Tucked away in the lush estate of Punggol Fields is a small community garden that is tended to by residents from the Punggol Meridian RC gardening club. Located along a thoroughfare that leads to other blocks deeper in the estate, the tiny gardening plot intrigue residents and visitors alike with neat little rows of flower and vegetable beds whereas the brightly colored blooms of Lipstick plants, orchids and other flowering annuals adorning the fence offer cheery greetings to passersby.

Neptunia oleracea is the aquatic equivalent of the common sensitive plant (Mimosa pudica). Commonly known as the water sensitive plant, it grows via long stems and sports the same pinnate leaves like its terrestrial counterpart, which closes up when disturbed.

Unlike the common sensitive plant, Neptunia oleracea does not have thorns and produces flowers that are yellow in colour rather than pink. Interestingly, the mature stems of Neptunia oleracea that are in contact with water develop somewhat differently as they will have a layer of white spongy tissue around the stems formed between the leaves to help them float on water.

Because of these characteristics, I find this plant an ideal and interesting candidate to show as an example to children of a plant that moves, much like the common ones that we now know that include the common mimosa, the dancing plant (Desmodium gyrans) and Venus fly trap (Dionaea muscipula). Without thorns, Neptunia oleracea is safe to handle by children and what’s more, its a mimosa that wears a float to swim in water! It is an edible plant too and children can cook it as a fun activity!

The double-whammy of Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day both fall on the same day this year. Rather than crowding your home with equal parts roses and pussy willows, how about trying your hand at the nerve plant, which comes in brilliant colours to brighten up your festive season?

The nerve plant, also known as mosaic plant and snakeskin plant, is a popular houseplant known for its showy foliage. It belongs to the genus Fittonia. You might not have previously taken a fancy to this plant, due to the rather mundane range of cultivars that have been available for sale for a long time. But your opinion of nerve plants may take a dramatic turn once you see the range of new compact-growing cultivars, with their array of interesting and never-before-seen foliar characteristics!

The usual nerve plants have large green leaves, which are categorised into Verschaffeltii and Argyroneura groups with red and white veins respectively. ‘Nana’ is a miniature version of the latter with small leaves. Growers have now managed to ‘widen’ the colourful veins and breed varieties with leaves that are ‘flooded’ with the colour of the veins.

There also are new cultivars with irregular, serrated or wavy leaf edges. Some have leaves that are long and narrow which are arranged around the stem in a star-like manner. Gardeners are now spoilt for choice.

Other cultivars with pink veins will make excellent Valentine’s Day gifts. ‘Royal Flame’ is one such cultivar with large leaves and wavy leaf edges. Notable smaller leafed cultivars in varying shades of pink include ‘Pink Forest Flame’, ‘Zalm Forest’ and ‘Revolution’.

Red, the colour of prosperity, is the hue of choice during the Chinese New Year season. There are new Fittonia cultivars with intensely red leaves that rise to the occasion, such as ‘Red Star’, ‘Tiger’ and ‘Forest Flame’. ‘Jolly Josan’ is a unique variety with leaves that have red veins against a gold background.

Some plants have white veins, to add contrast to the pink- and red-veined varieties. Look out for ‘King’s Cross’ which features almost white leaves with serrated leaf margins. ‘White Star’ has small, narrow leaves that are also almost white in colour, while ‘Raindrop’ features small leaves with a touch of pink against white.

Native to the dim and moist understorey of Peruvian tropical forests, nerve plants are also highly suitable for growing inside terrariums. Coupled with an assortment of creative hardscape elements such as sticks, coloured straws, ornamental stones, and seashells, a very innovative display can be achieved when several plants are grouped inside a dish garden. These plants are also good for trailing over the edge of hanging baskets and window boxes.

With all these varieties of nerve plants available for your choosing, your home and garden can be attractively and tastefully coloured in the rosy hues of love and good fortune this February 14!

Did You Know?
The genus Fittonia was named after Elizabeth and Sarah Mary Fitton, authors of botanical literature.

Care Tips for Fittonias
Light - Filtered sunshine is required to keep fittonias compact and to retain leaf colouration. Avoid exposing the plants to direct sun. Remember to turn the plants regularly, to maintain a symmetrical growth pattern.

Soil - Fittonias are best potted up with well-draining soil mix that is friable (i.e. fluffy and open), and concocted for container gardening.

Water - Water fittonias enough to keep the soil just moist.

Fertiliser - Coated, slow-release fertiliser pellets are usually sufficient for fittonias. Adhere to the manufacturer’s recommendations for the amount and frequency, and apply well away from the plant stems.

Pests & Diseases - Fittonias are usually problem-free, though they may be infested by mealy bugs. To avoid root rot, the soil should not be constantly wet.

Propagation - Fittonias are easily multiplied by stem-cuttings. Coat the cut ends of stem-cuttings with some rooting hormone, to promote the rooting process.

All fittonias in this article can be found at HortMart by Far East Flora, located in HortPark - The Gardening Hub (33 Hyderabad Road Singapore 119578, Tel: 64735649).

‘Jolly Josan’, with its auspicious foliage colours, is an excellence Lunar New Year festive plant. You can add interest to the arrangement by adding twigs that have been sprayed gold.

‘Tiger’ is a cultivar with deep red leaves that makes it suitable as a Lunar New Year display plant.

You can turn a ring of white-leafed ‘Snow Anne’ into a unique Valentine’s Day gift, by adding a couple of pink rose buds.

‘Matrix’, a cultivar with vivd red leaves, contrasts attractively against a green ceramic pot.

You can combine two cultivars with different coloured leaves for impact. Shown here are ‘Zalm Forest’ which has pink leaves, and ‘Raindrop’ that has white leaves with a touch of pink.

Nerve plants are excellent candidates for growing inside terrariums. Two small leaved cultivars are used in this example, namely, ‘White Star’ (right) and ‘Forest Flame (left).

‘Kings Cross’ is a unique cultivar with leaves that are almost entirely white, coupled with serrated green margins.

 

 

 

 By Wilson Wong & Pearl Ho
 

While you take on the mammoth task of spring cleaning and redecorating for the New Year, you may decide to acquire new plants for your home. But why stop there? Take the opportunity to complement your home décor with new plant pots too.

Pots, in general, can be made of either plastic or clay. Plastic pots have the advantage of being cheaper, lighter and less fragile. Plastic is impervious to water, and pots made from this material retain more moisture than clay pots. However, they tend to deteriorate if they are exposed to direct sunshine for prolonged periods.

Plant pots made of clay, on the other hand, are heavy, and offer stability that is useful for the growing of tall, top-heavy plants. Unglazed flower pots are porous, and water can evaporate from the sides. As such, plants grown in unglazed pots usually dry out faster. This makes them highly suitable for growing epiphytic orchids, cacti and succulents that do not like constant moisture in the root zone. Glazed pots have a thin, glassy, shiny outer surface, which ’seals’ them from moisture.

The plants that you purchase from nurseries are often directly grown in a plain and boring ‘grow pot’, which may stick out like a sore thumb amid the chic surroundings of your home. For a more pleasing visual effect, you can transplant the plant into a nicer grow pot - but this can prove to be a rather troublesome chore.

The good news is that you can easily disguise an ugly grow pot by slipping it into a prettier container. This outer container, usually slightly larger in size, is known as a cachepot. Cachepots are extremely convenient for gardeners, as they can be used interchangeably with different plants. They may come in the form of glazed ceramic pots, Italian terra cotta pots, woven baskets, or window boxes and tubs.

Some cachepots may lack drainage holes at the base. These are helpful for catching excess water, and are suited for displaying plants on surfaces that you need to keep dry, such as tabletops. Do be careful not to over-water plants in cachepots, so that they won’t be left standing in ‘wet feet’ collected at the base of the container.