A bowl of flowering bulbs can be delightful in the depths of winter and you can force them to flower as early as Christmas.

Conditions for Forcing

• Bulbs need at least 4″ of compost for root development and good drainage in the pot.
• Forced bulbs need a period in the cold at 7-9º Centigrade.
• Dark conditions are also best
• If there is no suitable indoor space the pots can be buried outdoors in soil that is not too wet.

Timing for Forcing

• Plant the bulbs from 1st September until December. The earlier the start the earlier the flower.
• Short cooling periods equal short stumpy flowers, too long cooling will produce excessively long flower stems.
• After cooling, bring bulbs into the warmth and they will flower in 2-3 weeks.

Amaryllis and Paperwhite Daffodils ( Tazeta narcissi) can be put straight into a warm room and do not need the chilling process. Hyacinths can be chilled at slightly warmer temperatures than other bulbs.

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Dibleys continue to send me their Young Plant Catalogue with new varieties to tempt the windowsill or Cape Primrose grower.

Thompson Morgan are another supplier of these flowering houseplants that some find fascinating.

Read about growing Windowsill Orchids on Gardeners tips.

2010 New Varieties

• Myfanwy, another girls name to adorn a flower. In this case a white with purple face.
• Harriet, what is it about girls names, this is deep purple.
• Scarlett, as in O’Hara I don’t think so but it is blood red.
• Cappuccino isn’t coffee coloured but deep mauve with indigo.
• Harlequin Blue is half yellow, so go figure.

Orchids come in all shapes, sizes and colours and these pictures are just a couple worth writing home about.
In a well illustrated book by Harold Koopowitz packed with more than 300 color photos and paintings the slipper orchids are given pride of place.

Orchids cover a wide range of 25,000 species and 100,000 cultivars and hybrids. So it may be sensible to specialise and that is what HK’s book sets out to do.

My lack of excellence when growing Orchids is nothing to write home about so I will save it for the experts.

Coleus by Thompson Morgan

The humble leaf is not so humble when you look closely at some species.
From large banana and water lily leaves to hairy miniature leaves of some alpines you will find natures beauty in a variety of leaves.

Begonia Rex varieties are amongst some of the most interesting and surprising. They can be propagated by leaf cuttings.

Tropical plant houses are great places to visit and spy out some interesting leaf shapes.

Begonia leaves and flowers by Thompson Morgan

Members of the Pineapple family Bromeliads grow in the tropical and sub-tropical forests of the Americas. There are also hot desert and cool mountain varieties amongst this large family.

What Are Bromeliads

• All 3000 + varieties of Bromeliads are composed of a spiral arrangement of leaves sometimes called a rosette.
• There are Terrestrial (soil grown plants) and Epiphytic species growing on other plants and trees.
• They are slow and hard to bring into flower generally only flowering once. After flowering they produce offsets called ‘Pups’ from which new plants will grow.
• The green, leafy top of a pineapple is a pup that may be removed and planted to start a new plant.
• Flowers are generally central spikes held away from the plants or short with the flower nestled in the centre.

Popular Groups of Bromeliads

• Guzmania have long lasting red bracts and like humid conditions
• Vreiesea are probably the most freely available plants with over-lapping bracts producing a sword shape.
• Tillandsia and air plants are epiphytic Bromeliands.

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Arisaema sikokianum is a herbaceous perennial plant with vertically patterned  flowers.

Characteristics

• In an alpine house or garden it flowers in springtime upto 18″ tall.
• It can be planted with shade-loving hostas and Bleeding hearts.
• They need neutral to acid soil in a moist, well-draining, protected location in dappled shade to flourish.
• Seeds have a low rate of germination, and take a very long while to get going. Harvested in December & store at room temperature for one month, then planted in shady situations.

Other names for Arisaema sikokianum include Shikoku cobra lily, Gaudy Jack or Japanese Jack-in-the-Pulpit.
Arisaema sikokianum is one of 150 species and an unusual woodland plant noted for its unmistakable smoky-purple base, white cup and large hood with purple, green and white stripes.

There is a specialist international society for Aroids or Arum family plants with Arisaema links.

Gladioli are reliable flowers for the show bench or the flower vase. Timing is important for the exhibitionist as they want to have the flowers in peak perfection just at the right time.

Timing can be important for the local grower as well. If you want Gladioli for a particular even, birthday or wedding celebration, then it is useful to know that corms planted now will be in flower in 100 days. That is just over 3 months so by the middle of August you can expect displays like these.

Gladioli Pointers

• Gladioli have a front and back to the flower.
• Gladioli will twist the flowering stem unless they are supported so it is worth staking your blooms.
• Leaves are needed to help feed the new corms for next year so leave them on the plant after cutting the flower.
• Unless you are a keen breeder remove flowers before seed sets to preserve energy.
• Gladioli need lots of water to flower well. Apply tomato fertiliser when flower buds start to appear.
• I grow blocks of single colours together so they will be ready together.
• Sorry to disappoint but the flowers will not last 100 days that is planting to blooming time

photo by medoriastar

Bottle Gardens for children can be entertaining and educational. Plants can be supplemented with small toys as any gardening is meant to be fun.

Containers and Bottles
At the larger end you may want a fish tank garden, which is easier to plant up and maintain. Cut a piece of glass to fit on the top.
An old sweet jar laid on it’s side or a goldfish bowl can be planted up
Clear glass is needed to get photosynthesis working.
The larger the bottle top the easier it will be to fill and maintain.

How to Plant up
Put in a 2″ layer of fine gravel to aid drainage
Cover with a layer of compost no more than 2-3 ”
Plant mini plants in the compost, taller growers at the back.
Cover again with a thin layer of gravel to hold soil in place.

Small Plants for a Children’s Bottle Garden

Select plants that are slow growing and dwarf in habit like:-

• Polka dot plants Hypoestes phyllostachya

• Friendship plant Pilea involucrata terxtured or lined varieties

• Peperomias are compact with heart shaped leaves

• African violets and the carpet plant Episcia both have good flowers

Cultivation of your Bottle Garden
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Preparing Flowers and Foliage Cut From Your Garden

• When harvesting take a container of water around the garden and plunge freshly cut flowers into it immediately.
• Recut all stems at an angle with a sharp knife as you arrange them. This increases the area of stem that can take up water and also prevents a stem from sealing itself to the bottom of a vase and thus stopping water being taken up.
• Allow flowers to draw in water in a cool dark place for several hours prior to arranging.
• Remove any damaged or excess foliage and any that will be below the water line when arranged.
• Lilac and Sunflowers benefit from having all the foliage removed.

Tips to Prolong Vase Life

• Harvest early in the morning or just after sundown never in the heat of the day.
• If using Oasis scrape of 1-3 inches of outer bark from woody stems.
• Woody stems can be split vertically for 2-3 inches to help them drink. Do not hammer.
• Change the water when it starts to cloud, recutting the stems.
• Use a preservative in the water except for species where this causes problems like Campanulas, Bulb flowers, Orchids and naturally long lived tropical flowers.
• Keep cool and out of direct sunlight.

Avoid Ethylene Read the rest of this entry »

A Gardener’s Perspective of ‘What makes a good cut flower’

1. A flower that need little specialist care or treatment and is easy to harvest.
2. Reblooming often and for a long season so it looks good even when left uncut.
3. Grows quickly and true from seed.
4. Can be forced, so it flowers when required.
5. Satisfies the recipient for the least consumption of resources in time and space.

A Customer View Point of ‘What makes a good cut flower’

1. Fragrance that is evocative, strong and distinctive.
2. Colour or colour combinations that are appropriate. Rich and saturated or soft, contrasting or blendable
3. Texture and proportion that can provide contrast of shape and form.Suitable length and flower aesthetics to match a display vessel.
4. How long will it last in a vase or foam and will it need any special treatment or conditioning.
5. Personal appeal or favourite reflecting a special association, event or season

A Retailers View of ‘What makes a good cut flower’

1. Availability for a long period from a variety of suppliers.
2. Lots of colour and sales Pizzaz
3. Long life in Florists pre-sale and then in the home
4. Profitable and able to generate repeat custom

According to Linda Beutler in ‘Garden to Vase’ the answer is not just ‘Mums’ ‘Glads’ and ‘Carns’