Garden Club
Cherry Gardens Garden Club Meeting 13th May.
The lively, passionate, convincing preacher at the Royal Wedding reminded me of our 13th May speaker. Enjoyable, entertaining and informative speaker Milton Vadoulis brought along an array of this year’s beautiful, improved versions of plants we love. Among them were a lovely new Euphorbia “Lipstick”, maiden hair fern, peace lily, philodendron, devils ivy, phalinopsis, mother- in-law’s tongue and a gorgeous, tight growing, Nandina called “Obsession” whose foliage remains red all year round.
We heard everything we needed to know about indoor plants beginning with LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION! The most common affliction of indoor plants is over watering, and they don’t all automatically thrive in 24/7, 365 days a year, indoor environments. Follow the instructions on your plant’s label meticulously and please don’t over water, starve or dehydrate it. Treat plants as you treat your children giving them what they uniquely need.
Plants need change, depending on the humidity in the house and how heating or cooling are affecting the moisture in their soil. For example Hoya (Indian Rope) should dry right out between waterings, Euphorbia Lipstick should be left in the hot sun and no water from May to September.
Milton answered many questions e.g. - How do you feed your indoor plants? Weak liquid fertiliser regularly every two weeks is the optimum unless you cannot maintain this regimen, then use a controlled release fertiliser especially designed for indoor plants, as regularly as recommended on the label. Some plants like cyclamen, which we see as indoor plants, are magnificent to start with then they yellow and spoil. In fact they should be treated like we used to treat cats. Put them out at night and enjoy them when you’re home. Cyclamen suffer in heated indoor environments. Why not find a method of putting plants like this on outside of the glass on the windowsill? Once they have finished flowering Cyclamens need to be left on their side in the pot in a dark place, with the occasional flick of water until Autumn. Water Lavender sparingly. Prune well after flowering. October is the optimum time to plant citrus and avocados.
At the end of the evening we had the opportunity of buying any of the plants which Milton had brought along. If you are passing through Gawler why not pay Milton a visit at 560 Main North Rd. Gawler, opposite the racecourse, open 7days 9 - 4.30, including a fully licensed café, ph 8522-3400. Our club is thinking of a Club excursion.
GEORGE’S GARDENING SUGGESTIONS FOR July 2018
July is the middle of winter and we expect it to be cold and wet, there is not much growth happening at this time, but there are quite a few jobs to be completed on any fine days you can find.
• Chop Tree Dahlias down to knee height.
• Clip Ceratostigma, Cestrum, Heliotrope, Crepe Myrtle and Plumbago.
• Reduce Lemon Scented Verbena by 2/3rds of last season’s growth.
• Prune out old woody stems of Abelia and clip top growth to shape.
• Remove old woody canes of Nandina and reduce Buddleia to knee height.
• Prune wisterias back to laterals.
• Pluck out all leafy growth of Alstroemeria and add Tomato fertilizer (potassium).
• In late July prune back to a strong set of buds (within 60cm of the ground) your Clematis vine, and remove all weak and dead growth.
• Begin to prune roses towards end of Month remembering to remove and bin all leaves.
Next Meetings
Monday 9th July - Winter Warmers An evening of soups and slices, followed by a gardening tip or trick from each member.
Monday 13th August - Annual General Meeting. Elections for all positions on the Committee will take place, followed by a gardening quiz. 2018 Annual subs ($12) are due.
