Hooray for house plants
This time of year, when we are spending more time indoors and less time outside, it’s easy to forget about gardening altogether. But don’t be put off, it’s a perfect time to cheer yourself up with some fabulous house plants.
A must have that will bring a smile to anyone’s face is the orchid. These days they are available almost anywhere and not as expensive as they once were. They are surprisingly easy to keep and will not only give your home a touch of class but they will also flower their socks off for at least eight weeks. The most common is the moth orchid or Phalenopsis which prefers bright but not harsh sunlight, so it does best if placed on an east or west facing windowsill. During the summer months when the light through the window can be quite harsh you might need to move it somewhere a bit shadier. Another one to look out for is the Cymbidium, which is less demanding than some orchids and will even benefit from being outside for a few months in the summer.
For shady places go for an aspidistra or a ‘mother in laws tongue’ (Sansevieria trifasciata). These are both incredibly robust plants and will tolerate even the lowest light levels.
For bright sunny places try yuccas or even cacti. There are many types of cacti available, and some such as the Christmas cactus (Zygocactus truncatus) and Easter cactus (Schlumbergera gaertneri), have the most amazing flowers.
For something a bit more exotic have a go at growing citrus fruits, coffee plants (Coffea Arabica), strelitzias or bromeliads. If you have somewhere really hot and sunny and want a challenge then try growing a pineapple.
With Christmas not far away, why not try a bit of indoor gardening and plant your own bulbs? If you plant hyacinths or miniature ‘Paper White’ daffodils now you can have them flowering by Christmas and they make fabulous gifts.
Here’s a few general tips for looking after your house plants:
• Most will thrive in a draught-free, well-lit spot, out of direct sunlight.
• Wait until the compost has almost dried out before watering. Water from the top of the plant & allow excess liquid to drain away. Don’t let them sit in water.
• When in flower, feed plants weekly with a liquid fertiliser high in potash. You can get specialist orchid feed for orchids.
• Spray ferns and bromeliads with water daily.
• Keep plants looking good by deadheading & cutting off yellow leaves.
• Plants will grow better with clean leaves. Remove dust with damp cotton wool.
• If growth is yellow and spindly, put plants in a lighter spot.
• Control pests, such as mealy bug, woolly aphid & scale insects by rubbing off with damp cotton wool.
Even if you are new at gardening, or don’t have a garden yourself have a go at growing a few indoor plants, it’s easier than you think.
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