Cattaleya Portia Blue

An old orchid that has been in the garden for many years. Blooms frequently and usually gives 4 to 5 blooms per spike. This particular spike had 5 blooms and unfortunately the weight of the blooms and the heavy rain last night broke the flowering spike hence the awkward position of the blooms. This is a very old hybrid that was registered in 1897 according to The International Orchid Register.

Cattaleya Portia Blue

Previous Blooms from this Catt

Tacca Chantrieri aka Black Bat Lilly

First saw these @ the old Bedok Garden & Nursery but they were rare then and prices were crazy. I managed to find one @ Chaktuchak a green paradise for me and I never fail to find something I like on every trip. It was being sold as a herb by an old vendor and it didn't take much haggling before the deal was closed. This one has grown really large but suffered from rot after I attempted to propagate it by cutting. It has since recovered and is now doing well. My dog however loves it's seedpod and like to eat them as snack. I managed to find a beautiful white version but the dogs got to it before I could get it to flower so the search is on again.......

Tacca Chantrieri aka Black Bat Lilly

Strophantus gratus aka Rose Allamanda

This is actually from the same family as the more commomly seen yellow Allmanda. Very free flowering and scented, this plant grows easily and can be trained to climb.

Rose Allamanda

Lophophora Williamsii aka Peyote

I started growing catus and succulents during my university days when I was still staying @ Upper Serangoon. Build up quite a collection buying them from a collector who imported them himself. When my family shifted to a flat, I sold off the entire collection but I could remember those in the know will always ask for the Peyote. Couple of years back when @ Chaktuchak Market I saw these two lovely looking cactus and bought them at quite a good price, They are doing well and flowers frequently now but I think I keep them too dry. I have tried pollinating the flowers twice without success....

Lophophora Williamsii aka Peyote 

Philodendron Mamei

With the Philodendron Gloriosum name sorted out I was keen to get hold of a real Philo Mamei. Found a contact in the local gardening forum who had one cutting for sale.

Philodendron Mamei

A composite of both the Mamei and Gloriosum

Side by side the leaves of the Gloriosum is much larger than the Mamei... then again the Mamei is still quite a small plant.

Philodendron Gloriosum

It was love at first sight when I saw this leafy plant at World Farm (Bah Soon Pah Road). It was in the "cage" and not for sale. Most premium nurseries will always have a "cage" where their prized collections are kept. Luckily a few were released for sale during the Garden Show last year and I bought two. They are growing nicely and I have since propagated a few plants form the original two. They were labelled as Philodendron Mumei when I bought them but I think they should be Philodendron Gloriosum.

Philodendron Gloriosum

** correction philodendron pastazanum

Phalaenopsis Mariae DPM 1

I have been hunting for a nice specimen of this specie orchid for a long time. At the WOC last week I finally found a nice one. It was priced slightly higher than the rest of the Phal Mariae in the box but it was beautiful. Two healthy growth with an old spike meaning it had already flowered before. The new spike was carrying two blooms and after rehydrating the plant... they look gorgrous !

Phalaenopsis Mariae