紫米的阳光水分控制

多肉植物之所以好玩，因为它的成长速度、外观、颜色等都会因周遭多种因素（阳光、水分等）而影响。同一棵母株衍生出来的小树在不同的环境下会大有不同，有时候甚至认不出是同一个品种呢。所以，有空玩玩DOE也不错的。

比如说紫米。紫米是其中一种最容易种的多肉，基本上你可以任它自生自灭而它依旧开花成长。我的其中一盆控水（顾名思义，就是控制浇水的量，从而实现对土壤湿度的控制）、三盆全露养（让‘天公’照顾）、一盆半室内环境（半透明pergola墙边）。这就来比较比较。


这一盆我放在屋檐边，阳光充足，下大雨时会被雨水喷到。平时不经常浇水，三五天浇一次。沙石：腐植土一对一比例，盆子底层还有小石子。

植物高度一直在我喜欢的适中高度。颜色转紫。（近期雨水多，叶子绿色渐多。）

这一盆是全露养，阳光充足，下雨时雨水直接淋下。最近雨水多，很快爆盆，但由于是用普通塑胶盆，排水洞很多，土壤还不至于太湿，所以徒长的不算太多，大多数高度都比盆糕一丁点而已。

这一盆也是全露养，阳光充足，下雨时雨水直接淋下。这其实是陶盆，但了上漆。排水洞只有一个，所以相较上面那盆土壤必定比较潮湿，所以这一盆严重徒长。

这一盆也是全露养，不同的是，这个盆是“懒人盆”，下端转开可以存水（就不必常常浇水咯），但土壤不会过度潮湿（看下图）。

因为这阵子雨水多，所以盆的下端长期积水。根系比较好的都徒长得乱七八糟（因为根部已经长到盆的下端），还在发育中的因为没有根部还没太长，就处于短小模样。

这一盆则是摆在我家的pergola墙边。阳光还算充足（pergola半透明盖顶），每天应该有三小时左右的阳光。由于是组盆，我没特意控水。盆是陶盆，盆的底部是石子，土壤是沙石、沙子、腐植土1：1：1。

组盆内的紫米徒长，因为阳光相对不足（紫米太爱阳光了），水分充沛。



如果你喜欢你的紫米快速爆盆，那就任它日晒雨淋吧。等它爆盆后修剪，再控水让它转紫，就不负其名啦~

A Kiss for Echeveria Lilacina

Mey helped me to get my first Echeveria Lilacina (Ghost Echeveria / Mexican Hens and Chicks), a succulents species that is very popular in the West. (I followed a few succulents group on Google+). I decided to DIY a pot using one of my favorite tin canister, a gift from Ling years ago. 

First, make a few holes at the bottom of the canister. I used only hammer and screwdriver, so yes, this is super easy.

Then I use some small rocks to layer the bottom.

After that, I put in a layer of coal, and followed by soil that mixed with pebbles. Plant in the Echeveria and you get yourself a lovely decorative succulents pot.

多肉组盆新实验-竹炭

在Daiso看见RM5.30的竹炭，决定买一盒回来（400g大粒装），试试看对多肉种植会不会更好。

首先在盆里放一些小石子。

然后倒入竹炭，直到覆盖了差不多盆子的一半。

放入泥土（我的泥是腐殖土：沙石一对一）

把喜欢的多肉依层次一一种下。然后铺上小石子，放上摆设，这就完成啦！希望这些用竹炭的可以更加茁壮成长。

小小多肉鸟笼

总觉得鸟笼造型的多肉组盆非常漂亮，托朋友替我买了一个超级小的鸟笼却一直搁在一旁，这次乘国庆日假期，终于动手做一个了。

1. 在鸟笼底放了一点椰丝垫底，以便可以盛泥土。

2. 同时把水苔泡水

3. 水苔湿透后再把水苔挤干

4. 把水苔铺上弄成碗状，铺上泥沙即可开始栽种

5. 我选了若绿和雅乐之舞作为露在鸟笼外的多肉以增加层次感。紫米则种在鸟笼中央增添色彩。

接下来，就只能耐心地等待小小多肉们长大了……

露养多肉

我不太赞成娇生惯养植物， 否则它们动不动就落叶、枯萎、徒长、实在让我抓狂。所以，开始种了多肉植物不久后，我就决定把比较能耐日晒雨淋的多肉都种在我的花圃内，露养去！

这种懒人种法的好处是可以由他们自生自灭，完全不需照顾。坏处是热带的狂风暴雨来临时也只能眼睁睁任由他们浸泡在水中。这种种法的死亡几率比种在盆里的露养法确实是高了一些。

我在网上看见有位住在Florida的洋人用这方式露养，我们的雨量和日照应该与他不相上下，我决定也依这个概念弄个多肉露养区：

首先，我铺上了一层约两寸的石子，再加上约两寸的小石子。

把腐殖土和沙子用一对一的比例混匀，然后铺在小石子上。

然后再把多肉们给种下，实验由此开始。第一批种了（由右至左）火祭、紫珍珠、朱莲。过后又托朋友在金马伦买了大棵的火祭和紫珍珠一起种下，结果大小火祭和中型紫珍珠几个星期后归西。

'15年四月尾种下的第一批

不久后又有朋友给我买了花立田，我也种了几棵不死鸟来填补空位。

之后又种了黛比，颜色漂亮极了。

下图是今天我的多肉露养区（多购买了几个品种，把不死鸟给移植到别处了，怕她们瞬间全盆侵占）。确定在热带也可以丢在那儿任他自生自灭的有：紫珍珠、朱莲、花立田、雪娟、黄丽、丽娜莲、兰黛莲、黛比（不过泥土潮湿会导致落叶，必须想法子让叶子不碰到泥土）……我的露养区还有空位，还打算慢慢增加品种实验实验呢！

My Weekend Flower Bed Project

Where the idea comes from:

A few weeks ago, Moy See posted photos of her mum's beautiful garden, and subsequently, almost the whole world is uploading spring flowers photos on Facebook. I decided that I need a flower bed too! 

I got seeds from Moy See's mum, and I started to draw a flower bed schematic diagram (haha, typical engineer). I also decided to up-cycle the wine bottles as divider. (I read that the energy that could be saved from recycling one glass bottle could provide 20% less air pollution and 50% less water pollution. One glass wine bottle takes 4,000 years or more to decompose.)

So, after moving into this house for a decade, finally, I am converting this little corner into a flower bed!

The Weekend Project: 

Last Sunday, the project officially started!

I knew I need a proper hoe for this purpose, but I couldn't wait!! The weather was nice, and I was in the mood. I was not going to waste my time asking around to borrow a hoe, so I decided to use this tiny little hoe instead. For a person that seldom performing labor work, this almost killed me. Those muscles that I haven't used for years started to shout and cry. I ignored them and working hard under the hot morning sun. After almost 2 hours, the area was ready. I was exhausted, and decided to rest for a while before I begin the second phase. 

After my afternoon nap and lunch, I started phase 2. I dug holes and planted the wine bottles upside down. In less than an hour, before I could complete second phase, it started to rain, and rain, and rain! Non-stop! I gave up, and decided that I could continue during Labor Day.

The day before Labor Day, I saw this when I reached home after work:

My dad cannot stand the sight of wine bottles scattered in the garden so he decided to help me to complete Phase 2.

So, the first thing I did after my Labor Day breakfast was to add gardening soil for the raised flower bed.  

What I planted: 
I replanted my 3-weeks-old Asteraceae (sorry, still haven't figured out the species name) from their original pot to the flower bed.

I use Snake Plant as divider, hiding the bricks.

I also planted 2 rain lilies (葱兰及韭兰) that I bought from taobao mid of March. They don't seems to grow well, but I saw healthy roots so i guess they are doing well, just waiting for their season to bloom.

Rain lilies - Day 0 when I received

Rain lilies 1.5 months later

I planted lantana in the first row, and Asteraceae at the back. Hopefully adding enough texture and colours to this flower bed.

The corner divided by bricks is the special corner for my succulent plants. Since I have another batch of purchase this weekend, I'll complete this 25% next week.

Helping them to survive tropical sun and rain while they are still weak

A New Hope - String of Pearls

Just 2 weeks ago, I decided to move my "String of Pearls" to my bedroom to speed up the growth rate. I NEED strings and strings of pearls.

During day time, all my windows are open and I think the temperature is below 30 degree C. The strings of pearls will get some sunlight in the evening. At night, my room temperature is always below 20 degree C.

I water them once every few days, when the soil is totally dry. 2 weeks after moving it into my bedroom, a new shoot standing proudly, saying hi to Totoro.

I'm sure I'll see strings and strings of pearls coming out the next few months. Can't wait!!

Day 0

Day 6 - see the cute little shoot?

Day 12

Labor Day (Day 13)