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 : The Survivors

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Along side another one plant at Ma's and pothos at LGM, these two are the remaining survivor from 2014's plant project. It has been almost 2 years and MAHA is coming again - I am ready with experience and knowledge this time ! I'm most likely to buy more air plants because they are the easiest to grow and they only need twice a week of watering. Also plants that can survive on zeolites - because I can leave it for several days without daily watering. So I don't have to worry so much if we go on any random mini escapism or road-trips :D

Look at that adorable air plant in the hanging glass bubble with Chi. 

It grew so much ❤ 

Little Things 194 : Control

On our verandah, there are plants in various sizes pots. The thing is Ma loves to buy new plants, but she isn't quite good in handling them and most of people in the house never really cared. So the only one person in the house who actually think about those plants is me. 

Last weekend I had to do something for those dying aloe vera. After several years, they consumed most of the space in the verandah because they can grow up easily without water for quite some time compared to other plants. Those aloe vera were huge, they were protruding out from the verandah, trying to expand more. I had to do something, so I cut them all. The huge monstrous ones. And I feel bad.

This is what I've been thinking :

In a small space, we let plants grow. As human, is it wrong for us to control its growth by cutting and pruning? It is a living thing, and although pruning is a good kind of controlling - we are still the one who decide on how it should grow, how big, how much space it will take. 

Is it wrong for us to simply let them grow in a small space, huddled together with new little saplings that came along the way? Just because we can't afford to let them grow in a proper place with more space and real soil from the grounds with big fat healthy earth worms? 

Should I really control how they should grow and let them own the freedom that will lead to future congestion and starvation? Or should I control their growth and let them live comfortably in a controlled environment?

I have no idea.

  

Plant Project : At the Office

I put my 2 pet plants on my table at the office : Pothos and Philodendron. Among the easiest breeds to grow for indoor planting, the one you can find in the public toilet's little vases. I put it right next to me so they will always be in my reach.

I turn the glass pot every few hours because those Pothos tend to follow the sunlight quite fast and I don't like how they stretch almost unnaturally for the light.

I love the soft skin of new baby leaves and its fresh light green colour that look so innocent especially philodendron's. How the leaf curls and slowly opens up to the world.

I planted one unknown seed in the Pothos' vase. I took it from my colleague last week. My colleague was about to drink her healthy-seed-drink that was given by her mother. We both didn't know what kind of seed it is. It grew within 3 days, it is almost 3 inches by this time I'm writing this. I'm excited to find out what kind of seedling it is and I'll find a new pot for it tomorrow.

I also secretly trimmed and watered my boss's dying plant at the verandah. It was all brown, too dried up. I cut all the dried leaves and dying parts so it won't go too far. My boss found out about it and she thanked me - *she actually asked people around about the mystery person who trimmed her plant. Kantoi.

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Plant Project : Succulents 2

Update from this post :

Remember this succulent leaf I picked up from Ma's little garden like a month ago? This was after 2 weeks, with tiny little new roots dangling for a new life :

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Well this is how it looks today, with super tiny new baby succulent near the root. I am a happy mommy :D I've been watching really closely every-single-day, spraying some mists of water with love on the soil. From a tiny dot to these little leaves :

More than 5 weeks old :

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And while others are also striving for their lives, rooting very slowly. I really need a magnifier :o This plant project of mine is bringing me little joy in life. If these little dying leaves can survive, how can we not? 

They are all fallen leaves by the way. I picked them up and put them all together, some died eventually and I had to throw them away. 

I guess some are born to survive ❤

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I'm still waiting for my left-over broccoli to start rooting, I am not sure whether it will work, it started to smell tho - like turned brownish a bit. But I read online, that some plants will be quite brownish and unhealthy looking before it starts to propagate, so.. yeah.

And also 3 stems of rosemary, still no sign of life continuation :| And also those lemon seeds I picked up from lemon detox water.

Plant Project : Things I Learned About Planting 2

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From my personal view,

I learned about patience. I love how therapeutic planting can be for me. Learning each and every plant need time, and it pushes me to read and experience more just to understand what is what. This is something I can't learn just by listening to people's tips & tricks.  

I killed many plants and seeds, and I always feel bad for this. But I'll keep on trying until I be better at this. I'll try to understand their silent language. Isn't it remarkable how they can only communicate by their action? I always wonder whether they can actually communicate with each other. Whether they feel pain every time I cut some unwanted stems and throw some almost dried leaves from their body.  

I follow closely for every improvement, every new baby plants and light green leaf that slowly spreads open. I googled every symptoms and every signs, to understand the silent language. How comforting it is to do right at some things even when I did wrong with many other things along the way. 

Plant Project : Things I Learned About Planting 1

Useful basic things I learned about planting :

1. Watering plants -

Each plants need different amount of water. 

Make sure you know how to understand some basic rules like : 

• yellow leaf means 'please give me more water' and brown leaf especially on the tips means 'too much water'. It's easy to kill a plant by over-watering it compared to under-watering. It's a learning process, really. And of course, there are other reasons for leaves to turn their colour eg : sunlight, soil, nutrients etc.
• Be aware of the first sign of dehydration like when the leaves start to wilt especially during the afternoon. That usually mean it needs water because it's too dry. If your plant is limp, that's usually because you over-watered it. 
• Use a container bigger than the plant's pot, pour some water in it and put the plant's pot in the container so the the plant can absorb the water from the root instead of watering them from above. Herbs like Rosemary don't usually tolerate with too much water so it's hard to understand the amount of water they actually need, having them absorb what's needed is much better than having them drowning in the damp soil. I seriously recommend watering herbs using this technique.
• Spray some water on the soil if using a container without proper drainage system especially terraniums *mostly for succulents, don't water them. Nanti becak.
• What you can do is check the soil. Put your finger in the soil a bit, if it's moist, it's not the time to water it yet.
• Learn about your plant. For example I just found out that Aloe Vera is from the family of succulent, so they don't really need so much water, like cactuses. Or orchids, they are very sensitive, they absorb water using their exposed root, they need such little amount of mist - and if you water them at night, they are prone to diseases, 2 of my orchids are currently limp and not going to survive. =.= Pegaga and keladi can survive water. Bonsai usually need water every morning, like mine, it is almost floating with roots exposed above the ground, so it needs daily watering. 
• Hm, a delicate process of understanding every plant's need. I am learning slowly and yes, I killed several plants by now because of over-watering.

2. Drainage Holes

• I know there are so many cute containers that you can use for your plant, but please bear in mind that plants really need proper drainage system to avoid excess water. This is one of the main reason why your plant die. 
• Damp soil = root rot = plant dies

3. Dried leaves

• Cut off any dried or wilted stems and pluck out dried leaves because they are mostly dead/almost dead and you can't really save them anyway. 
• Learn pruning, your plants need it.

4. Sunlight

• If you are living in an apartment, this is a bit hard, especially if there isn't much sunlight in your house. You can try your balcony and along your window, choose the sunniest spot for your plants. 
• Some of them probably won't mind staying indoor much, my dad calls them pet plants. Plants like pegaga and keladi are good example. Plants like rosemary and my chilli-tomato, need sunlight everyday.
• And, flower plants, well they really love sunlight.

5. Repotting

• Usually every time I buy new plant, I'll re-pot it in a proper planter. 
• You need to put some rocks above those holes and if you have time, learn about which soil type is good for your new plant *I haven't learn about soils yet. I bought some plastic net from Daiso (*RM5 for 20 pieces) at the gardening section. So I don't really have to find stones to put in the pot.
• Some plants will overgrown in their pot after awhile and desperately need new space, especially if there are more than 1 plant in the pot. Last week, I tried to repot my chili-tomato plant and found out that the whole pot is packed with their roots instead of soil. I separated them and trimmed some old roots and repot them separately with new soil. All learned from Google.

6. Seeds & Propagation

• Well, I love experimenting. Planting from seed is a tough process, sometimes ok-ok but weak,  and most of the time I failed.
• I've been collecting seeds out of curiosities, by this time I've tried planting several fruits that I ate : persimmon *which is a big tree I supposed, by the size of it's leaf now - I have 2, pomegranate - *4 survived & growing,  2 growing garlics and 8 new lemon's seed I just planted.
• And after learning on Pinterest, I'm trying to propagate several succulents from its fallen leaves, 3 stems of Rosemary, and 10 Aloe Vera babies from its mother. 
• I know it is much easier to buy a healthy baby plant instead, but I love the learning process and I love the fact that I can examine them growing daily. Ha.

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PS : If this is an article, I'll probably write in the simplest point-form lines. But this is my personal online planting journal, I love it's detailed descriptions of every tiny updates on my plants for any future reference. I'm imagining myself babbling about my plants, explaining every detailed updates that fascinate me. Hm :)

Plant Project : Succulents

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By now, I should have around 7 succulents, but 2 died because I over-watered them in the earlier part  of the project when I was learning them. I usually water them once/twice a week or when I see the upper part of the soil is too dried. Not knowing much about planting, some plants weren't properly equipped with proper drainage - that leave them with damp soil in the deeper part causing their roots to rot and die. Hm. 

But, I'm not giving up over some failures, I'm still going to learn as much as I can. I bought another succulents siblings of 4 for RM 3.50 yesterday at a little nursery near Ampang Point : 

I just transferred these 4 into a ceramic bowl with zeolites instead of normal soil so I can avoid over-watering them after this : 

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Propagating :

Several weeks ago I started collecting accidentally fallen leaves from these succulents for propagation. I was a bit skeptic - I didn't feel like this could actually work but I saw people were doing it over Pinterest. So I took 2 leaves from my mom's succulent and put them on a soil, left it next to the window where it can receive sunlights. I sprayed water every morning and sometimes at night if the soil is too dry.

One completely withered and died, another one started rooting. 

This is after around 2 weeks, with new tiny roots! :

So it actually might work ! Although it is a very super-slow process, I'm excited to see this improvement. I'll keep this post updated for any news. These are other accidentally fallen leaves that I collected :

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Minka killed :

2 batches of Okra/Bendi - around 14 seedlings

3 persimmon seedlings

5 pomegranate seedlings

1 little chili plant

=.= 

So I bought 1 rounded-chili plant and rosemary. Pegaga is too cute to be eaten just yet, but I started using rosemary in my cooking now. I'm still considering to use these plants for cooking - it feels a bit barbaric to pick some leaves and throw it in my cooking. Hm. Is it possible for plants to actually feel pain?

I also make use of fallen leaf from Aloe Vera - and put it on my dried heels. From 1 tiny dying Aloe Vera that I rescued from my mom's home, now I have 6 more little babies from the same plant. See? I can also do right with some of the plants.

Plant Project : Zeolites & Present

Planting Journal :

All my bendi seedlings are dead. I blame it all on Minka. I don't like her as much as before now and I can't wait to give her back to my boss today =.= Anyhow, I planted another 6 of new bendi seeds and another batch of white alyssum. 

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I've also started training my bonsai under wires. Not much of things that I can do other than pulling it up several centimeters more to make the root floats. Maybe need to hunt for another fresh looking moss for the base. 

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Ma collected unused bowls and glass bottles for my mini garden. After several months of try-and-error gardening, now I understand the importance of proper drainage for plants. That is, to have proper pots with tiny holes so that soils won't be too dampened by water and to find alternative for soil. My dad sell zeolites so I'm making used of his products. I'm using zeolites for all the bottles and bowls and cups without proper drainage system. Not sure about the scientific explanation, but somehow zeolites will absorb water and nutrients, plants will absorb only what's needed - so the best part are :

1. I only need to water them 2-3 times a week

2. No more over-watering

I agree, all plants in the zeolites are healthy looking now and growing up fast. While all plants in the soil, some died because of overwatering, some looking a bit slump or yellow - it's a daily battle. 

Here, this is how they look like in zeolites :

If you are interested to know more about zeolites or pet plants, send me an email. Should really consider to put extra goodness in the things that you care about. 

Wiki :

In agriculture, zeolite is used as a soil treatment. It provides a source of slowly released. If previously loaded with ammonium, the zeolite can serve a similar function in the slow release of nitrogen. Zeolites can also act as water moderators, in which they will absorb up to 55% of their weight in water and slowly release it under the plant's demand. This property can prevent root rot and moderate drought cycles. 

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And for another birthday present from my little sister, she gave me a mini DIY terranium. I received a glass jar, several types of pebbles and stones, wood bits, cactus soil and 2 little succulents *one with a sign of under-watering. Tiny cactuses/succulents can actually cost around RM3-5 if you buy at local nursery, not sure how much she spent for a DIY terranium, I'm guessing it wasn't so cheap. 

But, the thought matters. I love that rare looking succulents on the left. And I had fun playing it yesterday. Can't wait for future succulent babies. 

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Plant Project : Little Seedlings

Planting Journal :

While hundreds of little seedlings grow every day, there will be little deaths as well among the fragile ones. I have to accept that not every little thing can survive growing up, even in a very well-cared environment. 

I try to accept that little deaths are normal in this gardening cycle and to not be overly emotional because among all that did not survived, there are also the ones that still struggling to grow T^T

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They looked so small and fragile, even watering them requires time and patient because every drop is too heavy for their thread-like-stem. So I try with spraying water and making the water flow on empty soil instead on where they are. I killed a bunch of Petunia seedlings, I'm not going to repeat that with Sweet Alyssum and Carnations T^T

Surprisingly, they grow well in a small container compared to in a big pot among hundreds of them. These are much healthier and growing faster than the first batch I that planted in a other bigger pot :

Sweet Alyssum in a very tiny green tea cup and Innershines bottle.

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And Pegaga is growing up well too, look at those little babies. When I first brought it home, it got around 5 leaves, now it look like more than 10 leaves. My dad said that Pegaga and Keladi are among pet plants that easy to grow in the house with less direct sunlight. With using Zeolites, I only need to water it about once every 3-4 days. So I bought another pack of zeolites from my dad for other plants as well.  

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Plant Project : Death and Updates

Planting journal :

I am not happy because I've killed all petunia's sprouts. It seems like their soft fragile stem rotted and not even one sprout manage to grow tall much longer. Too much water. While all carnation sprouts are doing quite well with the same amount of water. Too bad I read about petunia's watering technique a day later before the mass killing T^T 

And I'm thanking the internet for all free knowledge that I can find easily.

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Our bonsai is growing up well and needing a bigger vase and proper wiring. I am not looking forward to the actual pruning. Other than that, I've been experimenting with fruit seeds. Last week I got 2 persimmons from ma, and I managed to get 5 seeds from the fruit after I ate the persimmon. And because I got so many bottles and soils left, I planted those seeds thinking that maybe it might work and I'll do persimmon bonsai later. Well 3 days later, it showed the first sign of little sprout from the seed :D

Nothing yet from all bonsai seeds I bought online : Gingko, Wisteria & Red Maple. I guess I have accept that 4-seasons trees can't magically accept our weather - and I'll give up after 6 weeks. And try again with the proper tedious technique. I have another 6 Wisteria seeds and 4 Gingko seeds in my keeping. 

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I managed to get several little cups for souffle for RM 1 each and did a proper moss mini garden in it. Put some zeolites for the base because those cups don't have drainage for excessive water. It is so cute now and I can't wait to take some pictures later in another few weeks time.

Gardening should be done in the morning, but I don't really have time before work so I do it at night after I come back from work. It's against gardening rules but they'll have to survive that :(

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I've also started working on organic compost since last week. I put a medium sized basin at the verandah and throw all the dried veggies, green leftovers, and egg shells in it. Added basic soil on-top of it to avoid the smell and unwanted insects. Other than online reads, all ideas came from what I learned when I was young - the 'forced gardening' years. I should thank my dad properly one of this day. 

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Maybe this is how I survive my solitude, the hunger and need of other lives in my life that only bring soft positive vibes and the effect of not having Awan around. Maybe human really can't possibly be totally alone. So I started planting.

But I'm not lonely.
It's hard to explain to people when they pity me for enjoying solitude. I ended up telling them that I am totally fine with this and rather be alone than having someone that I don't want to be with. Hah. And maybe I'm beginning to be slightly socially awkward and clingy to a certain individual.

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Documenting my life straight-forwardly from a 3rd person's view like I am an experimental specimen on a case study works fine with me. I hope this doesn't bore you, and if it does, you shouldn't waste your time on this dilly-dally because one's interest is only if it connects with them, even for a little tiny bit of atomic-sized link.

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.

Plant Project : Bendi Seeds

As for the last week's continuation on this post, where I posted about my shopping spree at MAHA, I also posted an image of those Bendi seeds in recycled egg carton. I didn't expect much on the first few days, but 2 days after I planted them, they sprouted their first leaf. 

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Their growth is alarmingly fast. In just several days, they got as high as 5 inches. Not sure whether that is normal or not, last time I planted seeds was 12 years ago. But those red maple bonsai seed and gingko biloba seed that I planted on the same time aren't showing any progress, so I guess it depends on every plant.

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New pot, almost all crammed together in a limited soil. Aha. 

I need longer pot, more soil, and organic fertilizer. 

These babies are growing too fast. These are just 6 days old :

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Little Things 158 : Little House 3 + Baby Plants

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Here are things that I bought at MAHA 2014 for less than RM 50 *except for some of the seeds - etsy, baby aloe vera and moss of course. Look at those different types of orchids, not quite sure which are which now.

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Aftermath :

I took several hours to replace their pots. Not quite sure whether planting orchids this way would work or not tho. Inspiration taken from too many images in pinterest, and hanging them up next to a window seems like a great idea :

Had to read several more how-to from Google to keep them orchids alive.
I don't want to repeat the past :F

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I also planted several seeds - I felt quite optimistic until I read several articles on how fussy it is to plant things indoor - in pots, compared to outdoor in their natural habitat :F Now I feel like giving up and wanting to buy all baby plants instead of seeds.

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I once asked a seller in one of the nursery in KL about air plant. I didn't know about it much, so I was just as curious as any new gardener would be. It is just a plant, that doesn't need soil and much water - perfect for this one glass ball I bought for no reason when I followed my sister to a warehouse in Balakong last month. But, the price was RM35. 

I left the place feeling a bit shocked. Clearly wasn't ready to hear such littlest being to cost that much. But when I went to MAHA, there was 3 booths that sell various types of air plants costing around RM8 - RM 15, depending on the size. So I bought one :F

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Little bonsai needs its sunlight, so I had to put it in now-healthy-looking-aloe-vera that I brought from home. Before this, the aloe vera almost died. Over-watered. Hah. 

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Little mosses were scooped up from the apartment area. I stole it, in front of the guard - picked it up with my mini tools and a plastic bag. These littles moses are by far the most fussiest plants that I'm currently taking care of. Sometimes they turned brownish and dry, sometimes they looked like they are ready to die because I over-watered it. I have no idea how much should I water to make them look normal. =.= Need more time to understand each pot's water requirement.

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I'm really glad I started indoor gardening :D

Much cheaper than taking care of Awan, although plants don't really respond much as cats do.