26th Issue, Vol. 3, No.

11 ISSN 2094-1765 November 2010

TORCH GINGER
By Norby Bautista

The Torch Ginger, or scientifically

known as Etlingera elatior, is a
herbaceous perennial herb
closely related to our common
ginger, and is grown primarily for
ornamental horticulture because of
its beautiful flower. Other common
names includes Ginger Flower,
Red Ginger Lily, Torch Lily, Wild
Ginger, Combrang, Bunga
Siantan, Philippine Wax Flower,
Xiang Bao Jiaing, Indonesian Tall
Ginger, Boca de Dragón, Rose de
Porcelaine, and Porcelain Rose.
The showy pink flowers are used
in decorative arrangements to
provide a tropical look, while the
flower buds are an important
ingredient in Thai and North
Sumatran dishes, mostly with
fresh fish.

Chemically, the leaves of E. elatior

contains three caffeoylquinic acids
including chlorogenic acid (CGA),
and three flavonoids of quercitrin,
isoquecitrin and catechin. The
leaves also have the highest
antioxidant, antibacterial and
tyrosinase inhibition activities
among five Etlingera species,
which makes it an important drug
source in the medical or
pharmaceutical industry.

The plant usually grows in large

clumps, reaching a height of 3-6
meters, and are usually cultivated in the soil, under partial shade. Propagating materials like divisions are
usually sold in garden centers or garden shows in the Manila or in Los Banos, Laguna. For optimum
growth, provide plants with fertile, compost-rich, soil and water every other day. Complete fertilizer can
be provided every 2 months. Flowers can be cut in the morning and used in flower arrangements.

Torch ginger is propagated by seeds. The plant is widely distributed in the Malesia area, and was
subsequently introduced into the Philippines. It is native to Indonesia, Malaysia, and S Thailand; widely
cultivated and naturalized in SE Asia.

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 GUZMANIA BROMELIADS
by Norby Bautista

Guzmania, which is related to the pineapple.

is one of the popular genus of bromeliads
cultivated in most gardens. The genus was
named after Anastasio Guzman, a Spanish
pharmacist and naturalist. Guzmania is
native in South America.

Though not native in the Philippines, it is one

of the most extensively grown bromeliad in
Quezon, Laguna, Cavite and Cagayan de
Oro. Several species and hybrids of this
genus are cultivated as indoor and outdoor
garden plants. The best known is Guzmania
lingulata (scarlet star) which bears orange
and red bracts.

Guzmanias die after the plant has produced

its flowers in summer, but new plants can
easily be propagated from the offsets which
appear as the parent plant dies. They are
epiphytes and can do well if tied on to pieces
of bark with roots bound into sphagnum
moss.

Guzmanias require warm temperatures and

relatively high humidity. These plants are
commonly used as landscape plants in
shaded home gardens, in indoor pocket
gardens, or as accents / ground cover during
garden shows.

Guzmania produce their best flower color in

bright diffused light, usually under 1-2 layers
of shade net. Do not expose plants to direct
sun as it can cause leaf burns.

Water plants regularly and their centers

should be kept full of water, even when the
plants are blooming. This may be a problem
to some since mosquito larvae could thrive
in these stagnant water. Thus, it is
recommended to change the water in the
pocket-like centers by turning over plants
every week and refilling the water. The
potting mixture can be watered by letting the
centers overflow into it.

Guzmanias are usually planted on 5 inch

pots with a mixture of charcoal plus coconut husk cubes or coconut coir dust with sand. Though most of
the species are epiphytes or air plants, they can also be mounted on driftwoods without media, as long as
the centers are always filled with water and the surroundings are kept moist or humid. Young plantlets
arise at the base of the plant after the mother plants have bloomed.

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Mangkono: A Rare and Unique Hardwood
Mangkono (Xanthostemon verdugonianus)
which belongs to the family Myrtaceae bears
attractive red blossoms that later yield half-
moon-shaped, red seeds. This tropical
evergreen tree is also commonly called the
Philippine ironwood and dubbed the "hardest
tree in the Philippines."

Mangokono grows naturally only in the central

Philippines on Surigao's Dinagat Island,
Homonhon Island in Samar, Babatngon, Leyte,
and in Palawan. Nationwide it now is considered
rare and endangered according to the ASEAN
Regional Centre for Biodiversity Conservation.
The tree is encouraged to be conserved, and is
now being promoted by Hortica Filipina, a non-
profit, non-government organization specializing
is promoting Philippine tree species for
metropolitan greening.

It is an slow growing evergreen tree with an

upright, oval habit, mangkono's trunk can reach
a diameter of 20 to 36 inches and overall height
of 30 to 40 feet. The trunk is fluted and carries
small twigs as well as architecturally irregular but
picturesque branches. Leaves are tongue to
rounded oval in shape and green with a leathery
texture. The ornate, rounded clusters of bright,
blood-red flowers occur on branch tips and have
five small petals but many erect whisker-like
stamens. The dry fruits split open into three
sections to release tiny half-moon seeds

Mangkono trees tolerate low-fertility soils but

grow much more lushly in more sandy loam garden-like soils that are rich in organic matter. In the heat of
the long growing season, provide lots of water. Provide full to partial sunlight exposures for more
abundant flowering displays, but no fewer than five hours of direct sunlight daily. It grows nicely in an
open grove with other tropical trees and palms.

Mangkono wood is among the hardest and densest in the world, often used as a substitute for the dense
hard wood of the lignum-vitae (Guaicum spp.) trees of the Caribbean. Often, trees are allowed to grow to
a diameter of a few inches before being cut. Gas-powered diamond blades cooled by water more readily
cut the wood as compared to axes, which take considerably more time and energy.

Mangkono makes a superb material for the bearing or stern bushing of steamship propeller shafts. It is
also used as rollers, shears, saw guide blocks, tool handles, novelties, poles and piles for wharfs and
bridges. Smaller-diameter trunks or branches are heavily used as house posts, according to the Haribon
Foundation. The gnarled trunks and branches and vividly colored flowers also make mangkono a
magnificent ornamental tree, albeit rare, for tropical gardens.

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 Blue Ginger: A ‘Cool’ Flower for a Shaded Garden

The Blue Ginger plant, scientifically known as Dischorisandra thyrsiflora, is a popular perennial
ornamental landscaping plant for the tropical outdoor garden. The plant produces attractive, three-
petalled flowers that are bluish in color with small yellow centers. Flowers are borne on a terminal
spike. The entire flower spike when still in bud looks very much like the one produced by a blue
hyacinth bulb. For those of us who are more imaginative, it may look like a bunch of grapes, except
that is held upright! The plant is erect, clump-forming, rhizomatous, soft-stemmed, and evergreen

The plant is native to the tropical woodlands of North, Central and South America, most especially
from Brazil. The plant is primarily an ornamental plant, cultivated for its strikingly blue flowers and
often cultivated in shaded gardens.

A much sought-after plant by tropical plant connoisseurs, the Blue Ginger plant constitutes one of the
small number of plants that features the cooler blue color in its flowers. The floral colors of most other
tropical plants are more on the ‘warmer side’ which include red, yellow and orange.

The common name, ‘Blue Ginger’ is actually a misnomer, and is not a true ginger at all. It is a
member of the Commelinaceae family and its relatives include the Boat Lily (Tradescantia spathacea)
and the Wandering Jew (T. zebrina).

It got mistakened to be a ginger probably due to the entire plant’s resemblence with a Spiral Ginger
(Costus spp.). The Blue Ginger plant produces tall stems with leaves that are arranged in a spiral
manner that is similar to the growth habit of Spiral Gingers. Although both the Blue Ginger and a
Spiral Ginger both do not emit an aromatic smell when they are injured, they can be easily told apart
because the latter plant produces flowers that are borne on a cone-like structure of bracts.

When it comes to its growing conditions, the Blue Ginger prefers to be grown in cooler and shadier
conditions. Semi-shaded conditions with filtered sunshine would be most optimal. Plants become sun-

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 burnt easily if they are grown in under direct
sunshine. Under shady conditions, the plant
produces leaves that feature a beautiful silver
stripe.

The plant is, however, not an easy plant to

bloom tropical lowland conditions. One has to
find the ‘right’ cool and shady spot where the
plant likes to grow in. The Blue Ginger plant
likes to be planted in a humid and windless
location. Its roots should be moist and not soggy
wet. During the cooler, wetter months at the end
of the year the Blue Ginger can be persuaded to
bloom.

The plant will grow well in a good general

purpose potting mix (a soil that retains water yet
drains well). For best results, mix garden soil
with sand and a small portion of compost with a
1:1:1 ratio. Water the plant regularly.

For its nutritional requirement, fertilize plants

once every 2 months with a half teaspoon
complete fertilizer.

The plant is prone to mealy bugs. Thus, always

inspect any new plant for pests before
introducing it to your home or greenhouse. It is also prone to antracnose, crown rot and southern
blight.

The plant is propagated vegetatively with stem cuttings. A long stem can be cut into shorter sections
with several internodes and these can be stuck into some well-drained soil placed in a shady and
protected location like what is commonly done for propagation via stem-cuttings. It also produces a
fleshy, orange-red fruit.

A GARDEN OASIS IN THE HEART

OF GATEWAY MALL
by Justin B. Morelos

As people passes through Gateway

Mall’s main building in Araneta Center,
Cubao, Quezon City, they will certainly
pass through an enclosed garden
paradise within the mall. “The Oasis”, a
uniquely designed floating garden
located at the heart of the shopping
mall, is actually a open garden cafeteria
managed by the Mandarin Oriental Cafe
and Deli. They offer superb food at the
same time provide a paradise-like
ambiance and tucked at the heart of the
mall.

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 The 450 square meter Oasis, is
spectacularly designed to provide
an ambiance similar to a Garden of
Eden, enclosed in clear, see-
through glass, and showcases a
variety of exotic flora in a lush
tropical setting, which makes it a
perfect venue for fine dining and
cocktail parties. Within the garden
are towering 60-foot Royal Palms
which extends up to the top of the
building. The restaurant is open up
to the sky, permitting natural
sunlight and rain to come in. People
who would wish to dine or just stroll
through the garden itself will be
greeted with an assortment of
colorful flowering bromeliads,
anthuriums, heliconias, ginger
plants and aglaonemas. There is
also the sound of running water from its artificial waterfalls, flowing stream and clear pond to provide
tranquility and a cool, humid atmosphere to the surrounding environs.

There are also koi carps in the clear pond, actuated with Chinese statues. The pond also serves as a
wishing well as children throw coins on it. The garden is multi-level, with steps and higher elevation,
wherein tables and chairs with umbrellas are situated so that diners can enjoy a sip of brewed coffee as
they enjoy the ambiance.

Oasis offers diners a clear view of the mall's tasteful interior as they relax in the garden. Diners can savor
the restaurant's Hainanese chicken, asian salads and sandwitches.

This pocket of greenery is an inspiration to most plant lovers and gardeners as it shows that a paradise-
like garden can be created even in a buzzling city like here in Araneta Center. It landscape design is truly
a unique and creative tropical one which makes one forget that you are actually inside a city.

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 The Sunflower -- Helianthus annuus

The Sunflower, or Helianthus annuus, is an annual

flowering plants native to the Americas, that
possess a large inflorescence or flowering head. It
is also grown in the Philippines as a landscape
plant and source of its valuable seeds. Its flower is
a composite flower, composed of numerous florets crowded together. The outer florets are sterile ray
florets usually yellow, maroon, or orange in color, while the florets inside the circular head, or disc
florets, are the ones which mature into seeds.

Sunflowers usually grow to heights between 1.5 and 3.5 m (5–12 ft). Young sunflowers exhibit
heliotropism, wherein its leaves and flower heads follow the sun and their orientation therefore
changes from east to west during the day.

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 The sunflower is native to the Central Americas. The evidence thus far is that it was first
domesticated in Mesoamerica, which is now present day Mexico, by at least 2600 BC and may have
been domesticated a second time in the middle Mississippi Valley, or been introduced there from
Mexico at an early date, as corn was. The Aztecs and Otomi of Mexico use Sunflowers used as
symbol of their solar deity,

Sun flowers are usually grown outdoors and need full sun for it to produce flowers. They grow best in
fertile, moist, well-drained soil with a lot of mulch or compost. In commercial planting, seeds are
planted 45 cm (1.5 ft) apart and 2.5 cm (1 in) deep. Sunflower seeds are sold as a snack food, after
roasting in ovens, with or without salt added, used directly in cooking and salads, or processed as
bird feed. In other countries, sunflowers are processed into a peanut butter alternative, sunbutter.
Sunflower oil, extracted from the seeds, is used for cooking, as a carrier oil and to produce
margarine.

Sunflowers are also used as a phyto-remediant, as it can be used to extract toxic ingredients from
soil, such as lead, arsenic, and uranium, especially radioactive cesium-137 and strontium-90 from a
nearby pond after the Chernobyl disaster in Russia. With this, the sunflower is often used as a symbol
of green ideology.

LOS BANOS GARDEN SHOW HELD WITH

THEME ON CHRISTMAS IN OCTOBER

The central display during the Los Banos Garden Show showing the Nativity, with the child Jesus, with
Joseph and Mary, and the 3 wise men offering gifts.

Plants and garden lovers came, momentarily escape the hectic schedules of urban
office life and visited the Los Banos Horticultural Society's Garden Show at the Senior
Social Garden, University of the Philippines at Los Banos, College, Laguna last Oct 8 -

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17, 2010. This season’s theme was “Christmas in October” and the featured plants
were: Aglaonemas and Philodendrons. The garden show offered garden
landscape designs of the Nativity, with the Baby Jesus, His Parents Joseph and Mary
and the Three Wise Kings offering their gifts. The venue was also a good source of
native and exotic ornamental plants – the colorful Aglaonema and uniquely shaped
leaves of Philodendron plants, including other colorful plants like Poinsettias,
Orchids, Bromeliads, Chrysanthemums, African Daisies, Tillandsias, Fruit Tree seedlings
and many more. It was also the season of the sweet Paete lazones and the Laguna
Rambutan fruits.

Afterwards, some opt to side trail and dipped

into the cozy hot springs resorts which abound
in the area and experienced the cool tranquil
and mystical ambiance of Los Banos.
Afterwhich visitors returned back to city life
refreshed and relaxed.

Other exhibits like Christmas garden arrangements,

displays, ornaments, and accessories were also
presented during the garden show.

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 Growing Basil
Basil is grown for its fragrant tasty
leaves that can be added raw to
salads, sandwiches or used in cooked
dishes such as the ever popular pasta
with tomato and basil sauce.

Basil can be grown in pots. Ensure

that adequate drainage is allowed
from the base of the pot by lining the
bottom with coarse gravel. However, I
basil will be grown outside, ensure
that the soil is well dug over and weed
free before sowing. Before sowing
ensure that the compost or soil is
moist.

Sow seeds during summer time,

usually February, or maybe kept
momentarily indoors to protect from
too much rain. Sow the seed thinly
and if growing in pots sow enough for
a few plants in each pot. Cover the
seeds with 1/2 cm of compost and firm
gently.

Basil seeds should

germinate in about a week
and once the seedlings
have developed 2 pairs of
true leaves then you can
thin out the weakest
seedlings in each pot,
leaving each pots strongest.
Basil should be grown in a
position that receives a
good amount of sunlight -
around 6-8 hours a day.
Basil can be grown indoors
on a sunny windowsill or
outdoors in containers or
soil. If growing outside try
and position the Basil in a
sheltered spot that avoids
too much rain.

Basil likes a fertile soil that has been welll dug to allow good soil air circulation. Introducing well rotted
organic compost or manure into the soil a month or so before sowing will help this. If growing in pots then
a general purpose compost is a suitable soil solution.

If growing plants indoors in pots using compost then weeds shouldn't be a problem. If growing outdoors
then you can add an organic mulch around the Basil plants to help aid soil moisture retention and prevent
weed establishment.

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If growing Basil in containers or indoor pots then add a small amount of fertilizer every month or so.
Water every week (more often if growing in outdoor containers or indoors). When watering your Basil
make sure to water at the base of the plant avoiding showering the leaves and stems.

Be sure to pinch out any flowers that appear. This will help preserve the plants flavour and also channel
the plants energies into more leaf growth.

Basil is a pick and come again crop. It is best to pick a few leaves off a number of plants than picking all
the leaves off one plant. Harvest the top most leaves first. Basil will grow all year round indoors or
outdoors. Select plants that can flower and produce seeds. Once harvested Basil can be frozen for later
use.

Basil can be used in fresh or dried form. To dry Basil cut the stems at soil level and dry them in a
dehydrator or hang bunches of stems up to air dry in a warm room, this should take about a week. Once
the leaves are dried you can remove them from the stems and then store them in a dry airtight container
for up to 12 months.

The most popular variety of Basil is Sweet Basil and this is the variety most often used in cooking. Other
varieties include Purple Basil (purple leaves) and Lemon Basil (a mild lemon flavour).

=======================================
Some malls and business establishments had
Halloween displays out of decorative pumpkins and
scarecrows during the Pre-Halloween and All Souls
day season from October 20 to November 1.
Displays like this plus the tradition of Trick or Treat
among children are now popular among Filipino
Children.
=======================================

The Urban Gardener is an official electronic

publication (in PDF Format) of the Plant
Biotechnology Project, Research & Development
Center, Rizal Technological University, Boni
Avenue, Mandaluyong City, Philippines. It is
published monthly. For more information, please
inquire thru email: rdc_rtu@yahoo.com or
plantbiotech_rtu@yahoo.com and landline (+632)
534-8267 Local 135 or Fax (+632) 534-9710.

Edited by N.R. Bautista © November 2010

The Plant Biotechnology Project Committee is

composed of: Alexander B. Quilang,
Norberto R. Bautista, & Jovita A. Anit.

“To plant a garden is to believe in the future”

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