World of Flora

Fun Experience to Grow Hippeastrum

2024-02-29T16:13:00.000-08:00

The common name of genus Hippeastrum is Amaryllis.

The common name "amaryllis" has been used for Hippeastrum for years, especially for the ornamental cultivars (sold as indoor flowering bulbs around November and December, for Christmas, in the Northern Hemisphere). -- Source: Wikipedia.

For many years there was confusion among botanists over the generic names Amaryllis and Hippeastrum, one result of which is that the common name 'amaryllis' is mainly used for cultivars of the genus Hippeastrum, widely sold in the winter months for their ability to bloom indoors.

Plants of the genus Amaryllis are known as belladonna lily, Jersey lily, naked lady, amarillo, Easter lily in Southern Australia or, in South Africa, March lily due to its propensity to flower around March. This is one of numerous genera with the common name 'lily' due to their flower shape and growth habit. However, they are only distantly related to the true lily, Lilium. In the Victorian language of flowers, amaryllis means "love, beauty, and determination", and can also represent hope and achievement.^[3]-- Source: Wikipedia.

One of my husband's friends at his work gave Red Amaryllis Growing Kit as a Christmas gift in 2021 and 2022. I planted the first growing kit and bloomed successfully during winter. The second growing kit, I planted it three weeks ago. The condition of its bulb was not good. I could tell it was dying as I stored it more than one year in the car trunk, but I believed I could grow it well, just it needed more time. I was right. In more than a week, it showed the sign of life.

I took several pictures of my Amaryllis plants last Monday, February 26 and today February 29.

Left: Amaryllis 2 years old, bloomed this month, February 2024.
Right: Amaryllis 2 weeks old.
This photo was taken on February 26, 2024.

Taken on Monday, February 26, 2024.

Taken on Monday, February 26 2024.

Taken on Thursday, February 29, 2024.

Hippeastrum

Hippeastrum reginae
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Amaryllidaceae
Subfamily:	Amaryllidoideae
Subtribe:	Hippeastrinae
Genus:	Hippeastrum Herb.^[1]^[2]^[3]
Type species
Hippeastrum reginae (L.) Herb.^[4]
Subgenera
Tocantinia (Ravenna) Nic.García Hippeastrum
Synonyms^[5]
List

Source: Wikipedia

Fun Experiment to GrowTwo Sansevieria Varieties

2023-03-04T12:55:00.009-08:00

Last year I bought two varieties of Sansevieria trifasciata plants and propagated them. My daughter brought one pot of a variety and put it in her college dorm. I gave one pot of another variety as a present to someone, and two pots of two varieties grow well at home.

At my father's flower shop years ago, he had some pots of this plant but they weren't popular as like as this time, when people found out that these plants are good as a natural air purifier because in the night, it still produces oxygen. Sansevieria plants do not need to much care. They are easy to grow. We can water them once per week. This species can grow many years in a pot and it looks nice as one of indoor plants.

The picture above shows a pot of this plant sitting at the corner of our dinning room and the picture below shows this plant was arranged as a present. I propagated them from one single plant last year, so they are special.

Source: Wikipedia

Scientific classification

Sansevieria trifasciata in flower
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Ruscaceae Agavaceae
Genus:	Sansevieria
Species:	S. trifasciata
Binomial name
*Sansevieria trifasciata* Prain., 1903

My Fifth Flower Collection

2019-08-23T06:52:00.002-07:00

My fifth flower collection is Hibiscus kokio or Hibiscus rosa-sinensis. Its famous name is Hibiscus Hawaiian Punch. It is a shrub or small tree with red to orangish (rarely yellow) flowers. This endemic species is not officially listed, but considered rare in nature. When the first time I saw it at Home Depot last Wednesday, August 21, 2019, I said to my husband that it was the hibiscus I was looking for. I was so happy to get this orange color which is not many we can find it. Usually many blue or purple or pink color.

I gave this flower to my daughter as a special gift of what she already accomplishes. She reached Distinguish Honors for all semesters in 9th grade. CONGRATULATIONS, our Little Mermaid!

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis 'Brilliant'
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Malvales
Family:	Malvaceae
Genus:	Hibiscus
Species:	H. rosa-sinensis
Binomial name
*Hibiscus rosa-sinensis* L.
Synonyms^[1]
Hibiscus arnottii Griff. ex Mast. Hibiscus boryanus DC. Hibiscus cooperi auct. Hibiscus festalis Salisb. Hibiscus liliiflorus Griff. ex Mast. Hibiscus rosiflorus Stokes Hibiscus storckii Seem.

Source: Wikipedia

Fun Experiment to Grow Yard-long Bean

2019-03-14T20:30:00.002-07:00

Couple years ago one of my good friends sent me couple of yard-long been seeds via mail. From five seeds, only two weren't crushed and one seed were a half crushed, so I decided to plant them (three seeds). Two grew well but only one plant survived because I accidentally broke the young stems on another seedling. I took care one plant till it grew very well. I was satisfied with its result. I could grow the longest yard-long bean ever. almost 60 cm or over 60 cm if I flatten it.

During its growth, I watered it once/day except it was rainy day. Mostly I used washed rice water because it is a wonderful way to conserve water. The starches from leftover rice water will help encourage beneficial soil bacteria. It also contains vitamins, especially Thiamine; and minerals. They will add small amounts of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium (NPK) to the soil and they are good for plant's growth. Thiamine was my topic in my research for mushroom's growth to get my Bachelor Degree in Agriculture with my specialist program/major in Agronomy. I also used small amount of fertilizer contained NPK, only twice during its growth to boost harvest.

Yard-long bean plant in my backyard garden, summer 2017.

The longest yard-long bean, almost 60 cm, summer 2017.

Harvest from my backyard garden, 2016.

Harvest in 2017. I brought them to Massachusetts for dinner in the Glades in summer.

Our late son showed my harvest. It was the last time he enjoyed yard-long bean.

I harvest the young leaves to make soup with coconut milk.
In Indonesia, we call the young leaves of yard-long bean is daun lembayung.
It has more nutrients than its fruits.

I cooked stir fried yard-long bean for dinner at the Glades, summer 2017.

I made Urap using yard-long bean, cabbage, and seasoned grated young coconut, summer 2018.

Yard-long bean

Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae
Subfamily:	Faboideae
Genus:	Vigna
Species:	V. unguiculata
Subspecies:	V. u. subsp. sesquipedalis
Trinomial name
Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis (L.) Verdc.
Synonyms^[1]
Dolichos sesquipedalis L. Vigna sesquipedalis (L.) F. Agcaoili Vigna sesquipedalis (L.) Fruwirth

Source: Wikipedia

Fun Experiment to Grow Buttercrunch Lettuce

2018-05-17T20:42:00.001-07:00

Summer this year I plant butter-crunch lettuce for the first time. I didn't grow it from the seed but bought the baby plant from Walmart for $1.50. I wanted to know what the issues I would face during my planting.

When I harvested this afternoon, I considered using a cut-and-come-again method by cutting the entire plant at the base and leaving a short stub to re-sprout; or to extend the harvest, I can pick outer leaves first an allow the center leaves to enlarge.

Harvested on Thursday, May 17, 2018

Baby slug was the main problem I faced because too much rain during this week. When flipping the leaves, I saw many baby slugs on the ground. That was why after I cut the entire plant at the base, I left a short stub to re-sprout. Then I washed the leaves in the running water. That is the best way to clean them.

Taken on Thursday, May 17, 2018

Lettuce

lettuce field
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Asterales
Family:	Asteraceae
Genus:	Lactuca
Species:	L. sativa
Binomial name
*Lactuca sativa* L.
Synonyms^[1]^[2]
Lactuca scariola var. sativa (Moris) L. scariola var. integrata (Gren. andGodr.) L. scariola var. integrifolia (G.Beck)

DESCRIPTION

Common Name: Lettuce Buttercrunch
Botanical Name: Lactuca sativa Buttercrunch
Family: Asteraceae

Lettuce Buttercrunch, Lactuca sativa Buttercrunch, : Originating in India during ancient times, lettuce is one of the oldest, most popular salad vegetables. Buttercrunch has dark green tinted, wavy, yellow leaves, with a flattish open but tightly bunched fan-shape to each. Crisp and sweet, with a pleasant buttery taste. The baby leaves are highly rated for salads. A good source of vitamin A and phytonutrients. Slow bolting (running to seed). Enjoys near neutral, rich well drained soil. Whilst heat tolerant, most lettuce dislike very hot conditions and will tolerate some shade. Keep moist during growing period. Seed may be planted at 4 week intervals during the warmer months to provide a succession of this lovely salad vegetable. 70 days.

Sowing Advice

Sow lettuce seed on surface and barely cover during spring summer and autumn. Do not allow seed bed to get really dry. Thin gradually, thinnings may be used in salads. In warmer climates plants may benefit from a few hours of afternoon shade during the hotter summer months. Prefers rich moist, near neutral soils . Consecutive, small plantings will give a continuous crop throughout the warmer months. 70 days.

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Fun Experiment to Grow Oyster Mushroom at Home

2018-04-18T20:22:00.000-07:00

Tadaaaaaa!

First harvest in 12 days, April 18, 2018

My husband is psychic. He gave me a Christmas gift last year a mushroom growing kit which I really wanted it long time ago. So, this is my first experiment growing oyster mushroom at home. One day I want to have an experiment to grow the button mushroom at home (It will remind me when the first time I grew the button mushroom in the real environment for my research to get my Bachelor Degree in Agriculture in 1993).

I started to grow this oyster mushroom last Friday, April 13, 2018 by soaking the surface of the media overnight. The next day, I just put it near the window so it would get indirect sunlight. In seven days, I saw they began to grow and I could harvest them in 12 days.

Next time I have to wait till summer because they will grow better with temperature at least in 70 degree Fahrenheit.

I will write another post about this growing mushroom when I try to grow it from other side of the box. It's really fun, isn't it?

Backtotheroots.com

Pleurotus

Source: Wikipedia

Pleurotus ostreatus

Scientific classification

Kingdom:

Phylum:

Class:

Order:

Family:

Genus:

Pleurotus
(Fr.) P. Kumm. 1871

Type species

Pleurotus ostreatus
(Jacq.) P. Kumm. 1871

Fun Experiment to Grow Hydrangea

2017-06-29T21:04:00.001-07:00

This is not my first experiment. I grew Hydrangea arborescens (Annabelle) from bare root for the first time in early autumn 2005 at the front yard at our new house. In the second year the flowers started to grow. More year, more flower grew. In the third year, I had an idea to do an experiment by doing vegetative reproduction from strong stems. I planted several stems and they grew successfully. Even I grew the biggest Hydrangea ever--almost 30 cm in diameter. WOW! I cut several of the biggest flowers and dried them. I still have them now in the vase on the top of my refrigerator.

Because of that great experiment, when we moved to other renovated house in early winter 2011, I cut couple of strong stems and planted them in the pots. In early spring they grew and I transplanted them on the ground (back yard). The first year of growing, a neighbor whom we paid to cut the grass had cut them all when he was cutting the grass in our back yard. He thought they were weeds. I was very mad and almost cried. We decided not to use him anymore to cut the grass in our backyard. I could not believe it if he wasn't able to recognize the plants and the weeds, and even they grew on the neat spot that everyone would know if someone had planted them.

Anyway, I had to wait again for another year to grow. Finally, only one that could survive. I took care of it very carefully and didn't want it die because it had memory from our old house. In the following year, the flowers started to grow. Not many, only couple flowers. I was so happy! I did the several vegetative reproductions again and recently I have five beautiful Hydrangea plants.

This year is the third year of my Hydrangea growing. I enclose some pictures below of the third year of my Hydrangea. During late spring till early autumn, I always have them in the vase in my living room or dinning room. I also gave some to my neighbors. This made them so happy.

Enjoy the flowers!

First picture taken in spring (May 2017)

Second picture taken: about a week after the first picture.


Third picture taken: about several days after the second picture.

Third picture was taken from different angle.

Beautiful Hydrangea in the vase.

Hydrangea arborescens

Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Cornales
Family:	Hydrangeaceae
Genus:	Hydrangea
Species:	H. arborescens
Binomial name
Hydrangea arborescens ^[1] L. Source: Wikipedia

Fun Experiment to Grow Sweet Basil

2016-08-19T22:44:00.000-07:00

Sweet basil (Genovese basil) or kemangi in Indonesian, is a culinary herb I use for cooking. Last year one of my good friends from Ohio sent its seeds to me. I was so excited as several months ago for the first time I planted it. From all three small pots, all seeds grew well. As they all grew well, I could harvest their leaves and use them for cooking. The leaves may taste somewhat like anise, with a strong, pungent, often sweet smell. A perfect additional herb for spaghetti.

Cultivating sweet basil is not difficult. Besides daily watering, picking the dead leaves, and adding nutrition, I used to watch its leaves carefully. If its leaves have wilted from lack of water, it will recover if watered thoroughly and placed in a sunny location. Yellow leaves towards the bottom of the plant are an indication that the plant has been stressed; usually this means that it needs less water, or less or more fertilizer. The good thing of picking the leaves off the plant helps promote growth, largely because the plant responds by converting pairs of leaflets next to the topmost leaves into new stems.

Because I have three small pots of sweet basil and as I love giving, I was thinking to give one pot to someone who likes cooking. One lucky person who got my gift is a VA employee who cut the grass in our backyard. He went home carrying a small pot of sweet basil on his left hand with happy face. Do you want it too? Wait next year! Hahaha! (*)

Basil



Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Lamiales
Family:	Lamiaceae
Genus:	Ocimum
Species:	O. basilicum
Binomial name
*Ocimum basilicum* L.

Source: Wikipedia

Fun Experiment to Grow Cosmos

2016-07-25T20:56:00.000-07:00

I got cosmos seeds from my sister in law, Cathy, several years ago. She used to send any kind of seeds since she knew I liked gardening. Last year I planted several cosmos seeds and when they bloomed, I cut some of their good-looking flowers and displayed them in the living room.

It wasn't difficult to grow this plant and it didn't need a lot of works to take care of it. I watered with washing rice at least once per week and gave little bit of fertilizer, contained Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K). I also removed faded flowers routinely so it would stimulate other new flowers blooming. If the plants grew tall, I would need staking them.

Try it and have fun!

Cosmos

Cosmos bipinnatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Asterales
Family:	Asteraceae
Subfamily:	Asteroideae
Tribe:	Coreopsideae
Genus:	Cosmos Cav.^[1]
Synonyms^[2]
Cosmea Willd. Adenolepis Less. Cosmus Pers. Cosmos sect. Eucosmos Sherff Gosmos Motomi Ito, spelling variant, apparently accidental

Source: Wikipedia

Let's Start Gardening!

2016-05-29T16:02:00.000-07:00

I used to go to work in the morning, but on Thursday last two weeks I went to work in the afternoon. Because the weather was very nice (not rain, not chilled, and not hot), I decided preparing my garden throughout morning. These pictures below show what I had done.


Having a new Fiber Edge Raised Garden Bed Kit (42" X 42" X 6")

Pic. 1: It contains four 6" tall fiberglass boards, four angle brackets, 16 push fasteners, and black cover (bonus).

Pic. 2: There was an empty spot from construction trash and then I had an idea to use it for my small garden instead of planting grass seeds again.

Pic. 3: Hoe and shovel were ready to be used.

Pic. 4: First, I used shovel for digging, lifting, and moving the solid soil.

Pic. 5: Then second, I used hoe for shaping the soil, controlling weeds, and clearing soil. Can you see the difference of the soil surface after I used shovel and hoe from the Pict. 4 and 5? I'm sure you can.

Pic. 6: I had two ready planting areas for my vegetable and fruit seedlings. The raised garden bed needs top soil and manure before planting.

Pic. 7: I also made three medium holes for my white Hydrangeas that I cut from the strong branches this spring and planted them on the pots. This is a part of my experiments to multiply my white Hydrangea from our old house. The treatment was same which was from cutting but I planted it on the ground in the autumn three years ago.

Pic. 8: Calla bulbs are growing (vegetative growth). My coworker gave the bulbs from her garden last year. I'm so excited waiting to see the color of their flowers.

Pic. 9: My white Hydrangea began to bloom and my bleeding hearts had bloomed already. On the right side is other new white Hydrangea. It grew well after transplanting from the pot (cutting treatment/vegetative growth).

Pic. 10: These are Kale seedlings (generative growth). My friend from Ohio sent its seeds last year.

Pic. 11: I still have some plants leftover from last year. They grew again very well: strawberry (bare root-vegetative growth) and salad leaves (seeds-generative growth).

Done! Then I was ready to go to work with big smile and happy face.

To be continued!

Fun Experiment to Grow Green Onions (Part II)

2015-08-29T17:58:00.001-07:00

Having experiment to grow green onion is really fun. My goal is to be able to grow its flower since I never see it with my own eyes, then I want to know what's going on after the blooming period. You will see these pictures and videos below as the results of my experiment.

The most interesting fact is I did not use any additional fertilizer. I only used the regular soil I had before from my old pots and watered them with rice water (I wash the rice before cook it and I always use the rice water to water my plants). Do you know why? I will share my own interesting story in the end of this post. So, please stay tuned for the next post (part III).

Green onion flower

The flower contents seeds that can grow the new generations.

Harvesting seeds and seperating the tiny green onions growing from the seeds.

If you miss the part I of this post, you can visit this link: Fun Experiment to Grow Green Onions (Part I)

To be continued

Allium

Allium sativum^[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Amaryllidaceae
Subfamily:	Allioideae
Genus:	Allium L.
Type species
Allium sativum L.

Source: Wikipedia

About the author: Fida Abbott has interest in landscaping, gardening, and cooking besides singing and writing. She is a graduate of University of Pembangunan Nasional, Surabaya, Indonesia, in Bachelor Degree of Agriculture, 1988-1993. Recently she has writing projects and is pursuing her tax school in intermediate level.

Fun Experiment to Grow Green Onions (Part I)

2015-07-06T19:36:00.000-07:00

Green onions are often called scallions or spring onions are immature onions. They are used as vegetables, eaten either raw or cooked. They have milder taste than most onions. I used to cook them to make soups or any broths or just pour them (slices) on the top of the soup/broth.

I had an idea several months ago to do experiments: planting them inside and outside. I wanted to see the differences between growing inside and outside with different purposes. For inside: I planted them in the water (hydroponic system) and harvested the green leaves twice. For outside: I planted them in the containers/plastic pots using pot soil as their media. I wanted to see their flowers growing and would harvest the real onions (bulbs).

The first day after planting (Hydroponic).
Media: water. I changed the water at least once a week.
Everyday the old and new leaves grew 1 cm.
This small plastic glass contains 3 green onions.

Growing after 2 weeks. Location to grow: Near window with full of sunshine.
Time to harvest.

This plastic container contains 6 green onions.
Every time I harvest, I have saved $1.18 as like buying them in one plastic back.
To harvest: I cut the green leaves and let the bulbs growing again one more time.
By harvesting twice, I have saved $2.36 as like buying them in two plastic bags.

In the second harvest I used all the parts of the green onions (leaves and bulbs) and only left two bulbs.
I did another experiment by planting them in the plastic pots using pot soil as their media.

To be continued

Allium

Allium sativum^[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Amaryllidaceae
Subfamily:	Allioideae
Genus:	Allium L.
Type species
Allium sativum L.

Source: Wikipedia

Meet Fida, A Gardener from Pennsylvania

2015-04-14T20:24:00.003-07:00

Posing with one of my eight Thuja Green Giant Trees
I planted in autumn 2005. The baby plants were
around 30 cm when I planted them and they were
over 3 m when my husband took this picture
in October 11, 2009.

Hi! Do you like gardening? You do? . . . That's great. You can be my friend. We can share our stories each other, so make sure you won't forget to get updated stories from this blog. Just write your email address on the left side of main page at the provided box and my stories will be delivered on time to your email box. Isn't it easy?

Uuups, I almost forget to tell you. I am from a tropical island in South Asia: East Java, Indonesia. Earning Bachelor Degree in Agriculture in 1993 with my special program in Agronomy challenges me to learn more about gardening in Pennsylvania. You know what I mean: from facing two different climates to four different climates. Challenge is awesome. It gives me enthusiasm to do experiment and more experiments, practice and more practices with the results of "WOW!!!" or "UUUPS!!!" Learning to garden in different climates will build my skill of how to plant many kinds of plants in the right ways. So, if you're interested to know about my adventures in this world, don't forget to subscribe to this blog.

See ya!