Pretty in pink… with a message
GIFTING: THREE TROPICAL BEAUTIES TO ADD TO YOUR VALENTINE’S SHOPPING
Beautiful plant can be a reminder earth is ours to care about. Alice Spenser-Higgs
House plants don’t come much more aesthetically pleasing than those with exotic pink blooms or striking pink foliage. Three tropical beauties to consider for your Valentine’s shopping list are the Siam tulip (Curcuma alismatifolia) from Thailand, the moth orchid (Phalaenopsis) that was discovered on the island of Java and Stromanthe Triostar from Brazilw’s Amazon rainforest.
But did you know that their original habitats are all under threat?
According to National Geographic, “More than half of earth’s rain forests have already been lost due to the human demand for wood and arable land. Rain forests that once grew over 14% of the land on earth now cover only about 6%”.
Maybe that beautiful plant given as a gift, can also be a reminder that the environment is ours to care for.
The charm of Curcuma alismatifolia is its big dramatic blooms that have earned it the common name of Siam tulip.
Originally a rare tropical plant from Northern Thailand (formerly Siam) and Cambodia, plants can still be seen growing in the wild at Pa Hin Ngam National Park in Thailand. The fields of flowers in summer are a major attraction and resemble the tulip fields of Holland. Another thing to enjoy about the blooms is their hidden
surprise. Like little hidden gems, small violet flowers emerge from the bracts underneath the showy flowers. The spear-shaped green leaves are like a ginger plant, which is no coincidence as this ornamental curcuma is a member of the ginger family.
As an indoor plant, curcuma need a warm, bright room with high light to keep on blooming. Keep the soil consistently moist and add liquid fertiliser to the water every two weeks.
When the flower fades cut off the stem at soil level so that the plant can put its energy into producing a new flower stem. Plants go dormant in winter and should be kept on the dry side. For outdoor growth, plant in positions that receive morning sun and are sheltered from frost.
Phalaenopsis …an island girl
Have you wondered why phalaenopsis is called the moth orchid?
The genus Phalaenopsis was discovered by a Dutch botanist, Dr C L Blume, who was on a field trip on the island of Java and saw butterflies hovering in a tree. On closer inspection he saw that they were orchids which he later called Phalaenopsis amabilis.
“Amabilis” means charming and name, while “Phalaenopsis” means like a moth, derived from the Greek word Phalaina (moth) and “opsis” (resembling).
In the wild, Phalaenopsis grows in trees as well as in humus accumulated in rocky crevices close to water.
Mimic those conditions indoors by positioning phalaenopsis in a warm, draught-free room with bright, indirect light.
Watering is easy. Put the potted orchid in a dish, bucket or basin and let it soak for about 10 minutes, then drain well. Alternatively, give the orchid about a quarter of a cup (50ml) of water once a week. Mist spray in winter to maintain humidity.
Stromanthe Triostar – Brazilian brilliance. This houseplant is all about leaves, a flamboyant mix of magenta under the leaf with pale pink, cream and green shades on top.
In its natural environment on forest floor, it must be breathtaking. So sad that the Amazon forest is losing its fight to slash and burn farmers, highways and drilling for fossil fuel.
This compact plant, that looks like a living work of art should be shown off on table tops and coffee tables.
Like other tropical plants it does best in a warm room with bright, indirect light and moist but not soggy soil.
In hot dry weather and winter, mist spray the leaves for extra humidity. If the leaf tips get brown and dry, it is not getting enough water.
During summer, feed monthly with a liquid fertiliser to encourage new leaves. Keep the plant looking good by cutting off dead leaves.