Bonsai Planting - After the initial pruning and shaping, the tree is ready for planting in its container, which has been selected carefully to frame it. The drainage holes in the bottom of the pot are covered with plastic screen to prevent the soil from falling through. Bu... more
Cactus Pests and Disease - It is very important to watch your plants, and keep them healthy and vigorous, and never too crowded. It is much easier to prevent infestation than to cure it. Window collections are ideal places for insects, and it is therefore natural that pests increas... more
Seed Raising - There are three essentials for the successful germination of seeds of all types - moisture, warmth and air. In addition, most seeds germinate best in darkness; there are a very few which respond best when exposed to light. The depth of sowing is governed... more
Will lime break up clayey soil? - Although many soils benefit by the application of lime, lime will not alter the structure of the soil to any extent. Better results could be achieved by applying generous applications of stable and cow manure or compost and coarse sand. Turn these in no d... more
Seed Sowing and Germination - The actual sowing is governed by the same rules as for outdoor sowing. Scatter flat seeds - such as those of lilies, hippeastrum, and grevilleas-thinly and evenly over the soil or other medium, and press each seed gently on one side with a pencil or point... more
Acclimatising House Plants - It is good practice to let plants acclimatise for the first three or four weeks with only moderate watering, no feeding, good light and, if necessary, increased humidity.... more
Fungi - Fungus Diseases - Parasitic fungi are mostly microscopic. They invade higher plants and grow in their tissues (cells), which they kill and then absorb the contents for food. They penetrate and grow in the plant cells by means of fine fungal threads (hyphae), and spread f... more
Lawn Repair - First determine if the area can be repaired more easily than renewed. If the soil is very poor or shallow or if more than half the greenery is weeds, forget about renovation and decide upon remaking. It will be cheaper and better in the end. Test the dept... more
Sowing Seeds in Glasshouses - There are various methods of seed sowing that apply to plants raised in glasshouses and cold frames, but the necessary requirements for germination-moisture, warmth and air -are the same as those for sowing out of doors.... more
|