Christmas is a time to go all out with decorating our homes, and the finishing touch is definitely amaryllis in full flower.
The season for amaryllis bulbs begins in November and peaks just in time for Christmas, with large blooms that finish off the décor beautifully. They also make perfect gifts. Bulbs will be available in stores and online from around August, but to get them to flower exactly on time takes a little bit of know how. Here are some tips. Once the bulbs are planted they will take 5 – 6 weeks to bloom, so around 10 November is the time for planting. If you buy your bulbs earlier, just pack them in a paper bag and put them in the fridge to fool them into believing it’s still winter. The temperature should be around 5°C, and should never drop below freezing.
Indoor planting
There are three ways to plant your bulbs in pots for indoor blooms:
1. Water planting
One of the easiest ways is to place an 8cm layer of pretty stones in the bottom of a glass container. Add the bulb and fill in with more stones to keep it stable. Add water to just below the bottom of the bulb and keep the level consistent. The water should never touch the base of the bulb.
2. Potting soil
Denne historien er fra November 2018-utgaven av The Gardener.
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Denne historien er fra November 2018-utgaven av The Gardener.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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FIRE AND Feathers!
On a dreary winter's day, a screen of fiery and feathery leaves puts up a fight against dullness!
GET THE ladies in!
At this time of year, early-flowering shrubs vie with each other to get the most attention. We say: Trust those with female names for frills and butterflies. They go the extra mile to flower their hearts out.
Vegetable Soups and dumplings
Vegetables make the most delicious soups and classic combinations are always a winner.
Yummy sweet potatoes for your good health
Boiled, baked or braaied, sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas) are a delicious and healthy winter comfort food. Just a dollop of butter, a little seasoning and you are good to go.
Pretty and functional
If cooking is your main thing, you would probably be more interested in the culinary value of the three herbs and some of their varieties we are describing.
Dried Seedheads & Pods
Autumn and winter are the best times to see what flowers produce the best seedheads that can be left on the plants to feed the birds and bugs and for harvesting for dried arrangements.
SO MANY FACES and so many choices...
Whoever associated a Cotyledon orbiculata (pig's ear) with the ear of a pig obviously did not know about all the varieties and cultivars this species in the genus Cotyledon has.
COLOURFUL Cold Weather WINNERS!
If it comes to a vote, these dependable shrubs will be the top candidates for prime performance in winter and in other seasons...
What makes a garden sustainable?
It is interesting to note that the United Nations defines sustainable development as: “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.
Nurturing NATURE-The Story of Kraal Garden's Transformation
Nestled within Prince Albert's rustic embrace lies a gem that is a testament to the transformative power of human vision and nature's bounty.
