How to Grow Practically Everything by DK, Zia Allaway, Lia Leendertz (z-lib.org)

<< WILDLIFE GARDENING 349

WHEN TO START MIX SEED WITH SAND
Early autumn To sow seed over a large
AT ITS BEST area, first mix it with clean,
Summer dry horticultural sand. This helps
spread the seed more evenly, and
TIME TO COMPLETE makes it obvious which areas you
8 hours have already sown. Wildflower mixes
should be sown at 3 grams per square yard, so weigh
YOU WILL NEED out this amount of seed and mix it up with the sand in
Wildflower seed batches in a clean container.
Horticultural sand
Spade REMOVE A LAYER OF TOPSOIL
Wheelbarrow Topsoil is full of nutrients that
Bamboo canes encourage strong grasses to grow
Spring-tined rake at the expense of delicate wildflowers.
Garden rake Use a spade and wheelbarrow to remove
String and bird-scarer, such as the top few inches, and recycle it
ribbons or old CDs elsewhere in the garden. Also remove
any weeds and roots you find that could
o Mellow meadow regrow and compete with the flowers.
This cool collection blends annual grasses with
blue cornflowers, purple corn cockles, pink
cosmos, white daisies, and cow parsley.

PREPARE THE SEEDBED AFTER
Remove stones from the area SOWING
and rake over the soil to break Use a
up the surface. Leave the site for two spring-tined rake
or three weeks, and then weed it (see right) to
again. To prevent the seeds from lightly cover the
washing away, water the area before seeds with soil
sowing, not afterward. Use canes to after sowing.
mark out the area into square yards, To avoid walking over sown areas, sow
and sow each square with your a small area at a time and then rake over
batches of seed and sand mixture. it, before moving on to the next.

FIRM SOIL GENTLY TOP TIP: KEEP BIRDS AT BAY
Use the back of a garden
rake to gently compact the To prevent hungry birds from
soil, ensuring good contact eating the wildflower seed, set
between seed and soil, which up a series of strings with old CDs
helps germination. It also makes threaded onto them across the
the seed less visible to birds, who sown area. The CDs reflect light
will happily eat their way through as they move in the wind, which
the lot if given the chance. frightens off the birds.



<< WILDLIFE GARDENING 351

A feast for bees

Bees are suffering an alarming decline in numbers, so plant a border
of nectar-rich flowers to keep these essential insects well fed.
Prolong the food supply by growing early- and late-flowering plants.

WHEN TO PLANT PREPARE TO PLANT
Autumn and spring In autumn, weed the border
AT ITS BEST carefully. Then dig it thoroughly,
Summer incorporating plenty of organic matter.
Plant the Pittosporum and roses in autumn
TIME TO COMPLETE (see p.36 and p.93) so that they can
3 hours to prepare; 4 hours to plant become established the following spring.

YOU WILL NEED PLANT THE PERENNIALS
Spade In spring, buy the perennials
Fork (Achillea, Anchusa, lupins, and
Well-rotted organic matter, such Verbascum). Position them in swathes of
as manure color running between the shrubs, then
plant (see pp.30–31).
1. Lupinus ‘The Governor’
2. Pittosporum tenuifolium AFTERCARE
Water well after planting, and
‘Silver Queen’ regularly for the first year. In spring,
3. Anchusa azurea ‘Loddon prune the roses (see pp.414–415) and
support taller–growing plants (see p.67).
Royalist’ In late winter, cut back the old perennial
4. Achillea ‘Moonshine’ stems to be ready for new spring growth.
5. Rosa ‘Rose of Picardy’
6. Verbascum ‘Gainsborough’

1
62

3

4
5

SELECTIONS >> >>352 WILDLIFE GARDENING

Plants to attract insects

Bugs may not all be beautiful but the beneficial kinds are essential to the
environment. They not only pollinate flowers, ensuring good crops, but some,
such as ladybugs and hoverfly larvae, also help keep pests at bay. Plant
annuals, like sweet alyssum and viper's bugloss, or perennial Shasta daisies,
asters, bee balm, and ice plants to welcome these insect allies. Shrubs, such
as hebe, roses, lavender, and honeysuckle, will also help lure them in.

<< WILDLIFE GARDENING 353 SELECTIONS >>

A full sun B partial sun C full shade D well-drained soil E moist soil F wet soil 
HARDINESS ZONES (H): coldest zone needed to flourish and warmest zone in which plant’s cold requirements are met

1 Shasta daisy, Leucanthemum x superbum; h36 in (90 cm) s24 in (60 cm) ABd H8–1 
2 Viper’s bugloss, Echium vulgare ‘Blue Bedder’; h24–36 in (60–90 cm) s12 in (30 cm) Ad H8–1 
3 Hebe ‘Great Orme’; hs4 ft (1.2 m) ABd H12–1 4 Sweet alyssum, Lobularia maritima ‘Snow
Crystals’; hs10 in (25 cm) Ad H12–1 5 Dog rose, Rosa canina; h12 ft (4 m) s10 ft (3 m) ABe
H9–4 6 Lavender, Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote’; h24 in (60 cm) s30 in (75 cm) Ad H8–5 
7 Aster amellus cultivars; h16 in (40 cm) s18 in (45 cm) Ad H8–1 8 Honeysuckle, Lonicera
periclymenum; h22 ft (7 m) ABe H9–5 9 Bee balm, Monarda ‘Mahogany’; h36 in (90 cm)
s18 in (45 cm) ABe H9–1 0 Ice plant, Sedum spectabile; hs18 in (45 cm) Ad H9–1



<< WILDLIFE GARDENING 355

Wildlife wall

Many beneficial garden insects, such as ladybugs and ground beetles, struggle to find habitats in our
neat gardens. Consider creating a wildlife wall to lure them in and keep them happy. It creates perfect
homes for many different species, and its textures and patterns make it an attractive garden feature.

WHEN TO MAKE CONSTRUCT THE WALL AFTERCARE
Spring or summer In a quiet area of the garden, Your wildlife wall, once built,
make a layer of bricks and tiles, should be left alone; the more
AT ITS BEST leaving plenty of gaps. Place plywood established (and decrepit) it becomes,
Winter or planks of wood on top and then add the better it will be for wildlife, so don’t
another layer of bricks and tiles. Top the be tempted to disturb it. However, you
TIME TO COMPLETE structure off with the roof tiles, to keep may need to occasionally restore some
excess moisture out. of the materials, particularly those such
4 hours as straw that may be taken away as
STUFF THE GAPS nest-building materials by birds.
YOU WILL NEED Cut the bamboo canes into short
lengths and pack them into gaps
Sedum or Sempervivum plants to make homes for solitary bees. Roll up
Bricks (with holes in them) corrugated cardboard to create laying sites
Small blocks of wood, drilled for ladybirds. Moss, slate chippings, straw
with different sized holes and twigs pushed into the other holes will
Roof tiles be colonized by many different garden
Sheets of plywood or planks insects. Plant the top with Sedum or
of wood Sempervivum to create a living roof.
Straw, corrugated cardboard,
slate chippings, bamboo canes,
clumps of moss, twigs
Soil

Make a dead hedge TOP TIP: CREATE A LOG HOME

This is a simple way to make a wildlife-friendly corner from vines and twigs that A pile of old logs in the garden will
cannot be composted. Small birds and insects will love it for shelter and food. attract beetles, frogs, toads, and other
wildlife. Make a well-constructed
CONSTRUCTION TIPS pile, supported by a few posts
Use strong, long-lasting chestnut poles hammered into the ground to prevent
for the uprights, hammering them rolling. Leave the logs to rot down.
securely into the ground. For a neater
look, use lengths of willow to weave
loose sides. Then simply pile in shrub
trimmings, lengths of ivy and bramble,
and any other twigs the garden produces.
Eventually, they will rot or compact down,
and you can then add more to the top.

>>356 WILDLIFE GARDENING

Install a green roof

Environmentally-friendly green roofs attract wildlife and help insulate
buildings in winter and keep them cool in summer. The easiest way
to install one is with sedum matting, which you can buy by the yard.

WHEN TO START INSTALL AN UNDERLAY
Spring First, lay a heavy-duty plastic sheet,
AT ITS BEST such as a pond-liner, over the roof
All year round to create a waterproof root barrier, then
add a layer of sand or gravel, or a
TIME TO COMPLETE custom-made underlay sold by the
2–3 hours, or longer, depending suppliers. Ensure that the surface is even
on roof size to prevent puddling when it rains since
YOU WILL NEED the plants do not tolerate waterlogging.
Heavy-duty plastic sheet, such as
butyl pond-liner LAY YOUR SEDUM MATTING
Sand or gravel, or custom-made Place your sedum matting on the
underlay roof and trim with a sharp knife.
Sedum matting The matting has an extra flap of material
Sharp knife at each side. To butt up two sections of
Slow-release granular fertilizer matting, unfold this flap on the first piece,
and lay the second on top of it. This
ASSESS YOUR ROOF creates a perfect seam and anchors the
If you want to cover a roof on your matting. Don’t use small pieces of matting
house, it is best to consult an expert at the edge of the roof because they will
first to ensure that the proposed area can dry out quickly and the plants may die.
take the weight of the planting and
growing medium, and that it has sufficient MAINTENANCE
drainage. Green roof specialists can be To ensure that the plants thrive,
found on the internet or in local directories. don’t walk or kneel on them when
installing the matting. Water plants during
FIRST STEPS dry spells until they are fully established.
For flat or gently sloping shed roofs After the first year they will require extra
or similar garden structures, sedum irrigation only during severe droughts.
matting is the best option for because it Apply a slow-release granular fertilizer
is easy to lay and maintain. Sedum mats each spring, and replant any bald patches
come complete with mature plants already with young plants. Some green roof
established on a special material and in suppliers offer specialist fertilizers, but
growing medium, and should be laid soon one formulated for succulents and
after delivery. The matting is heavy, drought-tolerant plants will also do the
especially when wet, and will require job. Most weeds find it difficult to survive
two people to lift it onto the roof. in the thin, dry soil, but remove any that
do appear as soon as you see them.

<< WILDLIFE GARDENING 357
Roof plants

Although sedum mats come already
planted up, you can add plants of your
own as bald patches appear. Choose
from the following to create a sea of
color throughout the year.

1 Thymus ‘Doone Valley’; H5 in (12 cm)
s14 in (35 cm) 2 Sedum acre H2 in
(5 cm) s24 in (60 cm) 3 Scabiosa
lucida; H8 in (20 cm) s12 in (30 cm)
o Rustic roof
This sedum-covered roof has been installed in
a wildlife garden on a small wood store made
from logs—an idea that could be adapted to
make a bike shelter. Smothered with flowers,
the roof attracts a wealth of butterflies and
beneficial insects into the garden.

>>358 WILDLIFE GARDENING

Composting essentials

Composting conveniently disposes of your garden cuttings and trimmings, while at the same time
creating a free, and wonderful, soil improver. It can be as simple as throwing all your waste into
a pile and forgetting about it, but you will get better results if you follow a few simple guidelines.

CHOOSING A BIN a Types of compost bin (clockwise from top left)
Standard plastic compost bins are A standard plastic compost bin, the sort available from local suppliers; an attractive,
functional rather than attractive, but they wooden bin, designed to look like a beehive; a vertical “tumbler” type, suitable for
do hold lots of garden and kitchen waste. smaller amounts of compost; a horizontal “tumbler” bin, designed for easy turning.
They are also the most inexpensive, and
can often be bought at a discounted price
through your local supplier. If you are
concerned about how your compost bin
fits in with the rest of your garden, there
are more attractive options, including
wooden bins designed to look like
beehives that can be stained to suit your
garden design. These are a good choice
for smaller gardens where the bin would
be on view. Impatient gardeners may
prefer “tumbler” bins. These allow you to
make small batches of compost in weeks,
not months, by turning the bin to increase
airflow, which naturally speeds up the
composting process.

FILLING YOUR BIN << WILDLIFE GARDENING 359
To produce good compost
it is important to have the Make a bin
right mix of ingredients.
If you add too much soft, A homemade bin is just as good as a bought
green material, such as one, and you can make it whatever size and
grass clippings, the heap shape best suits your garden and the quantity
may turn into a slimy, of material you want to compost.
smelly sludge. Put in too
much dry, woody material, TIME TO COMPLETE
and it will rot down slowly, if at all. Ideally, aim for a ratio of about 50:50. 1 day
During most of the year, it is likely that you will be producing more green YOU WILL NEED
than dry material, so you will need to look around for dry waste to add. 4 posts about 5 ft (1.5 m) long
Woody prunings are best, but brown cardboard, crumpled newspaper, and Hammer
even the insides of used toilet paper rolls all make suitable alternatives. Chicken wire
Fencing staples
QUICKENING THE PACE Cardboard boxes
Air is essential to the composting Old carpet
process, so the contents must be
turned regularly to ensure good ATTACH WIRE TO POSTS
airflow throughout your bin or heap. Set the posts 30 in (75 cm)
Turning also allows you to check apart in a square and drive
how things are going, to wet the them 12 in (30 cm) into the
mix if it is too dry, or to add dry ground, using a hammer. Wrap
material if it is too wet. This task is the chicken wire around the posts
easier if you have two bins, but if and attach it with fencing staples.
you only have one, simply empty Snip off
it out onto a tarpaulin, mix the excess wire;
contents well, then refill the bin. make sure
no sharp
TOP TIP: BOKASHI COMPOSTING strands are
left sticking
Cooked foods, meat, and fish should never be composted in an ordinary out.
bin because they attract rats and harmful bacteria. Instead, compost this
type of waste using the Japanese bokashi system. This involves using a ADD CARDBOARD SIDES
special sealed bin that you fill in layers, each one sprinkled with bran Flatten the cardboard boxes and put several
dust, inoculated with microorganisms. The layers on each side, slotting them between
content of the bin then effectively pickles, the posts and the netting. Put a layer on the base
and after about two weeks, it can be then start filling your
emptied out and buried in the garden or bin. Place a piece of old
added to the compost heap. This method carpet on top of the
also produces a liquor that can be diluted waste; replace it each
and used as a liquid feed. time you add more.
This helps keep out the
The bokashi bin p rain and insulates the
Food scraps pickle in the sealed bin for two bin, speeding up the
weeks and give off very little smell. The bin composting process.

can be kept indoors or outside.

>>360 WILDLIFE GARDENING

Rake up a leafy conditioner

Leafmold is one of the finest soil conditioners, and makes excellent use of a resource that is free and
abundant in autumn—fallen leaves. All you need to make rich, crumbly leafmold is a plastic bin liner,
some leaves from deciduous trees and a lot of patience.

WHEN TO START
Autumn
AT ITS BEST
The following autumn

TIME TO COMPLETE
1 hour

YOU WILL NEED
A rake
Leaves
Plastic bag
Hand fork
Watering can

RAKE UP FALLEN LEAVES
When leaves start to fall in autumn,
rake them up. For larger supplies,
collect leaves from local parks or woods,
but do not use those close to main roads.

PLACE IN A PLASTIC LINER SPRINKLE WITH WATER
You can make a leafmold bin, but a As you pack the leaves in,
plastic trash can liner works just as occasionally stop and sprinkle
well, and has an added advantage, which them with water. Wet leaves will rot
is that it can be kept in a small space, down much quicker than dry ones.
such as behind a shed. Put leaves into Keep filling and wetting until the
the liner, pushing them down as you go. bag is full. One bag of leafmold
won’t go very far, so try to collect
enough leaves to fill a few bags.

TIE BAG SECURELY << WILDLIFE GARDENING 361
Your bag is going to be left for a
long time, so make sure you tie it Nature’s helpers
well. This will prevent small creatures
from making a home in the leaves. Inside a wormery, worms break down kitchen waste and turn
it into rich compost. They can even cope with scraps, such as
cooked food. Wormeries are available from specialist suppliers.

TIME TO COMPLETE
1½ hours
YOU WILL NEED
A wormery, with
tigerworms included
Food waste
Soft “bedding” such as coir
or shredded newspaper

PUNCH A FEW AIR HOLES ADD THE WORMS FEED YOUR WORMS
Leaves also need air to rot down Place the tigerworms on the After the settling in period, you
efficiently, so punch some holes bedding, then start by adding a should be able to use most of
in the sides with a fork. Put the bag away small amount of food waste (referring your food scraps, making sure you
and forget about it for at least a year. to the instructions). Worms take a week add some every day. It is best to use
to settle in and get up to full speed. Do a variety of food and other ingredients,
TOP TIP: USING LEAFMOLD not add any more food during this time. such as leaves and moist newspaper,
to keep the texture
After a year or two, your leafmold will from becoming too
be ready to use. It works particularly dense. Worms can
well as a mulch, and is especially cope with most
loved by woodland plants. foods, but they
Alternatively, it can be sieved and struggle with citrus
used as an ingredient in potting soil. fruits and meat.

FINAL COMPOST
Wormeries can become acidic,
so occasionally add lime, such as
calcified seaweed. When the compost is
ready it will be dark, fairly soggy, and
slightly spongy. The worms are just below
the surface and can be easily removed.
You can then use it on garden borders or
mix it in with your other compost.

>>362 WILDLIFE GARDENING

Homes for birds and bees

Birds and beneficial insects not only make a garden a more interesting place, they also help control
pests and improve flower pollination. Gardening organically helps make them feel welcome, but
providing a specially made home really rolls out the red carpet and encourages them to stay.

Bee hotel WHEN TO START
Summer
Solitary bees are excellent pollinators, AT ITS BEST
but they can struggle to find nesting Autumn to winter
sites. A home-made nest looks attractive
and provides them with a home, as well TIME TO COMPLETE
as ensuring bumper harvests. 30 minutes

YOU WILL NEED
Clippers
Bamboo canes
Modeling clay
Raffia or string
Small terracotta or plastic pot

CUT LENGTHS OF BAMBOO TOP TIP: FLOWER FOOD
Use sharp clippers to cut short
lengths of bamboo canes that will
fit into your pot. The natural variation in
diameter will attract different bee species.

PUSH THEM INTO A POT HANG YOUR HOTEL To make life even better for your
Fill the base of a terracotta pot with Tie raffia or string firmly around resident bees, position the nest close
modeling clay and push the cut the pot and suspend it from a hook to a border planted with nectar-rich
bamboo canes firmly into it. Continue or attach it to a wall. Choose a sheltered, flowers. They will then have only a
doing this until the pot is packed tightly. sunny site, and angle the open end of the short distance to travel for food, which
pot downward so that the bamboo canes will be a great help to them in spring.
do not fill up with water when it rains.

<< WILDLIFE GARDENING 363

Choosing and siting a nest

Encourage birds to visit your garden and you will have a ready army of pest-eaters
on your side. If you can persuade them to make their nests and rear their young
there too, they will make a fascinating animated addition to the flowers and
foliage. Put up one or two nest boxes, and see who moves in.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT BOX
Birds are picky about where they live, so
it is important to choose the right type
of box. Select one that is made from an
insulating material, such as wood to
prevent them from becoming too hot or
cold, and avoid any made from ceramic
or those with metal roofs. Correct hole
size is also important: too small, and the
birds you want to attract may not fit;
too large, and wind, rain, and even
predators may get in. The box should be
robust, waterproof, safe, and comfortable.
Different bird species have different
needs, so if you want to make a home
for a particular species, do some research
and first find out what suits it.

SITING YOUR BOX
Nest boxes should be sited in a sheltered place, away from strong sunlight, wind, and
rain. Position them in the quietest area of the garden, away from feeding areas, and at
least 5 ft (1.5 m) above the ground. This mimics the nesting places birds naturally prefer,
and keeps them safe from predators. Choose a position away from large branches where
cats can lurk, but where there are flimsy twigs nearby to give fledglings somewhere to
perch when they first leave the nest. The best time to put up nest boxes is outside the
breeding season, between midsummer and late winter.

TOP TIP: HOME-MADE BOX

1 Birds use roosting pockets to hide from If you want to make your own bird box,
predators during the day. Smaller species, wood is probably the easiest and best
such as wrens, may even nest in them. material to use. There are plenty of plans
2 Boxes with a smaller 1 in (25 mm) hole and designs available that only require
are attractive to a wide range of garden simple tools and basic carpentry skills.
birds, including chickadees and bluebirds. Wood needs to be treated to prevent it
3 Open-fronted nest boxes appeal to from decaying, and you may also decide
robins and wrens, which prefer to see to stain or paint it. In all cases, choose
out of their home. products that are nontoxic and wildlife-
friendly to help keep your birds healthy.



Plants for
your Home

Bring the essence of your garden inside with some beautiful
house plants. Grow bold sculptural foliage types to make a
statement in a modern home, or brighten up a windowsill
with flowering plants, such as exotic orchids and the delicate
blooms of Cape primroses, Streptocarpus (left). You will also
find great ideas in this chapter for displaying and grouping
plants to create elegant arrangements, and learn how to
bring your beauties back into flower year after year.

Dramatic amaryllis

Hippeastrum (commonly known as amaryllis) provide the biggest,
boldest flowers of winter, and can even be bought preforced so
that they bloom in time for the Christmas holidays. For such exotic-
looking blooms, their needs are simple: a nice tight pot, water, light,
and a short rest in late summer is all they require.

WHEN TO PLANT SOAK BULB
Autumn Soak the bulb roots in a basin of
AT ITS BEST lukewarm water for a few hours.
Winter This will soften them and encourage the
bulb to come into growth again.
TIME TO COMPLETE
A few hours during the year

YOU WILL NEED

1 Hippeastrum bulb
Basin
Multi-purpose soil
Container
Balanced liquid fertilizer

PLANT IN CONTAINER LEAVE TO SHOOT
Choose a pot, just larger than the Water the bulb well to help settle
bulb itself, that has a drainage hole. the soil, then place the pot in a
Fill the base with soil, place the bulb on bright, warm spot at about 70°F (21°C).
top, and add more soil. Leave the top third Water sparingly until new leaves develop;
of the bulb protruding. then water regularly, keeping it moist.

TOP TIP: REPOTTING BULBS << PLANTS FOR YOUR HOME 367

Hippeastrum go into dormancy at the Flower choices
end of summer. If yours doesn’t, stop
watering and feeding it, and cut back Hippeastrum are excellent festive plants, and offer an equally vibrant alternative
the leaves to encourage it to do so. to the traditional poinsettias. They usually flower in shades of red and white, but
Repot into a slightly larger pot. After some have orange, salmon, and even green-tinted blooms. Their large trumpet-
several weeks, when new growth shaped flowers are often heavily patterned, and vary greatly in shape; some are
appears, resume watering. broad and round, while others are slender and elegant.

a A firm hand
Ensure that the bulb is firmly planted so
it does not topple over when in flower.

AFTERCARE 1 ‘Lucky Strike’ is an early-flowering cultivar with deep red, rounded flowers that make
Turn the pot frequently to prevent a particularly festive choice for a Christmas windowsill. 2 ‘Apple Blossom’ is scented,
the flower stalk growing to one with pink-blushed, white flowers. Each bulb produces several spikes, with around four
side. Move the plant to a cool spot when flowers apiece. 3 ‘Giraffe’ has slender cream petals, decorated with vivid red stripes and
it starts flowering, to prolong the display. splashes. It usually flowers about ten weeks after planting. 4 ‘Prelude’ is possibly the
Feed weekly after flowering. most spectacular of all the Hippeastrum, producing an abundance of huge red and white
flowers on tall, upright stems. It usually flowers in as little as five weeks after planting.

>>368 PLANTS FOR YOUR HOME

Mix and match a display

Solitary small and medium-sized house plants can look lost on a shelf or windowsill, but when
grouped together on a tray, they form a lively display of contrasting colors, shapes, and textures.
A layer of pretty pebbles sets off the flowers and foliage, and when the tray is filled with water,
they help provide the humid atmosphere that these plants enjoy.

1 TIME TO COMPLETE POT UP THE PLANTS
Experiment with different-sized
5 2 2 hours containers that fit into the tray,
4 3 mixing tall and short ones, or even cups
YOU WILL NEED and saucers. For a sophisticated display,
select pots of the same color. When you
Tray have the right grouping, buy plants that
Plastic sheet fit the pots, rather than vice versa.
Pebbles
House plant containers LINE THE TRAY
Line your tray with a plastic sheet
1. Fatsia japonica (cut from an old compost bag, for
2. Creeping fig, Ficus pumila example), covering the sides to create a
3. Peperomia caperata ‘Luna Red’ ½–1 in (1–2 cm) deep reservoir. Arrange the
4. Mind-your-own-business, pots on the tray, and fill in around them
with small pebbles. Fill the tray with water
Soleirolia soleirolii to just below the top of the plastic liner.
5. Streptocarpus ‘Bethan’

Alternative effects

In addition to grouping containers, create displays by
using different plants in one large pot, or repeating
a single houseplant species throughout your home.

MATCHING HOUSEPLANTS a Flowering desert a Contemporary trick
When using one large pot for a variety of plants, make Mix a group of cacti of contrasting Plant up identical containers with
sure that you combine those that enjoy the same shapes and sizes in one container, and the same plant, such as this textural
conditions. Groups of ferns were very fashionable in pack them together to create a desert fern, Nephrolepis exaltata, to create
Victorian times and are now de rigueur once more; these display for a warm, sunny room. a chic, contemporary look.
leafy shade-lovers look great in a large glass bowl or
contrasting smooth white pots. You could also try large
foliage plants, such as angel wings, Caladium, edged with
delicate maidenhair ferns like Adiantum. For a hot, sunny
windowsill or table, create succulent and cactus displays
where natural desert conditions are easy to emulate.



>>370 PLANTS FOR YOUR HOME

Hang a basket indoors

House plants are usually grown individually in pots, but trailing types can look great mixed together
in a hanging basket. Ideal if you have limited windowsill space, colourful baskets also create an
attractive “living” feature for your home. Plants will need removing and potting on every few years.

WHEN TO START
Spring
AT ITS BEST
Any time

TIME TO COMPLETE
2 hours
YOU WILL NEED
Hanging basket
Plastic bowl and plastic sheet
Electric drill
Multipurpose potting mix
Horticultural grit
Slow-release granular fertilizer

Plants used here:
Lipstick vine, Aeschynanthus
Begonia rex
Small-leaved ivy, Hedera helix

TRIM LINER DRILL DRAINAGE HOLES ADD A LAYER OF GRIT
Use a piece of thick plastic to line Take a low, wide plastic bowl and Cover the small drainage holes with
the inside of the basket. Trim the drill lots of small drainage holes in a layer of horticultural grit to keep
edges to ensure that the base and sides the base. This will act as your pot, while them from blocking up. Then add a layer
are fully covered, but the liner is not the lined hanging basket acts as a saucer of potting mix with slow-release fertilizer,
visible over the edge. to catch any excess water. leaving space for the plants.

<< PLANTS FOR YOUR HOME 371

Hanging basket options

For indoor hanging baskets choose trailing plants that will cascade over the
sides in curtains of texture and color. Flowering plants, such as lipstick vine
(Aeschynanthus), give seasonal color in summer, while those with brightly
colored foliage provide interest all year. Although these plants are familiar and
widely sold, brought together, they create a spectacular and long-lasting display.

PLACE PLANTS
Remove the plants from their pots
and arrange them around the
basket. Plants such as begonias and spider
plants (see right) make good focal points,
and they are best planted toward the
center of the basket.

FIRM IN WITH POTTING MIX
Use small amounts of potting mix
to fill in around the plants. Firm it
down with your fingers and add more until
the surface of the compost is level, leaving
a 1 in (2 cm) gap below the rim. Hang it in
a bright spot out of direct sunlight.

TOP TIP: WATERING 1 Begonia ‘Bettina Rothschild‘; E16 in (40 cm) 2 Spider plant, Chlorophytum
comosum ‘Variegatum‘; h8 in (20 cm) s12 in (30 cm) 3 Polka dot plant, Hypoestes
Water every two weeks in spring and phyllostachya; h12 in (30 cm) s10 in (25 cm) 4 Thousand mothers, Tolmiea menziesii;
summer. Make sure the whole surface E12 in (30 cm) 5 Wandering Jew, Tradescantia fluminensis ‘Variegata‘; h6 in (15 cm)
of the potting mix is wetted. The liner s8 in (20 cm) 6 Purple velvet plant, Gynura aurantiaca; E12 in (30 cm)
will act as a saucer and catch excess
moisture. After an hour, take down
the basket and tip out any excess so
that the potting mix doesn’t become
waterlogged, which could harm your
plants. Reduce watering in winter.

SELECTIONS >> >>372 PLANTS FOR YOUR HOME

Spectacular orchids

Orchids are arguably the most exquisite flowering plants you can grow
indoors, their variety of color and shape unmatched by any other plant
group. Once you have succeeded with one, and gotten the bug, you will
be hooked. Many flower throughout the winter months, offering an extra
treat for color–starved gardeners, and are well worth the effort involved
in growing them. For detailed growing conditions, refer to plant labels.

<< PLANTS FOR YOUR HOME 373 SELECTIONS >>

A bright, indirect light B partial shade d allow to dry out between waterings E keep moist in summer, water sparingly in winter

1 Cymbidium lowianum; h36 in (90 cm) s24 in (60 cm) AE 2 Miltoniopsis hybrid; Hs10 in
(25 cm) BE 3 Moth orchid, Phalaenopsis pink hybrid; h16 in (40 cm) s14 in (35 cm) BD 
4 Coelogyne nitida; h10 in (25 cm) s12 in (30 cm) AE 5 x Doritaenopsis ‘Taida Pearl’; h28 in
(70 cm) s12 in (30 cm) AE 6 Dendrobium ‘Sweet Dawn’; h24 in (60 cm) s6 in (15 cm) AE 
7 Cymbidium ‘Minuet’; h12 in (30 cm) s18 in (45 cm) AE 8 Paphiopedilum callosum hybrid;
h12 in (30 cm) s6 in (15 cm) BE 9 Oncidium ‘Jungle Monarch’; HS12 in (30 cm) AD 
0 Epidendrum prismatocarpum; hs18 in (45 cm) AD

>>374 PLANTS FOR YOUR HOME

Grow exotic orchids

Sophisticated, stylish, and highly fashionable, it’s little wonder we all fall for elegant orchids. However,
many die off after flowering because they don’t receive the right care, or aren’t suited to life in a typical
modern home. But choose your orchids carefully, and they can live long and happy lives.

CHOOSING PLANTS AND POTS roots visible through a clear plastic pot
When choosing an orchid, unless you (in which orchids are often grown) are
are an expert, select one that enjoys equally healthy, and not black.
conditions that you can provide at home,
such as a moth orchid, Phalaenopsis, or Most tropical orchids have aerial roots
a Cymbidium. If you can keep your plants that absorb water and photosynthesize
in a heated greenhouse, your choice is like leaves, taking energy from the sun
wider. Hybrids of the following orchids and converting it into food. As a result,
are generally reliable, given the right they can survive in very little soil, and
conditions (see opposite): Cattleya, require only small containers. Some should
Dendrobium, Epidendrum, Oncidium, and be grown in transparent pots to enable the
the slipper orchid, Paphiopedilum. roots to absorb sunlight.

Before buying an orchid, look over the Shop around p
plant for any signs of pests and diseases, Buy your orchids from a reputable source, such
and make sure it has plenty of flowers and
firm buds. Check that the aerial roots are as a specialist nursery. Avoid those that have
firm and pale with green tips, and that any been sitting around in a drafty store for weeks,

because they may not survive for very long.

WATERING AND FEEDING a Wipe away excess moisture a Warm mist
The most common cause of an orchid’s After watering your plants, leave them to drain Do not mist orchids with cold water; leave
early demise is over-watering. Although and wipe off any excess moisture on or between rain- or filtered water to warm up to room
different orchids have different needs, the leaves with a soft cloth to prevent rotting. temperature, and spray in the morning.
most require watering once or twice a
week in spring and summer, and once water, avoiding the flowers; or sit the pots orchid fertilizer as soon as you get them
every two weeks in winter. In the case on a tray of damp pebbles or gravel (see home, following the instructions on the
of Cattleya, water just enough to prevent pp.368–367). package. Some, such as Phalaenopsis,
the pseudobulb (the swelling at the should be fed weekly, while others need
base of the stems) from shriveling. Keep Orchid soil contains no nutrients, so less frequent applications.
Dendrobium almost dry in winter. Use a start feeding your plants with a proprietary
can filled with tepid rain- or filtered water,
and pour it into the pot until it runs from
the base. For plants with congested roots,
submerge the pot to just below the rim in
a bowl of water, and leave until the soil
surface is damp, then remove and allow
to drain. Also provide some humidity by
misting the leaves with rain- or filtered

POSITIONING YOUR ORCHIDS a Fuss-free orchid Orchid types
As with watering, the light requirements The large exotic blooms of the moth orchid
of orchids differ depending on the type. belie its easy-going nature. It requires soft Before buying, make sure you can give
Epidendrum grow on tropical tree light and is quite happy in a warm room. your chosen orchid the temperature it
branches in the wild and like bright, needs. Remember that most require a
indirect light. Cymbidium hybrids also in autumn and winter. Cattleya and 10°F (5°C) drop between day and night.
prefer bright light, and should be set Oncidium prefer a bright position that WARM-GROWING
outside in a sheltered spot during the offers some shade at midday, such as Tender orchids, such as Dendrobium
summer, then given a bright, cool an east- or west-facing windowsill, but hybrids and Phalaenopsis, require
position indoors out of direct sun, such move them to a bright spot that receives warmth all year, with a minimum winter
as a conservatory or a frost-free porch, sun all day in winter when light levels temperature of 61–64°F (16–18°C). They
are significantly lower. will tolerate occasional dips, and are
fine in centrally heated houses, if moved
If you do not have a light area in away from cold windowsills at night.
which to keep an orchid, choose a INTERMEDIATE
Phalaenopsis or Paphiopedilum hybrid. Cattleya, Epidendrum, and Paphiopedilum
These dislike strong sunlight, preferring require more warmth in winter than
a shady site from late spring to autumn. cool-growing orchids, but will tolerate
slightly higher temperatures in summer
o Dainty Dendrobium (see below). Most grow well indoors,
Position a Dendrobium where it will receive but should be moved away from cold
bright filtered light and keep humidity levels windowsills at night during winter.
high in the growing season. It will then reward COOL-GROWING
you with these exquisite flowers. This group includes Cymbidium and
Oncidium, which prefer low temperatures
all year. Stand them outside in summer
in a sheltered spot, then bring them in
to an unheated room, such as a cool
conservatory or greenhouse, for winter,
keeping them at around 46–50°F (8–10°C).

a Cool customer
With its spidery green and maroon flowers,
Cymbidium kanran is a fantastic orchid for those
with a cool room to keep it in throughout winter.

>>376 PLANTS FOR YOUR HOME

Display stunning orchids

Stems of rich ruby-red flowers, set off by a basket-weave container, create a spectacular display
for an east- or west-facing windowsill, or a bright spot out of direct sun. The orchid shown here,
Colmanara ‘Massai Red’, will flower for many weeks and is very easy to look after.

WHEN TO PLANT LINE THE CONTAINER ADD THE ORCHIDS
Late spring If your container does not have an Keeping the orchids in their pots,
AT ITS BEST integrated lining, use a sheet of arrange them in the basket. Make
Late spring to summer plastic to line it. Then add a layer of sure that their flowering stems are well
expanded clay pebbles, which absorb water spaced out for maximum impact. Stake any
TIME TO COMPLETE and slowly release it to increase humidity. wayward stems to create a fanlike shape.

30 minutes

YOU WILL NEED

Large plastic-lined basket
Expanded clay pebbles, such as
Hortag (available from garden
centers and orchid nurseries)
Garden moss or moss-like
substitute
Thin wooden stakes
Colmanara ‘Massai Red’

AFTERCARE
Place the orchids in a bright room,
away from full sun; keep them at
59–73°F (15–23°C) during the day, and
50–59°F (10–15°C) at night. Throughout
the year, water the plants when the soil
is almost dry and apply an orchid fertilizer
with every other watering. Spray every
few days with rainwater or filtered tap
water to maintain humidity.

FILL THE GAPS TOP WITH MOSS Staying power p
Hold the orchid pots upright and fill Finally, add a layer of garden moss, Each flower spike of Colmanara ‘Massai Red’
around them using more expanded or a moss substitute, over the clay
clay pebbles. Firm them down gently to pebbles and tops of the orchid pots. Water lasts up to seven weeks. Keep the plant at
ensure that they hold the plants in place, the pots and add some water to the room temperature for most of the year,
which can be top-heavy when in flower. pebbles as well. but slightly cooler when in flower to
prolong the blooming period.



>>378 PLANTS FOR YOUR HOME

Force bulbs for winter

The winter garden may be asleep, but you can bring spring color and
scent indoors by growing bulbs as house plants. Most effective are
those that have been “preforced,” which simply means they have
been chilled and fooled into thinking that winter has already passed,
and can be grown to bloom for Christmas and New Year.

WHEN TO START YOU WILL NEED
Early autumn
AT THEIR BEST Preforced bulbs,
Winter to early spring at least three per bowl
Containers (with drainage holes);
TIME TO COMPLETE use deep pots for narcissi
1 hour Free-draining soil
Bulb fiber
Moss for decoration

Hyacinths

With colorful flowers and a delicious scent, hyacinths are ideal for growing indoors.
Plant them in early autumn and they will flower in the coldest depths of winter.

STORE IN
DARK
Put the
bowl in a cool,
dark place for
eight weeks.
Check regularly
and keep the
soil slightly moist.
Pale yellow
leaves will eventually appear, and you
should also be able to see the flower
buds poking through in the middle.

PLANT IN BOWLS AFTERCARE
Put a shallow layer of soil in a Bring the plants out into the light
bowl. Place the hyacinths on top, to flower. Place them in a cool,
not touching each other, with pointed ends light spot, but not in bright sun. Water
up. Add more soil, leaving the top third of them enough to keep the soil just moist,
the bulbs uncovered. Water well. and turn the bowl daily.

<< PLANTS FOR YOUR HOME 379
Narcissi

Treated miniature daffodils, such as
‘Tête-à-Tête’ and ‘Soleil d’Or’, are easy
to force, but need lots of light.
PLANT AND STAKE
Plant bulbs in a pot, with the pointed tips
just below the soil. Water to settle the soil.
Place the pot in a sunny spot to encourage
strong growth. Then wait for shoots to
appear. Keep the soil moist, and support
taller stems with stakes.

TOP TIP: GROWING IN WATER
Forced bulbs can be grown in water
alone. Special hyacinth vases hold the
bulbs just above the surface, or you
can use pebbles in a vase of water to
create the same effect. Change the
water regularly, and keep it topped up,
so that it always sits just below the
base of the bulb.

o Maximize flowering
Both hyacinths and narcissi will flower for longer
in cool conditions. If you use them to decorate
a warm room, store in a cooler spot at night.

>>380 PLANTS FOR YOUR HOME

Plants for focal points

Tiny containers can look cute, but to create a statement, go for big, bold, sculptural plants in dramatic
pots. Flowers also add punch but they are seasonal, so for year-round glamour focus on the leaves first
when making your choices. Set more delicate plants in tall urns or on tables to raise their profile.

CHOOSING A STATEMENT PLANT << PLANTS FOR YOUR HOME 381
Before buying a plant, think about where
you would like to position it, and how Architectural plant options
much space you can afford. Plants with
large dark leaves tend to prefer shade, When choosing a house plant to make a bold statement in your home, either
while those with variegated foliage and opt for one single dramatic specimen, or select a few smaller ones that combine
palms enjoy more light. Cacti are happy well to create more impact. Unusual shapes and textures draw the eye, too, and
in hot spots near south-facing windows, can make up for size in smaller homes. If you love bright colors, select plants
and the large types make striking features. with blowsy blooms, such as amaryllis, or fiery bracts, like the Vriesea species.
Beware of their spines and hairs, though,
because they will irritate your skin.

Also consider how quickly your plant
will grow. Some, such as the bamboo
palm, Dypsis lutescens, stay the same size
for many years, while vigorous plants, like
the sentry palm, Howea belmoreana, and
Swiss cheese plant, Monstera deliciosa,
can double their size in a couple of years,
given the right conditions.

PLACING YOUR PLANT
Use your plant as a focal point to draw
attention to an area of the room, or to
provide a leafy contrast to the hard lines
of cabinets and other furniture. Also,
ensure the plant won’t be an obstacle,
and choose a pot that matches your decor.

TOP TIP: CLEAN LEAVES

Dust-covered foliage ruins the look of
a plant, and restricts the light reaching
the leaves, inhibiting its growth. Use a
damp soft cloth to wipe away grime
and dirt, or place your plant in the
shower and wash off the dust. Add a
shine to large-leaved plants by wiping
a little milk over the surfaces.

o Peaceful home 1 The shade-loving Calathea rufibarba ‘Blue Grass’, and dumb cane, Dieffenbachia
The large glossy leaves and elegant white seguine ‘Saturn’, make perfect partners in a large ceramic pot. 2 Vriesea species
flowers of the peace lily, Spathiphyllum wallisii, have colorful bracts that last for many weeks. 3 Japanese sago palm, Cycas revoluta,
are matched by this simple metal container. is an excellent house plant that strikes a pose but grows very slowly, so buy one to fit your
Choose a large variety for a big statement. space, and position it in bright light—a conservatory is ideal. 4 These two tiny plants
create a talking point when combined in a bowl on a stand. However, they need different
conditions and are planted in separate pots: the grassy Isolepis cernua requires lots of
water to thrive, while the string of beads, Senecio rowleyanus, prefers dryer conditions.

SELECTIONS >> >>382 PLANTS FOR YOUR HOME

Shade-loving houseplants

All homes have a shady corner that may need brightening up, and there
are lots of houseplants that are happy in low light. Many foliage plants, in
particular, grow on shady rain forest floors in the wild, and will cope well
in a north-facing room, especially if you mist them regularly to imitate their
natural environment. Others, especially those that produce beautiful flowers,
grow best in lighter conditions, but will tolerate a good deal of shade.

<< PLANTS FOR YOUR HOME 383 SELECTIONS >>

A full light B partial shade C full shade
E water lightly—only when the top inch of soil is dry  F water frequently—once or twice a week in the growing season

1 Parlor palm, Chamaedorea elegans; h3 ft (1 m) s12 in (30 cm) Bcf 2 Peperomia caperata
‘Luna’; hs12 in (30 cm)Bcf 3 Painted net-leaf, Fittonia albivenis Verschaffeltii Group; hs12 in
(30 cm) BF 4 Zebra plant, Calathea zebrina; hs3 ft (1 m) BF 5 Peace lily, Spathiphyllum
‘Mauna Loa’; h36 in (90 cm) s24 in (60 cm) BF 6 Miniature tree fern, Blechnum gibbum; h20 in
(50 cm) s3 ft (1 m) BcF 7 Mother-in-law’s tongue, Sansevieria trifasciata; h4 ft (1.2 m) s16 in
(40 cm) Bce 8 Philodendron bipinnatifidum; hs10 ft (3 m) BcF 9 Flamingo flower,
Anthurium andraeanum; hs20 in (50 cm) BF 0 Prayer plant, Maranta leuconeura; h12 in (30 cm)
s16 in (40 cm) BF

>>384 PLANTS FOR YOUR HOME

Add flower power to your home

Recreate a holiday atmosphere in your home with a selection of vibrant or scented tropical flowers that
hint at beach-front promenades. Flowers provide colorful contrasts to cool, contemporary interiors,
and many bloom for months without too much trouble—just keep them well fed and watered.

BRIGHT BRACTS
Like colorful neon lights, vibrant bromeliad
flowers and bracts make a bold statement
that can’t be ignored. To show off these
peacocks of the houseplant world to full
effect, present them against a clean,
simple backdrop, such as a white
windowsill. The bright bracts of most
bromeliads last for many months, and the
flowers peep out between or above them.

SURVIVAL STRATEGY
Most bromeliads, including Guzmania,
Tillandsia, and Vriesea, are from the
tropics and love the warmth of a heated
home, but suffer if the humidity is low.
Plant them in free-draining soil and water
them regularly when in growth, reducing
the frequency in winter. Do not overwater
bromeliads because soggy soil can kill
them. To provide humidity, mist them
once or twice a week with soft water or
rainwater, applied at room temperature.

a Water with care TOP TIP: FEEDING TILLANDSIA a Tropical pots
When watering Vriesea, pour into the central Hot-hued glazed pots
cup formed by the rosette of leaves. Also Tillandsia has few roots and bring out the colors of
water the soil to keep it moist. clings to trees in its natural these three vivid
habitat, absorbing water and bromeliads: Guzmania
nutrients through its leaves. dissitiflora, Tillandsia
Provide similar conditions by cyanea, and a flaming
misting the leaves once a red Vriesea. Although
month with a quarter-strength they prefer bright
balanced liquid fertilizer, light, they dislike
ideally diluted with rainwater. direct sun, so avoid
hot, south-facing
windowsills.

Long-lasting blooms << PLANTS FOR YOUR HOME 385
Vacation care
Flowers in the home deserve pride of place, so if you have space for just one
or two, choose plants that will sparkle for several months. Take a few precautions before you
go to avoid the disappointment of
LONG-TERM COLOR returning home to find your house
For prolonged flower power, Streptocarpus plants flagging, or dead.
(see pp.368–369), which come in many SET THEM OUTSIDE
colors, can bloom almost all year. Other One way to keep plants happy while you
good choices include the orange-flowered are on vacation is to set them outdoors
dwarf pomegranate, Punica granatum var. in the shade on a tray of pebbles. Many
nana, statuesque Lantana, and Plumbago, will tolerate summer night temperatures,
with its blue summer flowers. and enjoy the fresh air and humidity
outside. Check plant labels first for their
PLANT OPTIONS a Persian queen minimum temperature requirements.
Masses of tiny fragrant blue flowers adorn the WATERING TRICKS
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Persian violet, Exacum affine, for many months If keeping plants in the garden is not an
Kalanchoe from spring and throughout the summer. option, try the plastic bottle trick. Cut the
Lantana camara bottom off a bottle and make a small
Persian violet, Exacum affine hole in the lid with a skewer. Invert the
Plumbago auriculata bottle and push the lid into the soil. Fill
Streptocarpus hybrids the bottle, and water will slowly seep
into the soil while you are away.
Floral scents
a Trick number two
Why buy flower-scented air fresheners when you can have the real thing, and Another option is to put your pots on a wet
enjoy colorful blooms into the bargain? Take care when choosing a fragrant plant towel on the drainboard. Place one end
because the intense perfume of some can be overpowering in a small room. of the towel in the sink. Fill the sink with
water and it will seep up the towel and
PERFUMED PRIZES keep the soil in the pots damp.
Choose between the compact gardenia,
prized for its white, deliciously scented
flowers and shiny dark foliage; an indoor
jasmine, Stephanotis; and the wax plant,
Hoya carnosa. The wax plant and jasmine
are climbers and need space to grow, or
train them around a wire hoop. All are
highly fragrant and need bright light.

PLANTING OPTIONS

a Fragrant wax flower Brugmansia x candida
Hoya lanceolata subsp. bella has the same Gardenia jasminoides
sweet scent as its climbing cousin, H. carnosa, Hoya carnosa and H.lanceolata
but reaches just 18 in (45 cm). subsp. bella
Jasmine, Jasminum polyanthum
Stephanotis floribunda



<< PLANTS FOR YOUR HOME 387

Bathroom oasis

Hot and steamy, the bathroom is an ideal environment for ferns. Their delicate fronds soften the lines of
ceramic, metal, and glass, and a quick shower once a week helps keep them in excellent health. If you
have no shelf space to fit a fern or two, suspend a hanging basket from the ceiling (see pp.370–371).

TIME TO COMPLETE Fern choices
30 minutes
Most, but not all, ferns like the moist conditions in a bathroom, so check
YOU WILL NEED individual plant labels before buying. Match your plants with smooth ceramic,
Decorative containers glass, or rust-proof metal containers that contrast well with the textured fronds.
Plastic pots that fit inside FOLIAGE EFFECTS
Pieces of plastic For large bathrooms, the spreading, bushy foliage of a dwarf tree fern works well, but if
House plant potting mix your space is limited, try small, slow-growing brake or button ferns (Pteris and Pellaea).
Slow-release fertilizer granules Asparagus ferns, with their feathery foliage, look delicate but are deceptively easy to
Gravel or moss keep. They are not, in fact, true ferns at all, and adapt to a wide range of conditions. If
Adiantum capillus-veneris you opt for a hanging basket, the tree-dwelling staghorn fern will provide a focal point.
Asplenium nidus
1 Asparagus setaceus ‘Nanus’; e12 in (30 cm) 2 Dwarf tree fern, Blechnum gibbum;
POT UP THE FERNS h30 in (75 cm) s24 in (60 cm) 3 Pteris ensiformis ‘Evergemiensis’; e12 in (30 cm)
If you bought your ferns in pots that 4 Pellaea rotundifolia; h12 in (30 cm) s24 in (60 cm) 5 Staghorn fern, Platycerium
fit into your decorative containers, bifurcatum; h3 ft (90 cm) s4 ft (1.2 m) 6 Asparagus densiflorus ‘Myersii’; e16 in (40 cm)
simple add slow-release fertilizer granules
to the potting mix. If not, repot them. In a
new plastic pot, put a few pieces of plastic
in the base, then add a layer of potting
mix. Tip a fern out of its old pot and place
it on top. Fill in around it with more
potting mix and fertilizer granules.

SITING AND AFTERCARE
Fit the potted ferns into your
containers, add a layer of gravel or
moss on top of the potting mix, and place
them in a shady spot. Water the Adiantum
well throughout the year—the leaves will
shrivel if the potting mix dries out. The
Asplenium needs plenty of water in spring
and summer, but keep the potting mix
just moist in the winter months.

o Hungry ferns
Feed the bird’s nest fern (Asplenium) and
delicate maidenhair fern (Adiantum) regularly
in summer with a balanced liquid fertilizer.

>>388 PLANTS FOR YOUR HOME

Create a desert bowl

Cacti have a reputation for sitting around in corners getting dusty and barely growing, but use them
in a new way and they come to life. They look great planted in small groups, and given a sand mulch
such a group becomes a funky and kitsch desert scene. All it needs is a miniature cowboy.

WHEN TO START
Spring
AT ITS BEST
Early summer

TIME TO COMPLETE
1½ hours
YOU WILL NEED
Shallow planting bowl
Crocks or pebbles
Cacti soil
Washed sand
Newspaper
Spoon
Heavy-duty gloves
Watering can

Miniature cacti
This selection includes
Cleistocactus strausii,
Mammillaria hahniana,
Opuntia tuna, and
Rebutia species

BEFORE YOU START AID DRAINAGE
Cacti famously survive All cacti hate to sit
on little water, but if in water, so make sure
you want them to grow and it will run freely through the
flower they should actually growing medium, and out of
be watered regularly during the bottom of the pot. The
the growing season. Giving container should have lots of
them a thorough watering drainage holes, covered by
before planting will help the a layer of pebbles or crocks,
roots make good contact with to prevent the soil from
the new soil, and they should clogging up the holes.
grow very well.

SET OUT THE PLANTS
Don your protective gloves and start arranging your
plants. If you have chosen the position for each of your
cacti before you start, planting will be easier and you are
more likely to end up with a good overall effect. It makes
sense to put smaller ones at the front and larger ones at the
back, but also consider planting those with different habits,
textures, and flower color next to each other.

PLANTING TIPS FILL IN THE GAPS
Wrap a folded strip Once the plants are in
of newspaper around position, use a spoon to
the top of the plant. This carefully fill the gaps between
will help you slide it out of them with a cacti soil. Add small
its pot and maneuver it into amounts of soil at a time and
the larger planter without keep firming it down with the
getting spines or fine hairs back of a spoon to ensure that
in your fingers. It also there are no air holes left
protects the plant. around the plant roots.

BRUSH OFF WATER IN
SOIL Water all the plants
No matter how in well. In summer,
careful you are, some soil they can be watered
will inevitably get caught whenever the surface of
in the cactus spines and the soil dries out. In winter,
hairs. Use a soft brush to they should be left dry;
remove it and to keep start watering again
the plants looking clean sparingly when you see
and neat. signs of growth in spring.

APPLY A TOP TIP: WATERING OVERFILLED POTS
SAND MULCH
Use the spoon Cacti are often sold
to spread fine sand when the plants are
around the surface of almost overflowing
the planter. This helps the sides of their pots,
water quickly drain making it tricky to water
away from the them properly before
surface, preventing planting. Sit these in a
rot, and gives the planter an authentic desertlike appearance. container of water until
Set your arrangement in a bright, sunny position. the root ball is damp.

SELECTIONS >> >>390 PLANTS FOR YOUR HOME

Desert dwellers

Cacti create intrigue with their weird shapes, fierce spines, and surprisingly
vivid flowers. Together with succulents, these easy plants are perfect for
a sunny windowsill. Most remain small when grown as houseplants, but
others, like the silver jade plant, will make sizeable specimens. Water from
spring to summer, allowing the soil to dry between doses, and in winter,
reduce this to once a month for succulents and not at all for cacti.

<< PLANTS FOR YOUR HOME 391 SELECTIONS >>

All of these plants need a sunny site and minimal watering (see opposite) 1 Haworthia attenuata
f. clariperla; hs5 in (12 cm) 2 Parodia penicillata; h12 in (30 cm) s5 in (12 cm) 3 Parodia
magnifica; h6 in (15 cm) s18 in (45 cm) 4 Echinocereus pulchellus; h2 in (5 cm) s6 in (15 cm)
5 Plush plant, Echiveria pulvinata; h12 in (30 cm) s20 in (50 cm)  6 Living stone, Lithops
pseudotruncatella subsp. dentritica; hs1½ in (4 cm) 7 Flaming Katy, Kalanchoe blossfeldiana;
hs16 in (40 cm) 8 Silver jade plant, Crassula arborescens; Eto 24 in (60 cm) in a pot
9 Echinopsis multiplex; h10 in (25 cm) s12 in (30 cm) 0 Aloe aristata; h5 in (12 cm)
s12 in (30 cm) q Mammillaria blossfeldiana; hs2 in (5 cm)



<< PLANTS FOR YOUR HOME 393

Perfect presents

Poinsettias are classic Christmas plants, bringing a splash of festive
red and green to the table or windowsill. An attractive bowl, planted
up with one or two, makes a cheery winter gift.

FIND THE IDEAL SPOT At the end of spring, cut all growth to a
To keep them looking good, give couple of inches above the soil and repot
poinsettias a sunny, south-facing it in new soil. Water well and keep it
windowsill, or bright filtered light. Don’t warm, feeding it with houseplant fertilizer
press them close to a cold windowpane when new growth appears. A month
however, because this can damage the later, move the plant outside to a shady
leaves. Keep them at about 68°F (20°C) spot, pinching out the growing tips in
during the day, and cooler at night, to midsummer, before returning it indoors.
prolong the display. Give it a sunny spot, watering and feeding
regularly; then from mid-autumn, keep
WATERING AND FEEDING the plant in total darkness between 5pm
Poinsettias should be watered and 8am. It will then re-flower and
regularly and kept evenly moist. produce colorful bracts.
Never let plants sit in water; always
empty their saucers or planters shortly TOP TIP: LEAF DROP
after watering.
It is common for a few poinsettia
GETTING IT TO BLOOM AGAIN leaves to turn yellow and drop off
With year-round care, you can get when you first bring them home.
a plant to perform again. Water it Don’t be alarmed, the plant is just
until mid-spring, then let it dry out and reacting to its new living conditions.
allow the stems to shrivel. Keep it cool.

Poinsettia gallery

Many colorful cultivars
are available, and grow
to about h12 in (30 cm)
s16in (40cm).

1 Euphorbia
pulcherrima
‘Freedom White’ 
2 ‘Red Fox
Infinity Red’ 
3 ‘Sonora’ 
4 ‘Spotlight Pink’

>>394 PLANTS FOR YOUR HOME

Encourage plants to flower

There are some house plants that will flower prolifically whatever you do with them. However, there are
others that, having been chosen for their glorious flowers, only ever seem to sprout more leaves. Every
house plant requires slightly different care to make it bloom again, plus a degree of patience.

Peace lilies

This plant is one of the trickiest to encourage back into bloom.
If you try these tips, and still have no luck, keep it and grow
it for its attractive, swordlike leaves instead.

WHEN TO START YOU WILL NEED
Spring
Peace lily, Spathiphyllum
AT ITS BEST Container
Spring House plant soil

TIME TO COMPLETE
1 hour

ASSESS THE PROBLEM REPOT IF CRAMPED CHOOSE A BRIGHT LOCATION
Take care not to feed Peace lilies will tolerate Poor light is the main reason why peace lilies don't
your peace lily too small pots unless their reflower. Although these plants will tolerate quite deep
much. Feeding may initiate roots are severely cramped, shade and grow reasonably well in dull corners, they actually
flowering, but it often has causing the plant to become require soft, indirect light in order to flower. Position them on
the opposite effect, leading water-stressed. Transferring a north-facing windowsill, or somewhere within a few feet of a
to more leaves at the it to a slightly larger pot can brighter window, but shielded from direct sunlight. The plant will
expense of blooms. lead to a flush of new flowers. then flower at various intervals throughout the year.

Other difficult plants

House plants originate from all over the world, and naturally
require different conditions in order to flower. The trick is to
mimic these at home to coax reluctant types to bloom.

BROMELIAD
The main part of a bromeliad dies after flowering, leaving new
shoots to take its place. These can either be grown on as a group,
or divided and grown on for a few years until mature. Once the
bromeliad is as large as your original plant was when it flowered,
place a clear plastic bag over it for a week, with a ripe apple
inside. The apple releases ethylene, a gas that initiates flowering.

CLIVIA CHRISTMAS CACTUS
For this beautiful spring- and To flower well, Christmas cacti,
summer-flowering bulb Schlumbergera, need plenty
to flower, it needs a period of light during the summer.
of cold dormancy. While it If grown indoors, keep them
likes a warm spot for most on a sunny windowsill. If
of the year, from late autumn placed outside, shade them
to late winter, keep it dry and a little to prevent them from
at around 50°F (10°C). Water scorching. To persuade them
again from early spring, and to flower, they then require
give it a liquid feed every short days and long nights.
other week. As growth So, from autumn to Christmas,
begins, move the plant to a warmer spot to flower, after which keep them in a room that is
you should water it slightly less and begin the cycle again. Clivias not lit at night, such as a spare
actually likes to be pot-bound, so repot infrequently. room or a child’s bedroom.

MOTH ORCHID
If the growing conditions are right, it is fairly easy to get beautiful
moth orchids, Phalaenopsis, to reflower. They don’t like too much
light, so grow them on a west- or east-facing windowsill during
winter, and in a shadier spot in summer. Water weekly in summer
with rainwater, taking care to avoid the crown. Reduce watering
in winter. If you have a plant in flower, just as the last bloom is
fading, trim the spike slightly below where the first flower
opened. A bud there will sprout a second flower spike, which
itself can be trimmed to give a third. To encourage a moth orchid
to flower again from scratch, keep it humid (see p.374), give it
a diluted feed once a month, and keep it at around 59°F (15°C)
at night and 70–77°F (21–25°C) during the day. This fluctuation,
combined with feeding and humidity, will initiate new flowers.

>>396 PLANTS FOR YOUR HOME

Silver splash

Begonias come in many forms, and these elegant foliage types make handsome features in a modern
indoor arrangement (right). Choose tall simple containers to contrast with the heavily textured leaves,
partner them with small-leaved trailing plants, and set them in a line or up a few steps.

WHEN TO START YOU WILL NEED Caring for begonias
Any time
AT ITS BEST Silver-leaved Begonia Begonia rex hybrids come in many colors and forms, but
All year round rex hybrids all require the same treatment. Feed them fortnightly in
Pilea depressa summer and once a month in winter, and keep them away
TIME TO COMPLETE Tall metal container from bright sunlight to prevent the foliage from scorching.
2 hours Plastic tray, such as
vegetable packaging, FOLIAGE NEEDS
or thick plastic bag Although they dislike strong sun, begonias produce the best
Plastic pots colors in bright, diffused light, and prefer a temperature of
Gravel 64–70°F (18–21°C). Watering is the key to success, since they
Houseplant potting mix are prone to rotting if given too much or too little. Every two
weeks, remove the plastic pots from the container, and place
them in a bowl of water that reaches just below the rims.
Allow moisture to seep up from the bottom, and when the
top of the soil is wet, take them out and leave to drain.

LINE THE CONTAINERS Begonias come in an array of
If your container has drainage holes, place a deep plastic spectacular colors and forms.
tray in the bottom to prevent water from leaking out, or Specialist nurseries offer the
line it with a thick plastic bag. Then add gravel to the bottom. widest choice, and most offer
Also buy plastic pots that fit neatly into the container. an online service:

ARRANGE THE PLANTS 1 ‘Martin Johnson’
Cover the drainage holes 2 ‘Benitochiba’
of the plastic pots with 3 ‘Tiny Bright’
gravel, top up with soil, and
plant the begonias and Pilea
(one in each pot). Water and
allow to drain. Arrange the pots
in the container, adding more
gravel to raise them up to the
correct level, as required.



SELECTIONS >> >>398 PLANTS FOR YOUR HOME

Winter flowers

When it’s cold and gray outside, you need some indoor color to brighten
things up. Lots of house plants flower over winter, and you will appreciate
them all the more for their excellent timing. From dependable stalwarts,
such as primulas and African violets, to exotic clivias, there is a winter-
flowering house plant to suit every taste. Some, such as jasmine, provide
delicious scents that will remind you of the warmer months to come.