Mulching is a technique to reduce water loss from the soil, reduce weeds and improve soil structure. Kantan leaves are very handy as mulch. There is a cluster of kantan at the corner of the house. After a while leaves will dry, so in between roselle, is a suitable place to put them.
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| two rows of roselle, kantan leaves in between |
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| Kantan leaves, as mulch |
Pokok Kantan / Torch Ginger ( Etlingera elatior) as a plant is very showy indeed, especially if grown far from anything else. New shoots keep coming out forming a neat round shape. It is grown primarily for bunga kantan, it's beautiful pink flower. Kakdah would add the pink bunga kantan for her special menu:
asam pedas, masak lemak and not forgetting
laksa. Sometimes she would slice the flower as addition for her kerabu. Thin sliced onions, young mango, ulam raja, , carrots, a bit of chili, and carrots. A bit of sugar, salt and lemon juice will complete the taste. Of course we can vary the contents to suit with what we have and the appetite of the day.
The plant which grow in a nice cluster cools the surroundings a little bit. I find dead leaves so convenient as ground cover, giving colour to the ground around roselle and keeping the soil from drying up.
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| Pokok kantan / torch ginger / Etlingera elatior |
Kantan leaves as mulch may not look neat, but it helps on sustainability,
that things eventually need to go back to the soil, recycled.
........... b a n g c h i k a n d k a k d a h ..........
from the very beginning when I started "following" your blog, I've been impressed with your mulching! nature mulches, it only makes sense to use what you have to mulch your plants...very natural!
ReplyDeleteTheanne.., thanks. I always consider weeding, grass mowing, pruning as activities with mulching in mind.
DeleteOh, that changes things! I'm growing Etlingera elatior from seed. I didn't think that it grew that large. I was imagining a sunflower like plant! I'll have to modify my plans. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteProspero.., dont worry too much, plants will adapt to whatever space given.
DeleteYour torch ginger makes for good cover. What is masak? I am only familiar with nasi lemak and laksa. Your description of food has me drooling.
ReplyDeleteBOM... masak on its own is cook, masak lemak is something else, a spicy rich yellow coconut gravy. Nasi lemak is rice cooked in coconut gravy....
DeleteAaronVFT...., I don't know if torch ginger can be dwarfed in pots. No harm in trying.
ReplyDeleteYes that really is a good mulch, however the stems are so rigid i think. I use banana leaves instead around tomatoes. I still would love to taste that bunga kantan stew as i learned from Autumn Belle. However, if i have that plant i might not eat it as it is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteAndrea.... I can see your point. I tried to use what's available as mulch. I used banana leaves for vegetable bed where plants are more delicate.
DeleteTaking care of your garden is important and mulching is important because mulches help garden soil manage water.
ReplyDeletemulching services
Taking care of garden is important & you should take professional service provider advice.
Deletehttp://mulching.blogspot.in/2008/06/refurbish-your-montgomery-blo-hog-with.html
Salam! Would you by any chance have anak (or rizom or benih) pokok kantan that you can sell? I've been looking for the plant for quite some time.
ReplyDeletei have shifted to Putrajaya now..., here i dont have the luxury of growing kantan... where do you stay by the way?
DeleteIn PJ area.
Delete