Thursday, August 13, 2009

Talking to my plants


You see. I had this smallish pot of aloe vera (the ones with the faint white marks) growing in the shade in the kitchen. It received bright light with no direct sun rays on it. There were all these garden stuff - fertilisers, compost, perlite, spare pots all around it. One fine day, I decided that all these stuff surrounding the aloe vera may be cramping it in and also injuring its leaves and that I should allow the aloe vera more room to grow by placing it outdoors.

So I placed the pot on one of the racks outdoors, thinking that the aloe vera is like a cactus - sure to survive the direct sun. But when I saw the plant the next day, I was shocked to see that its leaves had turned brown. I thought it would recover the next day. But no. The leaves remained brown. So I brought it back into the kitchen and pleaded with it to the effect: “ok, ok, I put you back here. But please, don’t die on me ok.”.

By now the aloe vera has recovered somewhat and has regained most of its green-ness, I am contented. But I need to encourage it a bit more I think cos it’s not as lush it was before being “thrown” into the sun by me.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

And ermmh... the water feature


So here it is - the 40cm by 40cm water tank and its accomplices. I was never quite so keen on having a water feature encroach on my home space. But things took a slight twist when I realised that there are merits in maintaining a water feature. More plants can be had!

I have been told by my plant loving friends that a water feature is a great thing to have around plants generally as it maintains the humidity level. This was incentive enough for me to finally get my act together for a little water feature for the little space.

And now I finally do have a water feature in the house. Not a spectacular water feature by any measure but one cosy and little enough to sit around for a little cosy chat.

Over the National Day weekend, two little guppies were added. So far, they appear to have settled in all right.


National Day weekend




This National Day weekend saw the addition of some more plants to the already very crowded backyard. Some beautiful begonias and some caladiums.


















Blooms on the Bulbophyllum Lepidum. Seems this is a wild orchid which may still be found in Singapore, although less commonly so now.

Monday, August 3, 2009

New Pitchers

New pitchers from a few of my neps.




Hookeriana (Rafflesiana x Ampullaria) - Green Peristome with red stripes - 31 July 2009




Fresh green peristome - 31 July 2009





Side view - 31 July 2009





Am delighted to see the 'baby' pitcher of the ampullaria x harlequin (below). A positive indication that this young plant has adapted to my backyard - 31 July 2009




Garden Tech (N. Ventricosa x Ampullaria) (below) - Newly opened pitcher right at the back - 31 July 2009



The Hi Lo Beauty


Caladiums


Caladiums - 21 August 2009


Caladium 'Oil Painting' - 25 July 2009

Caladium from WF - 26 July 2009

Caladium from WF - 25 July 2009

Caladium from Pioneer - with new leaf growth - 2 August 2009

Caladium from It Meng - 2 August 2009

Caladium from It Meng - 2 August 2009


Caladium from Cheng Tai - 2 August 2009

Begonias


Rex Begonia - 14 August 2009

Martin's Mystery - 14 August 2009

Second pot of Begonia 'Tiger' - 14 August 2009


Begonia 'Tiger' - 13 July 2009


Strawberry Begonia - 25 July 2009


Begonia 'Iron Cross' - 2 August 2009


Begonia Rex 'Thrush' - 2 August 2009