Aquatic Plants in the Garden

Reminiscing my old pictures of my water pond where I keep my goldfish and above all - fastening them with all kinds of aquatic friendly plants which I can get my hands on.

This was the time where I had not started with the idea of growing begonias using the mop wick system. And so - these were very much aquatic set-up  where I just loved having life-bearer fish: platties and guppies in that water pot.

The plants I had introduced here are Water Lettuce, Blue Fern, Water Hyacinth, Salvinia minima and Umbrella Pennywort. I had planted Teacup Colocasia here but it didn't do well and so I have to replant it in a different location.

Blue Fern is actually a Selaginella species which is native in my region. I just love the iridescent blue tones that forms in the foliage.

I had tried few types here and seen they had finished their season and slowly fade away when they don't get enough sun especially during the Year End Season when it rains a lot, the days are shorter and gloomier.

I must say, I had missed seeing all these plants but managed to save them in a different location where they are much stable and doing just fine.

I believe sometimes the plants do tend to stay for a season and find a way to move on. The reality of gardening where a gardener need to know and adjust according to the move and wave of plants and their behavioral patterns. 

Nothing is permanent, Nothing is Fixed - it is like fluid movement - just going with the flow..

It is the same with Plants and Gardening.

How to Care for Selaginella

Name: Selaginella willdenowii

Selaginella is a fern amd moss ally, not a true fern commonly known as spikemoss.

This particular species is known as Selaginella willdenowii due to the blue iridescent blue sheen that appears on the leaf surface when it grows under bright shade. 

Often appears under forest canopy, these are a climbing, trailing type and can easily wither if lacking humidity and growth care.

WATERING

It requires good watering, too less watering may cause leaf drop and droopy.
Too much water can cause the leaves to turn yellow the tips.

MEDIUM

It won't do well in epiphyte mix medium like orchid mix type - this require soil based medium, ideally 50% potting mix and 50% sand (fast draining medium)

However, this appear to be loose trailing plant with fine thin root spikes appearing at each nodes with each top growth and may able to grow together with  other epiphyte plants.

FERTILIZER

Foliar Fertilizer, spray weekly on half strength works best for this type of fern

LIGHT

Bright Shaded Light, this can also acclimated to receive bright direct sunlight with good humidity surrounding it.

This the green species which is much more stable and easy to grow compared to the blue iridescent one. I found that cultivating this selaginella must be immediately done as it is very sensitive and can easily wither and dried out if not placed in a high humidity condition with good watering regime.

Above is the how the fine roots filament, it appears at each node section at each plant growth.

Ferns & Mosses

I have this feeling that when it comes to gardening
- there must be a little adventure with the untamed.
I doubt anyone can relate to moss as part of gardening.
They are available everywhere
(drainside, moist areas & grass areas)
Apparently not something noticeable when they are not sought after.

I find these Moss (Selaginella sp.)
 is quite a feat to have it being part of my garden residence.
They do not stay very long
(not for the whole year though)
I guess it must be determined by the seasons.
The rainy season are the best
- Suddenly they spring out from nowhere.

The carpet spongy mosses are just something I would love to put my hands on. They are indeed rare in tropical gardens unless the gardener intend to cultivate them.

Of course there is another thing about abandonment when everything grows everywhere - there you might find a clump of moss (and also everything unwanted in a garden)

I know some people who hate Moss.
I guess it must be some taboo thing of the past.
Well - what do you expect when something grows so well by the drainside.
(the first thing that comes to the mind is that it is dirty)

Unlike grass - Moss cannot be step upon.
They still have their basic needs:
Good watering and bright in-direct sunlight.
In most cases, they do have a short lifespan
Well maybe only in my garden.
Regardless,
they are just a wonder of amazement when it comes to simple and little things.

This reminds me of something said about a rolling stone collect no moss.

One of my fascination is that I read somewhere that
it had been said that fairies make their bed on the mosses.
Well, I do wish I have lots of them in my small little garden.
That would prove that something invisible would take care of my garden in my absence.

I wanted to have a carpet of green moss by this Lady.
Sadly it didn't happen and so the whole spot is now taken over by Earth Star Bromeliads.

This is another type of Moss. The Blue Moss.
Selaginella Arbuscula.

It did prove very difficult to get this going in my garden, until I found that it has a liking to grow together with the Black Velvet Begonias. It had become very messy right now and also it had shed those mysterious blue shade on its leaf.
I guess the hot season had given this one more of the green shade on it.

Finally my long lasting Fluffy Ruffle Fern.
It had been with me for more than a decade.
Something that I would cherish in keeping my plants with me.
All the memorable time in my life and amazed how small a little plant can survive all those years in my small little garden.

I would like to dedicate this post to:
The Fern & Mossery.

Thank You for the countless inspirations when I see your blog.
I always enjoy the postings, in a manner how it is presented - those miniature gardens in small glass bottles and they speak another realm of their own - so balanced and perfect in their contained world.

It took me some time to understand about Mosses.
They don't simply appear to be easy - not for a beginner like me.
But regardless, I manage to get them to be part of my life.
Or at least to say... part of my garden.