Andrew's Plants

Aloe longistyla

This is one of the dwarf Aloe species native to South Africa, and it is often found in dry stony plains in the Little Karoo and on to the east. The flowers seem too big for the plant, and the seed pods that follow are oversized as well, since the seeds are embedded in a large papery disc, requiring a fat capsule to hold them. The papery disc allows the wind to disperse the seeds widely, so the plants are often found singly or perhaps with a few neighbors, rather than in large colonies.

Favourites: tank by Tim Gross

Ludisia discolor.

Orchidaceae: Goodyerinae.

Hygróphila balsámica (L. f.) Raf. Description: The bog plant Hygrophila balsamica is native to India and Sri Lanka. In aquaristics it has long been known but is only rarely used for aquarium decoration, as it is poisonous to fish and inverts if its emersed shoots are directly planted in the aquarium. As soon as it has assumed its submersed form it ceases to be noxious, though, and can be used in a stocked tank without causing problems. Most aquatic plant nurseries cultivate their plants emersed, however, and thus it is easily understandable why this plant is so rare in the hobby. Nowdays common H. balsamica clones from nurseries like Anubias can be used emerged in a tank without problems.

This plant is especially well-suited for tanks with lots of light and a high CO2 content; if there is less intensive light and a lack or a deficiency of CO2 it won’t attain its characteristically beautifuly bright green hue, and the leaves stay smaller and have a coarser look. Apart from these prerequisites, H. balsamica needs iron in abundance, but is not especially demanding given that these basic needs are met.

Propagation is easy. The plant throws a lot of lateral shoots, and even more so if the tip is trimmed. Even floating leaves separated from the main plant may form roots and develop into a plantlet of their own. Its rapid growth doesn’t make it a low-maintenance plant, as it requires frequent trimming at short intervals to maintain its form.

ギョエーッ！ギョワーッ！

きっとワタシたちの認識出来ない 周波数の声で鳴き叫んでる。

This was one of the first things I saw when I entered Fairchild and I loved it so much. 

I’ve always loved Purple Queen or Wandering Jew (Tradescantia pallida ‘Purpurea’), and to see it massed and paired with Aechmea blanchetiana (the orange colored bromeliads) and Bismarckia nobilis (the blue/silver palms) and various cycads, made me so happy. 

Unfortunately I can’t grow Bismarckia’s or Aechmea blanchetina outdoors in my area, or I would have something like this in my yard in a heartbeat.

Friday in the backyard.