Achimenes for this year

It seems my planting area is too tough to grow Achimenes, I try again this year and I do not like the growing result so far. The Achimenes plants sometimes seem exhausted because the summer is too hot and the sun light is too strong. Therefore they are not well developed before the bloom season, that's why I see only a few flowers, the worst is some even do not bloom but go into dormancy on the contrary. Well ... at least I tried.  :-)

xGloxinistema Pirate's Skywalker in Singapore

I was shocked when I saw xGloxinistema Pirate's Skywalker grown by Mr. Sua who lives in Singapore. Because his plant is quite huge than I've ever seen. Mr. Sua growed it from a rhizome since last October and these pictures were taken in this April when I visited his place.

In Taiwan, we have cooler autumn and winter, therefore rhizomatous Gesneriads normally go into dormancy when temp. drops. It seems that tropical weather in Singapore leads the growing result in different way and it constantly blooms for a long period. It is good to know this plant does even well in Singapore.

Bloom machines for summer

Some so-called tough bloom machines that are hard to be defeated in summer .... even more than 40 degree celsius ...

Episcia in Singapore Botanic Gardens

In Singapore, the plant lovers must pay the Botanic Gardens a visit. It is a good tourist destination that the visitor can take a break in the modern city center. As a tropical botanical gardens, the outdoor Episcia grows freely and happily as the ground cover.

Henckelia hispida

Perennial herb, Henckelia hispida is easy to be seen when you trek through Cameron Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia. Usually it grows around the peaks of Cameron Highlands (around 1500-2000M) on the shaded ground and tolerates medium to stronger sun light. The flower varies in color, basically it's white with yellow and purple marks and some clones are nearly white without purple stripes. Some plants are tall with big foliages but some are compact and small, I assume this depends on the place it grows. In dry area, it is usually smaller and compact but those plants in mossy peaks are relatively large-size. It widely distributes in Cameron Highlands.

Sinn. reitzii x bullata

This is a hybrid made by WUF who also created and announced Sinn. Jung's Mango Sundae last year. I received this seedling of reitzii x bullata last year and grows it until it blooms now. The flower color tends to bullata and the shape tends to reitzii. I don't have other seedling for comparison. If I would add this hybrid in my cross projects, keeping the shine foliage and increasing the flower quality and quantity should be prior to other thoughts.

Sinn. sellovii yellow form

This is the yellow form of Sinningia sellovii, the photos show the second spikes of this blooming season. So cute !!!