The Queen of The Night Come This Year In My "Garden"

Epiphyllum flower - Photographed by Rdz

What, queen of the night? Yes, do you know this kind of flower plant? I am sure many of you knew it. And yes, it's a magnificent flower and attracts my eyes. Today, in this article I am going to share my experiences and also my feeling to this flower. Of course, I love this flower and always waiting when it blooms. These are my experiences on how to grow and how to make this plant flowering.  Sounds, great, huh? Let's check it out!

Photographed by Rdz

You won't believe it when I tell you what story behind this flower. Well, I tell you that almost 2 years ago, I found some kind of leaf on the street or pathway nearby our block. I knew it, it was an Epiphyllum leaf. I didn't know where it came from. I picked it up and bring in home. I still remember, that time, the leaf was so ugly, looked like no future for it to grow. Because nobody picked it, people just walked, even bike run over this leaf. So, you can imagine how this leaf condition. 

Photographed by Rdz

After took the leaf home, I put it in a pot with potting soil, big enough pot for it to grow. Slowly everyday watering, and taking care of the leaf such as place it facing the sunlight or direct sunlight. Finally, the root grows and makes it stronger, but the problem is... there was still only one leaf. How to make this plant have flowers if the leaf was only one... I didn't know! I also got issues that I didn't have enough space for it to grow. I was thinking to give it up. Means, just thrown it away.

Photographed by Rdz

A few months later, we moved to a new place that has enough space for my plants and flowers. I decided to bring this leaf along with other flowers and plants. Yes, I still believed that leaf will grow and has flowers someday. After a few months rooting, the Epiphyllum leaf was still only had one leaf, can you believe that? Yes, it's hard to believe. But, I give it once a chance to grow and then flower in a new place. 

Photographed by Rdz

I am surprised, not long after moving in a new place, the Epiphyllum leaf grows well and has many leaves, grow and grow every day. I knew it, this plant loves its a new place. Why? I think our new place has enough sunlight that the Epiphyllum needs all year. A few months later, I saw for the first time the queen of the night. Yes, since last year my Epiphyllum blooms. Last year, this plant bloomed 3 or 4 times a year. Once it had many flowers that bloomed on the same night, around 11 flowers! And this year, 2020, for the first time my Epiphyllum blooms. Last Wednesday, 1 flower bloomed, the next day, 5 flowers bloomed, and last Friday, 3 flowers bloomed. I saw the queen of the night for 3 days! What an amazing day! The smell is very good...! And there is a myth if we can see this flower then we will get lucky! As you know, the queen of the night blooms at midnight, in the morning will wither and it will not bloom again. It just 1 chance!

Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti / Acik Mdy

So, what I have done to this Epiphyllum plant? Giving it enough fertilizer, I like to use natural fertilizer, place it in the right place that enough sunlight for the whole year, watering (give it water when the soil dry), do not give to much water, and cut some leaves so it will grow new leaves and will have flower again. I saw it, when I cut some leaves, the new leaves will bring flowers. It's how I maintenance my Epiphyllum plant.

Photographed by Acik Mdy

Sounds easy maintenance, right? And we will have a magnificent flower! And I think tomorrow my Rain Lily will bloom. If you read my article before, yes it is the same Rain Lily plant. I think Rain Lily is a cute flower. So, this is my experience and my story about Epiphyllum plant. I am happy to share it with you. Well, I love flowers and plants, I hope someday I could have yards! It looks like a new dream, having big yards! 😊

Note:

• Written by Acik Mardhiyanti / Acik Mdy
• Photographed by Rdz and Acik Mardhiyanti / Acik Mdy
• Do not copy this article without permissions
• Do not reuse these photographs anywhere else without permissions

A Beautiful Rain Lily From My "Garden"

Habranthus Robusta (Rain Lily) from my "garden" - Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti

Gardening in an apartment? Why not? For me who loves flowers and plants, gardening is like my purpose in this life. Life? Yes, in my life. I would like to take some of my time to go gardening. I don't have a real garden, just enough space for my flower and plant. And in this article, I am going to share my experience when I grew Rain Lily in my "garden". Who's like Rain Lily? I am the one! These are my experiences on how to grow Habranthus Robusta or just called it Rain Lily.

Rain Lily - Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti 

I bought the bulb about 2 months ago when we visited Garden By The Bay Singapore. Yes, we can buy such kind this souvenir there. Wow, sounds good, right? Of course, for someone who loves flowers, this is really amazing! Me for example, I always excited to buy this kind of souvenir. At the time I wanted to buy a Dahlia bulb, but I couldn't find it. So I decided to buy Rain Lily bulb. First, because I hadn't tried growing this flower, second, I believe this flower is cute and pretty! 😊

The bulb - Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti / Acik Mdy

I paid $ 5 for 1 bulb of Rain Lily. Does it sound expensive for 1 bulb? Well, believe me, I haven't seen this kind of flowers sold in the plant shop. So, I think it worth it for me. And in Singapore, flowers and plants are expensive. For example, the price one pot of Portulaca flowers is about $ 5 - $ 6. Yes, I bought only one bulb. And I planted the bulb a few days later in a small pot. Why a small pot? Because this flower is small and it won't grow big and tall like a Dahlia flower. So, a small pot is enough for a Rain Lily bulb.

 A little bud - Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti

Actually, there is no need for special maintenance. I just planted in a small pot with potting soil and water every day by sprinkling it. Other, I put it facing the sunlight. That's it! The Rain Lily needs sunlight, so it good to put them facing sunlight. And I am lucky, because January and February, the sun hits my corridor. Yes, every time I want to grow a flower or plant, the first thing that I have to know where the sunlight is going. That's important. 

My Rain Lily was facing the sunlight - Photographed by Acik Maedhiyanti 

I was surprised, last Saturday when we wanted to go shopping, I saw the Rain Lily flower was blooming. What? Because for the past 3 weeks I hadn't watered my flower and plants. Yes, I got minor surgery 3 weeks ago. At that time I need some rest for 2-3 weeks. The first thing I saw was a beautiful pink Rain Lily in my "garden". After more than 2 weeks took a rest, the Rain Lily was blooming. Well, today, the flower just fades out. Believe me, I am very happy at the time.

These are my experiences on how to grow Habranthus Robusta or Rain Lily. Easy, right? My Japanese friend said, in Japan Rain Lily blooms in autumn and the color is white. And in Singapore, I grew it in January when the sun hits my corridor. So yes, maybe some people will have different experiences on how to grow it. And I am glad to share my experiences with you guys. See you in another article, I haven't decided yet what flower I will plant in my "garden". 

Note:

• Written by Acik Mardhiyanti / Acik Mdy
• Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti / Acik Mdy
• Do not copy this article without permissions
• Do not reuse these photographs anywhere else without permissions 

How I grow Petunia Flower

Petunia Flower from my "garden" - Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti

My Petunia Flower - Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti

Living in a flat and do gardening? Oh, please are you kidding me? No, I am not. This is true that I do gardening in such a small space/ or just enough space to put my pots and plants. I love gardening and trying to grow some flowers. This is one of them, the Petunia flower. How to grow the Petunia flower in such hot weather? It is impossible but I am trying... And now they are starting to bloom. I am happy to see it 😊

My Petunia flowers - photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti

I didn't remember when I bought the Petunia seeds. Maybe around November 2019. After buying the seeds, 2 days later I sow the seeds in one of my empty pots. Well, at the time this pot was empty because our Rose flower died. Yes, I don't have yards, and it explains why I have to wait for other flowers or plants to die before sowing new flower seeds. I decided to grow the Petunia flower. I know we have hot weather in Singapore, but I have to try.

My baby Petunia Flower with died Rose Plant - Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti

Surprisingly, 2 or 3 days after sowing the seeds were growing. I keep watching this baby Petunia every day. In November, the weather in Singapore looks cooler because of the rain. And the sun changes direction, at this point the sun doesn't catch our corridor. It means, my Petunia would be saved to grow. In my case, the Petunia flower needs light but not direct sunlight to grow. I also water them just once every 3 days. It depends on the soil that we use. I always love to use good soil, fertilizer soil. For me, by using such good soil, I don't need to water my baby Petunia every day. Too much water will make them die.

My Petunia flower (middle December 2019) - Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti

I watch my Petunia day after day until someday I realized that they are starting to bloom. What? Yes, my Petunia flowers are blooming. I am very happy. It happened in January, then they bloom and bloom, more and more. They are beautiful and nice flowers.  I have 2 pots of Petunia Flowers. For now it only 1 pot the Petunia blooms. And I think another pot will bloom soon. I just wait and be patient.

The first time that I saw the Petunia buds (1st January 2020) - Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti 

So, what is the color they have? They are purple and white. But it is possible that might be they have other colors because it's mixed seeds. This flower is beautiful that every day they are facing the sun. They really like sunlight. Yes, in January the sun direction changes again. Now the sun faces our corridor. But my Petunia looks happy to face the direct sunlight every day. And yes, because now they are growing and blooming, I water them every day. They need water every day.

My Petunia flower from my "garden" - Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti

These are my experiences on how to grow the Petunia flower. This is my first time growing it. But it looks quite successful and I am happy to share it with all of you. The next flower that I will grow is Habranthus Robusta or Rain Lily. Sounds interesting, right? I am excited and can't wait to see its flowers! See you in the next article about Rain Lily!

Note:

• Written by Acik Mardhiyanti / Acik Mdy
• Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti / Acik Mdy
• Do not copy this article without permissions
• Do not reuse these photographs anywhere else without permissions