Plant of the Week: Poinsettia
There can be no plant more Christmassy than a poinsettia, a striking beauty that flowers for months. They’ve been linked with Christmas for centuries: legend has it that a poor Mexican boy, unable to afford a proper present to take to church, picked some poinsettias (they grow like weeds in central and southern America) to bring for his Christmas gift. [...]
Look after your orchids
Look after your orchids this winter and they’ll reward you by bouncing back with fresh flower spikes and another long season of beautiful tropical flowers. Orchids make wonderful Christmas presents, especially varieties like Phalaenopsis or moth orchids which are more easy-going and reliable. In the wild, orchids live in forests in south-east Asia where they live up in trees drawing moisture [...]
Grow herbs!
Grow a windowsill herb garden for a constant supply of fresh, fragrant leaves right through the year, without even having to leave the comfort of your kitchen! Growing herbs indoors is the perfect solution for gardeners who are short of space. Most herbs flourish in a sunny spot, and they’re within easy picking reach for adding fabulous flavour to your daily [...]
Plant of the Week: Amaryllis
The glamorously showy six-pointed blooms of amaryllis in every shade from festive scarlet to purest white are a treat for the eyes in midwinter, brightening up many a Christmas windowsill. If you’re lucky enough to receive one as a gift (you can always treat yourself to one from the garden centre if not!) pot up the bulbs in well-drained compost [...]
Houseplant happiness
Keep your houseplants happy this winterwith a little extra TLC to see them through the festive season. What with lots of seasonal beauties from poinsettias to scented hyacinths and paperwhite daffodils, and lots of temptingly tropical greenery from palms, orchids and ferns to set it all off, it’s high season for houseplants. Here are our care tips to keep them [...]
School Gardening Campaign
The Duchess of Cambridge has marked the 10thanniversary of the Campaign for School Gardeningby visiting a garden in a London school. Her Royal Highness, dressed casually in boots, jeans and a wax jacket, got down to some planting with pupils from the Robin Hood Primary School, in Raynes Park, south-west London, helping to plant spring-flowering bulbs including daffodils and snake’s [...]