The Home Garden

Orchid nomenclature

2008-02-19T14:22:29Z

How are orchids named?

This proves to be a headache for most orchid cultivators. Not to mention a headache for the orchid enthusiast who perhaps receives an orchid gift and no name attached to it. If one is so lucky to receive an orchid with its full nomenclature, then the headache continues if one does not know what and how a name is given to an orchid. Since orchid hybrids are the most commonly cultivated orchids, it is fully understandable that the hybridizer gets to name the orchid when they register the orchid at the orchid authorities that are in those countries where they reside. Orchid identification is usually by means of a grex name. Grex is a Greek word that means either flock or group. Grex can refer to all offspring as well as subsequent offspring of hybrid crosses when applied to orchids.

It does not matter whether your orchid is cultivated from seed, or cuttings, or keiki. It also does not matter which form, shape and color your orchids are. All orchid offspring must have a common lineage, a common parentage from whence they were hybridized. Hence they can all be classified as members of a common grex.

All the orchid cultivars can have individual names, but when they are classified, the grex name will precede the cultivar name. For example: Doritaenopsis Red Pearl ‘Barbara Ann’, where the grex name is Red Pearl.

Technorati Tags: flowers, gardening, grex name, home garden, horticulture, orchid nomenclature, Orchids, plants

Mysterious orchids

2008-02-05T20:26:08Z

Over decades, and dare I say over centuries, orchids have gained the reputation that they are mysterious plants. In fact it was thought that orchids are freak plants and even extraordinary plants. Orchid collectors have grown into a habit of fabricating wild and wonderfully weird stories about the orchids, how they came about collecting those specific orchids, and the rarity of the orchids that they are collecting. These weird tall tales were told by these collectors with a specific aim – to protect their collections of orchids and to prevent other collectors from also collecting the same type of orchid and maybe even better ones. Often these tall tales threw other collectors off the real trail. They really aimed to keep the mystery going.

In addition to the mystery, orchids’ reputation also includes ‘weird’. Because people did not really understand how the orchid reproduction system works, it was easier for people to say – ‘weird plants’. Orchids, unlike other flowers in the floral kingdom do not have separate male and female reproductive organs as in stamens and pistils, the orchid flower houses its reproductive organs in a single specialized structure that is known as a column. At least this is what we know now and consequently orchids are no longer so mysterious, we also know now that the origins of many orchid species are well documented because there was a growing concern that we might lose our orchid heritage if all people who are interested in orchids are not made aware of it. It was a real danger since many careless collectors of old, because they understood so little of the orchid plants and how orchids grow, and what conditions are just right for orchids in which to be cultivated, destroyed many a species of orchid. Though some might still call the orchids weird, I think it is just wonderful and so varied that one can never grow tired of them. What is more they have the potential to bloom for weeks on end – and that is major cool.

Technorati Tags: flowers, gardening, home garden, horticulture, Orchids, plants

A Salad Herb Garden

2008-01-19T18:47:28Z

The Salad Herb garden is also a great way to do a container home garden when pressed for space. Most herbs will thrive in a sunny position with morning sun preferable and afternoon shade. In hot weather it is essential to water your herbs at least every second day.

Rocket – This herb is loaded with iron and vitamins, and comes with a rather bitter, but nutty taste. As such Rocket is the perfect accompaniment to other types of salad leaves. New growth is promoted when you pick the leaves. Leaves that are produced after the herb has flowered is not as tasty and you would thus do yourself a great favor to cut the plant down after it has flowered, or leave the flowers to set seed so you can propagate a new crop.
Garlic Chives – Now this herb can be planted any time of the year. You can cut the leaves with a pair of scissors, chop it finely and garnish egg dishes, salads and salad dressings. Garlic chives have a great taste and works wonderfully in dips as well.
Sorrel – This herb is one of those herbs that has a slightly sharp taste, and almost taste sour in salads. The plant should be watered often so as to keep the leaves juicy. You can promote new growth in this herb by cutting off the flower shoots.
Salad Burnet – Complimentary to its name, this herb is pretty and resembles a fern and looks great in salads. It tastes somewhat like a cucumber and is loaded with vitamin C. This herb is a perennial and grows into a lovely little bush with small red flowers. Any container in your garden will look great if you grow Salad Burnet in it. It may look like the plant is dying back in winter but it will bounce back in the spring. Do remove the dead leaves and dead head the flowers to keep the plant looking neat.

Technorati Tags: chives, garlic, garlic chives, herb garden, Herbs, home garden, rocket, salad brunet, salad herbs, sorrel

The Edible Herb Garden

2008-01-15T12:49:01Z

If you are interested in cooking and gardening, then growing herbs should be just the right home garden for you. Herbs are best when it comes to cooking. A great way for the gardener to cater for the cook is to grow herbs. Planting up a collection of herbs to suit your tastes and interests should not be too difficult, besides herbs make great gifts.

A Garnishing Herb Home Garden

Plant some herbs to add as garnish to your salads, both winter and summer salads. If garnishing is your forte then you should grow the following herbs in your home garden.

Borage – is a hardy annual that is capable of growing up to a meter in height. The rough large hairy leaves and the blue flowers that seem to be drooping is simply a brilliant feature. Borage tastes somewhat like cucumbers and can be used to garnish salads and drinks. Borage will do well in both sun and semi-shade. Do not forget to water the herbs.
Pansies – ever popular amongst most gardeners, pansies does not only look great in the home garden providing color, it is also edible. Pansies prefer full sun during winter and partial shade in summer when it is hot. Well-drained soil is the best medium in which to plant Pansies. Do add compost and the correct type of fertilizers if necessary. It is important to deadhead the pansies on a regular basis. Add the edible flowers to your salads, garnishing cake, deserts such as sorbets, etc.
Nasturtiums – Nasturtiums not only make great ground covers, they are also very easy to grow and will even tolerate poor soil and full sun. The bright yellow and orange Nasturtium flowers look wonderful in salads and the leaves lends a wonderful peppery flavor. Apart from being an edible flower, the Nasturtium is also reputed to have medicinal properties. When experiencing the first symptoms of a sore throat, chew a Nasturtium leaf. (Do consult a medical practitioner in case you are allergic.)

Technorati Tags: borage, gardening, herb garden, herb gardening, Herbs, home garden, nasturtiums, pansies