Cherry tomatoes/Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. (Purple)

Cherry tomatoes/Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. (Purple)

How to grow:
1 Sow purple tomato seeds indoors five to seven weeks before the last frost date in your area, if planting from seed. If planting from starts, skip this step. To plant from seed, slow seeds 1/4-inch deep in a seed tray, then keep them moist until the seeds germinate. Water the seedlings and fertilize with a balanced fertilizer t...o promote growth.

2 Prepare the soil for planting after the last frost date in your region. Turn the soil over with a shovel, removing rocks and weeds. Pull apart clumps with your fingers or break them down with the shovel until you have loose soil.

3 Dig one hole for each tomato plant. Leave 15 to 24 inches in all directions between plants. Make the hole twice as wide and deep as the root ball.

4 Remove your tomato start or seedling from its container and place one plant in each prepared hole. Hold the plant steady with one hand, then push soil around the roots. Firm the soil around the plant.

5 Fertilize your plants at planting time to promote growth. Use 1 tablespoon of nitrogen fertilizer per plant, sprinkling the powder around the base of the plant. Fertilize again three weeks later, and then again three weeks after that, applying the same dose per plant. 6 Water the tomato plants until the soil becomes saturated. Thereafter, water until saturated whenever the soil feels dry to the touch.

Mindanao Nature: Indigenous Plants

 Mindanao Nature : Indigenous Plants   

The unveiling of Mindanao’s treasures are still on the top! Since the Philippines is identified as one of the world’s biologically richest countries there are quite a few species to get acquainted with. The most fascinating and charismatic endemic plants of Mindanao: starting with the tree climbing queen, the jade vine and a meat-eating giant named after David Attenborough.
 
A tree climbing queen
 
How many of you have an orchid in a pot at home? Standing straight, next to a stick and a plastic clip holding it up? This is indeed how most of us Westerners are used to seeing orchids today. These exotic flowers have become a common feature in our homes. And we kind of forget that they normally grow on tree trunks – dangling high up in the air – with no plastic clips as far as the eyes can see. Now, this is where you can see true beauty!
 
Unfortunately, many of these gorgeous and unique orchid breeds are losing the trees it grows on. One of these beauties is the Euanthe sanderiana orchid. She is considered the “Queen of Philippine Orchids” and you can only find her on Mindanao. This unique lady is clinging to the tree trunks up to 100 meters high! Despite the height she has been collected without restraint and is very rare in nature today.



 




Meat-eating giants
 
Another interesting plant, perhaps less common in our living rooms, is the giant meat-eating pitcher plant. These carnivorous plants got their name from looking like beautiful pitchers full of nectar. Curious insects are tempted to come and take a sip, only to slide down the slippery slope to their deaths. In the deep cavity filled with digestive enzymes the plant consumes the trapped insect and obtains its mineral nutrition. (Some say pitchers even burp!) The variety of pitcher plants worldwide are impressive, however, the Nepenthes mindanaoensis can only be found on Mindanao.
 
In 2009, a new species of giant pitcher plant was discovered in the highlands of the central Philippines with a trap so big that it can catch rats as well as insects. The botanists named the plant after British natural history broadcaster David Attenborough; Nepenthes attenboroughii.
 

 

Jade vine
 
One of the most prized treasures of the Philippine rain forest is the jade vine. The name refers to the rare jade or bluish-green color of its flowers. ( See top image.) Just like the orchids, the jade vine grows high up in the canopy and they have stems that can reach up to 18 meters. The flowers hang like clusters of grapes, three meters long with more than 75 flowers!
 
These spectacular flowers are very popular in conservatories and greenhouses in temperate countries. But in the forests of Mindanao jade vine are considered one of the most endangered species due to the destruction of its habitat and the decrease of its natural pollinators.
 
We know there are so many beautiful flowers in the world. Many of them we want to keep in our houses; grow in our gardens or nurture in greenhouses – which is lovely but would it not be a tragedy if they all disappeared from the wild? Together with hundreds and thousands of species we have not yet discovered? Next time you see an orchid in a pot – give a thought to the Philippine orchids swaying in Mindanao’s rainforest and you will realize what a wonderful world we live in.


Jade Vine Flower

Azaleas

Azaleas ~ Are flowering shrubs that are part of the Rhododendron genus. Deciduous azaleas are in the Pentanthera subgenus, and evergreen azaleas in the Tsutsusi subgenus. There are more than 10,000 different cultivars of these flowers, coming in many different colors, including purple, white, yellow, orange, red, reddish-orange and pink. As with the majority of flowers, there is symbolism and meaning attached to azaleas.

Primary Meanings
In China, the meaning behind azaleas is womanhood. The Chinese believe that azaleas are symbols of womanhood and temperance. In other parts of the world, the azalea is thought to symbolize the concepts of fragility and passion.

Chinese Culture
Although in China the azalea is associated with being a symbol of womanhood, it also means "the thinking home bush," which is "xiang shu" in Chinese. This means that it is a shrub that represents thoughtfulness and pensiveness.The azalea was made famous by the Tang Dynasty poet Du Fu who vibrantly detailed them in some of his works, such as "A Sea of Blood Red Azaleas."

Sweet Tea Heucherella

Sweet Tea Heucherella - Sweet Tea’s unusual, velvety rich orange and burgundy-red leaves darken in summer and brighten in fall. This colorful cross between Heuchera and Tiarella grows 20" tall. An impressive border or container plant that also works well planted en masse. Ships in a 3" pot. Zones 4-9. Height: 20" Zones: 4-9 Bloom Time: Late Spring Light: Partial to Full Shade.

Rainbow Eucalyptus – Nature’s Painted Tree

Rainbow Eucalyptus – Nature’s Painted Tree

The incredible looking Rainbow Eucalyptus is the only species of eucalyptus that grows in the northern hemisphere. It can grow to impressive heights, of up to 70 meters, and it is normally grown... for its pulpwood, used to create white paper. There are many other interesting facts regarding Rainbow Eucalyptus, but the obvious question arises: why does it look like it’s been painted?

The secret behind the Rainbow Eucalyptus is actually pretty simple. The trees shed multiple patches of bark every year, but not at the same time. As the patches are gone, the green inner bark is exposed, and, as it matures, every new patch first turns bluish, then orange, purple and maroon. This creates the rainbow effect that makes these trees so nice to look at.

Rainbow Eucalyptus can be found in New Guinea, New Britain and the Philippines.

shared by Lhynn

Not Your Usual Veggies

Radishes are one of the easiest and fastest plants to grow. Radish plants come in 2 varieties; spring radishes and winter radishes. Spring radishes are harvested in the spring. Spring radishes are fast growers and they come in red, white, pink, and black. Spring radishes can be round, oval, or cylindrical. Spring radishes have a more subtle flavor than their winter counterparts. Winter radishes take a longer time to grow and are divided in to 4 groups. Daikon radishes are like white carrots. Chinese or lo bok radishes are white and long. Spanish radishes are tart with black skins and white flesh. German Beer Radishes look like turnips.


Radishes




Bitter Melon is very popular in southern China. Fruits are in top shaped with large square shoulder. Dark green skin Bitter Melon can grow to reach 400-450 grams in size. The plant grows vigorously in warm climates and is resistant to rain, suitable for growing in tropical regions.


Bitter Melon

How to care for a Rubber Tree indoors:

How to care for a Rubber Tree indoors:



A rubber tree plant is also known as a Ficus elastica. These large trees can grow up to 50 feet tall. When learning how to care for a rubber tree plant, there are a few key things to remember. Rubber plant care isn’t as difficult as one might think.

Starting with a young rubber tree houseplant will allow it to adapt to being an indoor plant better than star...ting with a more mature plant.

Proper Light and Water for a Rubber Tree Plant

When it comes to rubber plant care, the correct balance of water and light is crucial, as
with any plant. You can control the amount of light and water it gets, which is important because they shouldn’t have too much of either.

Light

When you have a rubber tree houseplant it needs bright light, but it prefers indirect light that isn’t too hot. Some people recommend putting it near a window that has sheer curtains. This allows plenty of light, but not too much.

Water

The rubber tree plant also needs the right balance of water. During the growing season, it needs to be kept moist. It is also a good idea to wipe off the leaves of your rubber tree houseplant with a damp cloth or spritz it with water. If you water the rubber tree plant too much, the leaves will turn yellow and brown and fall off.

During the dormant season, it may only need watered once or twice a month. If the leaves begin to droop, but not fall off, increase the water you give the rubber tree houseplant gradually until the leaves perk back up again.

Mine has new leaves at the top, but I find they are dropping from below, so I will have to keep an eye on it, I have it in light filtered through a light curtain.
But I do love it as a indoor plant....