OPEN TERRARIUM

This is a open top terrarium (technically it is not the correct term) on display at Hua Hng (World Farm) at Bah Soon Pah Road. It was previously planted with some carnivorous plants but it has been replanted with a range of plants that give it a nice composition.

LIVE SPHAGNUM MOSS

I was growing my live sphagnum moss in two terrariums but noticed  white patches appearing in both containers. Fearing that they could be a fungus, which seemed to be spreading, I decided to open up the containers to improve the air circulation instead.

Anyway, I am positive that the sphagnum mosses were growing because the threads were elongating. It's amazing how they can just grow without any medium. I just added some to my carnivorous plants terrarium and hopefully, it would provide a green ground cover for the plants in time to come.

CLOUD FOREST PART 3

This is the highest point of the Cloud Forest. Known as The Lost World, it features some of the most interesting plants such as the following:

carnivorous plants 

American Pitcher Plant (scientific name: Sarracenia species and cultivars)
Sundew (scientific name: Drosera)
Butterwort (scientific name: Pinguicula)
Pitcher Plant (scientific name: Nepenthes cultivars)

orchid - Miltoniopsis cultivars
gesneriad - Stretocarpella
fern -  Adiantum sp.
Rhododendron
Begonia

TERRARIUM

I saw these carnivorous plant terrariums on sale, at cut-throat prices at Takashimaya's Cold Storage. Some of the containers look familiar and they were planted with a number of Nepenthes cultivars (common name: Pitcher Plant) and mosses. The funny part is I recently thought of planting up some terrariums with Pitcher Plants and viola, here they were although they weren't done by me. Hmm, talk about deja vu!

HOUSEPLANTS

Today's weather - sunny

I may not have a garden on the ground but I still have lots to say about the plants I grow at home.


The Justicia brandegeeana is really a slow growing shrub. It took this shrub quite some time to grow to this size and produce these inflorescences.


I cannot recall when I bought this sundew plant (scientific name: Drosera cultivar) but perhaps I should try planting this sun-loving carnivorous plant in a terrarium?


The Calanthe orchid has also grew much since a week or two ago.


The variegated Hamelia patens has recently produced some fruits. This photo only showed two black fruits but the actual plant has put out two whole bunches of fruits now.


On the other hand, the fruits of the Gloriosa superba are getting bigger with each day and I am still waiting to see when it would ripen and "explode".


By the way, I have always been intrigued at the leaf branching pattern of the Plumbago species. The branching is just different from most typical opposite or alternate arrangements. The whorled leaf arrangement gives rise to a new stalk of leaves or flowers. Is there a certain advantage or benefit for this type of leaf arrangement, I wonder?


I bought this interesting Begonia from Ang Mo Kio Flora recently and it has been kind to me just yet. A few leaves were damaged by the collection of water on them but other than that, the plant appears to be perfectly happy in the pot.


I guess this is so much for now.