Friday, May 22, 2009

Heliconia lingulata


Heliconia lingulata is one the erect flower type. It has very good features namely bright colours, varied bracts, and very distinguish.Potentially used as landscape heliconias and even could become potted plants if its growth be reduced.

Monday, May 18, 2009

Heliconia dan sekutunya untuk Perlandskapan


TANAMAN HELICONIA DAN SEKUTU NYA DI DALAM PERLANDSKAPAN (Heliconias and its allies for landscaping)

Kata kunci: Heliconia, landskap, umbisi, pembungaan
Abstrak
Tanaman Heliconia merupakan salah satu tanaman landskap yang popular di dalam industri hortikultur di Malaysia. Kehadiran Heliconia dan tanaman serumpun dengannya menambahkan kepelbagaian tanaman di dalam kawasan landskap. Heliconia pssitacorum adalah salah satu spesis yang sangat popular di dalam landskap. Ia mudah hidup dan sentiasa berbunga sepanjang tahun serta mudah penjagaan nya. Beberapa panduan penanaman Heliconia seperti pembiakan, sistem pengairan, pembajaan dan keperluan lindungan dibincangkan. Tanaman heliconia dan sekutunya yang berpotensi untuk landskap juga dicadangkan.

Abstract

Keywords: Heliconia, landscape, rhizome, flowering

Heliconias are one of the fastest growing segments in the diversified horticulture industry in Malaysia. The presence of Heliconia and its allies add up flower diversity and distribution in a landscape area. H. psittacorum is very popular in the landscape industry due its fast growing, bloom all year round and easy maintenance. Some general cultural practices pertaining to Heliconia growing such as propagation, irrigation, fertilization and shade requirement are discussed. Related Heliconia and its allied species potential for landscaping are suggested.


Performances of selected heliconias grown under shaded and non-shaded conditions.

Abstract
A study was conducted on five heliconia varieties namely; H.chartacea (Tempress), H. rauliana, H. rostata; H. mariae and H.chartacea (Sexy Pink) grown under in shade and open field (full sunlight). The aim of the experiment was to investigate vegetative and reproductive performances under both conditions. Plants were planted in 50% shade level and non-shade conditions arranged randomly in three replicates.
Results showed the five varieties responded significantly to shade and non-shade treatments. Plants planted under 50% shade were 13.1% higher than that of planted in the open-field. Whilst stem number, flower number and flower percentage were lower by 26.8 %, 67.0.0% and 31.0% when compared to 50% shade and open field treatment, respectively. In terms vegetative growth such as plant height, H.chartacea (Tempress) and H.chartacea (Sexy scarlet) were the highest at 180.9 cm and 86.3 cm, respectively. The most vigorous variety which had highest stem number and flower number is H.rauliana at 116.2 and 26.2, respectively. Both H.rauliana and H.rostata had the highest percentage of flower. A linear relationship between stem number and flower number ( y=25.55+3.1x) (r2=0.84) was observed.
It could be concluded that under shading plant height increase however stem number, flower number and flower percentage reduced. There is strong relationship between stem number and flower number but not plant height and stem number. It demonstrates heliconias are basically sun loving plants, planting these varieties in the open places would result in good flower performances. It was also found that stem number is very important criterion to provide more number of flowers irrespective of vareities.



POTENTIAL HELICONIAS FOR LANDSCAPING






Heliconias are remarkable tropical plants with great stems, leaves and beautiful flowers. They are native to Central America, the Carribean, South America and some islands of the Pacific. There are 500 species and varieties or cultivars worldwide however, 150 species can be found in South East Asia and the Polynesians.

The presence of heliconias in landscaping area makes the scenery more colourful, scenic and enchanting. The unique erect or pendulous distichous to spiral inflorescences adds up more flower diversity and distribution in the vicinity. It lends the landscape, an air of peace and tranquility whatever flower fashion it may have and possesses a fascination that makes magnetic attraction for everyone.

Among the twenty varieties screened, cultural practices pertaining to heliconia growing such as fertilization, shade level requirements, pest and diseases incidence, five promising varieties had potentials based on their planting requirements.
The above pic is my poster .