Urban Gardener No_20

8/9/2019 Urban Gardener No_20

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20th Issue Vol. 3 No. 05 ISSN 2094-1765 May 2010

Growing the Colorful Cosmos Plantby Norberto R. Bautista

One of the most popular and easyto grow annual flowering plant isthe Cosmos, a plant genus ofabout 2026 species ofherbaceous annual and perennialplants in the family Asteraceae.Sunflowers, Daisies and Astersalso belong to this large plantfamily. The Cosmos is native tograsslands and meadow areas of

Mexico, where the bulk of thespecies occur. It is also native inthe southern United States(Arizona, Florida), CentralAmerica and northern SouthAmerica, south to Paraguay.

The common hybrids belong tothe group of Cosmos sulphureus.They are herbaceous perennialplants growing about 0.3-2 meterstall. The leaves are simple,

pinnate, or bipinnate, andarranged in opposite pairs. Theflowers are produced in acapitulum with a ring of broad rayflorets and a center of disc florets;

flower color is very variablebetween the different species.The genus includes severalornamental plants popular ingardens.

These plants are popularly

grown as a potted floweringplant, sold in most gardenshows and garden centers,and also as a insect repellantin organic vegetable farms.

Cosmos flowers are producedin a capitulum. The capitulumis surrounded by a ring of


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broad ray florets and a center of discflorets. There is a lot of color variation inbetween the species. Cosmos flowers are2-4 inches in diameter. Cosmos flowerscome in brightly colored single or doubleflowers which include white, pink, orange,

yellow, and scarlet colors.

The word Cosmos is derived from a Greekword, which means a balanced universe,maybe a description of its well-balancedflowers. Cosmos flowers blooms heavily,but dies as the plant grows old. New

Cosmos plants grow and flower next season when seeds fall on the soil.

Cultural Requirements.

Light. Cosmos prefer a sunny location. Choose a full sun location so that the plant will

provide you a weekly supply of flowers.

Watering. Water juvenile plants regularly for them to grow fast. Water less when theystarted to flower. Cosmos flower plants are drought tolerant but water Cosmos plantsduring long dry spells. Moderately water once the seedlings grow into mature plants astoo much watering prevents flowering.


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Fertilization. Fertilize plants lightly once every month using ordinary complete fertilizerslike 14-14-14, controlled release fertilizer or garden compost. Do not over-fertilize.Over-fertilizing and over-watering may reduce flower production.

Soil. The plant prefers a fertile, well drained loamy soil, preferably without an abundanceof clay. A soil rich in organic matter is also ideal. For plants to be sown on pots, use 5-

inch pots, use the recommended soil mix and plant the seeds. Water the potting mixtureenough to make the soil moist but not water logged or too wet as it may cause rotting ofthe seeds.

Pest and Diseases. Cosmos plants are usually not too much affected by insect pestsas they have a natural chemical in them which repels insects.

Propagation. Cosmos plants can be propagated through seeds. Pollinated flowersproduce dry seeds, similar to miniature pine needles. The seeds can be air-dried andstored in paper envelopes or planted immediately in the soil. They are easy togerminate (about 7-10 days after sowing) and quickly grow into seedlings. They can bedirectly planted into the soil where they will grow into mature plants or in pots. Space

plants 12 inches apart. Cosmos plants normally grow to 4-5 feet in a season. Seedlingsmay crowd each other and still thrive with carefree, sprawling growth over the latesummer and after the end of the rainy season. Plants will flower within 8 to 10 weeks ofseeding.

Other cultural practices. Protection plants from too much wind by providing bamboostakes. This will prevent delicate stems frombending or breaking, especially for varietiesthat grow up to 3 feet tall or taller.

Deadhead or removed spent flowersregularly, as it keeps cosmos in bloom for

many weeks. Cut back dead foliage toprevent incidence of diseases to make plantlook clean.

After their growth season, remove or uprootdead plants and pile them aside as compost,as they also help in fertilizing the soil. Sownew seeds or transplant new seedlings forthe next batch of plants.

Cosmos plants are one of the most easilysold annual plants in garden centers as they

are economical, they are easy to grow, andthey can be used as accents or decorationsin the garden, inside the home or in theoffice.

Dry Cosmos seeds ready for the picking


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Growing the Ti Plant for the Cut-foliage Trade:By Norberto R. Bautista

One of the popular cut-foliage plantwith dark green and bright red foliage,

usually found in the Laguna andQuezon area is the Ti Plant. Ti is apopular ornamental plant, a tropicalevergreen, with numerous cultivarsavailable, many of them selected forgreen or reddish or purple foliage.

The Ti Plant, or scientifically known asCordyline fruticosa is an evergreenflowering plant in the Liliaceae family.It is also known in names likeCabbage Palm, Good Luck Plant,

Palm Lily, Ki (Hawaiian), Ti Pore(Maori), and Si (Tongan). Botanically,it also has different synonyms(different scientific name but referringto the same plant) like : Convallariafruticosa L.; Asparagus terminalis L.;Cordyline terminalis Kunth; Dracaenaterminalis Lam.; and Terminalisfruticosa (L.) Kuntze[1]

It is a woody plant

which can grow up to13 feet high, consistingof a single woody stalkfrom which long glossyleaves sprout. Its starkarchitectural shape,scented flowers andcolorful berries make ita popular plant for mostgarden enthusiasts. Itsleaves are about 3060cm (1224 in) long and

510 cm wide at thetop of a woody stem. Itproduces 4060-centimetre longpanicles of smallscented yellowish to redflowers that mature into red berries.

Pollinated flowers of Ti-Plants produces bright red berries.


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It is native to tropical southeastern Asia, Papua New Guinea, Melanesia, northeasternAustralia, the Indian Ocean, and parts of Polynesia. It is introduced to Hawaii and NewZealand by Polynesian settlers.

Uses:

In Polynesian islands, the inhabitants eat or use as medicine Its starchy rhizomes, whichare very sweet when the plant is mature, and the leaves are used to thatch the roofs ofhouses, and to wrap and store food. The plant or its roots are referred to in mostPolynesian languages as ti. Leaves were also used to make items of clothing includingskirts worn in dance performances.

In ancient Hawaii the plant was thought to have great spiritual power; only kahuna (highpriests) and alii (chiefs) were able to wear leaves around their necks during certain ritualactivities. Ki leaves were also used to make lei, and to outline borders betweenproperties (for which its alternative name: Terminalis fruticosa). To this day someHawaiians plant ki near their houses to bring good luck. The leaves are also used forlava sledding. A number of leaves are lashed together and people ride down hills on

them.

The roots of the ki plant were used as a glossy covering on surfboards in Hawaii in theearly 1900s.

In Hawaii, ki rhizomes are fermented and distilled to make okolehao, a liquor.Its bright red foliage makes it an ideal cut-foliage part of flower arrangements.

Cultural Requirements

Light. The plant prefers full sun or moderately partial shade, though it will produce moreintense red colored foliage in full sun coupled with cool temperature like in high-altitude

locations.

Watering. Water mature plants moderately, usually once everyday for optimum growth.Plants planted directly on soil need less care, but make sure they do not dry completely.

Potting Medium. Ti plants grow favorably in fertile loamy soil. If planted on pots, use agallon-sized plastic or clay pot. For those planted directly on soil, use top soil rich inorganic matter.

Fertilization. Fertilize the plants using compost or synthetic complete 14-14-14 fertilizeronce every month for optimum growth. Cultivate top part of the soil if it potting mediumbecomes compact. Report to a bigger pot once every year.

Pest and Diseases. Typically, Ti plants are not commonly affected by pest anddiseases, however, they can be affected by defoliators like caterpillars, sucking insects(aphids, scales, white flies and mites). For hobbyists, spraying plants with a dilutesolution of soapy water or detergent will deter most insects, but for extreme cases ofinsect infestation, use synthetic insecticides. For problems on fungal infections,especially soil-borne fungus, drench root area with a dilute solution of Dithane or Captanto control fungal diseases.


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Propagation. The Ti plant is arelatively hardy plant and iteasy to maintain. It is also easyto propagate, transplant andgrow from cuttings or seeds.For commercial propagation,

stem cuttings are preferredthan seeds.

For stem cuttings, use pruningshears or hand saw toseparate 3-4 inch longsegments of stems from thetop of mature Ti-plants. Forbest results, cut from a Ti plantthat is at least 3 feet tall and

has a trunk diameter of 1 inch or more. Break off the leaves and leaf buds on the Ticutting. Plant the cutting in the pot. Plant vertically if you want a single Ti plant. Sink the

cutting into the soil vertically with the cut end in the ground at least 2 inches deep. Planthorizontally if you want several Ti plants. Bury the entire cutting horizontally an inchbelow the surface and cover with soil.

Keep the pot's soil moist at all times. Place the transplants in a cool, shaded area that isout of direct sunlight. The cutting will begin to take root within a week. At that time, newleaf buds forming at the top of the cutting will appear. Typically, a cutting will grow twoto four new buds. If the entire stalk was buried, it will begin sprouting buds along thelength of its body. The buds typically break the potting soil's surface within two to threeweeks.

Transplant the Ti plant once its leaves are an inch long. Transplant into a 10-gallon pot if

you plan to keep it permanently in a pot or you may plant directly in the ground. For bestresults, red Ti plants should be planted in direct sunlight and green Ti plants should beplanted in the shade. This results in the most vibrant colors.

The Season of the Fiery Flame Tree

Delonix regia is a species of flowering plant from theFabaceae family, noted for its fern-like leaves andflamboyant display of flowers. Its common name Flametree was due to its fiery display of flowers during summerseason. . The species was previously placed in a genusPoinciana, named for Phillippe de Longvilliers de Poincywho is credited with introducing the plant to the Americas.

The tree's vivid red/vermilion/orange/yellowflowers and bright green foliage make it an exceptionallystriking sight. The Royal Poinciana is endemic toMadagascar, where it is found in the Madagascar drydeciduous forests. In the wild it is endangered, but it iswidely cultivated elsewhere. In addition to its ornamental


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value, it is also a useful shade tree in tropical conditions, because it usually grows to amodest height but spreads widely, and its dense foliage provides full shade. In areaswith a marked dry season, it sheds its leaves during the drought, but in other areas it isvirtually evergreen.

The R o y a lPoinciana requires atropical or near-tropicalclimate, but can toleratedrought and saltyconditions. It is verywidely grown in theCaribbean, Africa, HongKong, the CanaryIslands, Thailand,

Taiwan and southernChina, and is also thecity tree of Tainan,Taiwan and Xiamen,Fujian Province, andPeople's Republic ofChina. National Cheng


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Kung University, a university located in Tainan, put Royal Poinciana on its emblem. Italso grows throughout southern Brazil, with ornamental trees in Rio Grande do Sul(Canoas and Porto Alegre)

The Royal Poinciana is regarded as naturalised in many of the locations where it isgrown, and is seen by some as an invasive species in some parts of Australia, partly

because its dense shade and root system prevent the growth of other species under it.In Vietnam, this tree is called "Phng v", or phoenix's tail, and is a popular urban treein much of Vietnam. Its flowering season is April - May, which coincides with the end ofthe school year in Vietnam. Because of this timing, the flower of Poinciana is sometimescalled the "flower of pupil", and often generates strong emotions among graduating highschool pupils, as the Poinciana bloom when they are about to leave their school andtheir childhood behind.The seed pods of the Royal Poincianas are used in the Caribbeanas a percussion instrument known as the shak-shak or maraca.

Growing Ctenanthe Plants

Ctenanthes, which belongs tothe Marantaceae plant family,are grown primarily for theirunusual colored foliage. Colorsin their foliage are produced onlyin the presence of bright light. IfCtenanthes doesn't receiveenough light, their leaves will

just be green in color. Theseplant group is closely relatedtaxonomically to the prayer plantor Calatheas and prefers highhumidity and warmtemperatures. They would enjoyfrequent misting with warmwater and wouldn't tolerate verycold temperatures.

Another way of increasinghumidity for the plant is to place the pot on a tray with pebbles and water in it. The soil is usuallycomposed of ordinary garden show with a little bit of leaves mold.

CULTURAL REQUIREMENTS

Light.Ctenantheprefer medium light, about 1000-2000 foot-candles, usually in a tree-

shaded window, or a partially shaded garden. The plants needs moderate but sufficient light forthe colors of the leaves to come out. Too much light, specially hot noontime light will bleach orburn the leaves. On the other hand, lower light levels can cause pale leaves with indistinctmarkings.

Temperature. This plant prefers tropical conditions and will thrive almost anywhere in thePhilippines, though high humidity is required. Foliage needs to be mist-sprayed daily with water.Rainwater is excellent forthis, since it leaves no unsightly white lime deposits.


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Watering. Waterplants plentifully, especiallyduring active growth, asoften as necessary to keepthe potting mixturethoroughly moist. Duringrest periods, watermoderately, just enough tokeep the top half inch of thepotting mixture moist. Asmuch as possible, use softor lime-free water.

Fertilization. Ctenanthe

nneeds to be givengenerous amount of liquidor solid artificial fertilizers.

For foliar fertilizers, use

about 1 teaspoon completeorchid foliar fertilizers withtrace elements mixed inone gallon of water, anddrench about 1 cup of thisfor each pot once every twoweeks. An alternative is touse about 6 granules ofcontrolled release fertilizerper pot and apply every 2months.

Potting Mix.

Ctenanthe loves organicrich soils. Use a mixture ofequal parts of garden soil,compost and sand.Healthy plants needs to bemoved into pots one sizelarger every year, usually during summer. For seedlings, use 3-inch clay or plastic pots, while 6-10 inch pots for larger plants.

Controlling Pests and Diseases. Since Ctenanthe are foliage plants, care must bemade not to damage the foliage and to keep them in good condition. Prayer plants aresusceptible to fungal and bacterial diseases, especially leaf spots, rotting and wilting. As muchas possible, practice good sanitation in the garden. Isolate diseased or rotting plants. Allow

ventilation for the foliage to dry once every day. For prophylactic purposes, spray Captan orDithane fungicide once a month once diseases occur, especially during the rainy season. Toprevent viral diseases, sterilized pruning shears when dividing plants. To control insects likecaterpillars, mealybugs, mites and scales, use appropriate insecticides. To control snails andslugs, which usually damage foliage and young buds, apply molluscicides or snail baits, whichare all available in garden centers.

Propagation. Ctenanthe are propagated by division of overcrowded clumps of plants or tipcuttings, with nodes to form the roots. Mist and reduced light are important during the early


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The Urban Gardener is an officialelectronic publication (in PDF Format) of thePlant Biotechnology Project, Research &Development Center, Rizal TechnologicalUniversity, Boni Avenue, Mandaluyong City,Philippines. It is published monthly. Formore information, please inquire thru email:[email protected] or

[email protected] and landline

(+632) 534-8267 Local 135 or Fax (+632)534-9710.

Edited by N.R. Bautista May 2010

The Plant Biotechnology ProjectCommittee is composed of: Alexander B.Quilang, Norberto R. Bautista, Jovita A.Anit & Carnette C. Pulma.

stages of propagation. For effective survival of transplants, enclose newly potted plants in clearplastic bags to retain humidity, and keep them in medium light. Remove the bags when new rootshave formed. Some plants produce root nodules which later develop into plants.

Growing the

Colorful Maranta,Another relative

of the Ctenanthe

The genus Maranta, a memberof the family Marantaceae,consists of approximately 14 to20 species, depending upon thepublication consulted. Theseclump-forming herbs areindigenous to tropical Americas,

primarily South America. In

1975, Maranta, commonly calledprayer plant, is closely related tothe Calathea and Ctenanthe.Marantas are versatile plantsindoors because they can beused as small specimen plants,hanging plants which cascade,ground covers in interiorscapesand in dish gardens and othercombination planters. Marantaplants have similar culturalrequirements as Ctenanthe.

(above)

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