Kantan Merah , herba rempah berbunga menawan

https://www.melur.com/product/anak-benih-kantan-merah-2/

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Nama Tempatan: Kantan Merah

Nama Saintifik: Etlingera elatior

synonyms :Phaeomeria speciosa

Nama Lain: Ginger flower

Famili: Zingiberaceae

Kantan diklasifikasikan sebagai Rempah atau perasa dalam masakan. Ia biasa ditanam di halaman rumah terutamanya tempat yang agak lembab. Kantan membiak melalui dua cara iaitu pecahan rizom (anak) dan biji benih. Namun pembiakan melalui biji benih agak jarang dan sukar dilakukan. Digunakan sebagai perasa dalam masakan tertentu. Bunganya pula menjadi bahan perencah yang penting terutamanya untuk laksa dan masakan asam pedas. Buahnya boleh digunakan untuk menghasilkan rasa masam dalam masakan seperti gulai ikan menggantikan asam keping atau asam jawa

KEGUNAAN:

Bunganya boleh mengawet muda. Pokoknya juga boleh menghilangkan bau badan terutamanya bagi wanita yang baru lepas bersalin. Untuk menghilangkan bau badan, ambil beberapa batang pokok kantan yang segar, potong batangnya pendek-pendek dan ditumbuk hingga lumat, Rebuskan hingga mendidih dan gunakan air rebusannya untuk mandi apabila telah sejuk. Untuk menghilangkan rasa kurang bermaya dan hilang selera makan, bijinya ditumbuk hingga lumat, toskan untuk mendapatkan airnya dan dicampurkan dengan segelas air suam dan diminum pada waktu pagi dan sebelum tidur. Amalkannya untuk beberapa kali. Buahnya juga dikatakan dapat menguatkan tenaga batin bagi lelaki dan menghilangkan lendir dalam badan dan kahak juga.

Terdapat beberapa jenis kantan yang biasa ditanam di Malaysia. Jenis yang paling biasa ialah kantan berbunga merah jambu ( pucat dan tua) . Kantan yang biasa digunakan dalam masakan ialah jenis kantan ini. Kantan putih dan merah darah juga ada ditanam tetapi lebih jarang dijumpai. Kantan putih dan merah darah di ketegorikan dalam kumpulan tumbuhan eksotik dan menjadi buruan peminat pokok eksotik(rare). Ia lebih banyak ditanam kerana fungsia hiasan dan perubatannya berbanding untuk masakan

Kantan dibiakkan melalui pecahan rizom( kaedah biasa) dan biji benih (jarang digunakan). Ia tumbuh subur ditempat bertanah lembab. Tidak boleh ditanam dalam medium yang menakung air kerana rizomnya mudah rosak jika terendam air.

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French Marigold

This is the latest flower i brought back home last week.The vibrant red color is so attractive. This is one of the marigold species known as french marigold.

Commmon Name:	French Marigold
Botanical Name:	Tagetes patula
Other Name:
Family:	Asteraceae
Location:	Melur.com
origin:	Americas

French marigold is an annual plants native to Americas. Like other annuals it will live until certain period of time. The flower color range from yellow to red.the flowers normally planted as nectar source for butterflies in the garden.

In some places like Caucasus and Republic of Georgia, the ground dried flower  petals are  used as spices . The popular spices known as imeruli shaphrani( Imeretian saffron) give the unique earthy flavor to Georgian cuisine, compatible to the flavor of cinnamon and cloves.

Apart from the culinary use,  the flower is also use for food  coloring. The medicinal use of the plans come from the essential oil extracted from the flowers.It is used to treat candidiasis (yeast infection) and fungal infection.

Propagation is from the seed. The seed will normally germinated within a few days after sowing . It should be transplanted whe it is approximately 2 inches in height. For more information on how to grow marigold click here

Canna Tubers( Ubi Ganyong)

Common Name: Canna Tubers (Ubi Ganyong)
Botanical Name: Canna edulis
Other Name: Canna discolor L. syn. C. edulis, Queensland arrowroot,buah tasbih, ubi pikul, ganyal, ganyol,sinetra
Family: Cannaceae
Origin: Tropical America

Description:

Canna tubers is a plant of the same species with canna lily, scientific name Canna indica Linn. In fact, in some places like indonesia canna lilly is also called Ganyong hutan ( Wild canna tubers) . The plant has soft stems and grows vertically at the height between 0.9 to 1.8 meters. The leaves shape are rounded and somewhat flattened stems and have regular frond and overlap to form the stem. Leaf is wide, the color is reddish green with elongated elliptical leaves. The fruits are small with the inseide space for seed cavity. The tubers is white or purplish.It can be propagated through fractions of tubers and the new plants generated from the old plants.

Usage:

Although ubi ganyong or canna tubers are less popular compared to other tubers such as sweet potato and cassava it also essential that can be powdered. Powders containing calcium, phosphorus and high carbohydrate makes it good for the development of strong bones and teeth, especially to chidren. Ganyong flour can be prepared as can be prepared as cakes, puddings, breads and noodles. The usage of the flour is as the same as the use of cornstarch. The harvesting period of Ubi ganyong depends on the usage.Young roots can be harvested if the preparation is by boiling the tubers and eat as it is. The harvesting should be done when tubers were older if the purpose is make the flour. jelly is usually produced using seaweed. Apart from seaweed, canna tubers also can be prepared as home-cooked jelly. Jelly from canna tubers easy to prepare and can be done at home . The Method is to prepare t canna starch first . The process to produce the canna starch is similar to the process of getting other starches. Ratio of 5 kg grated old canna tubers is mixed with 5 liters of water, it is filtered and the husk removed. Then precipitated starch solution for a day to get the gist. The precipitate is then dried. To prepate the jelly , starch is boiled , add enough flavor and dyes and cooled before being cut. Canna tubers medically used to treat inflammation of the urinary tract. The method is by adding 40g to 30g canna tubers with ca whiskers leaves (Orthosiphon aristatus), lalang root 20g and 600 ml of water. all boiled for 15 minutes. Drin it hot every morning and afternoon. The tubers is also used to reduce the heat in the body. 30g Canna tubers along with 30g temu lawak and 700 ml of boiling water are boiled for 15 minutes and drink hot 2 times a day.

Beluru or Akar Sintok

Local name: Beluru or Akar Sintok
Botanical name: Entada Spiralis
Family: Leguminosae
Description
Beluru is liana with the wooden stem. It grows in the forest as a climber to the big tree. It can be propagated by seed and stem cutting. The fruit looks like a giant bean with seed that has a hard shell, green when young and turn to be black when matured.

The bark can be used as syampoo to clean the scalp.The seed also can be used for the same purpose.

More info ( in Bahasa Malaysia ) at: Melur.com

Plant Hospital

Normally when a plant is dying what i did is i cover the whole plant with a big plastic bag. Including the pot if the plant is small or only the top part ( the part with leave or where the leave should be). Give the plant 1 or 2 weeks and the new healthy shoot will grow. The purpose of cover it with plastic bag is to give the plant as much moisture to accelerate the new shoot growth.

Then i read in a book "ingenious gardening" by Deborah L. martin, another way to treat sick plant is by using a plastic soda bottle... you know, soft drink big plastic bottle. With a sharp knife , cut 2 liter plastic bottle into half. We will use the top part as the hospital. Put the top part over the sick plant. it will act like a mini terrarium for the plant.

plants in the drawer

we might have old wooden drawers to scrap. This wooden drawers can be use as a planter for our plant. Drill drainage holes in the bottom.We can also use the drawers for rooting cutting.The idea also fit for growing veggie.

The flowering bulb

Last few weeks we went to cameron highland. Every visit to cameron highland wont be a complete one without visiting the Mardi Agro park in Tanah rata. What i like most about this place is they always have new things. The last time we went there before this one, i was introduced to blackberry ( not the phone) by one on the worker there , uncle krishnan. He was so so kind and helpfull and want to explain everything about this plant, he even give me a few cutting (already have root) but unfortunately it never survive long in my garden.

so the latest visit , there was something new in the park, The tulips and a few more flowering bulb that i cannot recognize.

Jade Vine

common name:Jade Vine
Botanical name:Strongylodon macrobotrys
Family:Fabaceae/Leguminosae
Other name:Tayabak(Philipine),Jade climber,
Origin: Philipine

A special evergreen vine with jade to blue flower. one thing uniue about this plant is the color was so green blue that you could hardly find in a plant.The structure also really looks like a artifial flower, at first i thought that they purposely hang the artifial flower to the vine.

Jade vine is a native plant in Philiphine and grows in wild in the tropical forest. It prefer neutral to acidic soil. in term of light we can grow jade vine in full sun with some shade in the mid day. Jade wind nomally grown over a pergola or trellis where the upper part is facing the direct sun and the lower under the shade.

a close up of Jade vine flower. This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and birds. it can be propagated by stem cutting and seed.

Other link:
Jade vine at melur.com

Aster

strawberry

strawberry is definitely not from malaysia, only can be found grown at highland in Malaysia that has a lower temparature climate such as Cameron higland , genting higland and Ranau in Sabah

Jasmine aka Melur

original post date: Thursday, August 24, 2006

Jasmine is one of my favorite flower.Jasmine or Melur in Malay language is a sweet smell with flower belong to a shrub herbs.

I have 2 var of jasmine at home. duke of tuscany and maid of orlean. Between those 2 the latter has stronger fragrant than the former.I plant jasmine in pots in my front garden.Jasmine is actually quite easy to grow. you must make sure water is sufficient and to ensure it blooms more expose it to the full sunlight. I'm living is a tropical country so sunlight all year round is not a problem. I give the jasmines flower inducer once a months. I cut the old stem ( where the flower drop) once a month so it will turn bushy.And to encourage it to produce more flower , harvest the flower frequently ( this is my tips and my own belief...:) you can call it mitos)I believe if we appreciate the plants, they will know how to return the favour back.... hahaha...I pick the flower every day after coming back from work and put it in a bowl of water. This can make the flower release it scent throughout the night.

And jasmine is good for your heart too. You can make tea from jasmine buds the same way as lavender buds. Pick the buds before it blooms and let it dry naturaly. After 2 or 3 days your can keep the buds in air tight container. Just add 2 or 3 buds to your cup of tea. It will strengthen your heart plus it can cool you down from a stress day.

Malay old folks always keep the jasmine flower in there 'bedak sejuk' container so the 'bedak sejuk' will smell goooooodddd...Bedak sejuk is a traditional malay cosmetic made from rice.The rice will be soak in the water for months before the water will disolve it into a tick paste.The tick paste then will be drop on daun pisang and left to dry under the sun. When it was fully dry, bedak sejuk will be kept in air tight container. the water have to be change regularly until the rice start to disolve ,so it will never produce a stink smell ...which is very2 stink. when i was a kid i try to make my own bedak sejuk but i forgot change the water for almost a month, and i can tell you i'm almost vomit when i open the container. That's my first and last attempt to make the bedak sejuk.

To aply the bedak sejuk , dissolve in a few drops of water and apply it on the face.The cooling effect of the bedak sejuk is very soothing to our face. You have to try it to beleve it. It also can eliminate excess oil from our face hence prevent the acne.

alamak...why i'm talking about bedak sejuk now. I'm suppose to talk about my jasmine.better stop now.

Bunga kesidang

original posting date : Thursday, March 01, 2007

my kesidang (vallaris glabra) is blooming. Every night when i reach home, the rich sweet pandan smell is in the air. Some people who like the pandan smell will really love it.My mother hate the smell, infact she said the smell will trigger her migrain. The smell of the kesidang flower is said to be resemble to the rice smell, describe why in nothern region of Malaysia it is called kerak nasi which literally means rice leftover.The flower also known in western as bread flower, perhaps because of the white color? hahh... just my wild guest.

Kesidang is a climber which make it a very nice companion to your trellis or pergola.It can be easily propagated by layering technic.Layering can be done by pull the branch until it touch the ground or the medium , then put something heavy , like a brick on the branch to make it always touch the ground. after +- 2 weeks, new root will come out for the part that touch the ground. Cut the branch and plant it somewhere else. It can be grown in a pot too...Other way to propagate is grafting. although stem cutting will grow into new plant if you are lucky, by the chance to stem cutting to root is quite low. A little help from root hormone might increase the chances to survive...:)

The leave is quite big, from a far it look like mango leave...:) the leave surface is shiny.Kesidang leave can easily turn yellow and drop if you give not enough water, esp in dry season like now. This the kesidang photo from my garden... Really love the clean white flower with the unique petals and the smellll.....so refereshing....My mother will hate me for this. Next time when she come to visit I'll make sure no buds is allow to bloom....:)

p/s: kesidang is said to be the symbol of malay folks, whic always rich with adab, budi bahasa dan kesopanan.

Corn tree

original post: 2007

Corn tree,sometime knows as iron tree or botanically known as Dracaena fragrans is a very popular indoor plant.Infact we can always stumble with it in almost every office.The behaviour of the plant that need less attention compare to other indoor plant make a perfect choice if you are not a plant lover.

Originated from West Africa, the plant has made its way around the globe. Belong to agave family give corn tree an advantage as it is very strong can tolerate a wide range of climate.the plant prefers low light and high humidity.

The wide leaves are long and arc gracefully from the stalk.The huge and strong stucture of the stem and leave turn it as an attractive green furniture to your room.Dracaena fragrans belongs to Agavaceae family, the same family agave, yucca and joshua plant.Same like others in agave family corn tree too can stand the dry zone.Though in its optimum condition the plant can grow until 20 feet tall, but normally as a houseplant the normal height of this plant is between 4 to 6 feet tall.Ovet time the plant loses lower leave revealing bare stem.D. f. ‘Massangeana’ is a popular cultivar that features a wide central yellow stripe on each leaf.


In tropical climate , it is quite difficult to see corn tree blooming. the flower somehow, very attarctive with the special fragrant any flower lover will treasure.To flower, the plant must be a very mature plant.It should be at least more that 6 feet in height.The flower stalk s emerge out from the center of tthe leave whorl and will extend untill almost 3 feet.the The fragrant is very strong , you can smell it even it is more than 100 feet away, especially in the evening. The fragrant normally will last more than 1 week or even longer if it is keep in the office or well protected environment.

Some people believe that the plant will die after flowering.Well, it is not true as the plant will keep on growing.Cutting the flower stalk when it wither is a good idea to boost up the groth rate.Propagation is simple, it can be done through stem cutting.Eventhough the plant bear fruits(berries type) , normally it is propaged using stem cuttings.If you notice that the leave turn brownish it could be because of to much or too litle water.Eventhough it is a tough plant, sometimes mites can get attracted to it.

Single layer gardenia

Monday, January 08, 2007

Hi...
it's me again...Last few days was really hectic for me...My eldest first days in school. going back to my hometown on the 2 past weekend and not sure whether have to go back again this weekend...Hmm... it's have been some time since i want to talk about my single layer gardenia. Well... most people know gardenia, the white fragrance flower that resemble the roses. But i bet not many people ever see this single layer gardenia. It's really a gardenia, with the smell and everything except the flower only has single layer.Normally we keep on looking for multi layer flower. but for me, single layer gardenia is even more pretty and unique( i like to use this word to describe it...:))

The behaviour, propagation, sun exposure is the same like multi-layer gardenia. It can keep on crazilly blooming if you expose it to the full sun light. Just don't forget to water it sufficiently. Here's the picture of my single layer gardenia. Enjoy it...!!

From Nor's Paradise

Monday, December 11, 2006
Nor's Paradise
my eldest daughter nursery is having a school holiday program and ask me to teach those young fellow how to garden. She's so excited that mama is going to tech her friends so she keep on talking about it the whole week until saturday when my second daughter infected with conjunctivitis. Then , she became so frustated and scare that me and her will get it too. Luckily we are still safe when the day came and she's so happy and eagerly help me with all the pots and garden tools....:) Proud of her mum....hehehe...i still remember when she's small when somebody ask what's her mother occupation, she would always said that mama grow plant...:) some even guess that i'm a gardener...:)

I hope that my daughters will enjoy gardening as mush as i do and as much as my mother do.well.... it's a trait in the family i guess....:)

Blanket Flower-transfered from my old blog: www.norsparadise.blogspot.com

original entrance date: 1/30/07


Haaa....at last i manage to find out the name of the flower that my husband brought back from US.This one is better known as gaillardia(nice name and it suite her...:)) I use to mention flower as her as i feel that 'it' is too harsh.The scientific name is gaillardia aristata. The name is drive from a french botanist name , Gaillard de Marentoneau. This plant is easy to grow in any variety of soil, provided that it is free draining

Daisy on my balcony- transfered from my old blog: www.norsparadise.blogspot.com

Date of original entrance: Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Before move to this current house we stayed in a 15 floor apartment. I'm quite like it, the balcony is facing the hill and before the hill is a shooting range. Very green and eye soothing except it can be very noisy once a week when the army practiced at the shooting range.During rainy season, i can still see the mist covering the hill bringing the cool breeze to our bedroom.I kept quite a number of plant there, on the balcony. plants like mini roses (4 vareties) gerbera daisy (3 varieties), money plant, violet, japanese rose etc. I even grow a grape vine on the trailis that i hooked up to the wall.The balcony is quite big. It's actually 2 balconie linked by a planters box before we combined it into one big balcony.

I enjoy planting on the balcony. But when you gardened at a very high place from the ground few thing that you must consider are, the weight of the pots + the soil + water.So i never use terracota pot as it can be very heavy after you loaded it with soil and water.I have one terracota pots for my aquatic plants, and that's the only one.

Let me share with you a few tips of balcony or roof top gardening:

Euphorbia

Fuschia