Before pruning a camellia or azalea, inspect the plant and identify its buds. A tidy outline is not the only consideration if the growth you are about to remove carries the next display. Confirm the…
A magnolia's appearance changes enough through the year that one photograph is a poor record of its growing cycle. Photograph the whole plant and several representative buds before they open, during flowering and as foliage…
Before trying another flowering fertiliser on bougainvillea, observe the balcony where it actually grows. Buildings, roof overhangs and nearby plants can leave a bright-looking space with relatively little direct light. Check the position at several…
A recently repotted plant may already have access to nutrients in its new growing medium. Check the product label before adding liquid fertiliser out of habit. Record the date of repotting, the mix used and…
A nursery plant, a bag of fresh potting mix and an added fertiliser can all contribute nutrients to the same container. Before feeding marigolds again, check what is already part of the planting. Read the…
Removing visible aphids is one part of managing an infestation. Follow-up inspection matters because a quick glance at the most obvious colony can miss insects elsewhere on the plant. Confirm the pest and examine new…
Before reusing a potting mix, consider its condition and what happened to the plant that grew in it. A container from a sound seasonal display presents a different question from one with unexplained root decay…
In Kate Greenaway's Language of Flowers, the entry for Acanthus reads: The fine arts. Artifice. Read both parts of the entry Acanthus receives a pairing that is more complicated than a simple compliment. Fine arts…
Look beneath the nursery container A drainage hole works only if surplus water can leave the root environment. Lift the inner pot after watering and check whether the decorative cover has collected a reservoir. Repeated…
When choosing a new pot for rosemary, look at the existing root ball before looking at the size of the balcony. A generous decorative container can surround a small plant with more wet growing medium…
Finding pine needles beneath a tree does not mean you have found ready-made potting compost. Fresh needles, partly decomposed litter and well-rotted material have different textures and uses. Identify what you have collected before adding…
Before putting a monstera leaf into water, find the piece of stem it came from. A leaf with its stalk is different from a stem cutting that includes a node capable of producing new growth.…