Phaelanopsis orchid
HIBISCUS SYRIACUS
RENGA RENGA LILY
ARTHROPODIUM
ARTHROPODIUM
THIS MONTH
IN THE GARDEN
with Jan
NOVEMBER
IN THE GARDEN
with Jan
NOVEMBER
HABRANTHUS
LAELIA PURPURATA
PHALAENOPSIS ORCHID
Let nature be your guide
HIPPEASTRUMS
|
Shrubs/Trees Abutilon Alloxylon flammeum Barklya syringifolia Bolusanthus speciosus Bougainvillea Brachychiton Brillantasia Brugmansia Buddleia Calodendrum capense Clerodendrun Dombeya calanthe Echium Eremophila Flindersia australis Frangipani Gardenias Grevillea Grevillea robusta Hibiscus Hydrangea Ixoras Jacarandas Justicia Leucophyllum Little Evodia Lorapetalum Nerium oleander Photinia Phyllanthus cuscutiflorus Polygala Punica granatum Psydrax odorata Robinia Pseudo-acacia ‘freesia’ Rondeletia Roses Schotia brachypetala Spiraea cantoniensis Tabebuia rosea Thunbergia erecta |
Perennials Acanthus Mollis Angelonia Anigozanthos Centranthus Cleome Coleus Coreopsis Daisies Dianthus Gaura Gerberas Heliotrope Impatiens Justicia Lavender Leonitis Oenothera Nasturtium Nepeta Nicotiana Pachystachys Pelargoniums Pentas Plectranthus Russellia Scutellaria Salvias Torrenia Turnea Waterlillies Succulents Epiphyllum Euphorbia Pachypodium |
Orchids Dendrobium (Thai species) Cattleya Oncidium Phaius Phalaenopsis Vandas Bulbs Agapanthus Arthropodium (Renga Renga Lilies) Cannas Clivea Crinum Curcuma (Cape lily) Habranthus (Rain lilies) Hemerocallis (Day Lilies) Hippeastrum Lilliums Rhodophiala Scadoxus multiflorus Sprekelia Vines Campsis grandiflora Dalechampia Mandevillea Maurandya Trachelospernum jasminoides Petrea volubilis Bromeliads Aechmea Billbergia Guzmania Hohenbergia Portea Quesnelia Tillandsia Vriesia |
Spring started of very dry and then storms bought us much needed rain and what a difference that made. Everything turned from brown to green and now there are lovely little shoots everywhere. The mulch helped and the plants loved both by showing growth and flowers.
ORCHIDS AND FERNS
In the past I have not worried too much about epiphytic ferns like hare’s foot, polypodium and maidenhair growing in the pots and baskets with the orchids. They are often part of the ecosystem from which they all benefit.
I am finding now that as they grow bigger together, the fern does take over, forming a fine root system which holds water which of course the orchids don’t like. Orchids like to be wet and then dry and this does not happen when the ferns grow well and has a large root system.
The root system of ferns is intense and while it poses no threat in natural conditions, once it proliferates in a pot it strangles the orchid roots and starves them by absorbing all the moisture and preventing the aeration of the potting material.
Ferns also cohabitate with moss as the mixture gets more damp and this is also detrimental to the orchids. The ferns grow with any type of orchid that likes the same light conditions and often on the outside of hanging baskets and through the holes of terracotta pots. These epiphytic ferns don’t mind a bit of a dry period and so will hang on. They seem to love the orchid bark and will germinate in the bark. I am constantly picking out small ferns when they pop up and I cut off the large fronds so that they don’t germinate with the spores that form on the back of their leaves.
It is always a good sign to repot an orchid if it is going backwards and this is a case when repotting is necessary to get rid of the fern completely and repot the orchid.
Checking the pots and baskets where ferns and orchids are growing together, I find that the fern has completely taken over and can be easily removed from the pot as it is a mass of fibre. Once you cut the fern away you will find that the orchid roots have rotted from too much moisture. It is necessary to completely remove all the fern, the roots and the fibre and repot the orchid in a pot relative to its size once the dead roots and stalks have been removed.
Fern spore is very fine and is carried by the wind, so it is necessary to keep checking orchid pots and baskets to make sure there are no ferns ‘moving in’.
JOBS TO DO
A great time to take cuttings of perennials, shrubs and divide clumps of Cliveas, Hippeastrums and irises. I find it easier to dig up the whole clump of Cliveas and shake the soil and gently pull them apart as their roots are usually a tangled mess.
The roses can be cut back if there is moisture in the soil. Cut back to pencil thickness stems and take away all the pieces that cross over to give plenty of air movement through the bush. The Banksian Rose also needs a good trim once it has finished flowering. I don’t trim the Mutabilis rose very much as it resents pruning.
Cutting back all the shrubs that flowered early spring like Spriaea cantoniensis that you haven’t done already and trimming the hedges.
ORCHIDS
The Phalaenopsis orchids are putting on a great show and will need to be misted every day now that the warm weather has arrived. This is best done early morning. Check to make sure that there are no weeds growing in the potting mix as that indicates the bark has broken down and there is soil in the mix which spells disaster for orchid roots. In this situation repot the orchid into a pot a little bigger than the root system. All orchids that have outgrown their pots can be re-potted now
Make sure that your orchids are getting plenty of air movement as this keeps viruses at bay in this humid weather. This can be done by hanging them but still making sure they are getting the right amount of light or sun.
IN THE VEGETABLE GARDEN
In the vegetable garden, plant seeds or seedlings of beans, zucchini, tomatoes, egg plants, basil and Chinese cabbage directly into the garden beds.
Basil will help keep insects at bay and attract beneficial insects. There is a great perennial basil that grows throughout the seasons. Just cut it back after flowering. It is nice to add the sweet basil in spring to your vegetable or herb garden.
Lettuce seedlings should be growing well but will appreciate some shade. The vegetable garden will need to be watered each day if it doesn’t rain. The pumpkin and melons should be setting fruit now and you could put more seeds in if you can store them.
Good Gardening
Jan
ORCHIDS AND FERNS
In the past I have not worried too much about epiphytic ferns like hare’s foot, polypodium and maidenhair growing in the pots and baskets with the orchids. They are often part of the ecosystem from which they all benefit.
I am finding now that as they grow bigger together, the fern does take over, forming a fine root system which holds water which of course the orchids don’t like. Orchids like to be wet and then dry and this does not happen when the ferns grow well and has a large root system.
The root system of ferns is intense and while it poses no threat in natural conditions, once it proliferates in a pot it strangles the orchid roots and starves them by absorbing all the moisture and preventing the aeration of the potting material.
Ferns also cohabitate with moss as the mixture gets more damp and this is also detrimental to the orchids. The ferns grow with any type of orchid that likes the same light conditions and often on the outside of hanging baskets and through the holes of terracotta pots. These epiphytic ferns don’t mind a bit of a dry period and so will hang on. They seem to love the orchid bark and will germinate in the bark. I am constantly picking out small ferns when they pop up and I cut off the large fronds so that they don’t germinate with the spores that form on the back of their leaves.
It is always a good sign to repot an orchid if it is going backwards and this is a case when repotting is necessary to get rid of the fern completely and repot the orchid.
Checking the pots and baskets where ferns and orchids are growing together, I find that the fern has completely taken over and can be easily removed from the pot as it is a mass of fibre. Once you cut the fern away you will find that the orchid roots have rotted from too much moisture. It is necessary to completely remove all the fern, the roots and the fibre and repot the orchid in a pot relative to its size once the dead roots and stalks have been removed.
Fern spore is very fine and is carried by the wind, so it is necessary to keep checking orchid pots and baskets to make sure there are no ferns ‘moving in’.
JOBS TO DO
A great time to take cuttings of perennials, shrubs and divide clumps of Cliveas, Hippeastrums and irises. I find it easier to dig up the whole clump of Cliveas and shake the soil and gently pull them apart as their roots are usually a tangled mess.
The roses can be cut back if there is moisture in the soil. Cut back to pencil thickness stems and take away all the pieces that cross over to give plenty of air movement through the bush. The Banksian Rose also needs a good trim once it has finished flowering. I don’t trim the Mutabilis rose very much as it resents pruning.
Cutting back all the shrubs that flowered early spring like Spriaea cantoniensis that you haven’t done already and trimming the hedges.
ORCHIDS
The Phalaenopsis orchids are putting on a great show and will need to be misted every day now that the warm weather has arrived. This is best done early morning. Check to make sure that there are no weeds growing in the potting mix as that indicates the bark has broken down and there is soil in the mix which spells disaster for orchid roots. In this situation repot the orchid into a pot a little bigger than the root system. All orchids that have outgrown their pots can be re-potted now
Make sure that your orchids are getting plenty of air movement as this keeps viruses at bay in this humid weather. This can be done by hanging them but still making sure they are getting the right amount of light or sun.
IN THE VEGETABLE GARDEN
In the vegetable garden, plant seeds or seedlings of beans, zucchini, tomatoes, egg plants, basil and Chinese cabbage directly into the garden beds.
Basil will help keep insects at bay and attract beneficial insects. There is a great perennial basil that grows throughout the seasons. Just cut it back after flowering. It is nice to add the sweet basil in spring to your vegetable or herb garden.
Lettuce seedlings should be growing well but will appreciate some shade. The vegetable garden will need to be watered each day if it doesn’t rain. The pumpkin and melons should be setting fruit now and you could put more seeds in if you can store them.
Good Gardening
Jan
WHAT IS FEATURING IN THE GARDEN IN NOVEMBER:
