Alocasia 'Polly'

A dwarf selection of Alocasia founded by Dennis Rotaloute of Silver Krome Gardens in 1993. It is much smaller than amazonica but more durable and compact. This plant is ideal for 4” and 6” production. The upper surface of the leaf is dark green and the midrib is typically a lime-white color. The primary lateral veins are surrounded by white-silver zones. The lower surface is typically matte purple with green-white midrib and major lateral veins.

http://www.wschowa.com/abrimaal/araceum/alocasia/polly.htm

http://www.agristarts.com/aloc_polly.htm

Philippine Aroids

[Amorphophallus paeoniifolius]

http://www.pinoyplants.com/aroids.php

Pinoy Plants. We are offering our service to provide you with Philippine endemic plant species.

The fern page is fascinating too.

Homalomena lindenii 'Lemon Glow'

This is new to me, but looks like my kind of plant.

This philodendron relative has solid gold heart-shaped leavea that look much like a philodendron. The new leaves are bright gold and the old leaves are chartreuse. It grows to about 20 inches tall. Grow in bright to moderate light, in a moist well-drained soil. Likes warmth. USDA Zones 10-11.

http://www.asiaticanursery.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/plants.plantDetail/plant_id/1169/index.htm

http://www.agristarts4.com/homalomenas.htm

http://www.wschowa.com/abrimaal/araceum/homalomena/homalomena.htm

Lights, water, growth!

The excellent hydroculture site has some very good advice on amongst other things light and water, two key elements for successful houseplant culture. I always learn something when browsing here:

--- Providing Light ---

http://www.waterroots.com/providinglight.htm

--- watering ---

http://www.waterroots.com/watering.htm

--- humidity ---

http://www.waterroots.com/improvinghumidity.htm

Spring Bulbs

It's been a lovely sunny (if still rather cold) day here today. So after looking after my indoor plants (including giving a Palm a hair cut) I went out to look in the nearby gardens at the Spring bulbs which are still making a lovely show.

The picture is from Hidcote but my personal favourite spot for Spring bulbs is Kew Gardens. I hope to go there in May but it should be making a lovely display at the moment. This is their bulb map:

http://www.kew.org/events/spring/bulbs/bulbmap.html

and a picture of Glory of the snow taken only a few days ago

http://www.kew.org/plants/springbulbs/chionodoxa.html

I heard a thousand blended notes,
While in a grove I sate reclined,
In that sweet mood when pleasant thoughts
Bring sad thoughts to the mind.

To her fair works did Nature link
The human soul that through me ran;
And much it grieved my heart to think
What man has made of man.

Wordsworth - Lines Written In Early Spring

At Kew, the Bluebells won't be too long. I have a Bluebell wood not far from me but not much showing yet. Still a day like this, speaks of the Summer to come.

A Collection of Bromeliads

Not mine, but very impressive.

http://www.centralcoastbroms.com/

Welcome newcomer Maidenhair Fern

This is to replace one that didn't make it when I was on holiday for a week as i find they need misting very frequently.


http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Adiantum+capillus-veneris

http://www.greengold.com.au/greengold/CARENOTES/CARENOTES/adiantum.htm

Welcome newcomer Jewel Orchid

Jewel orchids are so called because of their extraordinarily beautiful foliage which comes in a variety of colors. They are not a specific genus of orchids, but rather a grouping based on their intriguing leaf coloration.

Mine is Luisia 'Red Velvet' which must be easy to propogate as I have seen them in Supermarkets. I have put mine in a cool - semi-warm spot out of direct sunlight.

http://orchidlady.com/pages/orchidGarden/jewelOrchids.html

Houseplant wallpapers

http://www.plantoasis.com/extra/wallpaper/

Welcome newcomer Calathea

I bought a few new houseplants from HomeBase in Frome yesterday. I am a little puzzled by this. It is labelled as a Calathea, but doesn't look like any species I know.

Calathea is a genus of about 300 species of evergreen, rhizomatous perennials found in humid forest margins in tropical Central and South America, and the West Indies. They are not easy to care for as they need some warmth, an indirect light, moist compost and as much humidity as you can supply.

Looking at the leaves of the one I just bought, I wonder if this is a hybrid, or more likely a virus break that has caused the strange leaf effect.

http://gflora.com/index.php?cmd=genus_body&genus_id=164

http://mgonline.com/calathea.html

Juno Irises

[Iris bucharica 'Duschanbe']

The Juno group of Irises grow from a bulb, not a rhizome (like I. reticulata) and consist of a groupof about 50 species, of which only about half a dozen are grown in the UK because they need a frame, greenhouse or cool conservatory. Though Ursula Buchan writes in the Daily Telegraph that Iris bucharica at least could be grown outside in the right conditions.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/main.jhtml?xml=/gardening/2008/03/28/garden-iris-bucharica128.xml

The British Iris Society recommends a using compost which should be 75% John Innes no.3 with 25% grit.

The Pacific Bulb Society has a review of some of the most common species available.

http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/JunoIrises

Worth trying these beautiful species in a cool, protected spot.

http://freespace.virgin.net/almond.jim/Bulbcult.htm

http://www.kevockgarden.co.uk/bulblistspring/iris_bucharica.htm

Charles McIntosh - The Greenhouse, Hot House and Stove

Charles McIntosh, F.H.S. THE GREENHOUSE, HOT HOUSE AND STOVE, Including Selected Lists of the Most Beautiful Species of Exotic Flowering Plants and Directions for their Cultivation.

Wm. S. Orr and Co., London. 1838. First Edition.

With 18 fine hand-coloured botanical plates, including frontispiece and vignette title.

Just spotted this on eBay UK. I'm not bidding, but a very good book.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/McIntosh-GREENHOUSE-HOT-HOUSE-STOVE-1838_W0QQitemZ120238942701QQihZ002QQcategoryZ21537QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Monophyllea sp 'Sarawak'

http://www.asiaticgreen.com/OtherPlants.htm

http://www.plantworld.org/gallery2/main.php/key/Green?g2_itemId=3185

http://www.petfrd.com/forum/showthread.php?t=23261

http://www.lonker.net/travel_borneo_5.htm

Impatiens oncidioides

Found in West Malaysia within Pahang State. They are found in cool and dark areas where humidity is high.

http://www.asiaticgreen.com/OtherPlants.htm

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kmatsalleh/2308914848/

http://128.253.177.181/cgi-bin/dol/dol_terminal.pl?taxon_name=Impatiens&rank=genus

Aristolochia ringens - Dutchman's Pipes

Native to Brazil but now found in many tropical areas. Easy to grow in a warm conservatory if kept moist and misted. Most unusual climber.

http://www.logees.com/prodinfo.asp?number=R1090-2

Spathiphyllum 'Sensation'

http://www.oglesbytc.com/oglesby_details.asp?TF_ID=18014583

--- General care ---

http://www.oglesbytc.com/culture-spathiphyllum.html

House Plants: Proper Care and Problem Solving

http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/plantsci/landscap/pp744w.htm

--- HOUSEPLANT INSECT CONTROL ---

http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef406.asp

Begonia Curly Fireflush [hyb]

Dark green leaves edged blackish chocolate; spiraled leaves with richly haired umbber; pearl white flowers. Needs a high humidity: a wardian case is perfect. Seems to prefer cool winter to prevent severe defoliation - while most beautiful, always a challenge to grow perfectly.

http://www.backyardgardener.com/plantname/pda_95ee.html

http://www.begonias.org/monthly/Fireflush.pdf
(nb. pdf file)

Spathiphyllum "White Lightning"

http://www.spaths.com/

--- Five ways to grow better spath ---


http://www.growertalks.com/archive/articles/1680.asp

Ficus elastica

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ficus_elastica

Ficus Benjamina 'Midnight' Corkscrew

http://www.kallistogreenhouses.com/ProductDetail.asp?id=2949&cat=108

Sedum Society

[x Graptosedum 'Francesco Baldi' by Les Taylor. This extremely common cultivar is rarely labelled but can be labelled Pink Beauty. It is capable of withstanding short periods of frost]

http://www.cactus-mall.com/sedum/

Hort Log - Horticulture in the Far East

[Chirita micromusa]

How have I missed this for so long. Thanks to Lup San from Singapore, webmaster of East Asian Flora Web for pointing out to me his / their wonderful blog. I envy the photographs and many of the plants would be so fascinating to grow.

http://hortlog.blogspot.com/

Lighting suggestions

I love lighting my plants (and flat) in different ways and get some great inspiration from:

http://blog.2modern.com/

--- Lighting ---

http://blog.2modern.com/lighting/index.html

Podochilus microphyllus

A most unusual fern-like Orchid, with attractive white flowers, found in the wild amongst moist rocks or branches near rivers. Malaysia.


http://www.orchidphotos.org/images/Borneo/Orchids/podochilusmicrophyllus_136.html

http://www.orchidenthusia.com/english/gallery_en/p2.htm

Space saving wire walls (article)

By Sandra Billeter

http://www.orchidboard.com/Orchid-space-saving-wire-walls

Phalenopsis Orchids - video

http://uk.youtube.com/user/PAllenSmith

--- Selecting Indoor Trees ---

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=X3VnPWcK3pI

Bean Screen - Judy Hoysak

The Bean Screen is a room divider that grows beans.

Traditionally, vegetables gardens are thought of as utilitarian, and the potential beauty of vegetable plants ignored in favor of non-edible ornamentals. I use existing negative space opportunities within the home to minimize the footprint of these products.

These pieces are using ready-made self-watering planters and T-5 fluorescent plant grow lights and the structure is made from Plyboo Strand and aluminum.

http://coroflot.com/public/individual_file.asp?from_url=true&portfolio_id=465120&individual_id=113294&sort_by=1&

Misting Systems for the Greenhouse / Conservatory

http://www.greenhousegrowing.co.uk/MistingSystemsGreenhouse.html

http://www.twowests.co.uk/TwoWestsSite/product/MPU.htm

Japanese Orchids

[cultivar called DONRYU]

http://homepage3.nifty.com/plantsandjapan/page097.html

Orchids in Burma

[Orchids being sold at a border crossing]

http://www.volunteerabroadnews.org/index.php?op=ViewArticle&articleId=187&blogId=7

--- Orchids in Burma Today (1952) ---



by Philip R. Fehlandt
http://tacomaorchidsociety.com/burmaorchids.html

Palm House and Fountain - Kew Gardens

Just happy memories in my teenage years (yes I was a plant geek even then) of eating my sandwiches, feeding the ducks and looking at this beautiful view.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/eleanorjphotos/2262109131/

Orchids in Vietnam

[Mokara]

Mokara Orchids are a trigeneric hybrid between the Ascocentrum, Vanda and Arachnis Orchids. Created in Singapore in 1969, Mokara is now as popular as its parents. The first Mokara hybrid was called Mokara Wai Liang, named after C.Y. Mok of Singapore. This hearty hybrid has a unique flower shape and the potential to last up to two or three weeks in the vase with proper care. This is an example growing in a Vietnamese Orchid farm from:

http://www.flowerpictures.net/vietnam_flowers/orchids/vietnam_orchids.html

Japanese Flower Market

from a series done for a magazine in Japan called Zexy.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/peteleongphotography/2353801312/

Iran's Flower exports

http://iranfacts.blogspot.com/2007/08/irans-flower-export.html

Los Angeles Flower District

http://laflowerdistrict.com/


The Los Angeles Flower District is the Los Angeles area's premiere flower market resource for flower growers, shippers, suppliers, floral wholesalers, distributors, floral designers, event planners and retail florists in the floriculture and horticulture industries.

Dancing Houseplants

Just given to me by a friend. She bought it as a Buddha, but it is a Thai dancing girl statue. Anyhow it looks good with my houseplant. Rather a messy area of my room but space is short in my flat.

Edith Hayllar - Tea in the Conservatory

Edith was the daughter of the Victorian painter James Hayllar and lived from 1860 till 1948. It is not known when this was painted but it is of the river-side Conservatory (or they may have called it a Summer House) of her family home at Castle Priory, Wallingford.

The Transplantable Rose blog

this particular post which fascinated me is
2007 Austin Pond Society Tour
http://annieinaustin.blogspot.com/2007/07/2007-austin-pond-society-tour.html

The main blog (well worth reading) is:
http://annieinaustin.blogspot.com/

Digital Librarian - Gardening

[Heligan]

http://www.digital-librarian.com/gardening.html

Houseplants, paintings and cats

A good combination to blog about in my opinion.


http://greenfishwatercolors.blogspot.com/

Got Houseplants? Get Inspired by Grand Greenhouses

[Ficus lyrata - Fiddleleaf Fig]
[Citrus limon 'Ponderosa']



--- Got Houseplants? Get Inspired by Grand Greenhouses ---

http://www.thedailygreen.com/green-homes/blogs/organic-gardening/greenhouses-houseplants-460320

(nb. for some reason this article doesn't always load complete and may need refreshing)

Garfield Park Conservatory - Chicago

photo by Sandra P.
http://www.yelp.com/user_details?userid=ULY0O-X9yjSMnbPFUGLL8A

from

http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/JfNZVzh052lwZKpIMgsA1g?select=a6gU7BhRlbf6vfYkt3smGg

--- Garfield Park Conservatory ---

http://www.garfield-conservatory.org/

opened in 1908, so 100 years old this year.

http://www.garfieldconservatory.org/history.htm

The Lincoln Park Conservatory

[The Conservatory]

http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/




[Ferns]



[Entrance to the Palm House]



http://www.luc.edu/orgs/spent/lincolnparkconservatory.html

Japanese Garden - Eskdale, Cumbria

Please note this is a .pdf file.

http://www.outwardbound.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/E26F2F2B-C7C8-4AC9-811B-573165B37D40/0/GARDENSGatehouse.pdf

Quiet Garden movement

Our vision is to initiate and resource a network of local opportunities, mainly in private homes and gardens for prayer, silence, reflection and the appreciation of beauty; for learning about Christian life and spirituality; and for experiencing creativity and healing in the context of God's love


http://www.quietgarden.co.uk/quiet_garden_ministry.htm

http://www.reflectiongardens.org.uk/

Houseplant problems

[Mildew]

http://www.steverd.com/violets/leaves/leaf-id.htm

and more generally:

http://www.thegardenhelper.com/troubleshooting.html