Photographing Black Flowers - A few simple tricks.

For a start, no flowers are really black and in fact black is not really a colour at all. So what we are talking about is those really deep red flowers and plants that look black.

Taking photographs of near black flowers is difficult. The problem is that really dark colours (very deep reds) absorb light, this tricks the light metre in cameras and the cameras in phones to give you the wrong exposure.

With cameras that have a spot metering system, or with a light metre, you can can take a light reading off the flower and adjust the camera to that reading.

With camera phones, which are so widely used, it is a different matter. You can use the touch to focus feature and that will activate a sort of spot metering. AND THEN if your camera phone has the feature, you can also use the slide up and down feature to darken the image.

Below we have a very deep red Aeonium.

In the image on the LEFT exposure is automatic. The image does not look as dark as it does to the eye.

The image on the RIGHT has been spot metered and exposure adjusted using the slider on iphone.

And of course you can use one of the many camera apps, that allows you to have even more control.

The problem with this is that when you alter exposures to darken photographs you often loose detail and clarity, so the best way to photograph really dark coloured flowers and foliage is under artificial light using a slow shutter speed.

You can find a good explanation of all of this at https://cameraharmony.com/photographing-dark-objects-how-to-do-it-right/

Echeveria Gilo 'Raindrops' - A Rare new succulent release

A truely wonderful Echeveria this one is Echeveria Gilo x Raindrops. The small bumps or raindrops on top of the leaves make this a magical little specimen plant for a container.

As with all echeveria, good drainage is required as is good sunlight. Make sure you do provide some protection from hot afternoon sun and transition this plant form indoors tom outdoors full sun slowly to avoid leaf burn.

This is one of the many echeveria varieties that are now available with intensive hybridization taking place in South Korea, Japan and other countries.

Lithops Origins, Care.Problems and a Tour of a large Collection.

 Lithops are commonly called 'Living Stones', 'Stoneface plant'  or 'Stone Plant'  'Split rock plant' and some species have their own common name such  L.viridis which is sometimes called the 'Green rock plant'. They are a succulent from South Africa, they spread over a large area and we have many species as well as many natural variations.

They do come from different climate areas, some are exposed to coastal fogs, some are not.

It was Cole who first started a comprehensive classification of the genus, spending many years collecting and numbering species and sub species so today we see tags such as  C105. The C indicating the that this is one of Coles discoveries and the number indicating where it was found.

In the video, we look at the Origins, Differences and Problems as well as discuss the breeding of lithops, both hybridisation and line breeding.

We also look as other Mesembs from the collection of James Lucas of Succulents Australia

The Tree Philodendron - Philodendron selloum

If you are looking for an indoor plant with amazing foliage, or an outdoor plant that gives you a tropical look then Philodendron selloum could be one to consider.

Philodendron selloum

Although often sold as an Indoor plant Philodendron selloum syn. P. bipinnatifidum has now been renamed named Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum.

It is a tropical plant from South America, however it can be grown outdoors in temperaate climates.  

Sometimes mistaken for Monstera delicosa, it can easily be distinguished by the foliage.

Philodendron selloum has lobed leaves Monstera delicosa has windows or 'fenestration'.

Indoors this can be a real feature plant, over time it can grow to take over a wall of a reasonably large room, of course you can prune it to keep it at a reasonable size, in fact you will need to.

So if you are looking for an interesting,   and easy care plant to add to your indoor jungle, this is one to consider.

For more information see - https://www.nurseriesonline.com/indoor-plants/philodendron-selloum/

 If you like Lithops, Living Stones or whatever you like to call them then we provide a look at a range of species and discuss names, origins and identification.

50 plus New and Rare Succulent Collection

 In this video we talk with James Lucas about some new and rare succulents in his collection.  - 50 plus Rare, and New Echeveria, Agavoides, Aeonium and other Varieties

 Soil For Succulents

We look t how to make your own potting mix for succulents.