Plant Project : Grow My Own Mini Herbs

Last month I participated in a "Grow Your Own Mini Herbs" workshop by Eats, Shoots and Roots at Riuh in the City, Bangsar - it was my first visit to the beautiful event. 

If you are new to this blog - big note : I love plants and animals. That explains my Plant Projects throughout my adult life. When we were small, gardening was a weekly chore with my dad - and plus, he opened a nursery in MAEPS called The Plots after he retired. So.. yeah. Among us siblings, I am the only one that still uses all the knowledge that my dad taught us about plants.

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Grow Your Own Mini Herbs :

For RM 70, we had a quick 1.5 hour class about plants (herbs), soils, fertilizers, compost and basic 101 in caring for our own herb garden. Fair enough - I really want to know the basic stuffs anyway. It was a quick and fun class, because I truly wanted to know. I wish I was eager to learn all these stuffs when I was in school. 

We each received a metal container, soils (3 compost + 1 cocopeat + 1 sand) and herbs of our choice. From the class, I chose : Ulam Raja (seeds), Thai Basil (seeds), Mint (cutting) and Dill (cutting).

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Things I learned at the workshop (1.5 hours) :

• Basic soil mixture | 3 compost + 1 sand + 1 cocopeat 
• Basic on planting herbs using seeds and cuttings (need to choose sturdier ones and give it a clean cut) 
• Choosing edible plants (they advised us to try planting local herbs first because plants like rosemary, thyme, etc are a bit challenging for beginners - those herbs are not used to our climate) 
• Easier herbs : thai basil, ulam raja, coriander, dill 
• Herbs can survive under the shade, they need at least 4 hours of sunlight every day - so it is suitable to be potted at your apartment's verandah 
• Basic on how to make your own compost

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Almost 20 days after the workshop :

• 4 Ulam Raja sprouted and already around 1.5 inch tall
• Only 1 of my Thai basil survived and it has not even reached 1 inch
• My dill cutting died
• My mint cutting survived, sprouted and has new roots
• 2 of my new Pak Choi seeds also sprouted
• I planted 4 new Season Lettuces

Aren't this one of the most beautiful thing in life? 

A new life from a small dot of seed, just with water and the sun.

 

 ♥️

Today marks a special day in our Malaysian history.

I write this specially to indirectly mention about the birth of a new life.

Congratulation on playing your part as a responsible citizen.

#GE14

Plant Project : Seeds

Every time I go to places that sell seeds, I'll buy 1-2 types of them.

By now I've planted okra, alyssum, coriander, chinese celery, aloe vera, mini wisteria, gingko biloba, petunia, carnation, persimmon, mini red maple, and chilies.

Every glass bottles and egg containers are used as planting place. 

I've come to visit every nursery in my area, buy mixture of soils and pots, tell almost elaborated updates everyday to one that patiently listened. I learned a thing or two about soils and watering technique and the most happiest is to see them sprouting excitedly everyday. Too bad the only place I can plant them is in pots and I have to wait to see whether it works for them or not. 

And because I planted so many seeds and I didn't label them, I'm starting to get confused on which is which. All big sized seeds like wisteria and gingko bonsai aren't so cooperative, so nothing came out yet even after weeks. This leave me with stalking over thousands of littlest baby sprouts from smaller sized seeds.  

My goal is to have overwhelming greenery and colourful flowers in my empty apartment. I want to see them grow, to enjoy the slow process and to appreciate the beauty not by having to kill them i.e : bouquet of cut flowers as a gifts. 

I understand now, why my dad dedicated his days to planting plants. 

It's therapeutic. 

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Carpet of snow, alyssum :

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Okra :

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Petunia or carnation ? :

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Left over alyssum :

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I always tell myself that you can see the core of a person by seeing :

1. How they treat plants,

2. How they treat all animals including dogs and pigs,

3. How they treat children.

See how a person treats those that can't judge, complain and give nothing in return. 

And you'll maybe see a tiny glimpse of the person's hidden soul.

PS : 

But my dad isn't so nice with people, and too nice towards plants and animals. 

This case study of mine always collides with this annoying fact. 

Maybe he just doesn't like human much, just like me.