Caring for Cymbidium Orchids

Are you curious about how to look after Cymbidium Orchids? These particular orchids flower in late winter and early spring so you may notice them around at the moment. Cymbidiums are reasonably easy to look after and their flowers last for several weeks. They originally come from mountainous areas in tropical Asia.

They have yellow-green strappy leaves which emerge from swellings at the base of the plant known as pseudobulbs. The waxy flowers have elliptical petals with a different colour centre, making the most exquisite blooms.

Cymbidiums need a bright light position but ensure that you protect them from hot, direct sun. In summer, grow them in dappled shade in a sheltered position outdoors. In winter, bring them indoors as they come into flower. They need regular watering in summer, so perhaps two to three times a week, keeping the soil moist. If possible, use tepid rainwater to water the plants. In winter, they need less moisture so water about once every two weeks. The goal is to keep the soil damp but at the same time, to avoid sogginess.

Soil medium suitable for Cymbidiums
Cymbidiums need a porous growing medium so use an orchid mix that will allow lots of air to get to the roots. In nature, Cymbidium Orchids are epiphytes and grow on other plants using aerial roots to anchor themselves. When deciding on a soil mix for Cymbidiums, use a special orchid mix consisting of bark, peat or other very fibrous material that drains well.

Cymbidiums tend to flower better when they are pot-bound so you would only need to repot them every three to four years. Repot after they have finished blooming. You can also use this as an opportunity to divide plants that have become too large. Use a sharp knife to divide the pseudobulbs and also clean off any dead growth before reporting into new containers.

Feeding Cymbidium Orchids
Feed your Orchids regularly with a liquid fertiliser at half-strength. The plants do go through a rest period during autumn so don’t feed during this time. They also need to be in a cool position whilst resting. These few weeks of taking a break from growing actually helps them to produce flowers when they begin growing actively again.

The most exquisite orchid blooms!
Orchid flowers last for very long and Cymbidiums make excellent cut flowers. Cut the stems close to the base of the plant to help keep the plant vigorous and to encourage more flowers next year.

Companion Planting

Companion planting is the practice of grouping together certain plants that are beneficial to each other when grown together, particularly in vegetable gardens. The main reason for doing this is to protect plants from pests and diseases and also to fit more plants together into a small space.

Companion planting to protect your vegetables
When it comes to protecting plants from insect pests, companion planting means growing a variety of plants together, making it more difficult for an insect pest to find the specific plant they are looking for. Marigolds for example, are good for repelling insect pests because the strong marigold smell confuses the pests. The French marigold is very effective planted near vegetables. They make good companions for celery, tomatoes, lettuce and peppers. The Marigolds repel eelworms or nematodes which these plants are susceptible to.
Other fragrant plants that confuse pests are herbs like oregano, lemon balm and Chives. In fact, Chives is often planted near roses to help keep fungal infections like blackspot away.

Companion planting to save space
When it comes to companion planting to use space efficiently, you need to take into consideration the different growth habits and shapes of plants. For example, lettuce which expands above soil, grows well as a companion plant next to onions which expand underground. The plants are next to each other but not competing for the same space because they have such different shapes and growth habits.
You can also mix a fast-growing plant like radish in between slower-growing crops like carrots, lettuce, Peas or beans. The radish can be harvested long before crowding the other crops, enabling you to grow two crops in the same space.

Here’s a list of vegetables and the companions they grow well with:

Growing Ferns

Decorative and versatile, and found growing in all parts of the world, ferns are really beautiful and excellent for adding lush green foliage to your home.

Indoor Ferns
They can be grown indoors on table tops, shelves or mixed in a collection with other houseplants. The Boston Fern, also known as Nephrolepis sp., is cascading with a graceful flowing growth habit, making it ideal for hanging baskets. Other Ferns that do well indoors include Maidenhair Fern, Bird’s Nest Fern and Rabbit’s Foot Fern.
Indoors, ferns need good, indirect light. If they are placed in a position that is too dark, you may end up with weak, spindly growth. Also, they must not be grown in a direct sun position as this can scorch the leaves. They need well-drained potting soil with lots of organic matter mixed into it. Keep the soil evenly moist so that the roots stay damp. Additionally, ferns come from tropical areas where the humidity is high so mist spray regularly. An example of where extra humidity will make a difference is the Bird’s Nest fern which produces larger fronds and grows taller in height with extra warmth and humidity. Also note that indoor ferns need good air circulation but dislike cold draughts from open windows and doors.

Care of Ferns
Make sure that you keep them moist in summer. Other than needing lots of moisture and high humidity, ferns are fairly easy to care for. Feeding regularly will encourage lush foliage. You can use a weak solution of a seaweed based liquid feed. Ferns need to be fed during spring and summer when they are growing actively. They can be repotted in springtime. This is also a good time to divide plants that have become too large.

Outdoor Ferns
Ferns are also a solution for shady areas outdoors in the garden. They thrive in dappled shade under trees or even shady areas alongside the house. They can be used as a background filler plant, mixed with other plants or used as a border along a bare wall. They need a sheltered spot in the garden away from strong winds. Plant outdoor ferns in free-draining soil amended with compost and add bonemeal when planting. Outdoor ferns also need constant moisture, so please keep them damp. Some examples are tree ferns, which can be used outdoors to make a dramatic statement. There’s also the Holly Fern which has foliage that resembles holly leaves. Another favourite is the Knysna or Leather Leaf Fern, known by its botanical name as Rumohra adiantiformis. These occur naturally in shady forests so need moist, shady conditions in the garden. The leathery fronds of this Fern are often used in floral arranging and last really long, hence the other common name, the Seven Week Fern.

There are more than 10 000 known species of ferns around the world with new ones still being discovered in unexplored tropical areas. If you are looking for plants with exquisite foliage, do consider ferns as a rewarding and graceful option.

African Bush Violet- Barleria obtusa

You may have noticed a shrubby bush covered in dainty purple flowers in gardens or alongside roads. This is the African Bush Violet (Barleria obtusa), an indigenous evergreen shrub which flowers profusely in autumn.

The multi-stemmed round bush has leaves which are covered in fine, silky hairs giving it a velvety appearance and grows to a height of around one metre tall.
Purple, tubular flowers which actually have violet- coloured pollen, appear from March to April. There are also pink and white flowering varieties available. The plant is fast growing with a scrambling habit.

Care
African Bush Violets need full sun but can also tolerate semi-shade. They need to be watered well in summer but do become reasonably water-wise and low maintenance once established. They need a well-drained soil with lots of compost mixed in and also grow well in coastal gardens. When growing them, pinch out the young shoots to encourage bushiness. After they have flowered, prune them back hard to keep the plants neat.

Uses
African Bush Violets can be used informally in beds mixed with other shrubs. They can be used to line a pathway or even used as an accent flowering plant in a container. They also work well used as a groundcover planted in groups in very light shade under trees.

The African Bush Violet produces nectar so is an excellent butterfly garden plant. The plant is actually a host plant to the Yellow Pansy butterfly which is becoming more common in the Western Cape of South Africa because gardeners are planting more bush violets. The plant also does an excellent job attracting other insects like bees too. Considering the variety of insects the plant draws, the African Bush Violet is a wonderful choice for a bird garden because the abundance of insects will attract birds.

Do keep an eye out for these indigenous bushes in flower at the moment. Their compact size make them ideal shrubs for small gardens. Also, the fact that they are autumn flowering means that there’ll be a burst of colour in the garden after all the spring and summer flowers have faded.

Growing Fynbos

Autumn, when the soil is cool and moist, is an ideal time to plant fynbos species that are indigenous to South Africa. Fynbos, which is endemic to the Western Cape winter rainfall region includes Protea’s, Erica’s, Leucadendrons, Pincushions, Buchu’s and Restios. These plants use the winter rains to establish themselves before the hot, dry summer arrives.

Growing Conditions
Most fynbos plants need a full sun position. While they may grow in the shade, they won’t produce flowers with too little direct sunlight. They also need good air circulation so plant them in a position where they will be exposed to the wind. The soil needs to be very well-drained and slightly acidic.

Planting
Do not plant fynbos in soil that has cement or builder’s rubble mixed into it. The high alkalinity can actually kill the plants. Also, choose the position of the plant very carefully. Once planted, fynbos doesn’t appreciate being moved and can easily die due to transplanting shock.
Fynbos are accustomed to nutrient poor soils so don’t add chemical or artificial fertilizers to the soil. Do not add any manure, mushroom compost or bonemeal either. The reason for this is because the plants strongly dislike any form of phosphorus. You can however, mix in some acid compost to increase the acidity of the soil.
Avoid disturbing the roots of the plant as far as possible. Weed the area thoroughly before planting. If any weeds come up afterwards, cut them down rather than trying to pull the weeds out. This can disturb the soil too much and the fynbos plant can suffer a setback. When planting, be careful to not disturb the roots at all or shake loose the soil in the pot. Once you have planted, don’t dig in the soil around the plant either.

Keep the soil moist
Mulch the soil around your plants with either acid compost or decaying pine needles. This will help keep weeds down and also help to keep the soil moist. For their first two years after planting, they require a thorough soaking two to three times a week, especially over the hot summer months. Also remember that fynbos in containers need regular watering so don’t allow the pots to dry out.

You can create a natural-looking garden by mixing different types of fynbos together and planting them in groupings. Start by positioning the larger plants like Protea bushes or Pincushions first. Then fill in the space with restios and smaller plants like buchu’s. Plants like Erica’s and Pincushions are also useful for attracting birds to your garden. Sunbirds and sugarbirds feed on the nectar found in the flowers.

The beauty and ecological importance of fynbos make them well worth the while growing. I trust these guidelines will help you grow a fynbos garden successfully.

Zanzibar Gem

The Zanzibar Gem or ZZ plant as it is commonly known, is an extremely low maintenance plant originating from Eastern Africa. ZZ stands for its botanical name, Zamioculcas zamiifolia.

The Zanzibar Gem has a unique, almost sculpted look. It has shiny, dark green, lush foliage growing on strong stems that arch over as they grow. They are slow-growing, eventually reaching a height of 60 – 90cm tall.

They have very low water requirements so water well and then wait until the soil is completely dry before watering again. They store water in their thick stems and in bulbous roots near the surface of the soil. This ability to store water makes them fairly drought tolerant. This could mean that you’ll only water once every 2 weeks and as little as once a month during winter when temperatures are cooler.
They are however, very prone to overwatering because of such low water requirements. Signs of overwatering include yellowing foliage and mushy stems.

Also , concerning light requirements, they are ideal for medium to low light indoors. Keep away from direct sun as the foliage can actually burn if placed in strong sunlight.
Please note that all parts of the ZZ plant are toxic so use gloves when working with it and keep the plant away from children or nibbling pets!

On a more positive note, the ZZ plant with its decorative foliage actually makes a bold statement as a feature plant. Place them either in a corner or on a coffee table to create an unusual focal point. Because of its easy-to-care-for nature, the Zanzibar Gem is a very popular houseplant choice today.

Growing Succulents

Succulents, with their interesting shapes, textures and colorful foliage, are beautiful yet low maintenance plants. Essentially, a succulent is a plant characterized by its ability to store water either in its leaves, stem or roots. They are able to reserve water in their modified tissues making them tough enough to survive periods of drought.

Succulents need bright sunlight or sunshine for at least half the day. They need very well-drained soil and should not be planted in water-logged spots or positions where they will have wet feet during winter. Being too wet for too long can lead to fungal infections and rotting. Also important to note, is that most succulents die from overwatering. Allow the soil to dry out between waterings. The roots need water, but they also need air to stay healthy. Do not leave your succulents standing in a drip tray filled with water.

Feed your succulents once a month during their active growing season when you can see new growth developing on the plant. Use a liquid plant fertilizer like fish emulsion at half strength.

Succulents can be planted in rockeries and look attractive mixed with rocks. You can also plant them in beds, containers or pockets in retaining walls.
If you are growing succulents indoors, place them on a windowsill where they will receive direct sunlight. A spot close to a window where they will receive very bright, natural light can also work. Poor light will result in weak, spindly growth making the plant more susceptible to disease. Also, when growing succulents indoors, make sure that the room has good air circulation.

I’ll mention some interesting succulents to choose from:
There are plenty of Aloe species available. These flower in autumn/winter and are wonderful for attracting birds to the garden when not much else is in flower.

There are also Euphorbia species, for example, Euphorbia tirucalli ‘Firesticks’, which has brilliant red-orange foliage making it an excellent feature plant. When working with Euphorbia plants, watch out for the poisonous sap which can be a skin irritant and also cause blindness.

There’s the Jellybean plant (Sedum x rubrotinctum) which has tiny leaves that look like jellybeans, hence it’s name. When one of the ‘jellybean’ leaves breaks off and falls to the ground, it will sprout roots and form a new plant.

Echeveria species are also popular at the moment. These are slow-growing, picturesque, rose-shaped succulents. The wide variety of colors available make them ideal for mixed succulent designs.

Other succulents to grow include Portulaca species, which are bright flowering plants to grow during summer, the ever popular Spekboom (Portulacaria afra), and Aptenia cordifolia which is a groundcover known as the Ice-plant with fresh green leaves and tiny red flowers.

Succulents are a good choice for beginner gardeners because they are so easy to maintain. Many of them are also simple to propagate because they form offsets that you can separate from the main plant to form new plants. In addition, they are a great water-wise option so do consider including them in your garden!

Summer Gardening

Summertime often means moments to spend time with friends and family, long beach days and delicious summer fruit to enjoy. Despite the gorgeous, hot weather though, our gardens can take strain in the heat. I’ll mention three things to help you care for your garden during those very hot days!

• Mulching
  The first tip is to mulch and mulch again. Mulching basically means putting a layer of organic material around your plants to keep the soil cooler during summer. I usually use dried leaves that have been swept up from other parts of the garden. You can also mulch with bark nuggets or something decorative like peach pips. Placing an extra layer on the soil creates a physical barrier that helps to conserve water by keeping the soil beneath the mulch moist for longer. Mulching keeps the roots of your plants happy; keeping them damp despite the hot weather. It also insulates and protects the roots from temperature extremes. Another benefit of having a protective layer of mulch, is that it will prevent weeds from growing up in between your plants.

• Feeding
  Your plants are also actively growing during the warmer months, so can benefit from feeding during summer. Fertilize the entire garden once a month, including vegetables, shrubs, fruit trees and the lawn. Look out for plants that may be showing signs of nutrient deficiency. These plants can be fed with a seaweed based fertilizer that contains trace elements. Remember to feed your indoor plants as well.

• Watering
  Summer is also time to make sure you are watering your plants really well. Water deeply less frequently rather than shallow watering more often. Deep watering encourages the roots of your plants to grow down deep into the soil making your plants more resilient and less prone to drying out. Water really well at least once a week and remember to water established trees and shrubs too. Water the garden in the early morning to prevent fungal infections like mildew.

Other activities to help your plants in summer include staking or providing support for plants that have grown taller in the warm summer weather. You can also use shade cloth to protect fragile or young plants from the worst of the summer heat. Finally, in terms of looking after yourself, garden either early morning or in the evening when it is cool so that you don’t take strain.

Agapanthus- Blue Lily

Agapanthus are a well-known garden favourite also called Christmas Lily, Blue Lily or Lily of the Nile. The name Agapanthus actually comes from the Greek word ‘agape’ meaning ‘love’, and the word ‘anthos’ meaning ‘flower’. Agapanthus are thus also known as ‘flowers of love’.

Agapanthus plants are clump forming with thick fleshy roots, dark green strappy leaves and attractive, round flower heads. The flowers are either blue or white and bloom in mid-summer. They are evergreen and are indigenous to the winter rainfall area of the Western Cape, South Africa. Most garden varieties available are hybrids of Agapanthus praecox which can produce flower heads anywhere up to one metre tall. There is also the smaller species, called Agapanthus africanus available, which produces flowers up to half a meter high.

Agapanthus are fairly low maintenance plants but do need rich soil to flower well and regular watering especially during summer. Enrich the soil with compost and add bone meal when planting them. They love to grow in a full sun or partial sun position. They can grow in very shady parts of the garden as well, but won’t always flower as prolifically if placed in too deep shade.
They make ideal container plants and also work well as border plants or planted in mixed beds or rockeries. They are fairly wind resistant and are also suitable for coastal gardens. The flowers attract insects, especially butterflies. Agapanthus flower heads also make excellent cut flowers and can last in a vase for at least a week.

To propagate them, collect fresh seed in late summer or autumn and sow them straight-away. They hybridize quite freely so you may be surprised at the varieties you can grow from seed. You can also divide Agapanthus clumps in early autumn, and replant them immediately ensuring that the roots don’t dry out.

Agapanthus are firm favourites loved by gardeners throughout the world. It’s not surprising because they are fairly easy to grow and are very rewarding with their bold, attractive flowers in summer.

Growing Granadillas

Granadillas, also called passion fruit, have lately become a very popular choice for home gardens. This could be due to their high levels of essential nutrients, in particular, Vitamin A and Vitamin C. They also contain other nutrients like potassium, calcium, magnesium and iron and are known to be immune- boosting and rich in anti-oxidants.

Granadilla vines can be planted in late winter to mid-spring and need a warm, sunny position in the garden. Originally from tropical South America, these vines are vigorous growers that need very good drainage. They resent being planted in water-logged soil conditions and consequently don’t grow well in clay soil. They also need shelter from strong winds and grow best with regular, ample water so that they flower and fruit consistently.

Granadillas are heavy feeders so prepare the soil deeply when planting, mixing in bonemeal, compost and a general fertilizer. Deep soil preparation (around 80cm deep) is necessary so that your granadilla plants develop a deep, rather than a shallow root system. Space individual plants 1.5m apart.

Granadillas are climbing vines so they need a trellis or fence for support. Make sure that the support structure is very sturdy as they can grow up to 6m tall and become quite heavy over time. Because they are such vigorous growers, they tend to grow in between other plants and are considered invasive by some gardeners as a result.

They are pollinated by insects such as bees so grow bee-attracting herbs like lavender, rosemary, sage or thyme nearby. The presence of insects will ensure that the flowers are pollinated so that an ample harvest of fruit develops. The first fruit will begin to develop after 6 months. Once a granadilla vine is mature, you can expect both a summer and a smaller winter crop.