Latin garden adds lush warmth to Mekong Delta home

By Diep Phan September 3, 2020 | 12:40 am PT

Le Thi Kim Huyen from southern Can Tho City spent two years designing and plating her 300-square-meter garden of two species, native to Central and South America.

Loving greenery at heart, Huyen used to plant roses and orchids in her garden, but the flowers were difficult to take take care of and withered easily. After learning about Air plants (Tillandsia) and Century plants (Agave Americana), the woman in Can Tho City started working on her own garden.Honestly I destroyed a lot because I grew orchids and roses but they did not live. In the last six years, I have focused on two species, they live well and easy to grow, she said.

Green-thumbed Huyen used to plant roses and orchids, but the flowers were difficult to care for and easily withered. After learning about Air Plants (Tillandsia) and Century Plants (Agave Americana), the Can Tho native redesigned her entire garden.
"Honestly, I 'destroyed' many orchids and roses. So in the past six years, I have focused on two, easy-to-grow species alone."

Having only two species but Huyens garden is not boring as there are a myriad of types of plants. Air plants, native from Central and South America, have the name because they get the majority of their nutrients from the air around them. They do not change their leaves much, so Huyen only needs two hours every day to water them.

Air Plants, native to Central and South America, draw their majority of nutrients from the air. Since the seldom shed their leaves, Huyen spends two hours a day watering them.

Air plants are mostly hung up to catch wind and sunlight. Meanwhile, Century plants need less sunlight and more water, planted on the ground. Huyen also has dozens of plants along the wall, creating greenery for the houses sidewalk. I water them myself to adjust the amount of water, Huyen said the reasons she does not use a watering system for hanging plants, adding taking care of them is her joy.

Air Plants are usually strung up to catch the wind and sunlight, while Century Plants are planted at ground-level, needing less sun and more water.
"I water them myself to ensure they receive the correct amount every day," Huyen said, explaining why she does not use a mechanized watering system.

It takes this air plant, imported from Thailand, three years to grow this long. As her plants have a lot of branches, Huyen usually extracts them and gifts her friends. Old ones are also replaces annually.

It has taken this Air Plant, imported from Thailand, three years to grow to its current length. Huyen usually gifts excess branches to friends, with old plants replaced annually.