Big Carnivorous Pitcher Plants in Kinabalu

March 11, 2010 in Indoor Gardening 101 | No comments

Plants on Mount KinabaluI saw this big carnivorous pitcher plant when I was climbing Mount Kinabalu in Malaysia last week.

While orchids and carnivorous pitcher plants are among the park’s most famous plants,  they are rare along the park’s most worn tourist trails.  I could find a few small carnivorous pitcher plants while I was hiking Mount Kinabalu, but it was Arnold, my tour guide, who brought me to see this big pitcher plant :)

Plants on Mount KinabaluHere are a few more carnivorous pitcher plants.

Mt Kinabalu, the highest mountain in South-East Asia, is located in Kinabalu National Park. The presence of Mt Kinabalu is one of the contributing factors to the wide variety of animal, bird, insect and plant life found in the park.

Plants on Mount Kinabalu Plants on Mount Kinabalu

The terrain ranges from lush, green rainforest at the park’s lowest altitudes, while further up the mountain, rhodendron and coniferous forest is prevalent. At the highest altitudes, stunted plant growth and small marsupials survive in a harsh environment.

Plants on Mount Kinabalu Plants on Mount Kinabalu

Photos taken at around 3000 m.

Plants on Mount Kinabalu Plants on Mount Kinabalu Plants on Mount Kinabalu

Photos taken at around 4000 m.

Putrajaya – City in the Garden

March 8, 2010 in Garden Journal | 3 comments

I have traveled so much in the past two months, to Cambodia as well as many places in Malaysia. Besides Kuala Lumper, Langkawi, Melaka, and Sabah, I also visited Putrajaya – the new Federal Government administrative center and future capital of Malaysia.

Frankly, in this current stage, Putrajaya hasn’t yet been tourist friendly enough. The city is still under development, guided by the strategic vision 2015, which is to turn Putrajaya into a well managed, vibrant, prosperous city.

Putrajaya - City in the Garden Putrajaya - City in the Garden
Photos taken in a bus

“City in the Garden” is the main theme that the development of Putrajaya is based on, and I think the city is sticking with the theme very well. Lots of greens, beautiful parks, and landscape architectural ideas, I am looking forward to see how this city will turn into in the future :)

Putrajaya - City in the Garden Putrajaya - City in the Garden

Putra Mosque – probably Putrajaya’s most distinctive landmark and one of the most modern mosques in the world

Putrajaya - City in the Garden Putrajaya - City in the Garden

Some federal government buildings, including the office of Malaysia Prime Minister

My Impatiens in the Rubbish Bag are Blooming!

February 17, 2010 in Garden Journal | No comments

After waiting for three months, I finally have a big bagful of Impatiens blossoms!  Apparently, impatiens is very easy to maintain, and it grows well in shade.  Since I planted the six young impatiens in November, I haven’t done much but only watered them every 5-10 days, depended on the weather.  I would definitely recommend it to those who want to go something easy and rewarding ;)

Hanging Impatiens Hanging Impatiens

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.

Beautiful Chrysanthemums

January 12, 2010 in Garden Journal | 5 comments

Chrysanthemum Flowers

Although members are restricted to cultivate plants other than bonsai trees in the bonsai workshop, Teacher Wong always keeps some flowering plants in the workshop for ornamental purposes.  And now in the early winter, we have some big and beautiful Chrysanthemums with showy blossoms :D Read the rest of this entry »

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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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My Hanging Vandas Updates

December 17, 2009 in Orchid | 2 comments

In early November, I mounted one of my baby Vanda orchid on a piece of draftwood and the other on a rock, before hanging both orchids on my balcony (see post: My Hanging Vandas).  A month has passed.  I have noticed that the root system of the Vanda orchid that is mounted on the driftwood seems stronger and more vigorous than the one that is mounted on the rock.

Hanging Vanda Orchid

This Vanda orchid likes the driftwood so much that its roots keep drilling into every corner and cracks of draftwood :)

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Growing Strawberries in Container – Day 1

December 15, 2009 in Greenhouse | 4 comments

Last week, Teacher Wong, Gui, and I set up the greenhouse and planted over200 strawberry plants in containers.

Growing Strawberries in Containers Growing Strawberries in Containers

In order to reuse the soil that was used for yellow-skin watermelons and cantaloupes in the greenhouse, Teacher Wong has adjusted the soil pH level, mixed in additional organic fertilizer, while leaving the soil heated under the sun in the greenhouse for several weeks.

Growing Strawberries in Containers Growing Strawberries in Containers

These are the strawberry plants that we have planted in our greenhouse.  I potted these strawberry plants around a month ago.

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Episcia Ronnie on Bike

December 11, 2009 in Episcia (Flame Violet) | 4 comments

My Episcia Ronnie  (aka Flame Violet)  is growing very well. It has grown many stolons, with some of them getting pretty long, and starting to tie up with one another.  To prevent my Episica Ronnie from growing into a tangled mess of stolons,   I knew I better change the container and repot the plant as soon as possible.

Episcia Ronnie on Bike

A hanging basket would be nice for trailing plants like Episcia, but I couldn’t find a suitable place in my house where I could hang the plant :(   While I was puzzling over the new container problem for my Episcia, I saw a cool bike/trolley looking raised planter when I was shopping one day. Yes! This could solve my problem I thought, and so I bought it right away. Read the rest of this entry »

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Zinnia Elegans: Collecting and Saving Seeds

December 3, 2009 in Gardening Techniques | 2 comments

Zinnia Elegans is a gorgeous choice for gardens. Zinnia comes in a wide variety of colors, and its large, bright blooms really give a garden a sense of cheer. There are even varieties of zinnia that are as jumbo as three feet in height! Moreover, Zinnia Elegans can easily be grown from seeds. All these factors make Zinnia a very popular flower in gardens.

Collecting and Saving Zinnia Elegans Seeds

Collecting seeds of Zinnia Elegans is fairly easy. As the blooms fade, air dry the flowers by hanging them upside down.

Collecting and Saving Zinnia Elegans Seeds Collecting and Saving Zinnia Elegans Seeds

(Left: Zinnia seeds that are not yet ripened  Right: ripe Zinnia seeds)

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