Grand Duke of Tuscany Jasmine / Rose Jasmine - Plant Care (Video)

Here, I would like to talk about this particular type of Jasmine known as Grand Duke of Tuscany. This video showcased the time lapse from the bud formation to the full spent bloom of the flowers, while in view of this - I would like to share a little bit about the plant care and some characteristics of this particular one. 

As you can see over here this particular bloom is actually fully spent and dried off I supposed to dead-head it but I have totally I missed it but anyway I would like to show to you, how it looks like and you can see from here a new side bloom has taken place from the side of the offshoot of the stem one of the most interesting facts about this particular jasmine is that these blooms seems to last more than few days. 

Normally when it comes to common jasmine flowers these actually last actually for a day but this particular one seems to be hardy and long lasting. This particular jasmine has a common name known as Rose Jasmine for the very resemblance that it does look very closely like a rose. I can say that it does have another characteristic similar like a gardenia flowers, however this particular one has a very strong fragrance. 

When it comes to its fragrance, one of the plus point here is that I had once an experience where the fragrance has actually emitted in the whole of my whole garden and when that was actually coming from one singular flower. So when it comes to Jasmine I can say that you can actually call it a King of Jasmine because the fragrance is just so mesmerizing. 

When it comes to plant care like most jasmine, this particular one needs to be in in bright sunlight area I would not recommend it to be planted by shade or semi shade area because you may have problems getting them to bloom. Also it does need to have a good watering at least once a day because it's actually exposed to the sun, so therefore it is actually a thirsty plant and I also can say that it also a very uh heavy feeder because lack of which it may not bloom. 

I can also mention that it does do well when it comes to heavy pruning and one of the factors here is that when it comes to pruning they tend to give more flower buds when when they go through that particular kind of stress. The other factor here is that do watch out for pests, normally I come across caterpillars feasting on even on the flower buds so don't keep an eye on that but also I noticed that there are other uh familiar pests and somehow like grasshoppers and even spidermites and scale insects seems to attack this particular plant. 

Propagation is normally used by stem cutting but it can be proved as challenging, so somehow marcotting seems to do a good job but in a way I find that by just cutting the stem and poking it in sort of seems to do good based on the medium condition. Once this particular jasmine has established itself in your garden I think there's nothing much to worry about except for daily watering and occasional pruning and feeding. Another interesting fact that i've come across is that you can actually use this rose buds for making tea all you have to do is take the flower buds and dry it or you can actually use the fresh flowers and actually boil it together with tea and you actually have Jasmine Tea.

How to Grow & Care for Asiatic Dayflower (Commelina erecta) (Video)

Commelina erecta (Commelina elegans) commonly known as the dayflower or widow's tears, is a perennial herb native throughout the Americas, Africa & western Asia. I have yet to see the white flowered version of this and somehow I would consider this rare as I had not seen sold in any nurseries or common garden displays both commercial or private. 

I find that it is slightly confusing as this particular one is considered a Spiderwort species. Commelinaceae, or the spiderwort family, is the largest family of the order, containing 652 species of which some are Tradescantia, Dichorisandra and Callisia species. Hence their characteristics and plant care needs are almost similar in their nature and conditions. 

However I find this plant is quite hardy and easy to care for in this climate. It does well in the open area planted outdoors exposed to sun & rain however not suitable as shaded plants.

How to Attract Sunbirds in your Garden (Video)

I would like to talk about this elusive, shy creature commonly known as Olive backed Sunbird. Here I would like to mention about what can you do to attract this nectar drinking birds in your garden. Olive backed Sunbird also known as Yellow Bellied Sunbird are commonly found around the Southeast Asia region spread across all over even found in Australia. 

These are considered as highland birds very similar like hummingbirds but these particular Asian ones do not flatter their wings so much, however just like the hummingbirds they do tend to have a colorful features that surely creates that magical moment in your garden. I must say that these birds are elusive and too quick even to be captured in camera hence the lower quality recording as these fly away immediately in the slightest movement.

 However these birds are not impossible to be enjoyed in your garden space, these are some of the tips that I would like to share to you based on my experience over the years on how to attract these birds in your garden. Do take note that these birds love to make their nests and always look for nest material, if possible tie a ball of cotton fiber around your garden area as they will use this material to build their nest. 

Based on my constant observation, I found that the females are the one that collects the nest material while the male actually watch over the surrounding and protecting her giving her warning signal at any slightest danger that is appears in this situation. On a normal day, the female collect a nest material at least in a duration of 10 to 15 minutes based on where the nest is actually been built, in this particular thing that I've noticed is that their time cycle is appears to be a little bit lesser because they have note that my presence is in a place of their danger hence the delay was taking place. 

Other than having cotton fibers around your garden you can also cultivate this particular plant known as firecracker plant, they seems to love the nectar that has been produced from these flowers and I find that this particular plant seems to be a strong magnet for these sunbirds. Do note that these birds do not like to come to ground level hence they will always like to hover or be in a position where it is slightly above ground. I believe this is one of the instincts that they will actually have when facing predators.

There are many tropical nectar bearing flowers and this particular one is what I found best and actually works in my garden. Another observation that I've noticed is that there will always be an alpha male that is actually taking care of a region, they seem to be very territorial hence I've always noticed that they'll make a very loud call in a way to identify that this is actually their region and what happened here is that another factor of either these particular birds are actually drinking the nectar towards the afternoon and they are very quiet, so this is supposed to be some kind of intruders that are sort of like robbing the territorial ground. so in a way that I've noticed that sunbirds do visit the garden and when they do they make a lot of noise and it always happen early in the morning somewhere around 8 00 a.m. in the morning. 

I believe there is also a mating ground where they also attract the female birds. These are some of the nectar producing plants that attracts the sunbirds. This particular one is commonly known as firecracker plant. I must say that I find this particular one very hardy and easy to care for it appears to be very much like a shrub bushy plant which may require heavy pruning time to time together with also heavy feeding as to encourage them to produce a lot of blooms. However this particular plant do require a good sunlight for it to produce flowers. 

This particular nectar producing plant is commonly known as little pink bird plant, seems to attract the sunbirds too. however this plant is very much behaves like a succulent plants hence requires a lot of sunlight and do watch out that it doesn't get too much water on it as it can easily succumb to root rot. However this too falls into the category of hardy plants, once this particular plant has established itself in your garden is nothing much to be worried about except for occasional feeding and pruning. 

Another easy and hardy plant that I would like to recommend, are these ginger types known as Costus. This particular one produce small buds of flower like from the main crown where the sunbirds collect the nectar from them on every morning, similarly there are also some of the best nectar producing flowers like Heliconias which also spans out to be more fancy looking similar like Lobster Claw and even Bird of Paradise. These are some of the flowers that attracts the sunbirds this is not only particularly exhausted to this particular one, whereas there's so many other nectar producing flowers which the sunbirds do tend to visit.

Easy & Hardy Tropical Succulent Plants for Balcony Garden (Video)

This is basically my Balcony Garden Collection I have been cultivating for sometime. These are very much experimental where I only water them once a week and in the context of observation to see whether they can handle and grow well in this garden condition. Here are the general ideas and some garden tips on How I Care and Cultivate them in my Balcony Garden Space.

Malaysian Tropical Garden Tour - Feb 2022 (Video)

This is my Malaysian Tropical Garden update. 

I have been constantly updating and changing my garden plants and they are in constant flux in the ebb and flow. However - these are what appears to be when I took my video update. 

Here is the detailed account of my compact, tropical garden - basically very much centered as a foliage plants, easy and hardy plants to care and maintain. Basically most of the tropical plants featured here are very much from my earlier collection spanning from Bromeliads, Begonias, Agloanema, Anthuriums, Succulents and most of the ariods and tropical plants. 

A Compact Tropical Garden in Malaysia where the focus ranging from all diverse range of tropical garden ideas and landscaping plants with best visual display from every tropical regions of the world spanning from Rare plants to Common Ornaments inclusive of Ariods, Bromeliads, Begonias, Edibles, Cascading & Vertical Garden Plants, Succulents & cacti, Orchids, together with both shade and sun loving plants. 

Showcasing here are the plants which have been with me over the years. The collection of Begonias, Ferns, Vertical Wall Collection followed by the plants by the Aquatic Setting. Also all the Cane Begonia and the Cascading Plants - Ferns, Huperzia, Hoya, Dischidia & Orchids. Also my update on my Vertical Garden plants where I had arranged my bromeliads followed by Agloanema & Anthurium. 

The other side are the dumbcanes and some plants where I place them in my small propagation station. Also some new plants that I had recently cultivated: The Anthuriums and Piper species. More on the context on Dieffenbachia types and the companion foliage plants. Maranta, Calathea, Ctenanthe, Stromanthe, Schismatoglottis wallichii, Leucosia, 

Cascading Plant collection: I had planted Epiphyllum sp. (Queen on the night) leaf cuttings and they are stabilizing with new growth. Also Rhipsalis, dischidia, orchids and Airplants. These are features where the plants behave as cascading plants that hang like a curtain which gives a good screen for privacy and good vertical shade. 

Addition: I had placed hangers on my gate where I placed colored foliage plants where I had replaced them where I had planted episcias before. Here is more of the piper plant. This is my 100th Video of my Garden Chronicles on this YouTube Channel. 

I had earlier uploaded the same garden a year ago. And I would really like to Thank all my Subscribers who have supported me and also given likes and comments to support my channel.

How to Grow Satin Pothos (Scindapsus) using Recycled Plastic Water Bottles (Video)

This is very much a DIY Plant container using a Recycled Plastic Water Bottle. 

I find Satin Pothos are quite sensitive and finicky and this set-up works best for this kind of plants - especially the Scindapsus species where they don't do so well in normal potting media. 

The set-up consists of the recycled water bottle together with the ariod mix which I personally use - also very much based on availability and recycled material such as Syrofoam and Cotton fiber which I recycled using from an old pillow. 

Also it works best for most philodendron, pothos and monstera species where the plant requires a climbing feature and at the same time where it is very practical for tight and challenging - lack of space factor. There are many different types of Scindapsus species - here I'm showing 4 different types in my collection inclusive of Pothos 'N' Joy & Monstera sp Peru.

Colocasia "Aquatilis var paraiso"

 

INTRODUCTION:

Similar like Colocasia esculenta 'Milky Way' can be considered one of the most expensive Colocasia sold in the plant market. Like some types with slight difference in foliage formation in coloration of the yellow and lime green freckles and blotches Colocasia types - this one is very much fall in the same category of close similarities in coloration. I have seen this still sold for an extremely expensive premium prices - however this one was not well received from the collectors point of view. 

Some did very well but some didn't - this is one of those which didn't.
Some vendors had to face setbacks as when they purchased this with premium prices - they were unable to get a good sale value to measure back their investment value. This one however are one of those which didn't make it well in the market. It is still rare in comparison to their popular kinds but due to the limited cultivated factor - no one is actually interested to purchase this premium prices knowing that trending plant prices don't stay expensive too long - hence not a good investment plant to begin with.

In their other extreme - even when some collectors may be interested to collect them but identifying that this one had not saturated yet in their plant prices - none is interested to purchase them with the existing premium prices. Hence, this one is stuck in the vendor store house - until they tend to overgrow and populate and began to mass produce - this one is stuck in the that particular zone as such as this with few others which fall in this price war category.

As for now, these had finished their trending season, hence expensive or not - it is not much sought after here in my tropical region.

CHARACTERISTICS:

I must say this can be quite confusing for beginners when looking for their difference especially when most of these types looks so similar in their coloration and type. Truth to be told, even I have found slightly irritated in considering their supposed ID should be, if their labels or in any case if this plant is not labelled - it can be anyone guess giving any fancy names which may prove futile as names and ID can just be labelled at anyone fancy.

On a serious notes - coming to facts.

The main notable difference are the splashes of soft cream tones in random appearance on the foliage surface structure. Also if does have a very strong similarities with Colocasia 'Midori Sour' or "Lemon Lime Gecko" though both look so much similar on their foliage appearance.

But then, there is another one that is been identified as "Yellow Splash" which has similar appearance.

In my opinion, Some variants may have stronger yellow tones and have almost similar appearance of the famous and popular Philodendron Paraiso Verde however I would prefer a philodendron in comparison this Colocasia - the philo is so much better worth the value for money and color in compared to this "ghost" version.

As always when coming to other feature identification are the petiole coloration - this one has a cream striped coloration. Like most trending plants - this one had finished its trending season. Like most Colocasias that had been flooded over in the plant market - this one failed to hit the market here in my region, hence this plant is still sold with it's the marked premium prices. 

I must say, without the label - I would not note any strong difference or characteristics and might have misjudged this for another reverse Midori Sour or of those variants. The sad part is there aren't much research details mentioned about them or what have been published when the vendors introduced these Colocasia for sale - what you see is what you get kind of the market pitch, adding more confusion for these Colocasia types - making them more unpopular among investors and collectors alike due to the fear of plant price crash.

Somehow I can say the difference between Colocasia "Aquatilis" and "Aquatilis var paraiso" is that the the first one is fairly common green ones and very easily available - even found around the wild or abandon areas whereas the var. types are rare and this is one of those one which have been discovered and sold as ornamental plant.

The challenge - just like most variegated plants, some are fairly unstable and may revert back to it's origin colors or might disappear in the next generation increasing a higher risk factor when these coloration fades away.

Plant Care & Cultivation is very much similar like most of the Colocasia species.

Click on the Link Below

For Detailed information of Care & Cultivation of Colocasias &

For Other Different Types of Colocasia:

Different Types of Colocasia (Taro) - Names & Images

 

Colocasia esculenta 'Milky Way'

INTRODUCTION:

Colocasia esculenta 'Milky Way' can be considered one of the most expensive Colocasia sold in the plant market. Like the yellow and lime green freckles and blotches Colocasia types - this one is very much in cream coloration. I have seen this still sold for an extremely expensive premium prices - however this one was not well received from the collectors point of view. 

The features are not very vivid or pronounced in compared to the "Lava" Series and eventually this one had faded into the background. Some vendors had to face setbacks as when they purchased this with premium prices - they were unable to get a good sale value to measure back their investment value.

This one however are one of those which didn't make it well in the market. It is still rare in comparison to their popular kinds but due to the limited cultivated factor - no one is actually interested to purchase this premium prices knowing that trending plant prices don't stay expensive too long - hence not a good investment plant to begin with.

In their other extreme - even when some collectors may be interested to collect them but identifying that this one had not saturated yet in their plant prices - none is interested to purchase them with the existing premium prices. Hence, this one is stuck in the vendor store house - until they tend to overgrow and populate and began to mass produce - this one is stuck in the that particular zone as such as this with few others which fall in this price war category.

As for now, these had finished their trending season, hence expensive or not - it is not much sought after here in my tropical region.

CHARACTERISTICS:

To note the main features are the milky white freckles in appearance on the foliage surface. One factor though, in my opinion on their premium prices could be that this one was mimicking the "Monstera Thai Constellation" series. These were highly sought after and have a strong reputation where it is still popular as indoor plant. 

Apart from this slight appearance of creamy white freckles on the foliage and leaf petiole, there are no other visible unique characteristics.

It could have started the trend, hence naming such as "Milky Way" might had taken some sympathy on this plant factor. Again in my point of view, this "galaxy" didn't make it and eventually got sucked into oblivion of a "black hole" that arrived at the end of the "Plant Trend" and fell as its final destination.

Plant Care & Cultivation is very much similar like most of the Colocasia species.

Click on the Link Below

For Detailed information of Care & Cultivation of Colocasias &

For Other Different Types of Colocasia:

Different Types of Colocasia (Taro) - Names & Images

 

Colocasia esculenta 'Midori Sour'

 

CHARACTERISTICS:

I must say this can be quite confusing for beginners when looking for their difference especially when most of these types looks so similar in their coloration and type. Truth to be told, even I have found slightly irritated in considering their supposed ID should be, if their labels or in any case if this plant is not labelled - it can be anyone guess giving any fancy names which may prove futile as names and ID can just be labelled at anyone fancy.

On a serious notes - coming to facts.

Colocasia Midori Sour was sold on an expensive price in comparison to "Lemon Lime Gecko" though both look so much similar on their foliage appearance.

In my opinion, this one has lesser freckles than "Lemon Lime Gecko"

Some variants may have stronger botches and more greener on their foliage structure however, it is fairly a new plant and whether they would last in long term basis is anyone guess.

To note - the difference is this one has a different coloration on the petiole - more on a green and yellowish variegated tones. (that's it!)   In comparison to "Lemon Lime Gecko" that one has white and burgundy stripes.

Another factor is their foliage coloration do not do so well in shaded condition, you can note, the colors appears to be pale and fading in comparison to the ones that is fully exposed to sunlight.

Plant Care & Cultivation is very much similar like most of the Colocasia species.

(cultivated in shade)

(cultivated in shade)

(dark coloration on the top part of petiole - exposed to full sun)

Click on the Link Below

For Detailed information of Care & Cultivation of Colocasias &

For Other Different Types of Colocasia:

Different Types of Colocasia (Taro) - Names & Images

Colocasia esculenta 'Yellow Widow'

CHARACTERISTICS:

Some basic identity factors concerning this particular type of Colocasia - the "Widow"Series.

The unique factor is the Black Widow Spider like appearance on the center of the foliage - very much pronounce in the Colocasia 'Black Widow" Plant. However in this particular series - the same pattern appears in 3 different colors namely the "Black Widow", "Red Widow" and showcase here the "Yellow Widow" Colocasia.

There are nothing much that I find on this particular plant, perhaps later when I do a proper research on this one. As much as I can gather - most of the information is very much monopolized by plant vendors where the interest focused on "What you see, What you get" factor without giving any or very little information on it's origin and cultivation.

Hence their identity is simply labeled as "Colocasia Yellow Widow" in layman terms.

In my opinion, this could be very much originated & cultivated from Thailand, based on my understanding when a plant such as this are not given clear details on their parentage or whether if this plant is patented is anyone guess - however I could be wrong.

Again in my opinion, this could be a product of experimentation hybrids that appears to be in a minor formation in comparison to the "Lava" Series or the "Pharaoh Mask" series. 

The appearance does have very similar characteristics - perhaps it was marketed as an experimental factor to see how collectors react in the market setting whether it would be profitable for sales whether it would gain popularity.

These were actually introduced very much later after the trend and hype were slowly fading - hence when the trend was almost came to standstill - this particular types didn't make it in the top popularity list. The once still hold the championships in the top 10 are the "Pharaoh Mask" and the "Lava Series" especially the "Black Lava" Although these prices had crashed the "Lava' series are still in collectors wish list - "more wishing that the prices crashed literally as many find that these are not investment plant to hold rather more on the context of beauty and common plant category.

Here, the main characteristics are the bumps and protruding effects in this yellow coloration on the foliage leaf structure though it is not uniform and the formation does appears lesser when the leaves had grown bigger.

Apart from this feature - there are no color variegation on other parts of the plant - either on the foliage or petiole.

Plant Care & Cultivation is very much similar like most of the Colocasia species.

 Click on the Link Below

For Detailed information of Care & Cultivation of Colocasias &

For Other Different Types of Colocasia:

Different Types of Colocasia (Taro) - Names & Images