Narcissus Blossom – An Important Symbol in Chinese New Year

February 15, 2010 in Garden Journal, Houseplants | 2 comments

Narcissus Flower Narcissus Flower

Since Narcissus flower blooms around lunar January, it is one of the most associated flowers with the Chinese New Year. The Chinese like to decorate their homes with this beautiful white Narcissus flower and wait in anticipation of its blossom, which symbolizes good luck and prosperity for the coming year.  In addition, Narcissus has one of the sweetest fragrances!

Narcissus Flower Narcissus Flower Narcissus Flower

Narcissus bulb carving and cultivation is an art.  Here are some Narcissus bulbs which Teacher Wong has craved.  Since they are craved differently, they will grow into different shapes and sizes.

Narcissus Flower Narcissus Flower

About a month after carving, some Narcissus bulbs have grown into peacocks.  And the one between the two peacocks is called “crab pincer”.

Narcissus Flower Narcissus Flower

left: flower basket (the Narcissus flowers haven’t yet blossomed); right: crab pincer

Narcissus Bulbs

These are the Narcissus bulbs.

Is It Really a Spider Plant? Or a Bichetii Grass?

January 8, 2010 in Houseplants | 1 comment

Have you ever bought a Spider Plant (aka Airplane Plant, botanical name: Chlorophytum comosum) that just never grows “baby spiders”, or runners, no matter how well you take care of it?  Instead of questioning your method of watering or  fertilizing your Spider Plant, may be first of all, you should examine your plant and check whether or not it really is a Spider Plant!  Because instead of a Spider Plant, it could be a Bichetii Grass.

Spider Plant or Bichetii Grass

Bichetii Grass (aka False Lily Turf,  Siam Lily,  botanical name:  Chlorophytum bichetii) is in the same genus as Spider Plant, a very common variegated form of Chlorophytum laxum.   Read the rest of this entry »

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It’s Always about Food & Sex

September 17, 2009 in Houseplants, Orchid | 3 comments

orchid-pollination-01

We, women, sometimes complain that men only care about food and sex but nothing else (okay, also football games and gadgets). While it can be quite frustrating and disappointing sometimes, we can also try to be more sympathetic, and understand that these poor guys can really do nothing but try to meet their human biological needs. Food, sex, water and air are the four very basic biological needs that the survival of human race will become impossible if any one of these needs is not met.

It is just part of the nature. All animals know these biological needs, as well as all insects. And apparently, even orchids know this very well too. Indeed, the orchids understand this so well that the plants use these biological needs to lure different insects to work for them for free! Read the rest of this entry »

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Our Plants Need to Sleep Too!

July 18, 2009 in Episcia (Flame Violet), Houseplants | 9 comments

Recently, I have noticed that my Episcia (aka Flame Violet) often folds up its top pair of leaves when the night comes. The leaves are near the horizontal during the day and close to the vertical at night. And while sometimes the pair of leaves moves just slightly, pointing to the ceiling, there are times the leaves fold up so tightly, sticking against each other with hardly any gap in between.

As ignorant as I may sound, at first, I suspected that this movement of the leaves of my Episcia was due to insufficient sunlight (it had been rainy and gloomy for over a week). So, to keep my Episcia “open” at night, I put my plant under artificial light for around 14 hours per day for several days. However, the artificial light didn’t help at all. The top pair of leaves closes at night regardless of the amount of light there is during the day.

Plant Chronobiology - Flame Violet Plant Chronobiology - Flame Violet

My baby Flame Violet, which I have propagated a while ago, also has its own circadian rhythms.

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Miracle Leaf – Kalanchoe Pinnata

June 29, 2009 in Garden Journal, Houseplants | 5 comments

Miracle Leaf - Kalanchoe Pinnata

A few weeks ago, I saw a nicely packaged leaf called Miracle Leaf in the Life Division of CitySuper, an upscale supermarket in Hong Kong.  It is selling for HKD $25 (around USD $3.5).  At the back of the package, it says

Baby leaves come out from the narrow parts of the MOTHER leaf.
Put the leaf on the water or on the soil.
Treat well and small bellflowers come out. Suitable temperature is over 20 centigrade.
Place the plant in a warm well-lit place.

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Chinese Money Plant & Nasturtium

June 7, 2009 in Houseplants | 4 comments

Chinese Money Plant (Pilea peperomioides)When I found my Chinese Money Plant, Pilea peperomioides, blooming with some tiny white inflorescences last month, I knew that I was wrong when I told Louise that Chinese Money Plants never blossom …

Besides Louise, I have a few other friends who guessed the plant that I used in my tabletop garden – Money Bowl is Nasturtium. Actually, it could be quite confusing since both plants have leaf stalks growing from the center of the leaf disks. Yet, it will be very easy to separate the two plants when they blossom.

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Blotanical – The Meeting Place for Gardeners

June 4, 2009 in Garden Journal, Indoor Gardening 101 | 3 comments

blotanical-banner-01One of my highlights in gardening last month is my discovery of Blotanical. I like it. It’s fun. This social networking site for gardeners makes it much easier for me to meet other gardening bloggers with similar interests and experience.

Blotanical has a tight and friendly community where its members will send messages to newcomers and make them feel welcomed. And there are several neat functions in Blotanical that make surfing this social networking site a fun and helpful experience. Read the rest of this entry »

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How to Prevent Mold When Growing Grasses in Containers

May 31, 2009 in Cat Grass, Houseplants | No comments

Preventing Mold When Growing Grass in ContainersBecause of the mold that I have found on my wheatgrass, I have done some research on this subject, and have learned that mold is actually quite a common problem when growing wheatgrass. And while mold doesn’t look very appetizing, it isn’t harmful to our health. As long as we cut the wheatgrass way above the mold that is grown on the soil, and rinse the grass, it is safe to juice them or give them to our pets as snacks (a large number of young grass species, including wheatgrass, can be fed to pet, check Cat Grass or Wheatgrass? for more details).

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O Yes! Finally Started Growing!

May 28, 2009 in African Violet, Indoor Gardening 101 | 4 comments

Repotting African Violet

Repotting African Violet

Yes!  After repotted my Ness Fantasy Gold to a smaller container for about six weeks, I have finally found a sign of life!  My plant is finally growing!  This has confirmed that my guess is right.  Not only did I overwater my African violet, the ridiculously huge pot probably had caused rotten roots in the plant. Lucky that I have taken the correct action early enough, else my plant would have been killed by my silly ignorance (again…).

While a smaller container is the major factor that brings life back to my plant, the weather now in Hong Kong probably helps much as well.

It seems like everything just grows in spring :)

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Cat Grass or Wheatgrass?

May 22, 2009 in Cat Grass, Indoor Gardening 101 | No comments

Cat Grass WheatgrassWhen I was doing some research on the benefits of cat grass for cats and other pets, I got all confused and was starting to wonder if what I am growing now is actually not cat grass.

After more research, I have learned that the term “cat grass” is quite a loose term. In many websites, cat grass actually includes a large number of young grass species. Common oat, flax, barley, and even catnip (Nepeta cataria) which is not even a grass at all, are called cat grass in many websites.

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