5.18.2009

Turning Green

Two months and no writings?

Hey, that's too much...

I'm back and alive!!

I suddenly got this green feeling... Well, I'd like to grow greens, that is. Once I had this dream that a part of our home will be filled with flowers and fragrance. I woke up and realized, "Hey, I can do that!". The first thing that came into my mind that morning was to renovate our back terrace into a small garden.


The choice of plants to grow was too diverse. With an indirect sunlight and windy conditions, I could grow shrubs, bulbs, anything that flowers. But I wanted something flowering that lasts longer and smells great at the same time. And whoa! Like a big lightbulb in my head flashing wildly, the choice was made: I'll grow orchids!!!

With the variety of colors and fragrance and species, orhcids will be my best bet to decorate my garden. Since April, I've studied orchids: their favorable growing conditions, propagation, caring and maintenance. And with the help of a handful orchid hobbyists around me, there are lot to learn and it will be so much fun and exciting!! Every payday is a sure visit to orchid shops, from Cubao to Baclaran, Cavite, and even Tagaytay!! I'll be growing dendrobiums, oncidiums and cattleyas for a starter. Pictured below are a few of the species I found interesting.


A few plants not pictured above are as follows (most of which are cuttings):

Brassia Rex, Blc White Bow Bells, Blc Almakee, Blc Pink Pamela Hetherington, Dendrobium Sharry Starbright, Dendrobium Yellow Chai Ling;

The growing of orchids was a real challenge; I have to know which type would live on shady and well lit areas of the terrance. I have to know how to feed them for superior growth and flowering. Since orchids doesn't want noon sun, it would be best to cover the area with a double black net. In the long run, I will need to put steel fence with cyclone wire around the terrace to allow aeration for the orchids.

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