Gardening On The Islands

[oldsailor35]

Now that Jimmy and i have solved the Tomato problem on Samui, the answer is 1) Soil structure.

2) Select appropiate seed, i don't think that Brit or European seed has got much of a chance

but willing to be proved wrong.

[flossiebear]

Hi would really appreciate some help and advice about creating a container pond. The pot is a large ceramic one about 50cm diameter and 23cm deep on the patio where it gets sun in the morning. I have put in a few small fish, which are doing well and also have a small water pump. I have planted a water lily. Not a clue what else to plant or how to create a well balance environment for fish and plants. Have fed the fish daily, again not sure if this is ok. Really appreciate any help and advice.

[samuijimmy]

Hi would really appreciate some help and advice about creating a container pond. The pot is a large ceramic one about 50cm diameter and 23cm deep on the patio where it gets sun in the morning. I have put in a few small fish, which are doing well and also have a small water pump. I have planted a water lily. Not a clue what else to plant or how to create a well balance environment for fish and plants. Have fed the fish daily, again not sure if this is ok. Really appreciate any help and advice.

I would say you probably have enough in there already.... just let the lilies grow in....(I assume you have them planted in clay?) the fish should be fine with out feeding them .... if they are the small ones... gold fish and the like, a little food will be OK... but do not over feed!

You could put floating plants in, but the spread like crazy very quickly... the extras make good compost!

Just top up the water when needed.... and it should look after it's self! .... (mine does!.... with no pump)

Edited May 10, 2014 by samuijimmy

[flossiebear]

Thank you. No I dont have lily 'planted in clay. Someone gave me it free, unpotted, so I just put it in small plastic pot with holes and garden soil, topped with gravel, to stop soil leakage. Is this a disaster? It only has two small leaves which are floating on top, not sure if it will take, i may have to another if not. Fish are really tiny and have two small gold fish, who hide away all day, but seem ok.

[samuijimmy]

Thank you. No I dont have lily 'planted in clay. Someone gave me it free, unpotted, so I just put it in small plastic pot with holes and garden soil, topped with gravel, to stop soil leakage. Is this a disaster? It only has two small leaves which are floating on top, not sure if it will take, i may have to another if not. Fish are really tiny and have two small gold fish, who hide away all day, but seem ok.

Ah! well you can either go to a garden centre (not sure if all have clay) or go find a stream, or pond, that has clay.... not always easy to find! I send local kids out on a mission, but they know where to look!

I usually use about a 8-10" pot and put clay in.... and plant the roots of the lily in that.... Not doing that, the lilies tend to die!

When placing pot and lily in water the leaves do not need to be above surface of water... they will grow !!!

Gold fish may need some food, but watch out, as some birds tend to make a quick snack out of them!

Little little ones seems to survive on their own and multiply like rabbits!

Good luck!

[flossiebear]

Have just noticed my lily has produced a new leaf and yes as you say it is underwater at moment, so good to hear it will surface, also another curled leaf ready to unfold, well I hope it is a flower but that would be asking too much. I am so pleased with the fish and small pond on our patio, as nice to look at it each day to see what's happening. thanks again for your help and hopefully wont need the clay.

[samuijimmy]

Have just noticed my lily has produced a new leaf and yes as you say it is underwater at moment, so good to hear it will surface, also another curled leaf ready to unfold, well I hope it is a flower but that would be asking too much. I am so pleased with the fish and small pond on our patio, as nice to look at it each day to see what's happening. thanks again for your help and hopefully wont need the clay.

Well if it does not survive without the clay..... you could do some thing tacky like this.... Plastic!

The plants on out side here are really, spreads with the babies very fast .... clay would be better... me thinks... see what happens!

These are all real.... including the fish!

[jjb]

Hi, I live in Cambodia and I have a super simple question : I have a lot of organic matter totally covering the soil ; leaves etc in my borders. Should I clear it or leave it there to rot down. Soon it will be the rainy season. Will that help it rot or does it leach the nutrients from the soil? Any advice gratefully received!

thanks

[samuijimmy]

Hi, I live in Cambodia and I have a super simple question : I have a lot of organic matter totally covering the soil ; leaves etc in my borders. Should I clear it or leave it there to rot down. Soon it will be the rainy season. Will that help it rot or does it leach the nutrients from the soil? Any advice gratefully received!

thanks

Well it will depend on the leaves, many leaves in the tropics, seem to dry up after they fall and do not seem to break down easily.... especially when just laying on the soil (borders) .... I find they become places for mosquitoes to sleep during the day... ...

I have been trying this, on a border, it's not simple....leaves are still about the same as when I put them there... months ago. (but it has been dry here, until recently)

Really collecting and composting might be better.... but for that you need stuff like green grass to get things "cooking" .... and that's not always easy to get enough grass... (green material) ... having said that, I think putting some soil on top of the leaves may help rot them down, as you go into the rain season.... but just watch you don't put soil around stems of the good plants... add a bit of nitrogen fertilizer, (Urea) that may break down the leaves too...but will also make the plants grow quickly!

Just to add, if you can get your hands on some buffalo poo, perhaps work that in too... (well use a shovel... not your hands!)

Experiment!

Edited May 15, 2014 by samuijimmy

[robsamui]

Hi folks.

Just had to do some research on pineapples. During which I got to know all the stages from flowering to fruiting to seeding.

Then - lo and behold - I was visiting a chum when I saw something that is in none of the books - well it doesn't match any stage or any images of any of the stages that I can find . . .

It looks as if the seeds have actually started to form little pineapple plants actually while they are growing on the mature plant. In theory, from what I have read, this shouldn't happen.

Anyone explain what's going on with this plant?

It's pretty big in volume - about 8-inches in diameter - and was almost totally circular when it started sprouting little plantlets!

R

[samuijimmy]

Hi folks.

Just had to do some research on pineapples. During which I got to know all the stages from flowering to fruiting to seeding.

Then - lo and behold - I was visiting a chum when I saw something that is in none of the books - well it doesn't match any stage or any images of any of the stages that I can find . . .

It looks as if the seeds have actually started to form little pineapple plants actually while they are growing on the mature plant. In theory, from what I have read, this shouldn't happen.

Anyone explain what's going on with this plant?

It's pretty big in volume - about 8-inches in diameter - and was almost totally circular when it started sprouting little plantlets!

R

Not some thing I have seen either Rob.... if no one comes up with an answer here, perhaps ask in the farm forum...

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/forum/104-farming-in-thailand-forum/

One of the guys there may know!

[robsamui]

Hi folks.

Just had to do some research on pineapples. During which I got to know all the stages from flowering to fruiting to seeding.

Then - lo and behold - I was visiting a chum when I saw something that is in none of the books - well it doesn't match any stage or any images of any of the stages that I can find . . .

It looks as if the seeds have actually started to form little pineapple plants actually while they are growing on the mature plant. In theory, from what I have read, this shouldn't happen.

Anyone explain what's going on with this plant?

It's pretty big in volume - about 8-inches in diameter - and was almost totally circular when it started sprouting little plantlets!

R

Not some thing I have seen either Rob.... if no one comes up with an answer here, perhaps ask in the farm forum...

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/forum/104-farming-in-thailand-forum/

One of the guys there may know!

Okey doke.

Usually when the fruit runs to seed it goes all squishy and rotten and the stem collapses, leaving the.pineapple mess with the seeds in. Some of the seeds then germinate where they have fallen.

But this is like seeing apples on a tree with little apple trees growing out of the ripe apples!

Cant be seen from the photos, but each of the plantlets are on their own little stem growing out of the center - hence the seemingly large size.

R

Edited May 21, 2014 by robsamui

[flossiebear]

Just looked in my container pond and now have only one goldfish instead of two. bird droppings on side of container!!! Any suggestions for keeping birds away. Don't want to put a net over it. Thanks

[samuijimmy]

Just looked in my container pond and now have only one goldfish instead of two. bird droppings on side of container!!! Any suggestions for keeping birds away. Don't want to put a net over it. Thanks

Not really other than some netting, or perhaps fishing line criss crossed over the pot... ! Sorry to say.... unless you can get the lilies to cover more water area.... but the birds are fast....

They don't seem to go after the small fish as much!

[flossiebear]

Have now found the missing fish! after buying a new one. Really can't see how he managed to hide so well from me. Well all is happy now and the lily is producing more leaves

[Virt]

Anyone know which one this is.

Can't find exactly one that is matching imo.

It's a "borrowed" sapling from our trip to Samui in march brought back to Europe and it's grown quite well and now it starting to blossom.

The flowers are only there for maybe 5-6 hours and then it falls off.

Quite fun to bring back flowers from Thailand to see what can grow here in northern europe.

Think we will pay a visit to the big flowershop/gardener in Maenam when we return in July and see what might survive the trip

As for my old question about the "meateating plant"

Found this on my gf's camera and it's actually not a plant that grows on the ground, but they were growing on branches hanging from a tree.

So i think that would be a bit to big to grow in my window

[samuijimmy]

Anyone know which one this is.

Can't find exactly one that is matching imo.

It's a "borrowed" sapling from our trip to Samui in march brought back to Europe and it's grown quite well and now it starting to blossom.

The flowers are only there for maybe 5-6 hours and then it falls off.

samui flower 2.JPG flower from samui.JPG

Quite fun to bring back flowers from Thailand to see what can grow here in northern europe.

Think we will pay a visit to the big flowershop/gardener in Maenam when we return in July and see what might survive the trip

As for my old question about the "meateating plant"

Found this on my gf's camera and it's actually not a plant that grows on the ground, but they were growing on branches hanging from a tree.

So i think that would be a bit to big to grow in my window

tree carni 1.JPG

tree carni 2.JPG

Hi Virt.... be careful about taking plants out of the country, your plant quarantine people may bin them.... on arrival, without necessary papers!

Seeds are usually OK...

The purple one is fairly common here and re-seeds its self.... it keeps reappearing in my garden! I don't know its name...but keep some seed and plant again next spring, it may not survive the Danish winters!

I don't know the meat eating plant either! Strike two for names!

Rain on most parts of Samui lately has really perked up the plants and flowers.... should be nice for your next visit!

[Virt]

Hi Virt.... be careful about taking plants out of the country, your plant quarantine people may bin them.... on arrival, without necessary papers!

Seeds are usually OK...

The purple one is fairly common here and re-seeds its self.... it keeps reappearing in my garden! I don't know its name...but keep some seed and plant again next spring, it may not survive the Danish winters!

I don't know the meat eating plant either! Strike two for names!

Rain on most parts of Samui lately has really perked up the plants and flowers.... should be nice for your next visit!

yeah maybe good idea to try and save some seeds from the purple flower just in case, but so far we had habaneros and ghost chillies to survive 2 winters in the window even if they lost all leaves and they started growing again so maybe we get lucky with that one too

Might try and see what kind of seeds they sell up at the big garden/flower thingie in Maenam if it's not legal to take home live plants.

Good to hear you finally got some rain after people on the boards asked for it for a long time.

Saw a video today from outside Natien resort on Chaweng road across Lek's restaurant and the road was complately flooded.(not sure when it was shot though)

Just keep the rain coming so it's dry again when we get there

Cheers mate.

[oldsailor35]

Just looked in my container pond and now have only one goldfish instead of two. bird droppings on side of container!!! Any suggestions for keeping birds away. Don't want to put a net over it. Thanks

Not really other than some netting, or perhaps fishing line criss crossed over the pot... ! Sorry to say.... unless you can get the lilies to cover more water area.... but the birds are fast....

They don't seem to go after the small fish as much!

Try wire netting just below the surface

[samuijimmy]

Samui's largest and smelliest plant.... now in bloom in my garden!..... If anyone sees (or smells this) in the wild I would love to see it! (It does grow in many parts of Thailand and SE Asia, but rarely seen in bloom)

So please post.... if you know!

I did check an area of Soi 5 where this plant was found last year.... It is actually blooming a month earlier this year...

The name is Amorphophallus paeoniifolius, (got that from another TV member! )

Flies and other flying insects all around~ It smells like rotting meat !

If anyone interested in seeing this, just PM me....It will only bloom for a week or so! ..... I hope I can stand it that long!

[samuijimmy]

Well my big smelly plant above lasted about four days! .... never did find one in the wild! Maybe next year?....

This cooler and showery weather that most of us are getting, lately, has done wonders to the flowers and shrubs.... and not to forget the weeds that almost need daily weeding out, they grow so fast! (catch them while they are small and it's a much easier job!)

The weed in the middle of the Lantana here will have nice blue flowers with a week or so .... followed by 80,000 + seeds .....not long afterwards .... a real nuisance weed around the garden....pull em out as you see them!!!

It amazes me some mornings to see some plants like bougainvillea have put on a foot or twos growth overnight! it keeps me busy with the pruners!

Nice to see too many different flowers and shrubs blooming so well at this time of year... here are a few...

Allamanda.... semi upright plant needs a bit of support if not pruned!

Plumbago..... nice low growing shrub for pots or borders....

This plant, below, has attractive foliage and very easy to grow from foot long pencil stem sized cuttings, (this I did a few months ago), blooms not much to write home about!

Can't think of the name off hand, and my gardening book has gone "walk about" easily recognizable though!

Caladiums have come out of their dormancy lately .... these divide easily.... but do wash hands after handling as they are poisonous!

This Caladium is on steroids, the leaves are about a foot and a half long!

Portulaca babies.... I've being increasing the many colours available by making cuttings... very fast and easy to do! (two weeks and ready to plant)

Perfect weather right now for planting and even dividing plants!

Lastly a big thank you to Virt, for some interesting seeds..... some I have taken to the local hydroponic farm to get them germinated!

Another shower... right now, no need to go water the garden today!

Happy Gardening !

[Rooo]

What do you think happened? 8 plants all the same.

[samuijimmy]

What do you think happened? 8 plants all the same.

2014-07-20 16.21.08.jpg

Yiks !!! what did you do?

They could be too wet or may have dried out.... a little hard to tell without a bit more info! What is it?

Although it looks like Bougainvillea cuttings ??? If that is the case, they don't usually root well stuck in the ground (pot) like that .... better to air layer them... that is a bit tedious

Having said that, if they are cuttings of something else, best to strip off most of the leaves.... as it's trying to feed the leaves with water.... and not enough or no root, to do that.... spray the foliage several times a day ... and would be better in the shade until a bit more established.... some times all leaves will drop off, but still root .... depending on plants!

You could be using smaller pots too... and do those bags have some drain holes?

Usually in a month most plants are rooted.....

More info Rooo might help! especially as to what is is... or am I correct already?

[Rooo]

They are chilli plants grown from seed jim. They were doing great then just went like that.

[samuijimmy]

They are chilli plants grown from seed jim. They were doing great then just went like that.

Oh! Chillies ..... ! hard to really tell from your image! .... but sadly a fairly common problem to see them just up a die with no apparent reason....

It could be a fungal problem from the soil or maybe too wet... which would help fungus problems escalate.... not easy to control either... these might be beyond the point of no return!

Are they in sun or shade...? Generally I see the locals start them off in shade until established .... then gradually increase sun.... although some times see them doing well in semi shady conditions...

One thing I would avoid, is reusing that soil with the same type of plants.....(shrubs etc should be OK)

Fungicides are not easy to find here.... perhaps take a bag with the plants to a garden shop and see what they say.... the place with best selection of farm / garden chemicals is in Lipa Noi area, up the side road a bit, from the Chevrolet dealer.... but their English is not very good....

Other than that not sure what to say....

[Virt]

Lastly a big thank you to Virt, for some interesting seeds..... some I have taken to the local hydroponic farm to get them germinated!

You are velcome.

Will be interesting to see which kind if any of the different sorts of tomatoes will do the best.

Good luck with the growing.

Who knows. Maybe some of them are really suited for this weather but only time will tell

:-)

[samuijimmy]

Lastly a big thank you to Virt, for some interesting seeds..... some I have taken to the local hydroponic farm to get them germinated!

You are velcome.

Will be interesting to see which kind if any of the different sorts of tomatoes will do the best.

Good luck with the growing.

Who knows. Maybe some of them are really suited for this weather but only time will tell

:-)

Thanks Virt, I just got some of the seed, sown yesterday (finally! ) I will drop by the hydroponic farm and see if they have got some started..... and keep up a report....

[PoorSucker]

They are chilli plants grown from seed jim. They were doing great then just went like that.

Have tried it several times during different parts of the year, same result.

I had a jalapeno that actually gave some fruit, before it died.

What kind of chillies was it?

[Rooo]

They are chilli plants grown from seed jim. They were doing great then just went like that.

Have tried it several times during different parts of the year, same result.

I had a jalapeno that actually gave some fruit, before it died.

What kind of chillies was it?

Trinadad Moruga Scorions ,ghost chillies & family.

[samuijimmy]

They are chilli plants grown from seed jim. They were doing great then just went like that.

Have tried it several times during different parts of the year, same result.

I had a jalapeno that actually gave some fruit, before it died.

What kind of chillies was it?

Trinadad Moruga Scorions ,ghost chillies & family.

Yes, my second attempt on PSers Habanero (sp) seed did not prove successful either... Trinidad's latitude is about the same as here, I think... so you would think OK...

Lots of different Youtube videos on this pepper ..... here is one! ....man they must be hot!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBxt-lkK-Ao

One thing it does mention, in this video ^ is the "hardening off".... IE.... gradually a bit more sun light each day.....starting with morning sun.... Did you do that Rooo? That could be the down fall too.... not always easy to tell, especially from a picture!

it's been like getting blood from a stone, with forthcoming info!

I hope Virts Toms and Basil do better!