A lotus alternative?

Alisma plantago-aquatica, I think this is an alternative to water lotus flower or water-lily. Don't you think so?

Well ... on the mini side ;-)

Blooms once. About 2 days after the bloom day, grows new leaves to be rooted. Fairly easy to grow as long as they are shielded from noon to evening direct sun. Bloom pic taken from our guppy pond, fertilised well naturally by our guppies and catching outdoor light and air.

Alisma P. in our open courtyard. It grows according to the size of their pot. So the bigger pot, the bigger leaves.

2 new stalks carrying buds. Very productive Alisma in a guppy pond in filtered sunset.

Finished blooms will sprout young leaves and roots. Ready to be separated from mummy-plant, but I decided to let it float to shade some part of the little pond.

Exotic - Ground Orchid

During our usual grocery shopping, I chanced upon the weirdest looking tiny Orchids. Well naturally I avoided Orchids, although there are some fragrant species and thrives in tropical climate, just that they seem 'too clingy' and high maintenance to me.

But this seem different; it has Pandanus-like leaves, bloom size an inch wide and whole plant 12-inch above the soil. It is grown in black soil instead of stones, bricks or charcoals. Looks as if its roots bulbous. There were 7 leaves' stem and another one stem with flowers. I wonder if it grows similar habit as Heliconia.

Giant hypermarket's trolley terribly worn out (Kelana Jaya), causing the poor plant to vibrant the whole time. Some petals fell off.

I'm calling it tiny Orchids for now until I could find its actual name. Cheers!

Well whadaya know? It's Ground Orchid or Boat Orchid (Spathoglottis Plicata), is the common species of Orchid that blooms year round. Fluted or pleated leaves emerge from round pseudo bulbs, which will multiply as the plant matures. Ground Orchids can be grown in pots, beds or borders. Experts advised regular watering but don't over-water. It requires good air circulation and humidity, in bright light but careful against prolonged direct sun. It will spread slowly and could bloom for 2 - 3 months.

Wow, did I mentioned about Orchids - high maintenance?

Reaching to great heights

Alisma plantago-aquatica, a common water-plantain, blooms everyday this week. White paper thin flowers with yellow center; blooms once then closes during sunset. When all buds finished blooming, sprouts new leaves. You can cut it to replant or re-pot when new leaves 3" tall.

We've bought Alisma in Aug'08, divided into 2 pots, hadn't flowered since Oct'08. Late May'09, we bought fertilizer seeds, half an inch round, specially made for water-plants from One-stop DIY. Use 1.5 seeds and bury deep into each pot - for a plant size like mine. But I started out with a single fertilizer seed and 2 weeks later, each potted Alisma in the courtyard - grew a long trailing stem with flower buds. The biggest pot had the longest stem with buds reaching 5.5' tall - remarkable!

http://jaimeboey.blogspot.com/2009/05/surviving-in-malaysian-heat.html
http://jaimeboey.blogspot.com/2009/05/o-blessed-rain.html

Our Vinca Periwinkle, as predicted, reached 5' tall and out grown the foldable plant support. I grit my teeth for buying 4' high support instead of 5' high - but I hadn't expected it to grow so tall and so fast! Even my in-laws (who gave us the seedlings) were amazed.


Vinca Periwinkle seedlings filling up the grass patch too. Pinch off seed pods from the plant from time to time, reduce germination. Quite a havoc but it gives pleasurable view as it never fails to bloom everyday. It's a plant that'll reminds me to strive on reaching to great heights.

Softscape for courtyard garden

Feeling the Tranquility within ... There is a richness within every human being. There is a possibility to feel peace within every human being—the peace that we were born with and that will be there for as long as we live... peace from your heart, .. be independent of all the outside circumstances for that peace, for that joy. It exists in your heart... because what lies at the end is the fulfillment of a lifetime. - Maharaji



Our courtyard is always cooler with high humidity than the outdoors, partly due to receiving only 2 hours of direct sunlight (mid-day). Therefore, we need easy-maintenance indoor plants, i.e. Pandan leaves (Pandanus amaryllifolius), water plant (we were told it is water-orchid), Anthurium (Anthurium andraeanum), Happy Plant (Dracaena fragrans massangeana) and trailing Pothos Devils Ivy (Scindapsus aureus).




Why keep natural plants indoors ?

http://www.greenpatio.com/why.shtml

Water plant's young leaves sprouting after the blooms died.

(view of our ever-hungry comets ;-p)