Author: Antonio Pachowko

Repotting and Dividing an Oncidium

In this article, we will discuss how to repot a typical, evergreen oncidium. Plants with the Oncidium family are vigorous growers and have extensive new root systems.

This would mean that the plant will exhaust the nutrients in the growing media around the orchid, making repotting a necessary task that needs to be carried out at least every two years. You are repotting to give the roots more room to grow, but also for the plants to have access to a new source of nutrients.

 HOW TO REPOT AND DIVIDE AN ONCIDIUM

First, as always you need to sterilize your …

How to Repot a Dendrobium

In this article, we will discuss the best way to repot a Dendrobium. Dendrobiums are wonderful and attractive orchids but they soon will outgrow their own home and they will need to be repotted. In this article, you will find out how to do this.

The dendrobiums have short rhizomes and fine roots that can be easily damaged. This means it is best to repot in a slightly small plastic pot, where the plant is stabled and well staked.

 REPOTTING A DENDROBIUM

First, you will need to disinfect any tools that you will be using, be a knife, secateurs, lever …

How to Grow and Get the Best from your Indoor Primulas

In this article, we will be discussing how to grow the popular outdoor plant primulas indoor. At one time primulas were popular indoor plants, but not much so today. I wish now to revive this trend and tell you how to grow these beautiful colourful flowers indoors.

Often you will find primulas on sale in garden centres and shops in late winter and early spring, where they can bring cheer and colour to often a bleak time of year.

Garden primroses consist of several species that are often hybrids and cultivars that are derived from Primula vulgaris and Primula veris. …

Growing and Getting the Best from your Senecio Houseplants

In this article, we will be discussing how to get the best from your Senecio houseplants. Senecios are such a large genus with thousands of different varieties of them, where some are classed as succulents.

Most are known as outdoor species, with some of them are the familiar yellow-flowering weeds you see in the garden. They are interesting plants with some of them trailing over the ground, whilst others are shrubby plants. The annual species are often grown outdoors and not suitable to be grown indoors.

In this article, we will look at the indoor varieties that are suitable to …

How to Prune to Manipulate Plants

In this article, we will be discussing how to prune perennials so that the plant can be manipulated for your benefit. Try using these techniques so that you can extend or renew blooming, encourage new lush growth, reduce the plant height, keep them from becoming invaders and to prevent pests and diseases from taking hold.

In a previous article, I have discussed the rough guide on how to prune plants that included perennials, but in this article, we will go further.

 CUT BACK TO REDUCE HEIGHT

If you have a windy, exposed site such as a roof garden or …

Rough Guide to Pruning-Getting the Basics Right

In this article, we will discover the best way to pruning your plants, a task which every gardener must learn, even container gardeners. The problem is a lot of inexperienced gardeners do it wrong. To understand pruning, you need to know why you need to prune in the first place.

This is done for 3 main reasons:

  •  To remove unhealthy and dead material to make it look better.
  •  To stop a monster from being reared in your garden, so it is kept to a certain size and shape.
  •   and to increase the production of flowers and therefore fruiting.

This can …

How to Rescue Neglected Houseplants

In this article, we will tell you what to do if your houseplant has been neglected for a while. We all have been guilty of this as in our busy lives, we have forgotten to look after our indoor greenery. Often problems we see in our houseplants are not due to pests, but due to the wrong light, watering issues, wrong location or a lack of fertilizer.

Some houseplants owners will overindulge in their care of houseplants, whilst others will forget to look after them. Plants need consistency in everything from temperature light, watering and feeding regimes. Plants need to …

How to Maintain Your Fruit Trees and Fruit Bushes

In this article, we will discover what to do once your fruit trees and fruit bushes have been planted.  Once you have planted your fruit trees, fruit bushes and canes you cannot rest on your laurels, as still there is plenty to do.

After all, that time spent in planting them, staking them, tying them in, it is now time to look after the plant, as you cannot let them grow by themselves.

The most important routine that you must get right is to how to water and feed effectively, as well as how to control weeds.

 GET THE WATERING

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Problem Solving for Growing Seedlings- Avoid the Pitfalls

In this article, we will discuss what to do when your seedlings are not doing well. They are growing too long and floppy, they may look sickly, or not generally doing very well.

In this article, you will find out what can be done to stop and prevent seed germination and seedling growth problems. With this little handy guide, you will know what to do if your seed germination does not go as expected. So do not panic if your seeds fail to germinate or suffers from some other ailment.

 SEEDLINGS TOO LANKY OR LEGGY

If seedlings are growing too …

How to Harvest and Store your Fruits

In this article, we will talk about how to harvest your home-grown fruit, how to determine it is ready to harvest and what to do to store your little treasures.

We, home-grown gardeners, work hard throughout the growing season and when harvest time comes the reward of all the hard work comes to fruition and you can enjoy them. Most fruits are best eaten straight picked from the tree, shrub or canes, ideally within hours. After all, it is the main reason we grow them but often there are gluts and we must store fruit. This is the best way …