Garden Voices

Do you know… (Part 2)

demoadmin — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:39:26 +0000

Do you know that you can help to reduce disease transmission?
Have you ever noticed that your Orchid might have some black spots on the leaves? When you cut off the ‘black spotted leaves’ and continue to trim other healthy Orchids without cleaning your equipment, you are actually infecting your other healthy “babies” with diseases. So to prevent such situations, try to sterilize your scissiors by heating the metal tips or cleaning it with ethanol after gardening.

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Do you know that use of asexual propagation might transmit diseases?
Yes, plants are cheap but treatment for the plants is expensive. Did you know that tiny nematodes which look totally harmless can destroy a huge Pine tree? The annual loss of pine timber in Japan is 2.4 million cubic meters. This is caused by the pine wood nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus. You might wonder what has that got to do with Singapore, but haven’t you realised that Singapore is surrounded by huge trees? Imagine the consequences if one of these nematode or insect hops on to our all time favorite local tree – the Rain tree (Samanea saman)? That might be the end of Singapore’s trees. So, maybe it’s time to start propagating through seeds and watching your cultivation hygiene?

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Do you know that our plants names are not in English?
Frequently, we don’t really bother or know how to write our plants’ names correctly. For example, soybeans are also known as Glycine max. This is not an English name but a latin and/or Greek name, therefore we ought to italicise the name. The 1^st name (Glycine) is known as the genus name or the “family” name, whilst the 2^nd name (max) is known as the species name or the “individual” name. If you are not sure about the scientific name, then using the common name is fine. However, do remember that there are different common names describing the same plant. Maybe it’s time to learn a new language?

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Matthew Tan

‘Community in Bloom’ Talk series 2009 - Bulbophyllum Orchids

demoadmin — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 23:08:47 +0000

An english talk entitled “Bulbophyllum Orchids” was conducted last saturday (10 Oct), 3pm at the Singapore Botanic Gardens, Function Hall. This was part of the talk series organised by the ‘Community in Bloom’ (CIB) Programme, in collaboration with National Parks Board and Green Culture Singapore.

Xuan Hong sharing with his audience on how to grow Bulbophyllum Orchids successfully.

Mr Lim Xuan Hong spoke on the topic of Bulbophyllum, the largest genus in the Orchidaceae. This genus of orchids is names as such due to the characteristic bulbous looking growth form on which a leaf grows. Orchid collectors grow Bulbophyllum due to its extremely unique flowers, which have interesting looking lips. Xuan Hong showed the audience many slides on the different species of Bulbophyllum orchids, their uniqueness and how to grow them well. During the Q & A session, an experienced grower in the audience also shared his knowledge of growing them successfully with the group.

Do join us for another talk on “Growing Tomatillos” on 24 Oct (Sat), 3pm at Woodlands Regional Library, Programme Zone. Admission is free. No registration or reservation is required. See you there!

Know 10 Trees in Singapore? Find out more about one today - Sea Apple.

demoadmin — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 23:55:13 +0000

Remember classic high school movies where the class geek is never given a second glance until prom day when she wows everyone with her new make over? That is how the unassuming Sea Apple (Syzygium grande) tree is like, standing quietly along our streets amidst the hustle and bustle, then finally grabbing everyone’s attention at the right time with her exuberant display of white flowers that shout “Hey! Look at me, I’ve been right here all along!”

Sea Apple in bloom (centre, photograph courtesy of Habitatnews)

Belonging to the Myrtaceae family, the Sea Apple is one of the most common trees lining our streets and indeed its overall shape and look gives it an understated appearance. When compared to ‘flamboyant’ trees like the Ketapang (Terminalia catappa) with its autumn-coloured leaves or the Flame of the Forest (Delonix regia) with its fiery red flowers, it is no wonder the Sea Apple looks ‘ordinary’.

Flowers of the Sea Apple

This all changes for this coastal tree every June and October as this is when its obconic (inverted cone), dark green crown becomes peppered with compact clusters of white flowers. This phenomenon occurs in the majority of Sea Apple trees all across the island and it makes one wonder whether they planned it on purpose. The individual flowers are beautiful in their own right and when all of them are viewed together, the effect is even more stunning.

A Sea Apple tree

The Sea Apple (also known as ‘Jambu Laut’ in Malay), as its name suggests, is commonly found in lowland coastal forests of Malaya. It is fast growing and can reach heights of up to 30m.Sea Apple trees were adopted as wayside trees in Singapore very early in the 1900s as they transplant easily and provide excellent shade As they do not burn easily, Sea Apple trees were originally planted as firebreaks when roads of the island were bordered by lalang wastelands that caught fire easily.

So as you make your way around Singapore, be sure to keep your eyes out for Sea Apple trees and catch them in bloom!Joey Gan

Under a Rainbow Tree

demoadmin — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 00:48:20 +0000

My work with Heritage Trees often takes me to many beautiful out-of-the-way places in Singapore such as Saint John’s Island and the old Seletar Airbase, just to name a few. These places are home to many majestic trees that are sure to make you go “wow”. However, sometimes one does not have to travel very far to see beautiful trees.

Meet the Rainbow Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus deglupta)!

Katong Park is just a few bus-stops from where I live and in the far corner of the park lives a beautiful tree with rainbow coloured bark.

A personal favourite of mine, this unique tree is what we normally call a gum tree or eucalypt and it belongs to the same genus as the other gum trees commonly found in Australia. However unlike the other members of the genus, the Rainbow Eucalyptus is the only one that hails from the Northern Hemisphere, specifically the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. This is why it is also referred to as Mindanao Gum.

Here’s a cloeser look at is beautiful rainbow bark.

Why is the bark so colourful? This is due to the different rates of peeling and drying of the thin, smooth bark. Newly exposed (i.e. fresh) bark is bright green, and then slowly turns bluish to purplish, and then pink-orange. Finally the colour turns brownish maroon just before it starts to peel off, which starts the entire colour change cycle again. Since this process of exfoliation occurs at different rates and at different locations on the trunk, simultaneously, the tree will never have the same colour pattern twice. This makes the Rainbow Eucalyptus a living work of art.

I love “showing off” this living beauty to my friends and family, and now my elder brother ranks this tree as the coolest tree in Singapore. If you stay around the area just pop by Katong Park, which is along Meyer Road, to admire this gem. Don’t forget to bring your camera!

Joey Gan

Small, motionless but oh so dangerous…

demoadmin — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 23:59:44 +0000

A recent expedition to Gunung Tahan, the highest mountain in Peninsular Malaysia, has further spurred my fascination with Nepenthes, a group of carnivorous plants that occur throughout South-east Asia.

Nepenthes gracillima is perhaps the rarest species of Peninsular Malaysia, as it is only known from the summits and higher slopes of Taman Negara. I am lucky to have seen it. The small pitchers are of a colourful bright yellow or a combination of red and yellow. The colour makes them an attractive sight in the montane forest canopy as they are strewn all over along the path to the summit of Gunung Tahan.Nepenthus often occur in higher montane forest with full sun, moist and nutrient-deficient soil to encourage formation of pitchers for passive capturing of insects. If you are thinking of growing pitcher plants, do stick to the above conditions to emulate their natural habitat.

Upper pitcher of Nepenthus gracillima

Insects are attracted by the nectar produced by nectar glands located at the slippery inner walls of the pitcher plants. The unknowing insect will most probably fall into the fluid below and will eventually be drowned and digested. Even if they manage to climb up, the over hanging peristomes that surround the pitcher’s mouth will ensure much difficulty in climbing out.

Pitcher plants are often found in high montane forest with stunted vegetation

Magnificent view above 2000 meters along the ridge of the summit

There are a few theories to which how insects are being digested. One is that the pitchers produce acid and digestive enzymes to break down the insect. Another is that the pitchers produce lysozymes to breakdown cell membranes that contain enzymes to allow the insects own enzymes to digest itself. It seems like the second method is a ‘smarter’ way, as enzymes are biologically expensive proteins that require a lot of energy to produce. Or could it be that the insects are left alone to simply decompose.

Whichever the method, the Nepenthus is without a doubt an ingenious invention engineered by nature.

References

Charles Clark 2002. A Guide to the Pitcher Plants of Peninsular Malaysia. Natural History Publications (Borneo)

Photos courtesy of Cheng Hui Yun

Written by: Eleanor Soh

Plant on Fire!

demoadmin — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 23:51:20 +0000

Any warm colours one could possibly imagine, one would be able to find it on the flowers of Ipomoea lobata (syn. Mina lobata), commonly known as the Firecracker Vine or Spanish Flag. It is impossible not to feel the warmth just by looking at this highly ornamental plant from the Morning Glory family (Convolvulaceae). With no typical funnel-shaped corolla, one might not be able to associate this with the Morning Glory family right away but indeed it is, and that is the thrill in the discovery.

Often mistaken as an annual, this fast-growing, sun-loving vine can however be cultivated as a tender perennial in the tropics. Since it is very easily propagated by seeds, one can choose to grow new batch of plants once every few months to keep up the vigor. The young plant starts branching vigorously within 2 to 3 weeks after germination, so pinching is not required to obtain a well spread specimen. By the 5th week, the plant would have covered the support with its numerous trilobed leaves and reddish vines. But do not be alarmed if the plant is not ready to give you flowers just yet. Be patient, and just when you are bored of seeing those leaves/vines…many tiny little spikes (inflorescences) start emerging. And before you know it, the plant is on fire!

On close observation, along with some imagination, each individual inflorescence resembles a skewer. Strange that it has never been commonly known as the Skewer Plant or Skewer-on-the-Grill Plant? Those would have been interesting names to call them.

So, if you want to feel the (oil-free, nectar-rich) sizzle, do pop by the patio of the Lifestyle Corner at HortPark. The plant will be on display there. Catch it while it is sizzling HOT!

Keneric Ng

My Sarracenia blooms

demoadmin — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 00:41:24 +0000

Sarracenias are North American carnivorous plants adapted to summer heat. It is one of the neglected plant in my garden as it thrives on poor and moist medium like sphagnum moss. It survives purely on sunshine and a tray of water to keep the medium constantly wet. Like most carnivorous plants, it has voracious appetite for insects and ants. Growing it outdoors does require more care such as removing pests like thrips, scales and aphids.

It started to produce many non-carnivorous leaves during the drier part of the year. Much to my surprise one day, my Sarracenia produces its first bloom. The bud came like a knob at the end of the crook of shepherd’s rod. It looked initially that the bloom was wilting but as the days goes by the flower was held up to the sun and it stands out with all the petals spread wide to receive the sun’s rays.

An obscure little bud forming at the end of a stalk that looks like a shepherd’s crook.

Bud opening after a few days.

Bloom takes about a week to gradually unfurl with crimson petals.

Fully opened Sarracenia bloom

Isn’t it lovely?
Ng Cheow Kheng

Amaranthus tricolor - Finally… it growing!

demoadmin — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 23:36:15 +0000

This Amaranthus is a strange plant. I tried to grow it in pots and in my garden, nothing showed. Then when NParks came to till the soil outside my house during the CIB for orchids, I just threw some seeds into the soil along with some compost next to my ground peanuts. All of a sudden I saw some buds coming out with nice colours and lo and behold it is the Tri-colour.

Picture is taken of the plant transplanted into a pot. Growing very well but not sure how high it will grow of how “wide” the leaves will go. Will take pictures to keep you guys updated.

Kelvin

Be Trumpetized!

demoadmin — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 23:48:47 +0000

When you next drop by HortPark, do check out the flowering Brugmansia versicolor cultivar (Angel’s Trumpet) at the patio of Lifestyle Corner. Started out as a tiny cutting, it was cared for and grown in Pasir Panjang Nursery since 11 February 2009. It is exactly 200 days later that it decided to do what it does best…’trumpetize’!

Easily propagated by stem-cuttings, Brugmansia does best in a sheltered, part-shade area and it is a famous heavy feeder. Be generous with fertilizer application, combined with consistent watering and one shall be rewarded with loads of trumpets. There are several cultivars with different coloured flowers e.g. pink, that gradually deepened over time.

There are 20 blooms now and more are coming up! For this cultivar, new trumpets are white, gradually deepening into a sweet mellow peach. It is however a pity that each flower only lasts about 2 days locally. By the end of the second day, the trumpet starts to wilt in the heat of the tropics.

Other than the current display at Lifestyle Corner, different cultivars of the plant are also planted at various locations of HortPark i.e. Water Garden, Home Garden, Floral Walk, Butterfly Garden and Golden Garden. Of which, do keep an eye on those growing at Water Garden…as they are likely to be the next to bloom. To see a yellow flower variegated leaf cultivar, do check out the Gardens-By-The-Bay Prototype Glass House.

So, you do know the best venue to be at if you want to get trumpetized! Enjoy and help us blow the trumpet if you like them!

Keneric Ng

Goldhill Community Garden on show at GardenTech 2009

demoadmin — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 00:02:27 +0000

The Goldhill Community Garden went on show at this year’s ‘GardenTech’, an annual one-stop Garden Fair organised by NParks to allow sharing of best gardening practices, ideas and experiences. Held at HortPark, the event attracted more than 130 exhibits showcasing the latest gardening and environmentally-friendly products and services. Our participation was part of NParks’ initiative to showcase successful Community Garden projects organised by Grassroot Organisations.

Our exhibit included a display of photographs and computer graphics outlining the origin and various stages of development of the Goldhill Community Garden. Members of the Gardening Club were on hand to answer enquiries from the many visitors to our stand at the fair.

Goldhill NC Gardening Club