sunlight , or is it the medium or the fertilizer? How can I make it yellow again?
Some Plants in My Garden
01 May 2009 5 Comments
in 4. Seasonal Garden Notes Tags: Gardening, Life, Plant
Some Plants in My Garden
The magic of our garden is that they are always blooming all year around. I have deliberately chosen different plants which will flower in different season, some will flower in spring and summer and the others flower either in autumn or winter. Nowadays all plants are sold with descriptions on when they will flower. By carefully choosing the ones which will grow at different time, the garden will look not only colourful during spring and summer only, but even in the bleak winter time it will be full of blossoms and it not be so cold, dull and grey. Try to mix these plants when you grow them, do not grow the plants that flower at the same time only on one spot of the garden. Place them in a certain way so in every season there will be flowers distributed evenly all around……..
I like to have a garden that give an impression of well trimmed and neatly manicured. The trick is to grow plants which you can shape like for example: topiaries, diosma, or box. If you distributed these type of plants all around in good order among the other plants, and as long as you keep them well trim, the garden will have a manicured look. Also trim all other plant and make sure you don’t let the become over-grown.
Some of the plants in our garden which flower mostly in Spring and Summer:
- Browalia, long flowering through out spring and summer, colourful orange bells. Prune well after flowering to maintain compact shape.
- Pig Face (Mesembryanthemum): Very hardy succulents, coming in many choice of colour. In full sun position, they bear abundant of flowers covering the whole plants. Prune after flowering to keep them in nice compact shape.
- Pelargonium/Geranium: very hardy, coming in many bright colours, some species even flower all year around. Respond well to pruning after flowering.
- Camellia: Coming in many variations of flowers, single or double petals. Many choice of colours. Some species will flower during the winter.
- Lillium: These large bell shaped flowers will add beauty to any garden.
- Hibiscus: Tropical plants with deep green leaves and many different shape and colour of flowers.
Our plants which flower almost all year around:
- Roses, especially from floribunda species. Respond well to debutting dead flower to encourage new shoots which will bear more flowers and prune hard in winter after finish flowering. Prune other type of roses after the last batch of flowers usually late autumn as they don’t flower in winter or even if they flower the quality of the blooms are poor.
- Daisy: Daisies mainly flower in spring but if you prune well after finish flowering it will bear flower again in late autumn and in winter. Prune again after the autumn/winter flower finish to promote good flowers in warmer months.
- Azalea: Many azaleas flower twice a year in spring/summer and again in autumn/winter.
- Gardenia: Fragrant white blooms. Will grow better in the shade. It grows well in slightly acidic, cool, moist, well drained soil.
Autumn or winter flowering plants:
- Chrysanthemum: This mother’s day flower will flower in autumn (April/May). Colourful and coming in many choice of colours, single or double petals. Die down after flowering and flower again next autumn.
- Crasulla ovata/Jade/money plants: The Chinese believe this plant will bring good luck. The tiny white stars flowers almost cover the whole plant in late autumn and spring.
- Kniphophia: Also known as Red Hot Poker, growing from bulbs, green long spikes of leaves with tall brilliant red, orange or yellow pom-pom like flowers. Attract native birds.
Colourful evergreen shrubs to add colour all year around:
- Golden Diosma: This plant will show off it’s bright yellow colour in sunny position. If clipped and trimmed into round or egg shape, this hardy plant will add an impression of a manicured garden. This plant hates tropical heat.
- Nandina: Nandina grown in full sun will give a bright red colour all year a round.
- Red Aeonium: this colourful succulent has rosette shape, auburn red and will have bright yellow flowers in winter.
My Chrysants
25 Apr 2009 Leave a Comment
in 6. Wonderful Plants Tags: Chrysanthemums, Gardening, Plant
Just a quick addition to my blog about Chrysanthemums (March Archive).
These are pictures of the first blooms of my Chrysanthemum plants this year, the mauve ones. They haven’t fully open yet, and I have to cover them when we have too much rains. If too wet, they will rot quickly.
We had the worse dry spell in the last few months so I am afraid my other chrysanthemums will not flower as good.
The Art Of Bonsai
15 Mar 2009 Leave a Comment
in 6. Wonderful Plants Tags: Bonsai, Gardening, Hobby, Plant
WHAT IS A BONSAI
Bonsai is a miniature tree. It is kept small by planting it in a shallow pot and by regular trimming of the roots, branches and new growth.
HISTORY
Chinese first began to transplant naturally dwarf trees from mountain and cliff terrains into ornamental containers, as early as the Han Dynasty in 206 BC. However, it was the Japanese who perfected the art of cultivating bonsai plants. Bonsai itself means a dwarf tree in a pot.
BONSAI STYLES
The most common styles are:
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Formal upright: Straight trunk with evenly spread branches.
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Informal upright: The trunk is not perfectly straight which has unevenbranches.
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Slanted: The main trunk grows slightly bending sideway.
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Semi Cascade: The tree grows cascading down to the side of the pot. The pot usually is high (not flat).
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Cascade: The cascade is lower than the height of the pot.
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Roots over rock: The roots of the tree are exposed and they clasp tightly around the surface of a rock.
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Group planting (Sakai): More than one plant are grown in one pot, usually are in odd numbers.
THE SUITABLE PLANTS
Basically almost all plants which are suitable for bonsai
can be grown in Australia. For those from cooler
climate, the trees need protection from summer heat
and for tropical plants, they will need protection from
frost.
Plant examples commonly used for bonsai are:
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Maples : Trident maple, Japanese maple
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Ficus: Choose those with smaller leaves like for example F binjamina, F benghalensis
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Azalea: A kurume, A satzuke
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Conifers: pines, spruce, junipers
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Elms: Chinese elm, English elm
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Oaks
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Birch
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Cotton-easter
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Lilli pilli
CARING FOR A BONSAI
Like any other trees, a bonsai needs water, nutrients and sunlight to survive. All bonsai plants have to be kept outdoor preferably in the position where they receive morning sun. Caring for bonsai trees will include all these procedures:
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Training: A good bonsai will have a certain look and it is achieved by shaping the trunk and branches. Special wires in different sized are used for this purpose. Deciduous trees should be wired after the leaves have matured and the wires have to be removed in autumn to avoid damage to the bark.
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Feeding: Use a weak liquid organic fertilizer at the intervals of two weeks during spring and summer. Solid organic fertilizer may also be used.
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Pruning/Trimming: It is done to create and preserve a desired shape. It makes leaves grow smaller and compact. Heavy pruning is done in autumn, winter or early spring. While general pruning is done through out the growing season, by cutting back new growth.
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Repotting: Generally it is done yearly, every two or three years late winter or early spring. For an easy guide, lift the plant from the pot and inspect the root once a year. A pot of the same size or slightly larger should be used. Root ball has to be loosened and it has to be trimmed to get rid of the excess. Repotting is done by always using fresh bonsai soil.
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Watering: In summer, the watering is done at least once a day. In the winter, it will depend on the dryness of the soil. Avoid watering in the heat of the day.
I’ve found that growing bonsai trees is relaxing and it teaches you patience. Bonsai also makes you learn that “GOOD THINGS COME IN SMALL SIZES” 
Chrysanthemum, The Mother’s Day Flower
04 Mar 2009 3 Comments
in 6. Wonderful Plants Tags: Chrysanthemums, Gardening, Plant
I’m not sure about anywhere else, but in Australia Chrysanthemums are Mother’s day Flower (Mother’s day in Australia in the 2nd Sunday of May). My husband and son always give me potted Chrysanthemum flowers for Mother’s Day. I prefer the living chrysanthemums. This way I can stick them somewhere in the garden when they have finished flowering. I have a patch chrysanthemums plants that always flower every year.
Traditionally, white chrysanthemums are used for Mother’s Day presents. But for me I love the colourful ones. I’m not sure why they use chrysanthemums as Mother’s Day flowers, but I think because Mother’s Day is in May and during this month Chrysanthemums are in season, they are abundant and cheap. Maybe it is also because Chrysanthemums are long last thing flowers both in the garden and in flower arrangements.
Plant Details:
The botanic name is Dendranthema x grandiflora. There are about 40 species of chrysanthemums, mostly are from China, Japan and East Asia. Some are single petals, some double and the rare ones are so exotic and large they resemble a pompom, and some are spider shaped. To day many hybrids have been produced with magnificent brilliant shades of red, pink, salmon, yellow, orange, bronze and green. The sheer beauty and versatility of these flowers are the reason why the Chinese people have been growing them for 2,500 year. Chrysanthemums are also known as the national flower of Japan.
Planting guide:
The easiest and cheap way is to buy Chrysanthemums in pot and make sure when you buy them they have roots. You can check underneath the pot to see of there are some roots poking out through the drainage holes.
When the potted chrysanthemum has finish flowering, pick a sunny spot in the garden with reasonably rich and well drain soil. The best is you add compost into the soil. Take the plant out of the pot and plunge it into a hole that is slightly larger than the size of the pot. Cover it with soil and add more compost on the top. It will die down, but if alive, it will promise you more flowers each year when they are in season. They are hardy, even during the draught. What they need when they started to grow is a little bit of complete fertilizer. If you prefer short compact bush, then pinch the top when they start to grow leaves in December (in Australia). After few years, you can dig up the plants and divide them. They are very easy to grow and practically disease free.
Usage:
- Flower arrangement: long lasting and provide many different sizes, shapes and colour. Today, the flowers are available all year around as they are hybridized and cultivated in green houses. Naturally they flower in late summer through autumn.
- Chrysanthemum tea. It is made from the species called Chrysanthemum morifolium or indicum. It is a popular beverage in East Asia. The tea is available in dry form or in powder. The dried flowers are brewed in a teapot or in a cup with a bit of rock sugar, normal sugar or honey. The hot water is perfect around 90 degrees C or slightly cooled after boiling. It is believed that Chrysanthemum tea has a cooling effect in a hot day.
- Medicinal purposes: It helps to relieve symptoms of influenza. Also used for sore throat and to reduce fever. Some believe the tea is good for alertness to keep you from falling asleep. In western herbal medicine it is used to treat circulatory disorders like varicose veins and atherosclerosis. The tea is also good to keep healthy eyes with sharp vision and treat dry eyes.
- Natural Insect Repellent: White Chrysanthemum Tanacetum cinerarriaefolium flowers produce a natural insecticide called pyrethrum. It provides safe fast acting insecticide to kill most insect pests. Non toxic to human and warm blooded animals and easy to break down in sunlight to prevent build up in environment.
Note: It has been very dry here in Melbourne this summer, so I’m not really confident that the chrysanthemums in my garden will have good flowers this year, and currently we are under 3A water restrictions here. There was a good rain last night after almost 3 months without any rain. Hopefully there will be much more rains so that they will bear reaonably good flowers this year.
A Rose for World Peace
20 Jan 2009 2 Comments
in 6. Wonderful Plants Tags: Gardening, Life, Peace Rose, Plant
When my Peace rose blooms profusely in Spring this year, I was really captivated by it’s beauty. Then I started to wonder why they named this particular rose “Peace”? Was it to remind us of peace? Then later on I looked for the answer online. How perfect is the name for such beautiful flowers with the softest colour blend.
For those who like roses, should grow a Hybrid Tea Rose called “Peace”. With the cultivar name Rosa “Mme A. Meilland”, this hybrid tea rose has stunningly large and beautiful flowers. The colour is light yellow and cream with a hint of pink on petal edges. It was developed by a French horticulturist Francis Meilland during the years of 1935 and 1936, by cross pollinating and grafting some rose hybrids.
When Meilland saw that Germany started to invade his country during the WW II, he sent few cuttings of this new rose to friends in United States, Turkey, Italy and Germany with the hope of preserving it. Later on when the war ended in 1945, Meilland made a special request to a war hero Field Marshal Alan Brooke to use his name for the rose. However Viscount Alanbrooke declined and suggested a better name “Peace”. Since then Rosa Mme A Meilland has a trade name “Peace”.
Every delegation for the first meeting of the United Nations in San Francisco in 1945, were given Peace roses with a note that said: “We hope the ‘Peace’ rose will influence men’s thoughts for everlasting world peace”
Since then it was no doubt that Peace rose has become the most beautiful tea rose ever. It is available both in standard or climbing form. The very large bloom was sweetly scented and it is fully double with more than 50 petals. It is disease resistance with strong and vigorous branches and has very attractive dark green leaves. The long stems will be perfect for cutting flowers
This new year of 2009 has been tainted by yet another troubles in Gaza. Let us hope that the efforts for peace negotiation work. To follow the purpose of the naming this historical rose, let us all remember the horrid of all wars to mankind and let us all pray for Peace of Our World……………….
Winter Melon
16 Jan 2009 7 Comments
in Nostalgic Food Tags: Candied Water Melon and Cake, Gardening, Plant, Winter Melon
I remember long time ago when we used to grow winter melon in the family property in Central Java. The trailing plants crept as far as they could reach and the rounded fruits, which looked like as they were excessively covered by talcum powder, were sitting there on the ground ready to pick.
………….”A sweetheart cake or wife cake is a traditional Chinese pastry made with winter melon and almond paste.
There are many classes held in Hong Kong for making sweetheart cakes. The sweetheart cake, though it has such a long history, is still popular among many in Hong Kong and Mainland China. Many people in Hong Kong, as well as professional chefs, are reportedly modifying this pastry to make it more “modern” and better-tastingLegendary Origin:
There are two legends that attempt to explain the origins of the Sweetheart cake. One tells the tale of a couple that lived a very poor life in imperial China. They loved each other and lived in a small village.
Suddenly, a mysterious disease spread. The husband’s father became very sick. The couple spent all of their money in order to treat the man’s father, but he was still sick. The wife sold herself as a slave in exchange for money to buy medicine for her father-in-law.
and with a crispy crust. His cake became so popular that he was able to earn enough money to buy his wife back.
There is another version where the man was eating at someone’s house and recognized his wife’s pastry and was reunited……….” (Quoted from Wikipedia)
My Baseball Plants
05 Jan 2009 3 Comments
in 1. Cactus and Succulent Tags: Baseball Plant, Euphorbia Obesa, Gardening, Life, Plant
More than ten years ago we went to Western Port Bay (Mornington Peninsula), Victoria Australia and we stopped at a Sunday market in small town of Hastings. There we bought two unusual plants called Baseball Plant. The friendly man who sold the plant told us to buy two of them, the male and the female one. This way he said we would have a chance for the well rounded cacti to flower and produce some seeds. Unfortunately, up today, eventhough these plants are still alive, they never produce the valuable seeds.
What is a Baseball Plant?
Baseball Plant is also known by the name of Euphorbia obesa or Klipnoor. Originally it is from the Great Karo land in South Africa. Over collecting for many years has made this unusual plant rare on the wild and now is strictly protected.
Growing Need
(from: http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Euphorbiaceae/Euphorbia_obesa.html)
|
Recommended Temperature Zone:
USDA: 9b-10
Frost Tolerance: Hardy down to 28°F (-2°C) Minimum Avg. Temperature: 45°F (7°C) Sun Exposure: Light shade, morning sun Growth Habits: Succulent, up to 8 inches high (20 cm) Watering Needs: moderate water in Summer, keep dry in winter Propagation: Seeds, sexes are separated, so a male and a female plant are needed for the fecundation
|
Cultural Practices:
This species is dormant in winter, keep it totally dry at or around 40°F (4°C).
Blooming Habits:
The tiny flowers are delicately scented. They form at the top of the plant. This species is dioecious (meaning that there are male plants and female plants).
When the plant is still young it is symmetrically rounded and resembles a sea urchin shell. When aged, it tends to have a longer shape. Like many other succulents and cacti, it produces milky sap that can irritate sensitive skin.
This is the picture of my Baseball Plants (over 10 years old):
Tuberose
12 Sep 2008 3 Comments
in 6. Wonderful Plants Tags: Gardening, Plant, Tuberose, White Fragrant Flower
Besides jasmine, tuberose is another flower that releases beautiful perfume, especially in the night time. In my area around Melbourne (Australia), it is usually flowering around late summer to autumn. It is very surprising that this year, mine flowered in the middle of winter …even though the quality was inferior.
Pure white petals… can be single or double grow on long slender stems. They have a tinge of pink in buds but they will be pure white when open. The perfume is released during the evening and night time. This is why some different languages share the same meaning for naming this elegant flower which all mean: “night fragrant”. In Indonesia people call it “Sedap Malam”, while in in Hindi it is Rajnigandha. In Bangladesh it is called Rojoni Gondha. Part of South India it is Sugandaraja which has a slightly different meaning – king of fragrance. In Persia they call this flower Maryam which is also a very common lady’s name. While Singaporeans express this flower in a strange way…. they name the flower xinxiao which means where the moths sit.
Tuberose perfume is too overpowering compared with jasmine. Some people don’t like it, and it includes my husband. He can’t stand to have these flowers inside the house as it gives him a shocking headache. Described as having a heavy sweet floral with a touch of spice, tuberose are perfect for the making of fine perfume, incense, soap or floral arrangements.
About the plant:
Tuberose has a botanical name: Polieanthes tuberosa. The bulbs grow into long and slender bright green leaves which are clumping together.
Planting:
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Full sun position
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Rich and well-drain soil
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The clumping bulbs can be separated into smaller clumps and should be grown 5 – 7 cm ( 2-3 inches) under the ground and 20 – 25 cm (8 – 10 inches apart).
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Although it tolerates drought, it needs good watering during the growing season to flower well.
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Complete fertilizer combined with diluted fish/seaweed extract are good to use.
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After finish flowering cut the long stems off but it is better to leave the leaves for photosynthesis purposes to nourish the bulbs.
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In warm climate, you can leave the bulbs under the ground after flowering. For those in zone 8 or colder, it is better to lift the bulbs off the ground before frost. Air dried for several days and then keep them in paper bags with a bit of peatmoss until the next planting time in spring.
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It is also possible to grow them in pots and the benefit is that you will be able to move them around to get as much sunlight as possible and to avoid frost.
Tuberose is very easy to grow and the flowers will fragrance your courtyard with lingering amorous perfume through the night…or if you like, just few stems of them will surely perfume the whole house when the evening comes.
