Jump to content

Gardening On The Islands


Recommended Posts

  • 3 weeks later...

Help looking for the plant Yesterday Today and Tomorrow anyone know which garden centre stocks this?Tried Maenam and Sopet in Nathon but no luck.

Usually not that hard to find, perhaps out of bloom right now, so would make it harder to spot in the nurseries... (mine not blooming at the moment)

Lovely scent when it does, but never seems to bloom for very long when it does!!! ..... a case I think of just checking around....at different times .... thumbsup.gif

Here is what it looks like, if anyone happens to see one for sale anywhere!!! Flowers change colours, hence the name!

DSC02598.JPG

Edited by samuijimmy
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you will keep looking and if I find it will post on here. I have two plants at the moment one not doing so well and the other as you say not in flower but so young not ready for taking cuttings. Would just like to have some new plants as backup.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...

Plastic bags on fruit... saving fruit from both insects and fruit bat attacks ....

Easy to do on smaller fruit bushes like Pomagranit.....by hand ...

ban%25252520Khoa%25252520Jan%25252520201

A little harder on larger trees like this Mango tree, I'd often wondered how they accomplished doing this....

until yesterday, when I discovered there is a "home made? tool for the job! thumbsup.gif

IMG_2309.JPG

IMG_2310.JPG

place pipe with bag over fruit, pull the cord, and an elastic band closes the bag....thumbsup.gif This is a mango tree!

IMG_2306.JPG

Chemical free fruit ..... quite ingenious.... I think! thumbsup.gif

Edited by samuijimmy
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Finally I have a baby! biggrin.png

After almost two months a habenaro chilly developing... (seed courtesy of Poorsucker way back in March! ) thumbsup.gif

A few more flowering along with the Thai chilly, so hope to spice up my life soon! tongue.png

I just hope a few more appear! It's been a long tedious process.... coffee1.gif

Italian Basil and cilantro , lots easier to grow.... seeded at the same time and have way too much of it! wink.png

2013-05-21-680.jpg

Edited by samuijimmy
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

I have a lovely red double hibiscus that is getting eaten to bits, it's struggling gamely and putting out a new flower every few days but has hardly any leaves left. I suspect either the small grasshoppers, or those black with a yellow stripe down each side things that may be a caterpillar or may be a form of centipede, I don't know. Any suggestions? If it's the black and yellow things, I wonder if there is anything I can put around the base of the plant to stop them crawling up to eat the leaves?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have a lovely red double hibiscus that is getting eaten to bits, it's struggling gamely and putting out a new flower every few days but has hardly any leaves left. I suspect either the small grasshoppers, or those black with a yellow stripe down each side things that may be a caterpillar or may be a form of centipede, I don't know. Any suggestions? If it's the black and yellow things, I wonder if there is anything I can put around the base of the plant to stop them crawling up to eat the leaves?

Hi Dukgae,

Because grass hoppers jump or fly, I am not sure that putting anything on the ground would really help.... wink.png

I think the best stuff to get or even make is a Neem solution, if you know where to find a Neem tree! It's sold as BS 2 in some of the garden shops, about 60 baht for a small bottle, then a cap full to a litre of water. Should help control both caterpillars and grass hoppers.

You'll find it's a temporary thing, with this chewing and generally the ornamental plants will spring back.... thumbsup.gif

Edited by samuijimmy
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I did a seed exchange with someone in the US many many years ago. Germinated this Ponderosa Lemon. It grew really well and is quite tall now. But only produced its first fruit this year. No idea why the delay (its over 8 years old) or what was done differently or why it only has one. But fingers crossed nobody steals it before it grows to full size because they are supposed to be huge.

Here is my wee lemon (ok so way bigger than a lime but still way smaller than a ponderosa lemon can reach)

post-4641-0-71556100-1370060343_thumb.jp

This is a photo of a ponderosa lemon from online

PB211479.jpg

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

attachicon.gifred hibiscus.jpgThanks, I'll try the neem again, did it once already but I think the rain must have washed it off. It's such a beautiful flower, worth taking care of.

Mine look the same, wink.png

Spraying really needs to be done every week or so, to keep on top of these critters,..... quite honestly, it's too much work!!!!

I have learned to live with a few holes in the leaves of ornamental plants , the plants seem to survive ~! thumbsup.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

Well the habenaro chilly experiment not doing so well sad.png each time a "fruit" forms it just rots w00t.gif ..... So not even been able to try one ... you having any better luck Poorsucker?

I think may have the same problem as trying to grow tomatoes here in the south?

2013-06-28-892.jpg

The little bit of rain around my area has perked things up a little lately, although not enough to penetrate down in the ground much.

The cooler weather the last few days has been pleasant... even feeling cold!

Having a new garden, I can see the challenges coming of not having nice dig-gable soil that I have had for the past five years .... a lot of rock and hard pan a few inches below the surface w00t.gifMe and my trusty spade don't like that! bah.gif

The local Hydroponic farm has Oregano doing quite well, thumbsup.gif (being grown in the ground in raised beds) and even survived the last rainy season, next time I am by, I'll "borrow" a plant! .... His spearmint is also doing quite well too... as is mine... although I did lose the peppermint. It's actually better not to have two types of mint as they can cross pollinate producing yucky tasting mint !!! (that's what has happened with "Thai mint" !!! bah.gif)

2013-05-14-663.jpg

Oregano

I have just planted out some new Italian basil, this plant does do well here.... I saved some seed from the first crop, which germinated quite quickly! So I think should have a second batch to start picking in about six weeks!

Interesting to see SBK's lemon, that really is a long wait, eight years, facepalm.gif but good to see you did manage to get it to fruit! Perhaps more next year!!! thumbsup.gif I noticed lately, near the waterfall off of Soi One, that the orange trees were in serious decline... they may not be productive enough so perhaps getting a helping hand with their demise? wink.png

Now a good time if your plants need fertilizer to apply, especially after a good rain, if you have had some! .... I have used 15 15 15 which is the blue coloured one, available at many garden supply stores....

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well the habenaro chilly experiment not doing so well sad.png each time a "fruit" forms it just rots w00t.gif ..... So not even been able to try one ... you having any better luck Poorsucker?

No luck here. sad.png

Regular chillies doing OK .thumbsup.gif ... growing in the same spot.

IMG_3523.JPG

This is one of the Habenero plants, taken this afternoon, even not looking happy..... will keep trying! to see if any produce! facepalm.gif

IMG_3524.JPG

My new Italian basil .... this will produce more than I will need! wink.png

IMG_3459.JPG

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here is a link to pictures of some plants on the islands, (mostly anyway!) as time permits I will add more, but if anyone has time to add names & other relevant information, please feel free to do so! http://picasaweb.google.com/samuijimmy/Flo...KoPhenganKoToa/

I can't find the page sorry

Here it is again, it should work....

https://picasaweb.google.com/samuijimmy/FlowersGardensOfKoSamuiKoPhenganKoToa?authkey=Gv1sRgCMTjxbGQ8ofTgwE#

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Jimmy, your photo site (great pics!) has one of a shrub I have whose name I don't know - its leaves have an irregular pale pink centre with green edges, added your photo below - do you know what it's called? thanks

post-149740-0-47103100-1373602671_thumb.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Jimmy, your photo site (great pics!) has one of a shrub I have whose name I don't know - its leaves have an irregular pale pink centre with green edges, added your photo below - do you know what it's called? thanks

It was supposed to be a rainy day project to go through and try to name all these plants.... facepalm.gif I am waiting for the next rainy month! or three !!! biggrin.png

Lucky for you I just flipped through my landscape book and found this!

Seems like there are about 8 varieties of this....... different colour variations in the foliage. I know some have pinkish red flowers.... but I think better grown for it's foliage!

So it's name is : Cantcature Plant, Graptophylium pictum

A Google search will give you more information than you need to know! biggrin.png From my experience easy to grow, but does get leaves eaten by caterpillars once in a while! sad.png

Link to comment
Share on other sites

thanks - I grew mine from cuttings from one up the lane from my house, and I've seen red flower sprays on that one. Mine are only little still so I'll keep an eye out for the caterpillars!

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Here's a very unusual plant found today off Soi one somewhere today... personally I would have let it be... but it's been dug and potted now!

Guessing Anguid may have come across it in his butterfly and bug hunts.... No idea what it is... other than being an interesting findwink.png

I thought worth posting for the record!

IMG_4019.JPG

I am wondering if it will smell foul in the evening, like the Raffleasia!

IMG_4016.JPG

I sure hope it survives!

IMG_4015.JPG

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...

It's been pretty quiet around here lately! whistling.gif

With the cool and showery or rainy weather, it's been good growing conditions for a few weeks now! A good time for sticking cuttings into the ground, or even air layering thumbsup.gif

These limes were air layered about a month ago, and now ready to plants out!

SAM_0530.JPG

Fairly easy to do, by slitting the stem and wrapping the area with dirt and then plastic tied tightly...

SAM_0531.JPG

This method works well on Bougainvillea and other plants which are hard to root by just sticking cuttings in the ground...

With the rain it's a good time to apply fertilizer, if your plant foliage is looking a bit yellow! (like this one below) Both plants in the ground and in pots too...


SAM_0772.JPG

If you have plants under an over hang, or large trees, it's a good idea to make sure they are getting watered... especially if newly planted in the ground or plants in potswink.png

Edited by samuijimmy
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here's a very unusual plant found today off Soi one somewhere today... personally I would have let it be... but it's been dug and potted now!

Guessing Anguid may have come across it in his butterfly and bug hunts.... No idea what it is... other than being an interesting findwink.png

I thought worth posting for the record!

IMG_4019.JPG

I am wondering if it will smell foul in the evening, like the Raffleasia!

IMG_4016.JPG

I sure hope it survives!

IMG_4015.JPG

wow, amazing, looks like the plant from Little Shop of Horrors ....feed me...

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Jimmy, a question - you mentioned before about the all-purpose blue fertiliser pellets. Do I just sprinkle them on the ground around the plants, or should they be dissolved in water and watered in (and if so, what ratio of pellets to water)? Many thanks

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Jimmy, a question - you mentioned before about the all-purpose blue fertiliser pellets. Do I just sprinkle them on the ground around the plants, or should they be dissolved in water and watered in (and if so, what ratio of pellets to water)? Many thanks

That plant above turned out to be a Arum, it blooms only every five to seven years! There happened to be a news report of it's cousin (native to Indonesia) that was blooming in a botanical garden in USA somewhere, the day after I posted the pictures above... so quite rare and interesting that one would find on Samui! ..... thumbsup.gif

As to your question on fertilizer the blue type is 16 16 16, sprinkle according to size of plant dry, and then water it in... not a problem at the moment, but make sure soil is watered first if it is dry! ...

So.... a small plant about a teaspoon, larger shrubs up to a handful depending on it's size.... wash any fertilizer off foliage to prevent burning the foliage.

For small amounts the cheapest place I have found is Gai's Pharmacy on Soi 4 Maenam, (Thursday Walking street area )....33 baht... most places charge about 50 baht for small bag. (1/2 kg I believe)

Larger 25 kg bags only available as far as I have found is in Lipa Noi. Behind the New Chevrolet dealer, just up the side street less than 100 metres, on right. Not sure what the price is!wink.png

There is a yellow coloured fertilizer too, which would be good for vegetables, or annual flowering plants 8 24 24 if memory serves...

Hope that helps!

Just a note, that some farming areas off the islands sell fertilizer in 25 kg bags much cheaper, if one has a way to pick it up... or happen not to live on Samui!

Edited by samuijimmy
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ground coffee beans, left over from the machine. I was told ages ago that it's good for plants. True / False ?

Yep, and tea leaves too.... true! wink.png

So how much around the plants Jim?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ground coffee beans, left over from the machine. I was told ages ago that it's good for plants. True / False ?

Yep, and tea leaves too.... true! wink.png

So how much around the plants Jim?

cheesy.gifcheesy.gif oh deary me! facepalm.gifwhistling.gif Sorry could not help laughing reading this! .....

Depends on the size of the plant, tongue.png .... if it's a small plant a little bit if it's a big plant more.... or just scatter around the soil...

I just dump mine over the plant in a pot below my kitchen, has not done any harm yet... one day I may move the pot and put another one there....

I don't think there is a secret formula as to how much! wink.png

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.






×
×
  • Create New...