521 replies to this topic
Posted 2010-04-11 21:01:44
Can a total ignoramus join in and seek some advice please? 
I have a west facing balcony that is in need of some low maintenance colour. Orchids work a treat (tho' I don't see many at the garden shops at the moment  ) as they seem to survive without much attention. A big plus is that you can usually go out and buy another for a reasonable price and start all over again.
But is there anything else that would work in these conditions that you can suggest? And please remember my Thai is limited, and my Latin is worse.  I need to be able to recognise whatever it is in the shop!
Many thanks for any comments.
(I promise to look after them as best I can  )
Posted 2010-04-12 09:26:09
 itishothere, on 2010-04-11 21:01:44, said:
Can a total ignoramus join in and seek some advice please?
Yes, of course!  Believe me, sometimes with all my experience, I can feel like an ignoramus, there is something new to learn all the time in dealing with plants all the time! 
I have a west facing balcony that is in need of some low maintenance colour. Orchids work a treat (tho' I don't see many at the garden shops at the moment ) as they seem to survive without much attention. A big plus is that you can usually go out and buy another for a reasonable price and start all over again.
I have to say orchids are not my forte, (yet!!) One of the species of plants I have to learn more about... I find them very tedious!
But is there anything else that would work in these conditions that you can suggest? And please remember my Thai is limited, and my Latin is worse. I need to be able to recognise whatever it is in the shop!
What I would suggest doing, is observe what the Thai's plant & grow in pots.... there is a huge variety of stuff you could grow, without anyone getting into names, factors are going to be how much room you have on your patio
I'd suggest investing in some large pots & soil, so the plants don't dry out too much or quickly. Give any plants you find, a good watering either in the morning or early evening.
Most if not all of the nurseries here will do the potting for you & even deliver the plants and set them in place (generally a small tip, will do it!) Pick the plants, soil & pots you want & they will do the rest. There are some good nurseries on Samui & KP, and I found most of the owners speak & understand English quite well.... but not Latin! Most have books you can look at too.
I would also suggest buying some Osmocote, which is a slow release fertilizer... ,(about 200 baht for I am guessing a 1 kg box.) use about a table spoon to a large pot.... that should last several months, or some soluble fertilizer, (usually Blue powder, & I believe the numbers are 15 - 15 -15) which you will need to do every two weeks or so, to keep the plants in good health! Use about a table spoon to 2 gallons of water... wet the soil first!
(The Thai name for fertilizer is something like POOA, whether it's Organic or Chemical)
Many thanks for any comments.
(I promise to look after them as best I can ) Yes, we'll expect monthly updates! 
Just a few suggestions... Crotons which have colourful, either yellow & green leaves are always showy... some have red flecks in the leaves too, (no flowers though) & don't mind drying out a bit, occasionally, once established, but avoid the curly leaf type as they are very slow growing, from my experience.
A plant that has a nice scent in the evening, but not grow very high (about 2 feet) is called "Yesterday, today & tomorrow" it starts off with white flowers, next day changes to light purple, then done! But continue to bloom on & off for a few months. Sometimes hard to find.
If you have more room, & want something to bloom over a long period, there are many varieties of Hibiscus, the common red one I find the most prolific.
If you look at my Picasa link in my second post, you'll see pictures.... I'm still trying to figure out how to post single pictures! they never seem to appear!!! [i] I am working on that!
Edited by samuijimmy, 2010-04-12 09:32:52.
Posted 2010-04-12 09:39:31
Here I hope is the picture of Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow, plant.
Edited by sbk, 2010-04-12 19:30:47.
fixed it for you jimmy-sbk
Posted 2010-04-12 15:32:42
Many thanks. Will make a start after Songkran. It is only a tiny balcony to be honest, so a few pots should suffice.
Posted 2010-04-15 09:47:25
Testing here! To see if I get a picture loaded....
Portulaca, easy to grow! Great in pots or as an edging plant in the ground...
Blooms only in the morning, then they close in the afternoon...
IMG_7504.JPG 4.11MB
11 downloads
IMG_7503.JPG 3.28MB
4 downloads
Ah Finally got it! Duh! Except seem to have double up on one!
Edited by samuijimmy, 2010-04-15 09:50:58.
Posted 2010-04-15 10:03:10
Portulaca, easy to grow! Great in pots or as an edging plant in the ground...
Blooms only in the morning, then they close in the afternoon...
Ah Finally got it! Duh! Except seem to have double up on one!
[/quote]
Hi
Do you recommend and decent place to buy seeds / nice variety of flowering plants.
For that matter vegetable seeds as well.
Thanks for help
Nirvana
Posted 2010-04-15 21:18:16
Hi
Do you recommend and decent place to buy seeds / nice variety of flowering plants.
For that matter vegetable seeds as well.
Thanks for help
Nirvana
[/quote]
Hi Nirvana,
Well, I asume you mean on Samui.... Most of the nurseries I've seen usually have seed, certainly the one in Maenam & Ban Tai (Owners the same) ...
Some of the small Thai shops, carry them, you just need to watch out for the seed racks... I pointed out earlier don't buy seed if the racks are sitting in full sun... they just don't seem to germinate!
If you are on Koh Phengnan, the "Garage" in Tongsala usually has a good selection, (at least they did two years ago, when I lived there) even seed trays, & the only place I have ever seen on any of the Islands...
My Thai neighours, seem to find seed in bulk for veggies, I think from the store next to 7-11 (near the traffic light) in Maenam (I'll check on that, & add if different) ... but that is one store that keeps their packet seed racks in the sun.... never had luck with them.
Tesco have some seeds too, but I think most not good for this area... in the hardware section usually...
Many plants here are really quite easy to take cuttings of.... Coleus, Impatiens, Cosmos...Portulaca, and lots of other plants too.
Hope that helps!
Jim
Posted 2010-04-15 22:43:34
Sumee's gas station on the main road out from the pier is the place samuijimmy is thinking of, gas pump just past the fresh market before the intersection with the chaloklum road. They do have an excellent selection of vegetable and flower seeds. Its also a good place to buy fertilizer and garden hand tools
Posted 2010-04-18 13:25:34
Hi Nirvana,
Well, I asume you mean on Samui.... Most of the nurseries I've seen usually have seed, certainly the one in Maenam & Ban Tai (Owners the same) ...
Some of the small Thai shops, carry them, you just need to watch out for the seed racks... I pointed out earlier don't buy seed if the racks are sitting in full sun... they just don't seem to germinate!
If you are on Koh Phengnan, the "Garage" in Tongsala usually has a good selection, (at least they did two years ago, when I lived there) even seed trays, & the only place I have ever seen on any of the Islands...
My Thai neighours, seem to find seed in bulk for veggies, I think from the store next to 7-11 (near the traffic light) in Maenam (I'll check on that, & add if different) ... but that is one store that keeps their packet seed racks in the sun.... never had luck with them.
Tesco have some seeds too, but I think most not good for this area... in the hardware section usually...
Many plants here are really quite easy to take cuttings of.... Coleus, Impatiens, Cosmos...Portulaca, and lots of other plants too.
Hope that helps!
Jim
[/quote]
Hi Jim
Thanks for that, yes on Samui.
Just another thing i wanted to check on. Do you knw a place where I can buy turf "Malay grass" . I have a big area to do and last time for a smaller area I used a contractor, who said he sourced from BKK. From what i saw it was really nothing to it, Coconut fibre down after leveling the land, some fertilizer and then the turf down. I am looking to save some coins and maybe source directly. Any Ideas ?
Thanks again
Nirvana
Posted 2010-04-18 16:06:56
Hi Nirvana,
I am not 100% sure whether Malay Grass is the wide bladed grass or the fine one... But both can be purchased through any of the Nurseries... Certainly the nursery in Maenam & Ban Tai...
You just tell them how many square meters you want & they will bring it in. I think it comes from Suratthani, some where .... But the nurseries won't say where for obvious reasons!
I think unless you are heading over to the mainland in a pickup, anyway, it may not save you anything.
But the "young guys" will come and prep the soil & help you plant it... for a "tip" I am never sure what a tip should be, but base it on how many hours they spend.... & perhaps give them some thing to drink!
I have tried sourcing seed, with no luck, here, so far.... I've heard the Golf courses may have it... but You need to know someone in management, I think to get it...?.
To go "Cheap" route on laying sod /turf for the lawn, you could order less than what you need & cut it into plugs & plant, about 6 to 9 inches apart (about 6"- 9" squares) ... but it is a little tedious. You'll find the sod here, has no or very little soil with it...
I moved a lawn last year in my garden... ended up with three or four times the area, but it took days to do!  It was filled in within about two months, since I did it around October. I think if you try to do now, you will spend your life watering it down to keep it moist... Using a shade cloth on small areas would help. but not too practical for larger areas.
Your best time to do this would be just before the rainy season, perhaps October, unless you are one of the lucky ones on Samui, who has plenty of water, to keep the new planting reasonable moist while it roots in, for several weeks.
I also suggest with the coconut fibre (good idea BTW) that you work it into the existing soil a little, while raking if you just place it on top, it may dry out too quickly, & you need to help the roots, go down! If there are rocks in the soil, get them out!
Water the planting area a few times to settle the soil, before planting & re rake it out.... I've not seen rollers here! So you will need to use your feet to firm the grass into the soil...
If you do bring in Sod/turf, spread it out, if it takes a few days to lay it all, it will decompose quickly if staked up..
Hope that helps!
Jim
Edited by samuijimmy, 2010-04-18 16:17:41.
Posted 2010-04-20 11:08:41
samuijimmy, on 2010-04-18 17:06:56, said: Hi Nirvana,
I am not 100% sure whether Malay Grass is the wide bladed grass or the fine one... But both can be purchased through any of the Nurseries... Certainly the nursery in Maenam & Ban Tai...
You just tell them how many square meters you want & they will bring it in. I think it comes from Suratthani, some where .... But the nurseries won't say where for obvious reasons!
I think unless you are heading over to the mainland in a pickup, anyway, it may not save you anything.
But the "young guys" will come and prep the soil & help you plant it... for a "tip" I am never sure what a tip should be, but base it on how many hours they spend.... & perhaps give them some thing to drink!
I have tried sourcing seed, with no luck, here, so far.... I've heard the Golf courses may have it... but You need to know someone in management, I think to get it...?.
To go "Cheap" route on laying sod /turf for the lawn, you could order less than what you need & cut it into plugs & plant, about 6 to 9 inches apart (about 6"- 9" squares) ... but it is a little tedious. You'll find the sod here, has no or very little soil with it...
I moved a lawn last year in my garden... ended up with three or four times the area, but it took days to do! It was filled in within about two months, since I did it around October. I think if you try to do now, you will spend your life watering it down to keep it moist... Using a shade cloth on small areas would help. but not too practical for larger areas.
Your best time to do this would be just before the rainy season, perhaps October, unless you are one of the lucky ones on Samui, who has plenty of water, to keep the new planting reasonable moist while it roots in, for several weeks.
I also suggest with the coconut fibre (good idea BTW) that you work it into the existing soil a little, while raking if you just place it on top, it may dry out too quickly, & you need to help the roots, go down! If there are rocks in the soil, get them out!
Water the planting area a few times to settle the soil, before planting & re rake it out.... I've not seen rollers here! So you will need to use your feet to firm the grass into the soil...
If you do bring in Sod/turf, spread it out, if it takes a few days to lay it all, it will decompose quickly if staked up..
Hope that helps!
Jim
Great, Cheers Jim.
We have water but not enough to even think of this project until its getting a little wetter shall we say than now.
It does take alot of time and water but it took pretty quick.
Yes its the thicker bladed grass. The fine one i find tends to burn easier and not so strong as the thin bladed but it does look and feel nicer.
Nirvana
Posted 2010-04-20 22:40:04
Great, Cheers Jim.
We have water but not enough to even think of this project until its getting a little wetter shall we say than now.
It does take alot of time and water but it took pretty quick.
Yes its the thicker bladed grass. The fine one i find tends to burn easier and not so strong as the thin bladed but it does look and feel nicer.
Nirvana
I thought it might be the wider bladed one, Nirvana.
I have both & to conserve water, I been avoiding watering, but both seem to be holding up reasonably well, except the wider blade one is worn down, since it gets more traffic...in one spot, I suspect it will come back... when we do get some rain... please.... soon!
They both seem to only need cutting / mowing at about the same time... about every 6 weeks, I find... so that's a plus!
Edited by samuijimmy, 2010-04-20 22:41:26.
Posted 2010-04-23 21:46:42
I am sure many of us gardeners are exhausted from the heat at the moment, not to mention the plants ....
A good rain would be more than welcome... & a few degrees cooler!
Most plants that are established will be fine, as their roots will pick up moisture well below ground level, (those that have been planted for a year or more)... but newly planted or plants in pots will need a little more attention watering, to keep them going... I generally find watering after 4 pm is good.
I came across a plant in the back garden, today, I long thought a weed tree , but low & behold it is a Mulberry.... with fruit, which admittedly is not really sweet or sour, but certainly not a bad taste... black when ripe, red before ripe....
Edited by samuijimmy, 2010-04-23 22:00:16.
Posted 2010-04-25 12:08:53
planted sunflower seeds,about 30 in all.went well for 3 weeks,grew about 4 inches.now half have died,only thing i can thick why is too much water or too much heat.chili plants doing well, but then they're local so i guess they should be ok.The heat has been really bad this year,no respite,humidity too.
Posted 2010-04-25 12:59:18
Hi Green Fingered people, a Friend of mine has asked me to try & get him some Giant Moso Bamboo Seeds, are they availbale on Samui does anyone know & if so, would they be in Packets & what kind of $$ would i be looking at & for how many ??
Thanks in advance for your replies.
Posted 2010-04-25 18:52:30
MSingh, on 2010-04-25 12:59:18, said: Hi Green Fingered people, a Friend of mine has asked me to try & get him some Giant Moso Bamboo Seeds, are they availbale on Samui does anyone know & if so, would they be in Packets & what kind of $$ would i be looking at & for how many ??
Thanks in advance for your replies.
Wow,what a tree.
Quote Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens) is the largest temperate bamboo species on earth. 'Moso' can grow to over 75 feet in height and 7 + inches in diameter, at maturity. These Moso seedlings have shown exceptional vigor and promise to give you a great start on your own Moso grove.
What is a Moso grove?
Posted 2010-04-25 22:50:08
samuibeachcomber, on 2010-04-25 12:08:53, said: planted sunflower seeds,about 30 in all.went well for 3 weeks,grew about 4 inches.now half have died,only thing i can thick why is too much water or too much heat.chili plants doing well, but then they're local so i guess they should be ok.The heat has been really bad this year,no respite,humidity too.
I must admit, I've had no luck with sunflowers, either, although have seen them growing here... so it can be done. I'm trying to remember what time of year I've seen them.
Have you checked to see if some little creatures are chewing on the stems at the base? That could be a problem too... or perhaps, damping off, in which case you'll need to check at the garden shops for a fungicide... if close by to a shop & can do, take a sample with you... perhaps in a small ice pack....
If insect, you may need to use something, like BS 2 which is from Neem tree Oil (Seddow, the Thai's call it..) or something like that. It comes in little bottles... I know the garden shop, in Maenam has it, I think I have seen at Home Pro & Tesco as well.
I did try making the Neem oil last year, without much success, so better to just buy it! I think about 60 or 80 baht.
I think too this relentless heat, is not making for happy campers of man or garden!
Posted 2010-04-25 23:17:47
Rooo, on 2010-04-25 18:52:30, said: MSingh, on 2010-04-25 12:59:18, said: Hi Green Fingered people, a Friend of mine has asked me to try & get him some Giant Moso Bamboo Seeds, are they availbale on Samui does anyone know & if so, would they be in Packets & what kind of $$ would i be looking at & for how many ??
Thanks in advance for your replies.
Wow,what a tree.
Quote Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens) is the largest temperate bamboo species on earth. 'Moso' can grow to over 75 feet in height and 7 + inches in diameter, at maturity. These Moso seedlings have shown exceptional vigor and promise to give you a great start on your own Moso grove.
What is a Moso grove?
Well, just doing a quick web search, it sure looks like the giant timber bamboo, that grows in many places on the Island, certainly near me anyway...
My neighbours & I cut many stems for trellises etc, last year... some where a good 6" at the base... & grow to a good height... 60 to 70 feet. These clumps are well established. The worst thing is when cutting you get an itch from the Bamboo when cutting... so be warned of that....
Silly me, actually brought one from the local garden shop in Maenam, 100 baht I think, but it is now huge, I tried unsuccessfully to move it...earlier this year, guess it is there for good now!
I would very much doubt if you will find seed on the Samui..... ?? But ask at the local garden centres, for "Moso Bamboo", plants...
It may be too, a case of sticking 3 foot, stems in the ground... that's the way they are done in pots.... (assuming that is the variety you are looking for, and ask permission from landowner, if you can cut some to try that....).
I generally do a "plant swap" when a Thai or anyone actually, .... gives me a plant, that always works well!
Sure hope you have a large piece of property to do this.... not a plant to put close to the house, I don't think!
Jim
Edited by samuijimmy, 2010-04-25 23:21:44.
Posted 2010-04-26 01:21:40
samuijimmy, on 2010-04-25 23:17:47, said: Rooo, on 2010-04-25 18:52:30, said: MSingh, on 2010-04-25 12:59:18, said: Hi Green Fingered people, a Friend of mine has asked me to try & get him some Giant Moso Bamboo Seeds, are they availbale on Samui does anyone know & if so, would they be in Packets & what kind of $$ would i be looking at & for how many ??
Thanks in advance for your replies.
Wow,what a tree.
Quote Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens) is the largest temperate bamboo species on earth. 'Moso' can grow to over 75 feet in height and 7 + inches in diameter, at maturity. These Moso seedlings have shown exceptional vigor and promise to give you a great start on your own Moso grove.
What is a Moso grove?
Well, just doing a quick web search, it sure looks like the giant timber bamboo, that grows in many places on the Island, certainly near me anyway...
My neighbours & I cut many stems for trellises etc, last year... some where a good 6" at the base... & grow to a good height... 60 to 70 feet. These clumps are well established. The worst thing is when cutting you get an itch from the Bamboo when cutting... so be warned of that....
Silly me, actually brought one from the local garden shop in Maenam, 100 baht I think, but it is now huge, I tried unsuccessfully to move it...earlier this year, guess it is there for good now!
I would very much doubt if you will find seed on the Samui..... ?? But ask at the local garden centres, for "Moso Bamboo", plants...
It may be too, a case of sticking 3 foot, stems in the ground... that's the way they are done in pots.... (assuming that is the variety you are looking for, and ask permission from landowner, if you can cut some to try that....).
I generally do a "plant swap" when a Thai or anyone actually, .... gives me a plant, that always works well!
Sure hope you have a large piece of property to do this.... not a plant to put close to the house, I don't think!
Jim
Thanks Jim, i'll ask & fingers crossed..
Roo, sort your quoting out please..
Posted 2010-04-28 08:49:30
my wife has asked me to start a garden, thus far i have dug a trench and am now thinking of filling it with elephant and cow droppings mixed and soil from the nursery. My question is, would i have too much akoline, or is there a down side to doing this? if not what would be a suggested ratio dirt to dung? should i mix sand or gravel into the mix as well? thanks in advance.
Posted 2010-04-28 09:19:19
Should be something here -http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Gardening-Islands-t354759.html
Posted 2010-04-28 09:22:20
Question about watering.
I water my younge Papaya's daily. (the eldest is 6 months)
Pomergranate's almost daily.
Banana's every other day.
The things that I note are, surface roots growing.
Should I mound earth over these roots, or am I just watering too often?
Chilli plants are in a bit of a limbo at present.
What does not stop growing are those rose like bushes. I never water them, but have to trim them every couple of weeks.
I have malaysian grass, which in some areas has been overtaken by a green, very small leaved weed, which spreads like wild fire, all interlinked.
Can I get the equivalent to 'weed & feed' in Thailand?
Posted 2010-04-28 21:33:27
maccaroni man, on 2010-04-28 08:49:30, said: my wife has asked me to start a garden, thus far i have dug a trench and am now thinking of filling it with elephant and cow droppings mixed and soil from the nursery. My question is, would i have too much akoline, or is there a down side to doing this? if not what would be a suggested ratio dirt to dung? should i mix sand or gravel into the mix as well? thanks in advance.
Moved to here, as it was being orphaned in the main forum.
Posted 2010-04-28 22:53:18
maccaroni man, on 2010-04-28 08:49:30, said: my wife has asked me to start a garden, thus far i have dug a trench and am now thinking of filling it with elephant and cow droppings mixed and soil from the nursery. My question is, would i have too much akoline, or is there a down side to doing this? if not what would be a suggested ratio dirt to dung? should i mix sand or gravel into the mix as well? thanks in advance.
Getting me a bit confused here... anyway, I see what happened!
I guess your wife has decided you need something to do....? a good weight loss program too  I lost 20 lbs digging my garden last year...!
To try to answer the questions... although say what you plan to grow might help too... Veggies, or flowers/shrubs????
1. The manure, should be mixed in with existing soil, since you have made the trench already.. that should be easy to do. But generally manure needs to mellow, or maybe too hot & burn the roots... I must say I have never used Elephant poo, so not sure how it does....... but the cow/ buffalo poo should be OK worked into the soil. Perhaps about 20% maximum.... it won't last that long anyway, so you will need to replenish...... again that depends on what you plan to grow...
2. As far as putting sand or gravel, it depends on what the soil conditions are like, generally I would say you don't need to, since most of the soil I have observed is pretty well drained anyway...
I'd get big bags of coconut fibre & work it in, a lot cheaper than buying small bags of soil, which is mostly coconut fibre anyway.... & then mix existing soil, manure together. Soak the soil first before planting (perhaps we will get some well needed rain this week... ?)
I find wet soil here easier to dig... at least at my place, where it is not too gravelly.
There are two kinds of coconut fibre, one is very fine (better for your purpose) the other is about 1/2" to 1" chunks... I know the Maenam or Ban Tai Nurseries usually have.
Be prepared for the weeds to grow too, weed seeds spring to life after a dry period!
Hope that helps. Jim
Posted 2010-04-28 23:15:19
I would think elephant manure would be similar to cow and buffalo, ie not too hot, but really, thats just a guess. Chicken manure is quite a bit hotter than cow and buffalo manure. ie hot as in they actually physically heat up--let it compost a bit before planting or your plants will fry.
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