Vertical Gardening Concept

 I think there is a lot of hype on the idea of vertical gardening. I believe a lot of it is in the experimental status and in many cases some are successful in creating the ideal medium in handling the plant material.


At best - its always good to choose plants that are epiphyte in nature (plants that grows on trees) I had discovered that Tradescantia can do very well as an epiphyte - specifically Green Wandering Jew (Tradescantia fluminensis) and Bolivian Jew or Turtle Vine (Callisia repens)


These had done so well for few months. (The plants are layered on a wire)
All they need is daily watering.

I had added Zebra Tradescantia together here and it is doing fine. 

(Also Purple Queen & Bolivian Jew - below)

The Purple Queen Flower.

These are famously known as Airplants.
(Spanish Moss and the other two Tillandsia which I really not sure what species are they)
One thing for sure - they had grown bigger compared to the size I had first purchased them.

These are my orchid collections.

All of them are fastenened on wood and some wrapped with coconut husk.

Most of them are doing fine and to a certain degree some are slow and dormant.

I really not sure what are their specific species names.

Somehow I'm still waiting for the majority of them to bloom to be sure what exactly are they.

Regardless - I enjoy looking at them in their well defined roots and leaves in their natural form fastened on wood and branches. And it really save a lot on the fact where I really don't have to worry about root rot or over-potting problems.

Finally - Im still blooming Ground Orchid at its very prime age. Two of its spiked had dried off. This is the last one. I'm still secretly hoping new spikes to spring forth. I guess it got lot to do with correct fertilising regiment which I'm very much neglecting.

Blooming since February.

Hope you enjoy viewing this Vertical Gardening Concept.

Leopard Orchid ( Grammatophyllum Scriptum)

I had purchased this Leopard Orchid ( Grammatophyllum Scriptum) from the Orchid Exhibition.

After bargaining - I got it for RM20.00 a fair price for a nice sized plant

(Purchased plant at the last picture)

These are small ones - sold for RM15.00 (top)

And the big ones for RM25.00 (below)

There is a lot been said about this orchid in the internet concerning this orchid.

Basically this one is a native in my place and so they are more likely accustomed to the climate in my region.

Few things concerning this care of the orchid.

1) Root system - there are two type of roots here.

The normal ordinary ones and the surface roots.

The normal ones grows down deep into the pot and function just like any other orchid roots.

The surface roots - looks like the hairy fine roots that grows upwards like spikes should not be forced into the pot.

In the natural element - these roots capture debris like barks and semi-decomposed leaves and it feeds the plant.

2) The Old Pseudobulbs

The unique thing about these psedudobulbs is that this orchid discard its center bulbs and they way they do it is by rapidly rotting in the centre of the healthy plant.

Leaving it alone - the rot will eventually turn into dry shell. In any case - you don't have to worry about it thinking that it got a fungus or viral attack.

a) Old Pseudobulb turning yellow (top)

b) Old Pseudobulb turning brown & rotting (below)

3) Backbulb propagation

I'm not very sure whether it works with just one bulb.

As you can notice - a minimum setting it requires in a singular set plant is at least 4 bulbs both active and passive ones.

So - removing any of it for propagation factor may be a high risk.

This is the sample of the orchid flower of the plant that I had purchased.

It is wise to take the pictures of the flowers displayed when you purchase a small plant.

By the time this plant grows big & bear flowers - it might take few months to years and one may not actually remember how the flower actually look like from memory.

I for one - would not able to determine the difference between species of this flower (if any) by memory. And so photography helps a lot.

This is my plant - repotted with charcoal in a hanging pot.

Do share any of your experiences or insight concerning this orchid.