Yours in Green

Yours in Green is a garden blog for not-so-green thumbs and keen gardeners alike. It's written in layman’s terms with a dash of humour thrown in.

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Posts with Tag: plant

28 May 2012 ,09:51 Killing with kindness
By Jody Rigby
Believe it or nota lot of indoors actually die from too much TLC, or more specifically too much water. Plants need a perfect balance of air and water around their roots and over-watering will cause them to rot. Some plants like the old favourite Mother in laws tongue or the newer Zamiocalcus can go for a month or two without a single drop so it’s a good idea to do your research.
 
Generally to see if a plant has adequate moisture I like to use ‘the digit test’, the very sophisticated method of sticking one’s finger into the soil and removing it to see if any soil particles are stuck to one's finger. If yes, the plant has enough to drink.
 
If plant stems start to look soggy or you notice a damp or mouldy smell coming from the pot it may mean the potting mix has become anaerobic or lacks oxygen so has been over watered. Most plants need watering every other day in the warmer months and only once or twice a week in the cooler months.
 
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23 May 2012 ,10:48 Where the wild things are
By Jody Rigby
How very sad to see that Maurice Sendak, the author of Where the Wild Things Are, passed away last week. In tribute we should all aim to turn our homes into jungles…well maybe just add a few indoors to purify the air, green the space and create a sense of calm.
 
When selecting what to buy really have a think about your dedication to looking after plants. Do you go away a lot? Do you forget to water? Or are you going to adopt that new African violet as one of your own? This will help with the level of maintenance and watering you’re willing to put in and help you choose between a hardier or fussier plant.
 
If you're just starting out choose plants that have thick, shiny leaves like the Zamiocalcus, Philodendron sp, or Ficus elastica or lyrata. Look for rooms in need of a green injection and think about the size of plant required to fill a space or mimic the existing objects in a room. Proportion is important. So is the amount of light available. Have a look at the available light and what spots will be best for your plant to thrive. Remember when plants have ideal conditions, water and nutrient they will be more resilient to pests and diseases.
 

 
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03 April 2012 ,13:29 Where the wild things are
By Jody Rigby
Wanting to update your plants inside? Let’s start by saying there’s no true indoor plant, just plants that tolerate indoor conditions and don’t mind being in a pot temporarily. Even the toughest indoor plants will benefit from a break outside in the shade every so often.
 
For some height try a fiddle-leaf fig Ficus lyrata. My favourite of all the figs, with its big glossy luscious leaves. It looks great teamed with a white glazed pot.
 
Another eye catching indoor is Ctenanthe ’Grey Star’ which gets up to about a metre. The leaves on this plant are amazing grey and green striped topes with an aubergine underside. You’ll know when this needs a water as the leaves tend to curl up.
 
For a tropical feel you could use the bold Spathyphyllum ’Sensation’ which is a giant form of the traditional Madonna lily. Its spear shaped leaves get up to 60cms long and 30cms across with prominent ridges down them.
 
I wouldn’t bring succulents indoors (as they are sometimes sold) they just get leggy, and rot. They are really only for a sunny outdoor spot. If you forget to water try Zamiocalcus ‘Zanzibar Gem’ (pictured )from Madagascar. This only needs a water about once a month.
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16 May 2011 ,12:37 A little piece of Kew in your own home
By Jody Rigby
When it comes to having pots indoors, a common request is that they have saucers to match, which is often useful in collecting water and protecting precious flooring or carpet. Rarely are pots sold without drainage holes but these classic Kew pots are not only a great addition to internal furnishings, but they're practical too. They're cover pots that you can plonk an ugly plastic pot into to brighten up your indoor spaces, and great for If you just want temporary potted colour displays for the front of the house. You can simply keep replacing colour as they finish blooming.
 
They were designed in the UK and bear the famous Kew Gardens seal on each hand crafted pot. Visiting Kew was one the highlights of my trips to the UK. Situated on the South bank of the Thames in South London, the gardens cover a massive 300 acres and the conservatories are architecturally wonderful. So back to these pots…They come in a range of wonderful contemporary colours and washes. From gorgeous lavenders to citrus yellow, soft pink and deep blue and of course traditional off white and even interesting unglazed styles. For stockists call 03 93723555
 
 
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About our Blogger

img Jody Rigby
Jody Rigby is a well-known horticulturist and TV presenter.
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A constant learning curve, gardening is all about trial and error. Knowledge grows from sharing information between friends, passing down through generations, or just getting it wrong a few times before you get it right. It's about getting grubby outside and aching from digging too much, but then feeling that fall away when you get your first flower or prize fruit off a new tree... and getting so excited you need to tell everyone.

Yours in Green is everything I’ve learnt so far - what to do when, how to do it right the first time, and of course, some frustrations along the way and how to remedy them.

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November 30, 2012, 9:24 am
Eco controls
Powdery mildew Read More...
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November 29, 2012, 9:48 am
Like a Hitchcock movie
I really love art in outdoor spaces, and in the garden you can create quite a feature with the right piece. I'm not talking about hundreds of reconstituted concrete Australiana figurines, more the odd one or two striking pieces to create focal points or at the end of a path or vista.Read More...
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November 26, 2012, 10:19 am
In mint condition
One of the easiest herbs to grow if you’re starting out is common mint Mentha spicata. Actually the perfect spot for a mint plant is in a pot under a dripping tap, as they like reliable moisture and you can grow them in part shade to full sun.Read More...
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