Prince's Chinese New Year

Plants Special

Since the Chinese New Year is celebrated during spring time, there are many different flowering plants associated with the season.  It is symbolic to display the Kumquat at the door steps to usher in good fortune.  Some plants are very significant to the Chinese as they are thought to bring good fortune and prosperity and are a must during the festive season. 

Tall branches of Pussy Willow are also displayed in homes/place of businesses decorated with red ribbons and ornaments .  Branches of 'Dragon Willow' which are usually sprayed in gold, silver, blue or red and Cherry Blossoms can be added to the pussy willow arrangement to make it more attractive.

Here are some Guidelines on how to care for your Chinese New Year Plants and prolong their beauty

Kumquat (Fortunella sp.)

Azalea (Rhododendron sp.)

To Purchase

Azaleas are popular during Christmas time and Chinese New Year.  They come from China with many hybrids coming from Taiwan.  The Azaleas which are sold in the nurseries are mostly imported from Belgium and China. Azaleas come in shades of red, pink, white, peach and bicolours.  They must be placed in bright light with no direct sunlight.  Do not allow the compost to dry up and if this happens for any reason, quickly plunge the pot in a pail of water and once the compost is thoroughly wet, remove the plant at once.  While it is encouraged to spray-mist the leaves of the plants, do not spray at the blooms which will cause them to wilt fast.  Remove all dead flowers and leaves promptly.

To Purchase

Ornamental Chilli
(Capsicum Annuum)

Fortune Bamboo
(Dracaena Sanderiana)

Ornamental Chilli is a member of the Solanaceae family which includes brinjals, tomatoes, tobacco, potatoes and petunias.  They are colourful plants which are best grown under good sunlight.  They require regular watering and remove the dead fruits promptly to encourage new growth.  Use a fertilizer specially formulated for fruits and vegetables.  Spray mist the leaves regularly as hot dry air will cause the leaves to shrivel and drop. Keep an eye for red spider mites which thrive in hot and dry conditions.  Never handle the members of the solanaceae family after smoking or handling tobacco as this can spread the tobacco mosaic virus.  If you must really handle them, wash your hands in milk which will deactivate the tobacco mosaic virus.  Handle the fruits with care as the juice can irritate eyes and skin.

To Purchase

Lucky Bamboo or Fortune Bamboo is not a bamboo plant at all.  It is botanically know as Dracaena Sanderiana and belongs to the same family as the Iron Plant. They are imported from Taiwan and Indonesia and come in many different shapes and sizes.  There are 'twisted' or 'curled' bamboos which are displayed in odd numbers in tall vases and the significant number is 21.  There are also those which are bound in circular rows displayed in water based containers and pleated in a circular manner in pots by skilled individuals.  Whichever type you choose they are the easiest plants to grow.  They are highly recommended for the indoors because they can grow in low light conditions and are undemanding plants.  Many people keep the Fortune Bamboos in their homes for Feng Shui reason.  For those which are grown in water, add some coloured stones or pebbles and maintain the water level under the level of the stones in order to prevent mosquitoes breeding.  If displayed in vases, ensure that the water is changed every couple of days.  They are very popular during the Chinese New Year and they have also found their way into western flower arrangements because of their interesting forms.

To Purchase

Prosperity Plant, Provision Tree (Pachira aquatica)

Chinese Jade Plant/Money Tree (Crassula sp.)

Pachiras is a native of tropical America and can grow up to 75ft in height.  A matured plant can produce large white-pinkish flowers and long oval fruits containing rounded seeds which can be eaten either roasted like local chestnuts or raw.  As a houseplant, it is commonly sold in pots with two or more plants plaited together to form an unusual single trunk and comes in various sizes.  I have even seen a local garden plant the young saplings in a row and then plait them to resemble a fence.  The end result is an interesting fence made out of the young trunks of the Pachira with the top of the fence bursting with green leaves - simply amazing!  As a houseplant, they are truly one of the easiest plants to grow as they will do well in full sun, semi-shade and indoors and are pest free.  Allow the soil to dry slightly in between waterings and use a general houseplant fertilizer.

To Purchase

Jade Plant is a native of South Africa. It is a succulent which cannot tolerate over-watering.  It is found in hot, dry areas which experience a huge drop in temperature at night.  Though it rarely flowers indoors, but if given the right conditions, like the cacti, it can produce tiny star like flowers which are white/pink in colour.  As a houseplant, they resemble miniature trees and require good light to grow though you should not expose a young plant to full sunlight.  Allow the soil to dry completely in between waterings and do not spray mist the plant.  Under-watered succulents will have 'crinkled' leaves and over-watered ones will start to turn soft and yellow and start to drop.  Use a fertilizer specially formulated for cacti/succulents.  This plant propagates easily with leafs planted with the bottom end in soil.  This plant like all succulents is prone to mealy bug attack.

To Purchase

Flaming Katy
(Kalanchoe Blossfeldiana)

Cockscomb/Plumos
(Celosia argentea)

Yellow Chrysanthemum signifies gold/good luck.  However, during the Chinese New Year there are many different varieties of chrysanthemums sold in the gardens.  They come in shades of purple, pink, yellow, orange, brown, green, red, maroon and white.  They do well under partial sunlight/bright light but not full sunlight.  Water the soil thoroughly and do not let it dry out.  Spray mist the leaves but do not spray at the blooms and remove dead flowers and yellowing leaves promptly.  Most varieties of chrysanthemums do not flower in our climate but this should not deter anyone from enjoying their beauty during the festive season.  Pot chrysanthemums are one of the plants recommended as indoor air-purifiers.

To Purchase

The Cockscomb is an annual which comes in two varieties mentioned above.  They require good sunlight and daily watering; otherwise they tend to wilt.  Like all annuals they propagate easily through the seeds the mother plant produces before dying.  This is a beautiful plant which requires direct sunlight to grow and flowers quite easily without heavy fertilizing.

To Purchase

Flaming Katy (Kalanchoe Blossfeldiana)

Flaming Katy is beautiful succulent and is a native of Madagascar.  There are many hybrids available these days and they come in single or double petaled blooms and in a variety of eye-catching colours.  They are imported from Holland, Malaysia and Taiwan.  After purchase they can be displayed indoors and will stay in bloom for almost a month with careful watering.  Allow the soil to dry in between waterings and do not spray at the leaves or the flowers.  Cut away dead flowers and leaves and do not allow them to rot on the plant.  After flowering remove all dead flowers/stalks and re-pot the plant in soil that drains well and put it in a spot where it can receive a few hours of good sunlight.  However, they tend to produce smaller leaves and fewer stalks of flowers.  Use a general houseplant fertilizer and keep a lookout for mealy bugs.

To Purchase