Missouri Botanical Gardens

courtesy of:
http://uk.youtube.com/profile?user=jubchuqun

Biodegradable Vipot

These pots are made from the by-products of annual crops such as coconut shells and grain husks. When finished with, the pot can be crushed, breaking the protective glaze and then placed on the compost heap. The pot is fully biodegrades within 18 months.

When in use and unbroken, the Vipot, will last for more than 5 years.

http://www.thegardensuperstore.co.uk/acatalog/Biodegradable_Plant_Pots.html

Adiantum care

[Adiantum raddianum 'Double Leaflet']

--- Growing Maidenhairs ---

http://www.sdfern.com/growmaid.htm

Exotic Baskets

I'm always on the outlook for new ways of using exotics and houseplants. I'll cover a lot more of these in 2008 but though I can't use this idea myself (I live in a first floor flat) this is si good. Planting up houseplants and exotics in a basket which can be hung indoors and moved outdoors in a good summer. I want to give credit to Roger Sweetinburgh who wrote a chapter in Exotics Are Easy where he highlights this idea and gives some good examples. I loved the basket of Spider Plant - Chlorophytum hanging from a balcony. Do remember most houseplants don't like to be in direct sun, but prefer a bright position out of the sunshine.

Roger recommends a basket lined with sphagnum moss (though of course plastic could be used) filled with a 50/50 mixture of soilless compost and John Innes. Make sure they are at a height where they can be watered easily. Rain water will not hurt them at all, but they may be prone to insect infestations.

As the frosts approach they can be brought indoors and watering reduced during their rest period.

Conservatory - Glenbervie House, Scotland

Fernery at Tatton Park

Indoor spot lights

A really good idea for highlighting a particular plant, corner or creating effects in a Conservatory. A number of makes are for sale, this is just an example:

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Garden-Supply-Direct_Garden-Lighting_W0QQcolZ4QQdirZ1QQfsubZ10QQftidZ2QQtZkm

Some holiday plants worth keeping year-round

http://www.fayobserver.com/article?id=281504

Roger Mercer
in the Fay Observer
------------------------------------------------------

--- care of Amaryllis ---

http://lancaster.unl.edu/hort/nebline/amaryllis.shtml

Gardening Wizardry for Kids

Anything that encourages kids to garden in any way is a great idea. This is an American book but I'm sure the ideas can be tried in any country.


Gardening Wizardry for Kids: Green Thumb Magic for the Great Indoors
by Patricia L. Kite

Kitchen Herb garden

from:

http://www.insideplantslive.org/archives/cat_inside_plant_care.php

with some useful suggestions.

from the very readable blog:
http://www.insideplantslive.org/
doesn't seem to have been updated lately which is a shame.

While on the subject of herbs, can I recommend:

New Book of Herbs
by Jekka McVicar

Jekka broadcasts on my local Radio Bristol and really knows her stuff. A great book too. Slightly more advanced and recently revised and updated is her:

Jekka's Complete Herb Book

for growing indoors, in a conservatory or on a patio I find:

Herbs in Pots: A Practical Guide to Container Gardening Indoors and Out
by Robert E. Proctor, Rob Proctor, David Macke

really useful.

Self watering pots

http://sprouthome.stores.yahoo.net/sewamacupl.html

Stained glass terrarium

http://www.terrariums.org/terraria/

Dancing with Tropical Plants

I wasn't sure what this would be about when I first saw it. Waltzing with my Diffenbachia ? But this dvd by Donna Lambdin:

90 minute DVD on how to care for the top twelve most popular tropical plants. Filmed on Location in a Tropical House Plant Greenhouse, Donna walks you through the steps to healthy, flourishing tropical plants.

http://www.apdthermalsleeves.com/plantcaredvd.asp

A lovely coffee pond table

http://www.indoorponds.net/Coffee_Table_Pond.html

Garfeld Park Conservatory, Chicago

Sculptor Niki de Saint Phalle’s larger-than-life mosaics


http://www.timeout.com/chicago/articles/features/19826/diamonds-in-the-rough

--- history of the Conservatory ---

http://www.garfield-conservatory.org/history.htm

Bonsai trees (video)

As I've said before I don't grow or even really appreciate Bonsai trees but I can see that these are very good examples.



--- Bonsai Exhibition at the Montreal Botanical Garden ---



courtesy of
http://uk.youtube.com/profile?user=adapun1

Florida gardening

Envy shows through here, in this article on tropical gardening in Florida.


Joanna Fortnam
Daily Telegraph
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/main.jhtml;jsessionid=TRM5N1GDNZFY3QFIQMGCFGGAVCBQUIV0?xml=/gardening/2007/12/29/gflorida129.xml

Kew Gardens Palm House and Koi

courtesy of:
http://uk.youtube.com/profile?user=paolomollica

Fernery at Rippon Lea, Australia

--- photo gallery ---

http://www.pbase.com/rhiggs1/ripponlea_estate_victoria

http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/national/sites/rippon-lea.html

Fernery, Bute (Scotland)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/normko/344621717/

Conservatory at the Fernery, New Zealand

http://www.flickr.com/photos/65755120@N00/376743658/


[Pukekura Park, New Plymouth]

cf also

http://www.flickr.com/photos/65755120@N00/376743812/in/photostream/

Witley Park (Lea Park) : the most unusual glass house ever built

http://www.bbc.co.uk/southerncounties/content/articles/2006/03/15/witley_park_feature.shtml

http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulholmes/sets/72057594100695007/detail/

associated with the Wikipedia entry

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witley_Park

Growing Pineapples

How To Grow A Pineapple
http://www.rickswoodshopcreations.com/Pineapple/pineapple.htm

http://www.unirom.co.uk/nhaggett/MyPineapples/mypineapples.html

--- image of the Pineapple pit, Heligan gardens ---

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Pineapple_pit_heligan.jpg

http://www.cornwall-calling.co.uk/homes-and-gardens/heligan.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pineapple_Pit

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pineapples

--- 20 facts about Pineapples ---
http://www.healthdiaries.com/eatthis/20-facts-about-pineapples.html

Miss Lane's Conservatory, White House, US (1858)

Built by President Buchanan for his niece, Harriet Lane in 1858. It contained orange and lemon trees, prickly cactus, aloes, camellias, spireas, pitcher plants (from South America) and vines. It was thrown open on State occasions and communicated directly with the dining hall. It had it's own three gardeners.

Poinsettia Care

I've stopped buying them for Christmas as they always die on me and I hate throwing plants away. So I found this web site on their care and next year I will try again.

http://www.ecke.com/html/h_corp/corp_pntcare.html

Digging - Diary of an Austin Gardener

Though I'm in the UK I am fascinated by the blogs of gardeners around the world and I love the photographs and comments on this one from the US. It rarely mentions house plants but gardening is addictive in all sorts of ways. Worth reading.

http://www.penick.net/digging/

--- where to find garden blogs ---

http://www.blotanical.com/

Spotted / Japanese Laurel - Aucuba japonica

Perhaps better known as a garden plant, Aucuba also makes an attractive house plant for unheated spots (perhaps a hallway) where light can also be shady. It doesn't like a heated location as the leaves will rapidly start to fall.

Prune in the spring to keep it small (unless you want a 5 foot shrub), keep cool and it will thrive in a bright spot or shade. Water regularly in the Summer but only sparingly in the winter. It likes being misted and the leaves should be washed occasionally to keep them bright and clean. It can be repotted in the Spring and stem cuttings root easily if taken in the late summer. It is fully hardy and a number of interesting cultivars can be found.


http://crocus.co.uk/plants/_/shrubs/aucuba-japonica/itemno.PL00000541/

Pony Tail - Beaucarnea recurvata

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaucarnea_recurvata

http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Agavaceae/Beaucarnea_recurvata.html

http://www.plantsforlondon.co.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=16

The top 20

I can't find where I noted this down from, but at least a few years ago this was the top 20 indoor plants. These favourites are popular because they are attractive and easy.

1. Cactus / Succulent
2. Geraniums
3. Chlorophytum (Spider Plant)
4. Busy Lizzie's
5. Ivies
6. African Violets
7. Begonias
8. Rubber Plants
9. Ferns
10. Tradescantias
11. Chrysanthemums
12. Sansevierias
13. Bulbs
14. Cyclamens
15. Azaleas
16. Primulas
17. Poinsettias
18. Palms
19. Cissus
20. Philodendron

Tropical house - Oxford Botanic Garden

http://www.flickr.com/photos/79893903@N00/2138006458/

Top 10 Easy Care Houseplants

http://www.myra-simon.com/myra/gardening/hplants.html

Troubleshooting and Solving House Plant Problems

A most useful summary guide.

http://www.thegardenhelper.com/troubleshooting.html

--- pests ---


http://www.thegardenhelper.com/bugs.html

Fernery, Backhouse Nurseries, Yorkshire

This fernery was underground and inspired E.J. Lowe to publish his two volume study Our Native Ferns in 1865-67.

http://www.durhamweb.org.uk/dclhs/Backhouse-family.html

Heated pond, Gunnersbury Park, Middlesex

The first major Rothschild garden created in England by Nathan Rothschild who bougfht the estate in 1835. It had a large Orangery that accomodated huge tree ferns 33 feet high - a present from the Governor of Tasmania in 1873. This heated pond (another good idea) was photographed about 1900 and contained tropical water lilies (Nymphaea stellata) used as cut flowers in the house. It was heated by a return pipe from the greenhouse boiler.

http://www.hounslow.info/page.aspx?pointerid=D987EF95082F490480E56DD491540E52&thelang=001lngdef

Conservatory, Cherkley Court, Surrey

The great Conservatory, just off the dining room in 1900, then home to Abraham Dixon a Birmingham industralist (and philanthropist). Apart from the conservatory it had about an acre under glass. The conservatory was very unusual for the time being lit by electricity. The fountains and pools helped maintain the humidity required (still a good idea) and Lotus flowers (Nelumbo) bloomed in the pools. Victoria regis (now V. amazonica) had its own house, separated from the conservatory by large glazed doors. Around this pool were grown bananas, palms and papyrus. Behind the Great Conservatory was a glasshouse dedicated to camellias, lapageria and fruiting guava's.

http://www.cherkleycourt.com/home.htm

Palm House, Streatham Hall, Devon

Not sure of the date, about the turn of the century I would guess. The great Palm house (which was also a fernery) has long gone and the grounds are now part of the University of Exeter (since 1922 when the estate was in decline). It was 71 feet long by 40 feet wide! The plants came from the famous nearby nurseries of Veitch. Streatham Hall is now known as Reed Hall.


http://www.exeter.ac.uk/grounds1969/toc.html

Great Glasshouse, National Botanic Garden of Wales

http://www.gardenofwales.org.uk/en/157.html

Light, PH and Moisture meter

My Christmas presents to myself!

a)

3 in 1 Flexrake Soil Testing Moisture Meter with 8" Probe

Use this reliable, inexpensive device to accurately measure the Light, PH and the amount of moisture in the soil around your plants. Long probe allows measurements at different depths.

Measuring soil Light, PH & Moisture has never been easier! The needle in the meter indicates the precise light, PH & soil humidity. No electric hookups or batteries are needed. Just push in the probe and read the results. Taking readings at different depths quickly reveals the need for more or less light, PH & water.

Easy To Use, Stick Into Wet Soil And Read

Accurately change pH Soil levels as required by different vegetation
Perfect for Hydroponic growing
Perfect for hanging baskets, pots, containers, lawns, beds and borders and vegetable patches
Ideal in a greenhouse for tomatoes and other growbag/container grown vegetables

Provides a useful guide to prevent under or over watering
No electric hookups or batteries are needed
Specification:
Measuring range:
3.5 - 8 pH
1 - 10 Moist
0 - 2000 Light

b)

In-Out Doors Thermometer & Hygrometer

Both bought at very reasonable prices indeed from eBay UK. I look forward to their arrival. I bought a lot of new books (I am a book nut!) and will be ordering a new aquarium in the next few weeks.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS

Amateur Greenhouse, 1910

A greenhouse in 1910 in Hackney, London. Just look at the range of plants grown.
[Hackney Archives]

Machin poolhouse

There are lots of really good Conservatory manufacturers, but Machin make some of the best and this is such a great pool house.

http://www.machin-conservatories.com/pool-houses.htm

Climatron tour (Missouri)

http://www.mobot.org/hort/gardens/CLtour1.shtml

House Plants

An excerpt from the Texas Master Gardener Handbook
Compiled at Texas A&M University by
Douglas F. Welsh, Extension Horticulturist
Samuel D. Cotner, Extension Horticulturist
Texas A&M University

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/plantanswers/publications/houseplant/houseplant.html

-- searchable database of interiorscape plants ---

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/interiorscape/tamuhort.html

Seeds

A brilliant web site about seeds - collecting seeds, storing seeds, sowing seeds, germinating seeds and exchanging seeds, with pictures of seeds, seedpods and seedlings.

http://theseedsite.co.uk/index.html

Pteridomania - the Victorian Fern Craze

['Gathering Ferns' Illustrated London News July 1st 1871]


http://www.darwincountry.org/explore/000529.html

Holiday pet precautions

From Wayne County Animal Control

Christmas is a wonderful time of year. But make sure it's a wonderful time for your pets, as well. The decorations, food, and festivities can add up to disaster for your companion animal. The American Humane Society and the Wayne County Animal Control Department offer the following advice.

*Make sure Christmas trees are secure so that climbing cats or dogs with wagging tails can't knock over the tree.

*Hang breakable, glass ornaments well out of reach because the small glass and metal fastenings can be stepped on or swallowed.

*Keep tinsel, ribbons, and garland out of reach of pets, especially cats that are intrigued by them. These can become lodged in their intestines.

*Clean up pine needles frequently. They can be toxic when eaten by your pet.

*Prevent your pet from drinking water in the tree stand if you have added preservative chemicals. These can be poisonous to pets. Also, stagnant water can contain bacteria, which may lead to vomiting and diarrhea if ingested.

*Although house plants they add a warm touch, many plants can harm your pets. Keep these potentially dangerous bloomers well out of reach. Lilies, poinsettias, mistletoe, holly ivy, amaryllis and hibiscus can cause problems.

*Keep lights and extension cords safely secured or covered to deter chewing, which can lead to electric shock or even electrocution. Better yet, invest in pet-proof extension cords, or spray with products such as Bitter Apple or Chew Stop.

*Candles can be fragrant and enticing to pets. But they can be a fire hazard if knocked over by an exuberant pet, and the fumes can be harmful to birds.

*Liquid potpourri and sachets, popular during the holidays, can be very dangerous. Exposure can cause skin or oral damage to your pet and may cause illness or death.

*Some pets love visitors and behave very well. Others may be fearful or aggressive. Plan for how your pet will react to visitors. A quiet room, away from the commotion, with water and food available will help fearful animals be more comfortable.

By News-Argus Staff

http://www.newsargus.com/news/archives/2007/12/23/holiday_pet_precautions/index.shtml

Mock / Indian Strawberry - Duchesnea indica

From shaded, woody sites in India and China comes this interesting house plant that looks like a small strawberry but unfortunately the red fruits are inedible. Pity. It is easy to grow with evergreen rosettes and can be planted outside in a reasonable summer.

It likes an indirect light and will tolerate shade. It flowers in the Summer. The soil should be kept moist but not water logged. It is naturalised in the southern US. It can be propogated from seed or division.

Note : this plant is poisonous if ingested.

=== note March 2008 ===

It's been brought to my attention that though the fruits are rather inedible, they don't seem to be poisonous and have been eaten with no ill effects.

http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Duchesnea+indica

Taking your houseplant home

When taking a houseplant home from the garden centre, keep it protected and don't let it get chilled. As a rule don't buy from outdoor sales. If the plant gets chilled it will either die or be severely checked in its growth.