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ANNUALS
Annuals are plants that last for a single growing season only. They are grown from seeds until they mature and then bloom and set seeds again before they head for our rubbish chutes. It takes about 12 to 14 weeks for the seedlings to reach blooming size under local conditions and hence they are also called 100-day plants. If you have been visiting nurseries in October last year, you would have noticed pots and pots of seedlings grown in a secluded part of the nursery in the open. They will reach maturity just in time for Chinese New Year. Nothing beats a dazzling mass of colour put forth by annuals. I find them very stimulating to the senses and will feel very happy by just looking at them after returning from a hard day's work. Their manageable size and relatively long flowering period make them attractive to most high rise apartment growers. General
Care
Rating: 3 Celosia are from tropical Asia which are not surprising judging from the nicknames that they have. Celosia pyramidalis has a very nice name called the Prince of Wales feathers. The long feathery sprays of red or yellow flowers do remind us of ceremonial plumes though the locals call them crudely as "rooster tail grass" (direct translation from Chinese). I have heard that nurseries withdraw watering near maturity to force the plant to produce longer inflorescences that we are so crazy about. Has anyone heard about this? Celosia
cristata, on the other hand, has crested-shaped flowerheads
especially the red ones that look like cock's comb hence its common
name by the older generations. They can also be white (oops!),
yellow, purple or even hot pink. Both share similar cultural requirements
though I prefer C. pyramidalis if not for its size. There
is another species known as Celosia spicata but is not
popular since its flowers are not showy and resemble little feather
dusters. Strictly speaking, Celosia are perennials but
are always grown as annuals. After flowering, they can be dried
for decoration though that is not popular in Singapore.
When to purchase them It is best to purchase them as early as possible when they first appear in the nurseries. This is crucial as most nurseries tend to hose them, wetting the foliage and flowers causing rot to be set in the plant later. Grab the plant before nature or man drenches the flowers. How to select plants Select plants that show good symmetry. Check that the main stem is firm and succulent. Shake the stem lightly to ensure the pot moves along with the plant. I do ensure that the foliage and flowers are free from water. Price range $15-$25 (pots with 2 colours ie yellow and red are generally more expensive). Flowering period 2 - 4 weeks
Rating: 2 The best known species of this genus are French and African marigolds and yet both are indigenous to Mexico. They were introduced to the Europeans hundreds of years back. Plants that are on sale for Chinese New Year are the French marigold, Tagetes patula, which grows up to 30cm tall and wide only. The African marigold, Tagetes erecta, is larger and can reach a metre high. I like the smell of their foliage which is somewhat aromatic though is loathed by some Singaporeans. For
tomato growers, I have a piece of good news for you. Marigolds
are said to exude substances that are fatal to soil borne pests
through its roots and are thus grown next to tomatoes for protection.
I wonder if they are fatal to root mealy bugs or not. They are
easily grown from seeds and I will strongly urge you to grow them
yourselves rather than buying them from the nurseries. Seeds are
cheap! Putting 3 seedlings about an inch from the edge of a 7-8
inch pot will provide a mass display when they are in full bloom.
When to purchase them About two weeks before Chinese New Year when the plant is full of buds or later when the plant has more fully opened flowers. How to select plants If your area does not have much sun, choose one with more partially opened flowers than buds Price range $8-$15 Flowering period 2 weeks.
Rating: 3 If I were to have only ONE annual for the new year, Petunia will top my list. Petunia are actually short-lived perennials and are best treated as annuals. They are indigenous to South America and the name comes from the Brazilian word for tobacco, to which petunias are related since their foliage is somewhat sticky. Petunia are easy to grow and the more sun they have, the better will be the flowers. There
are many colours to choose from like pink, blue, red, purple and
some are even bicoloured which add joy to the festive season.
Flowers can be single or double. I prefer the single, smaller-flowered
varieties as they are more floriferous and are less vulnerable
to damage by prolonged rain. The doubles however are more temperamental
and require slightly cooler conditions to bloom fully. Thus, if
you are not looking carefully in a rainy day, they look like some
wet tissue papers thrown by some litterbugs.
When to purchase them You can purchase them at any time before the new year but of course early birds get the best plants. How to select plants Select plants as young as possible to ensure a longer flowering period preferably with only one opened flower in order to know its colour. Next look at the base of the plant. The stem should be thick and green, an indication that it has the potential to grow into a huge plant with numerous buds produced at each leaf axil. You can purchase them at any time before the new year but of course early birds get the best plants. Price range $8-$18 Flowering period Months. After flowering When they have become straggly and exhausted, you can cut them back, fertilise and they will be on their way to a second flowering exercise. You can keep them for a few more months!
Rating: 2 Zinnia are from Central America and are favourites in tropical regions of the world since they bloom year-round. Recently, dwarf varieties with spectacular double blooms as large as 8 cm are introduced into the local market due to the easy availability of seed packets. They are available in a number of colours like red, orange, yellow, magenta and pink. You can try to grow them from seeds yourself as they are pretty easy to grow in a sunny balcony or corridor. However, they do not transplant well unlike the marigolds and some of the double varieties will revert to single when transplanted. Thus it is best to sow them in-situ to avoid root disturbance. Flowers have to be handled carefully as the stem just below the flowerhead is hollow and if mishandled, will break.
When to purchase them About two weeks before the Lunar New Year so that they will be at their peak on the actual day itself. How to select plants It is best to select plants that have a lot of buds with at least 3 colours planted in a pot to give you a nice colour display during the new year. The rule to grab it before the workers water them applies. Price range $8-$15 Flowering period About 2 weeks though longer if there is SUN.
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