| Gua Type | Growth Habit | Stem / Hair | Side Shoots | Female Flowers | Pinching Rule | Fruits / Plant | Fruit Position | Common Mistakes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Melon | Very strong main vine, long internodes | Thick, hairy | Appear naturally (node ~8–12) | Mostly on side shoots | After fruit set or space filled | 1 (2 max if very strong) | Lower vine, supported | Pinch too early, too many fruits |
| Cucumber | Fast, flexible vine | Light hair | Early and many | Main + side shoots | Early control helps yield | Many (managed) | Along vine | Leaving too many shoots |
| Bitter Gourd | Aggressive climber | Moderate hair | Very active | Mostly side shoots | Selective early pinching | 4–8 | Hanging freely | Not pruning at all |
| Sponge / Luffa | Long, strong vine | Hairy | Moderate | Side shoots | After side shoots appear | 2–4 | Mid to lower vine | Letting vine overcrowd |
| Long Bean | Light climber | Smooth | Minimal | Leaf axils | Usually not needed | Many | Along vine | Overfeeding nitrogen |
🌱 Natural Fertilisers – Quick Reference Guide
| Fertiliser | Main Nutrients (High / Medium / Low) |
Main Benefits | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eggshell | Calcium (Ca) – High | Prevents blossom-end rot; strengthens cells | Tomatoes, chillies, melons, gourds |
| Banana Peel | Potassium (K) – Very High Phosphorus (P) – Medium Calcium (Ca) – Low |
Boosts flowering and fruiting | Beans, cucumbers, gourds, chillies |
| Epsom Salt | Magnesium (Mg) – High Sulfur (S) – High |
Deep green leaves; improves fruiting | Chillies, tomatoes, grapes, cucurbits |
| Carrot Peels | Potassium (K) – High Phosphorus (P) – Medium Calcium – Low |
Root growth; flowering | Root crops, gourds |
| Potato Peels | Potassium (K) – High Nitrogen (N) – Low Magnesium – Low |
Stronger plants, better fruiting | Leafy greens, beans, cucumbers |
| Coffee Grounds | Nitrogen (N) – Medium–High Potassium – Low Phosphorus – Low |
Leafy growth; soil improvement | Leafy veg, herbs, beans |
| Tea Leaves | Nitrogen (N) – Medium Potassium – Low |
Greener leaves | Herbs, leafy greens |
| Rice Water | Mild NPK – Low | Safe for seedlings; improves microbes | Seedlings, small pots |
| Wood Ash | Potassium (K) – High Calcium (Ca) – Very High |
Strong stems; flowering and fruiting | Melons, gourds, beans |
🌿 Nutrients Required for Each Plant Growth Stage
| Stage | Best Nutrients | Natural Sources |
|---|---|---|
| Seed Germination | Phosphorus (P) – High Gentle Nitrogen – Low |
Rice water, carrot peel water, mild veg-scrap water |
| Root Development | Phosphorus (P) – High Calcium (Ca) – Medium Magnesium (Mg) – Low |
Carrot peels, potato peels, eggshell calcium, Epsom salt |
| Leaf Growth | Nitrogen (N) – High | Coffee grounds, tea leaves |
| Flowering | Potassium (K) – High Magnesium (Mg) – Medium |
Banana peel water, potato peel water, wood ash, Epsom salt |
| Fruit Development | Potassium (K) – Very High Calcium (Ca) – Medium |
Banana peel, wood ash, eggshell calcium |
✅ #3. Bees / insects drinking nectar from the OUTSIDE of the flower (偷蜜 / 偷花蜜)
Some insects (especially ants, carpenter bees, sunbirds, opportunistic insects) don’t enter the flower properly.
Instead, they:
-
bite a small hole at the base of the flower
-
suck the nectar directly
-
avoid the pollen
This is called nectar robbing (偷蜜 / 偷花蜜).
✨ Result:
These insects take the nectar but do NOT help pollinate the flower, because they do not touch the pollen organs.
So the plant gets “cheated”.
✅ #4. Insects drinking nectar without pollinating even when entering the flower
Some insects enter the flower but:
-
are too small
-
or their body shape doesn’t touch the pollen area
-
or they drink nectar quickly and leave
-
or they enter the wrong angle
These are called nectar thieves (花蜜小偷).
✨ Result:
They drink nectar,
but do not pick up or deposit pollen,
so the flower still fails to pollinate.
🌼 Difference between #3 and #4 (easy explanation)
| Behavior | Name | Description | Pollination? |
|---|---|---|---|
| #3 Bite hole outside the flower | Nectar robber | Drink nectar without entering | ❌ No |
| #4 Enter flower but avoid touching pollen | Nectar thief | Drink nectar but too small or wrong position | ❌ No |
Both cases = plant loses energy but receives no pollination benefits.
| Root Booster | Main Nutrients / Function | Dosage / Mix | Effectiveness | Notes / Tips |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | Hydration, supports nutrient uptake | Normal watering (avoid overwatering) | High | Use clean water; bottom watering preferred for seedlings |
| Baking Powder / Baking Soda | pH adjuster, may reduce fungal issues | 1 tsp in 1 liter water (light solution) | Medium | Not a fertilizer; mainly for soil pH balance |
| Sugar Water | Quick energy for rooting cuttings | 1 tsp sugar in 1 cup water | Medium | Short-term boost only; do not overuse |
| Insect Pesticide | Protects roots and seedlings from pests | Follow label instructions | High | Use only when needed; safe for young roots |
| Rooting Hormone | Auxins stimulate root growth | Dip cuttings before planting | High | Powder or liquid forms available |