Citrus Fertilizer – is it necessary?
“A good Citrus fertilizer will contain the full balanced range of nutrients required to support healthy growth, and will have the right pH so it is definitely recommended.“ Citrus plants can be a substantial investment, with mature specimens costing in excess of 100 euros (or dollars), so it is understandable Continue Reading
Common Pest Profiles: Mealy bug, Aphids, Red Spider Mite, Thrips, Caterpillars, Sciara, Slugs and Snails, and Vine Weevils.
Insect Pests and the One-Week Rule Many insect pests reproduce rapidly during the warm summer months and during this time there will be an interval of approximately 7-10 days between generations. In warmer weather this interval is often shorter, and can be just a few days. As many pest eggs Continue Reading
Botanic Gardens to visit in the UK
Botanic Gardens are not unique to the UK, but it does have some of the best botanic gardens in Europe. These gardens often started as gardens of medicinal plants, cultivated for use by physicians, and as a way to scientifically study plants from around the world – many of which Continue Reading
The Basics of Greenhouse Growing
Why use a Greenhouse at all? Most parts of the planet have seasonal weather which varies considerably over the course of the year. Many of us live in places where the winter months are cold, excessively wet and inhospitable for growing plants outdoors. The appeal of growing in a sheltered Continue Reading
The Best Botanic Gardens in Europe
Europe is home to a long tradition of horticulture and botany-related academic research. From the days of the earliest plant hunters (and continuing to the modern day), Europeans have craved new species and exciting new varieties of plants to enjoy in the garden and greenhouse. Keen adventurers would set out Continue Reading
Fertilizer – Signs of nutrient deficiencies in plants and how to prevent them
We all know that plants basically make their own food using water, carbon dioxide and sunlight, but what is often overlooked is that plants also need a wide range of other nutrients to support healthy growth and prevent diseases. In this post we are going to learn about the primary Continue Reading
Xeric Gardening (Xeriscaping) – Water wise ways to Grow plants with minimal water
How to save water with intelligent Xeric Gardening or Xeriscaping – even in cooler climates! Why? Water is an extremely precious resource and is coming under increasing pressure in many places around the world, and clean water is increasingly prioritized during periods of drought due to climate change or poor Continue Reading
Alpine Rockeries and Rock Gardens – What they are and how to build one.
The Rock Garden – an Overview The Rock Garden is one of those underappreciated gardening art forms which can be truly spectacular when done well. Similar to the art of Bonsai, the Rock Garden is an attempt to recreate a scene of natural beauty in miniature. The roots of the Continue Reading
Gibberellic acid (GA3) What is it? What does it do? and How to use it?
(1α,2β,4aα,4bβ,10β)-2,4a,7-Trihydroxy-1-methyl-8-methylenegibb-3-ene-1,10-dicarboxylic Acid 1,4a-Lactone Acetoxymethyl Ester – or GA3 for short. Gibberellic acid belongs to a group of organic chemicals known as PGRs (Plant Growth Regulators) and they are used in horticulture to modify the growth of plants. These chemicals are also known as ‘plant hormones’ because they are analogous to Continue Reading