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My Orchid Is Turning Green

14/09/2009

Lois 3. Orchids , 10 Comments

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.

turning green

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?

Ngengat si Kupu-kupu Malam

25/06/2009

Lois Life, Wonderful Animals , , 14 Comments

Pada suatu hari aku lihat kupu kupu yang aneh dihalaman belakang rumahku. Cukup besar ukurannya, bentangan sayapnya kira kira 15 cm. Anehnya kupu kupu ini antena atau sungutnya tidak panjang dan melengkung seperti umumnya kupu  kupu, tapi  yang ini  pendek, lebar dan bersirip. Cepat cepat kupanggil suamiku terus dia bilang itu bukan kupu kupu tapi itu adalah “moth” yang bahasa Indonesia-nya adalah ngengat. Aku baru tahu kalau ngengat itu ada yang sebesar itu, begitu besar hingga bisa kelihatan jelas bulu-nya yang  halus…….

Terus kami ambil photo-nya. Dibawah ini adalah gambar ngengat tersebut dan yang dibawah  adalah close-up  antena-nya bersirip seperti bulu. Dugaan kami ngengat ini adalah jenis  Emperor Gum Moth (Opodiphthera eucalypti) yang merupakan species asli dari Australia:

Moth Pics

Terus kucari di internet info mengenai ngengat, engga tahu-nya juga dikenal dengan nama “kupu kupu malam”, karena kalau siang istirahat dan aktif terbang dimalam hari.

Apakah perbedaan antara kupu kupu dan  ngengat?

Dibawah ini adalah info yang kuambil dari:http://australianmuseum.net.au/What-are-the-differences-between-butterflies-and-moths

Kupu kupu adalah serangga yang termasuk dalam order Lepidotera yang terdiri dari tiga bagian yaitu: Kupu kupu asli (Papilionoidea) , Skipper (Hesperiodea) dan Ngengat (Hedyloidea).

Walaupun ketiga kelompok ini termasuk dalam order Lepidotera, tapi ada berbedaan tertentu yang bisa membedakan apakah itu kupu kupu asli, kupu kupu skipper atau ngengat.

Diseluruh dunia, terdapat lima keluarga kupu kupu dan satu keluarga skipper, dimana keduanya memiliki persamaan tertentu pada bentuknya. Sedangkan ngengat memiliki 125 keluarga.

Ciri ciri tertentu yang bisa membedakan kupu kupu, skipper atau ngengat:

Antena:

  • Ngengat: Antenanya bersirip seperti bulu dan ujungnya tidak melebar/membesar.
  • Kupu kupu dan skipper: Ujung antenanya melengkung atau membesar dan sama sekali tidak bersirip.
  • Kecuali untuk ngengat jenis Casniidae(Sun Moths/Ngengat Matahari) mempunyai antena yang melebar/membesar ujungnya.

Warna:

  • Ngengat: Warna kurang cerah/kusam dan kurang warna warninya
  • Kupu kupu dan skipper: berwarna cerah dan warna warni.
  • Kecuali untuk ngengat jenis Alcides metaurus (Uraniidae) dan Agarista agricola  yang bagus warnanya.

Sayap:

  • Ngengat:  Kedua sayapnya dihubungkan satu dan lain dengan frenulum
  • Kupu kupu dan skipper: Sayapnya terpisah tak memiliki frenulum
  • Kecuali untuk skipper jenis Regent Skipper Euschemon rafflesia (Hesperiidae) dari Australia yang merupakan satu satunya skipper yang memiliki frenulum.

Posisi Hinggap:

  • Ngengat: Kalau hinggap sayapnya membentang.
  • Kupu kupu dan Skipper: Kalau hinggap sayapnya berdiri menyatu.
  • Namun banyak juga ngengat yang sayapnya beridiri seperti kupu kupu kalau sedang hinggap. Sedangkan ada kupu kupu seperti misalnya Lycaerid dari sub keluarga Riodininae, dan skipper dari sub keluarga Pyrginae sayapnya membentang kalau sedang hinggap.

Kaki Depan:

  • Ngengat: Kaki depannya tumbuh lengkap.
  • Kupu kupu: Kaki depannya tidak tumbuh lengkap/tidak beruas
  • Skipper:  Walau seringya kaki depannya tumbuh normal tapi ada beberapa yang tak lengkap seperti kupu kupu

Pupa:

  • Ngengat: Pupa membuat kepompong
  • Kupu kupu dan Skipper: Tidak mempunyai kepompong
  • Namun banyak juga ngengat yang tak memiliki kepompong dan banyak kupu kupu dan skipper melekatkan diri didaun.

Kegiatan:

  • Ngengat: Terbang dimalam hari.
  • Kupu kupu dan Skipper: terbang disiang hari.
  • Kekecualian:  Ada beberapa kupu kupu dan skipper yang aktif disenja hari dan cukup banyak ngengat yang juga terbang disiang hari.

Gambar Kupu kupu yang warna warni:

Colouful Butterflies

Menarik juga perbedaan antara kupu kupu, skipper dan ngengat. Terus aku mikir nih, kalau kupu kupu dan skipper itu mirip ciri cirinya……Bagaimana bisa membedakan keduanya? Inilah perbedaan antara kupu kupu dan skipper:

  • Skipper itu rata ratanya lebih kecil ukurannya jika dibandingkan dengan kupu kupu
  •  Seringnya skipper bertubuh pendek dan gemuk.
  •  Pada umumnya skipper warnanya oranye, kuning, putih atau coklat.
  •  Kalau terbang cepat dan bergerak naik turun seperti melompat lompat.

Gambar Skipper:

Skippers

Australian Hibiscus A. huegelii

07/06/2009

Lois 6. Wonderful Plants , , 6 Comments

This Alyogyne huegelii plant  is a newly addition to our garden. During the long drought last year some of our plants suffered and were dying. So we had replaced them with native plants  that are more dry tolerance. I find that this species of Australian Native Hibiscus is thriving nicely.

Alyogyne huegelii which is also commonly known as Lilac hibiscus is found naturally growing in Southwest of Western Australia. It is one of many other species of Australian native hibiscus. Although it is the mauve colour that is commonly cultivated and sold for garden plant, there is another one with cream colour.

The plant can grow up to 4 meters high and it needs to be pruned regularly to keep it in a reasonably compact shape. The bright green leaves are divided into five sections with irregular margin. They are strongly veined and covered by fine hair (pubescent). Both the leaf and flower stems are also pubescent.

Alyogyne huegelii

The single flowers have five soft and thin overlapping luminous petals, they almost look like crepe paper in appearance. The yellow center of the flowers is a pretty contrast to mauve petals. The flowercan grow up to 7 cm long.

Hibiscus A huegelii will grow best in sandy soil but it also grow well in any ordinary garden soil. It tolerates extremely dry condition and frost.

The name Huegelii was derived from the name of a German botanist and naturalist Baron Charles von Huegel (1795 – 1870) who was an avid collector of Australian native plants.

Like any other Australian native hibiscus, it is sometimes hard to find this plant in garden nurseries. Maybe you have to go to a special nursery for Australian native plants. However, once you find it and have it grown in your garden, it will be one of your very versatile plants with pretty purple flowers.

Happy Gardening!!

Some Plants in My Garden

01/05/2009

Lois 4. Seasonal Garden Notes 5 Comments

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.

mixed-plants1

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.

flowers

My Chrysants

25/04/2009

Lois 6. Wonderful Plants Leave a comment

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.

chryssies

close-up-chryssies

We had the worse dry spell in the last few months so I am afraid my other chrysanthemums will not flower as good.

Our Garden History

17/04/2009

Lois 4. Seasonal Garden Notes 10 Comments

Our house is an old weatherboard house which is well over fifty years old. In the past the garden was very basic with untidy lawn that had several fruit trees such as apple, pear. apricot and plum which was a very common garden style in 1940s. Along the driveway there were five massive trees; a camphor laurel, a soft bark gum tree, an English oak and a twin needle- pine trees on each side of the carport entrance. While the back yard had nothing but an old clothesline and overgrown grass and weeds.

our-garden

The top images: Front Garden and Drive Way. Bottom images: Back garden.
 
 

 

The first project that we did was in the back yard. In 1993 we made a tiny rock garden which nestled in one corner of our small back yard. We bought the rocks somewhere near Werribee. This way we could buy straight from the owner who had dug up the rocks from their property, and it was much cheaper.

The real progress of making the front garden only started in 1998 after we cut all the huge trees along the drive way and most of the diseased old fruit trees. Without these trees the other plants in the garden will enjoy more sunlight and more of the scarce rain water. We made a new garden bed along the footpath. After digging up all the grass, we mixed the existed soil with topsoil and compost. We planted many new plants. Slowly our garden was transformed from a boring suburban garden into a colourful and well trim display of plants and flowers.

The Art Of Bonsai

15/03/2009

Lois 6. Wonderful Plants , , 1 Comment

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:

  • Formal upright: Straight trunk with evenly spread branches.
  • Informal upright: The trunk is not perfectly straight which has unevenbranches.
  • Slanted: The main trunk grows slightly bending sideway.
  • Semi Cascade: The tree grows cascading down to the side of the pot. The pot usually is high (not flat).
  • Cascade: The cascade is lower than the height of the pot.
  • Roots over rock: The roots of the tree are exposed and they clasp tightly around the surface of a rock.
  • Group planting (Sakai): More than one plant are grown in one pot, usually are in odd numbers.

 bonsai-collections

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:

  • Maples : Trident maple, Japanese maple
  • Ficus: Choose those with smaller leaves like for example F binjamina, F benghalensis
  • Azalea: A kurume, A satzuke
  • Conifers: pines, spruce, junipers
  • Elms: Chinese elm, English elm
  • Oaks
  • Birch
  • Cotton-easter
  • 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:

  • 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.
  • Feeding: Use a weak liquid organic fertilizer at the intervals of two weeks during spring and summer. Solid organic fertilizer may also be used.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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

04/03/2009

Lois 6. Wonderful Plants , , 4 Comments

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.

 

chrysantemum-collection

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

20/01/2009

Lois 6. Wonderful Plants , 2 Comments

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. 

peace-roses

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……………….

My Baseball Plants

05/01/2009

Lois 1. Cactus and Succulent , , , 3 Comments

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:

 
Sunset: 4-9, 11,13-17, 31-34

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):

baseball-plants1

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