ANTHURIUM ANDRAEANUM
BRUNGMANSIA
LOROPETALUM
THIS MONTH
IN THE GARDEN
with Jan
APRIL
IN THE GARDEN
with Jan
APRIL
CATTLEYA ORCHID
DOMBEYA TILLIACEA
XANTHOSTEMON CHRYSANTHUS
Let nature be your guide
MEGAKEPASMA
BRAZILIAN CLOAK
BRAZILIAN CLOAK
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Shrubs/Trees Abelia Abutilon Allamanda Ardisia Bougainvillea Barleria Brugmansia Brunfelsia Americana Buddleija Callicarpa (berries) Carphalea kirondron Clerodendron nutans Costus Dahlia Imperialis Dichorisandra thrysiflora Dombeya tiliacaea Eranthemum Frangipani rubra Frangipani ‘pudica’ Galphimia Hedychium Heliconias Hibiscus Holmskioldia Ipomoea carnea Ixoras Justicia carnea Koelreuteria Loropetalum Magnolia Little Gem Megaskapasma erythrochlamys Mussaenda Odontonema Oleander Otacanthus Quisqualis indica Rosemary Roses Strobilanthes "pink bells" Thunbergia erecta Tibouchina Westringia Xanthostemon chrysanthus Zingiber spectabile |
Perennials Agastache Ajania Pacifica Alternanthera Angelonia Anthurium Asters Celosia argentea var spicata Chrysanthemums Cleome Senorita Coreopsis Cosmos Dianthus Gerberas Heliotrope Lavender Leonitis Medinilla Nasturtium Nepeta Nicotiana Pachystachys Pelargonium Pennisetum Burgundy Pentas Plectranthus Russellia Salvia Follett's Folly Salvia involucrata Salvia Iodanthe Salvia leucantha Salvia madrensis Salvia mexicana Salvia purpurea Sedum Solidago (Golden Rod) Tagetes Tree Dahlias Tulbaghia Verbena Whitfieldia |
Orchids Brassia Bulbophyllum Cattleya Dendrobium Hard Cane Miltonia Vanda Zygopetalum Bromelaids Aechmea Billbergia Cryptanthus Guzmania Hohenbergia Neoregelia Vriesa Bulbs Belamcanda chinensis Dahlias Gladioli Japanese Anemones Hippeastrum reticulatum Lycoris Zephranthes candida Water Garden Calocasia esculenta Arrowhead Thalia geniculata Water Lilies Vines Aeschynanthus Clerodendrum splendens Cobaea Scandens Dalechampia roezliana Hoya Ipomoea horsfaillaea Stephonotis Mandevilla Maurandya Mansoa alliacea (garlic vine) Clerodendron Phaseolus caracalla |
What a contrast to this time last year, when we were deluged with Cyclone Alfred. It is very dry and although we have had misting showers, we haven’t had heavy rain to fill the tanks.
ANTHURIUM ANDRAEANUM
The Flamingo Plant is a popular potted plant. It is an evergreen perennial that is native to tropical Costa Rica. The plant is erect; it actually climbs with a clump-forming habit and lance-shaped or narrow oblong, dark green leaves. The bloom has a showy, bright red spathe and an orangish-red corkscrew-like or coiled spadix. Other colours are from almost black, pink and almost white. This species can grow up to about 1 metre tall with support. Anthurium Scherzerianum is very similar but has elongated leaves, Anthuriums are members of the Arum family (Araceae).
This plant is an epiphyte in its natural habitat, which means that it does not grow in soil but rather on a host tree or above the ground. It is therefore best grown in orchid bark, this can be used orchid bark, which gives it good drainage. A terracotta pot is also better than plastic. It prefers medium to high indirect sunlight, and warm and humid conditions. Too little light will cause the plant to bloom less and grow slower. Water when the bark is dry and keep drier in winter. It will survive outdoors as long as it is above 15 degrees Celsius.
Propagate by division of the stem or rhizome. Offsets appear in spring and summer on the stem. Anthuriums can also be propagated by seed at 24 to 27°C. As soon as the seed is ripe on the spadix, clean them and put them in sphagnum moss or perlite in a deli container with a lid. They are very slow to germinate and will need warmth and good humidity for several months.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Keep an eye out for aphids, scale, mealybugs, thrips, and fungus gnats. Overwatering can lead to root rot. Direct sunlight can scorch the leaves. If ingested, this plant is toxic for pets and humans.
MAINTENANCE
Mulch, mulch, mulch to try and keep what moisture there is left in the soil. Cut back Salvias and perennials that have finished flowering. The Autumn Salvias like Anthony Parker, Meighan’s Magic, Follets' Folly and the Involucratas will be flowering or just about to, so leave them be.
The Pennisetum grasses are looking great and the chrysanthemums are ready to put on a show.
Divide Bromeliads if the clumps are getting too big. They are best planted on steep slopes or where they will get good drainage. Make sure that they are situated in the right place for the right amount of light.
VEGETABLES
With the cooler temperatures, seedlings of tomatoes, pak choi, silverbeet, eggplant, and kale will also take off. These vegetables look great amongst the flower garden as well as the vegetable garden, but they all need full sun.
Snow Peas, Peas and beans can go in now as can tomatoes. Both of these need a trellis, so put that in first. Snow Peas are best soaked in water overnight before planting. Strawberry runners can be planted with plenty of mulch around them.
Herbs do especially well during this time, so pop in some basil, dill, parsley, mustard, oregano, tarragon, borage and thyme. Not only are they great in cooking but they also look great in the garden, particularly amongst the perennials if you don’t have a vegetable garden.
Garlic and perennial onion can also be planted if not already in the ground.
ORCHIDS
Make sure that Phalaenopsis and Hard cane dendrobiums have a warm spot for winter. They don’t like night temperatures to drop below 10 degrees Celsius. April is the time we start closing the doors on the orchid house at night to keep the temperatures higher than 10 degrees Celsius. The orchid house is not heated but with all the other ‘tropicals’ growing in there it creates a micro climate which helps keep the humidity and warmth higher than outside.
All the orchids can take more light in winter as it is not as harsh as the summer sun. The Softcane Dendrobiums in particular can take full winter sun and that will also encourage flowering and no extra watering. The wisterias are losing their leaves now. This means that all the orchids in the courtyard will slowly get more and more light which of course means more flowers.
Good Gardening
Jan
ANTHURIUM ANDRAEANUM
The Flamingo Plant is a popular potted plant. It is an evergreen perennial that is native to tropical Costa Rica. The plant is erect; it actually climbs with a clump-forming habit and lance-shaped or narrow oblong, dark green leaves. The bloom has a showy, bright red spathe and an orangish-red corkscrew-like or coiled spadix. Other colours are from almost black, pink and almost white. This species can grow up to about 1 metre tall with support. Anthurium Scherzerianum is very similar but has elongated leaves, Anthuriums are members of the Arum family (Araceae).
This plant is an epiphyte in its natural habitat, which means that it does not grow in soil but rather on a host tree or above the ground. It is therefore best grown in orchid bark, this can be used orchid bark, which gives it good drainage. A terracotta pot is also better than plastic. It prefers medium to high indirect sunlight, and warm and humid conditions. Too little light will cause the plant to bloom less and grow slower. Water when the bark is dry and keep drier in winter. It will survive outdoors as long as it is above 15 degrees Celsius.
Propagate by division of the stem or rhizome. Offsets appear in spring and summer on the stem. Anthuriums can also be propagated by seed at 24 to 27°C. As soon as the seed is ripe on the spadix, clean them and put them in sphagnum moss or perlite in a deli container with a lid. They are very slow to germinate and will need warmth and good humidity for several months.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Keep an eye out for aphids, scale, mealybugs, thrips, and fungus gnats. Overwatering can lead to root rot. Direct sunlight can scorch the leaves. If ingested, this plant is toxic for pets and humans.
MAINTENANCE
Mulch, mulch, mulch to try and keep what moisture there is left in the soil. Cut back Salvias and perennials that have finished flowering. The Autumn Salvias like Anthony Parker, Meighan’s Magic, Follets' Folly and the Involucratas will be flowering or just about to, so leave them be.
The Pennisetum grasses are looking great and the chrysanthemums are ready to put on a show.
Divide Bromeliads if the clumps are getting too big. They are best planted on steep slopes or where they will get good drainage. Make sure that they are situated in the right place for the right amount of light.
VEGETABLES
With the cooler temperatures, seedlings of tomatoes, pak choi, silverbeet, eggplant, and kale will also take off. These vegetables look great amongst the flower garden as well as the vegetable garden, but they all need full sun.
Snow Peas, Peas and beans can go in now as can tomatoes. Both of these need a trellis, so put that in first. Snow Peas are best soaked in water overnight before planting. Strawberry runners can be planted with plenty of mulch around them.
Herbs do especially well during this time, so pop in some basil, dill, parsley, mustard, oregano, tarragon, borage and thyme. Not only are they great in cooking but they also look great in the garden, particularly amongst the perennials if you don’t have a vegetable garden.
Garlic and perennial onion can also be planted if not already in the ground.
ORCHIDS
Make sure that Phalaenopsis and Hard cane dendrobiums have a warm spot for winter. They don’t like night temperatures to drop below 10 degrees Celsius. April is the time we start closing the doors on the orchid house at night to keep the temperatures higher than 10 degrees Celsius. The orchid house is not heated but with all the other ‘tropicals’ growing in there it creates a micro climate which helps keep the humidity and warmth higher than outside.
All the orchids can take more light in winter as it is not as harsh as the summer sun. The Softcane Dendrobiums in particular can take full winter sun and that will also encourage flowering and no extra watering. The wisterias are losing their leaves now. This means that all the orchids in the courtyard will slowly get more and more light which of course means more flowers.
Good Gardening
Jan
WHAT IS FEATURING IN THE GARDEN IN APRIL:
