|
|
FRUIT PLANTS
Chinese New Year will lack the festive lustre without the traditional kumquats. They are very popular festive plants as the golden colour of the fruits look like glittering gold coins. The fruit when pronounces in either Mandarin or Hokkien sounds like the word lucky or prosperity. As the orange tree has the ability to carry its fruits all year round, it symbolises fertility and its flowers are thus worn by brides during the wedding ceremony. Actually, there is another more subtle meaning. Since the orange can bear fruit and flowers at the same time, the flowers also symbolise that child-bearing need not mean the end of the love between a couple. When to purchase them If you are lucky to chance upon a nice looking specimen with well developed fruits grown on arching sturdy stems that has just unloaded from the containers, grab it immediately even if it may be still too early for new year. Fruit plants are very sensitive to rain and overwatering. Most of the nurseries water their citrus plants too much, causing the precious fruits to drop and pollute the surrounding environment. Healthy plants with nice forms are very difficult to come by and most potential sellers come down to the nurseries as early as a month before Chinese New Year to make their pick. Quickly rush down now if you have decided to buy them for the new year after reading this article. Try to avoid the last minute rush as their condition will be very bad by then especially if it has been raining for the past few days. Sometimes, it is not that the plant is difficult to take care but rather the plant is bought at the wrong time. Never leave the plant under the care of the nurseries. Bring it home immediately. How to select plants
We have to look at F4. Flowers, Fruit, Form and Foliage. There should be signs of new growths to indicate that the root system is healthy and the plant is still growing or prospering. Foliage should be full along the stem with no yellowing of the leaves to ensure the plant is not stressed. The plant should be symmetrical and is not lop-sided. Fruits must be golden and are evenly distributed. There must be an equal proportion of some green ones as they will ripen by Chinese New Year. Finally, it will be a bonus if the plant is flowering to ensure the continuity of the fruits all year long. Price range $15 onwards. Flowering period All year round. Care (Rating: 3) Give them the sunniest location that you can afford as they are sun lovers. Water daily. It is easy to take care once you have the conditions right. After fruiting (Rating: 2) Though Citrus flourishes in subtropical and warm temperate climates, most of them can bear fruit again in Singapore but the colour of the fruits will not be the auspicious golden colour adored by the Chinese and will be yellowish green instead. Usually I will cut off all the fruits after the 1st lunar month has ended and fertilise with a liquid fertiliser once a fortnight. Direct sun is needed in order to be successful with Citrus. Good air circulation is needed to prevent pest as Citrus is VERY susceptible to a number of pest like scales, red spider mites, whiteflies, mealy bugs and aphids. It is crucial to spray both the upper and under sides of the leaves with water daily as a preventive measure against them. Usually, diseased brought about by poor light and inadequate air circulation. I do not believe in using pesticides, as they are bad for humans as well. As it is a waste to throw the kumquats away, I will usually dry them with salt as they are very good for sore throats. The juice will flow out from the fruits as you sun them. Do not throw away the juice. Let it slowly evaporates and the fruits will be dried in a few months' time. It is tough work as you need to bring them back during rainy days but it is worth the extra effort!
Solanum is a very huge genus which includes potatoes, a few medicinal and poisonous plants and a number of ornamentals. The name is from Latin, solamen, referring to the narcotic properties of some plants. Solanum capsicastrum or commonly known as the cherry chilli by the locals is grown as an annual for its ornamental value of its fruit which are not edible. The 3cm ovoid fruits will change from green to yellow, then orange to scarlet. Thus the plant seems to be bearing fruits of jade, gold and red ruby for the new year which is very auspicious indeed.
There is another plant that is similar to Solanum capsicastrum except for its long pointed fruits. It is known as Capsicum annuum or commonly known as ornamental chilli which is strictly grown for its fiery-hot fruit. The fruits will change from green to gold and scarlet. It is a dwarf perennial plant but is grown as an annual. When to purchase them As soon as you feel like buying them. How to select plants Select plants with a bushier habit since they will bear more fruits later. It is good to have as many fruits as possible in the three possible colour combinations. Price range $8 onwards. Fruiting period More than a month if well taken care of. Care (Rating: 3) Grow it in a semi-shaded position and avoid droughts. Water once a day and beware of overwatering as the roots will rot. After fruiting (Rating: 2) The plant will continue to grow and has to be discarded once it has lost its beauty though it is a perennial.
|
||||||||||||||||||||
