Showing posts with label Raintree Annie. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Raintree Annie. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 8, 2023

Air Plant As A House Plant Reviewed

 

Air Plant


Air plants are really fascinating and beautiful houseplants. We love having ours, it is such a pretty and unusual little plant. We bought one air plant and were delighted when it grew a baby airplant or delightfully named  "pup". Now as you can see in the photos, the "pup" is nearly as big as its parent !  

Their ability to survive and thrive with little or no soil is amazing and really beautiful, unusual varieties are now easily available. 

They truly adapted beautifully to their natural environment and with a few care needs we can enjoy them close up as house plants. They originate mainly from Mexico and South America. They do not root in the soil like most plants but instead use their wiry roots to attach themselves to tree branches or rocks or even man made structures like telephone wires. In their natural environment air provides them with all they require. 

Their official name as a group is Tillandsia but most of us will know them as Air plants which so aptly describes them. 

There are over 600 different species of air plants, each exhibiting its own distinctive shape, size, and color. Some common varieties include Tillandsia ionantha, Tillandsia cyanea, and Tillandsia xerographica. All are really fascinating. 

 

Air Plant
Air Plant

 Care Of Air Plants

Air plants, live with no soil to sustain them and obtain all their nutrients and moisture from the air around them. 

I find them quite easy care plants but there are a few vital needs that must be met to ensure the plants stay healthy. 

 

1. Light

Air plants need bright but indirect light. So near a windowsill or in a well lit room would be a good place. These are not plants for shady dark rooms. 

We need to avoid placing them in direct sunlight. This will burn or scorch the leaves so make sure that any light is diffused by the gentle light shade of other plants or a window covering. 


2. Soil And Humidity

There are no soil requirements for Airplants.

All the water and nutrients are absorbed via special scales called trichomes which cover their leaves.

In their original natural habitat it would have been humid so it is important that we give them a mainly humid environment. 

Misting them with water every few days or placing them in a tray filled with water and pebbles will increase localised humidity for them and they will appreciate it. They cannot tolerate soaking for days at a time though. 

Just misting will not be enough though, they must also be watered.  


3. Watering Air Plants

Watering is necessary but it must be done with extreme caution to prevent root rot.  

 It is best to submerge the plants in water upside down for  thirty minutes every one to two weeks. I try to do it every week but if I forget the air plant does not seem to mind too much. I would not leave it any longer than 2 weeks though or the plants may start to suffer. In very warm weather you can water them in this way more often.  

 I simply turn mine upside down so that the water will not collect in the crown of the plant and submerge in a glass of warm water for about half an hour. I do find room temperature water is best, as I feel that ice cold water might be a bit of a shock. Also it is preferable to use rainwater rather than tap water due to the chemicals in tap water. 

It's important to shake off any excess water to prevent moisture from pooling in their base. Once dry I gently place back in its holder. They should be allowed to dry completely before being placed back in their display area or container. 


Air Plant Submerged In Glass of Water
Air Plant Submerged In Glass Of Water Upside Down


 

4. Air Circulation

The main risk to air plants is rot. Air plants benefit from proper air circulation which prevents stagnant moisture  from accumulating on their leaves, reducing the risk of rot. 

To enable this process we must position them in places that are well-ventilated.

Alternatively you can use a small fan to create an artificial air current but it should be possible in most situations to give good natural ventilation.

In the summer it is fine to place the air plants outside on a warm day, especially if it is a humid day. I do always being them in at night. 


5. Feeding Air Plants 

Air plants in our homes appreciate a balanced, diluted fertilizer every few weeks. I find once a month is fine and enables me to remember to do it on the first of each month. 

We need to buy a specialised fertiliser specifically for air plants to provide them with the necessary food to thrive.

 


How To Display Air Plants. 

Due to their versatile nature, air plants can be displayed in various creative ways. You can get quite artistic with them to suit the style and decor of your own home or workplace.


          

They can be grown in plant frames, glass terrariums, mounted on driftwood or stones, grown on ornamental shells or placed in hanging plant holders. I currently have mine in a glass holder filled with white perlite.

 As I get more I would like to have them displayed in hanging baskets and placed on driftwood as I think that is healthy for the plants and they look very beautiful and quite stunning that way. 

Air plants  are very low maintenance plants once we understand their needs and how to meet them. I feel with a little guidance they are suitable for a beginner with house plants or any garden plants. 

Their stunning appearance and unusual habit also makes them a lovely choice for house plant collectors or anyone who likes a more unusual house plant display.

As it is easy to buy small specimens it means that you can have quite a lot in one room and they do not take up much space. In fact I think they add to the decor and ambiance of a room. 

 

        




Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”


Tuesday, July 25, 2023

The Sarracenia Or Pitcher Plant Reviewed

 

Sarracenia Or Pitcher Plant

 

My husband and I have recently developed a fascination for these carnivorous plants. 

I have been gardening and owning house plants for decades yet it has only been in the last few years that I became interested in these plants. It just shows that when it comes to gardening you never stop learning! 

I knew nothing about these carnivorous plants and each one is slightly different so I applied the same methods I do when first growing any plant to learn about its habits, origin, position, water, feed and soil needs and do my best to help it thrive. 

For me the introduction to Sarracenia came when talking to a very knowledgeable man at a plant fair with a huge display of carnivorous plants from his nursery. As I have said before most gardeners are only too happy to discuss plants with anyone who will listen, so I listened, asked questions and gained a huge amount of insight and knowledge and then I bought a plant from him. 


The Sarracenia is also commonly known as the Pitcher plant, most likely due to the shape of its leaves. It is a fascinating plant and at the plant fair both adults and children were crowding around to see and understand more about these plants.

Sarracenia Or Pitcher Plant Outside

 

Characteristics of the Sarracenia Plant

Native to North America, this quite beautiful and striking carnivorous plant is known for trapping insects in its distinctive pitcher shaped leaves.

The Sarracenia plant possesses several distinctive features. The most striking trait is its pitchers, which are modified leaves that form long, tube-like structures. They come in various colours such as green, red and yellow which gives it a quite pretty appearance.  

 The inside of these pitchers secretes a compelling nectar that attracts insects. Once they land on it the slippery surfaces make escape very difficult and the hairs that point downward prevent insects from climbing out. Hence the insects are trapped and cannot escape and without delving into the gory details, become nutrients for the plant. 

It is worth mentioning that the Sarracenia plant’s pitchers are not only used for carnivorous purposes, they also act as water collectors. They accumulate rainwater, which not only provides hydration  but also serves as a habitat for beneficial organisms such as mosquito larvae-eating aquatic species.


Care and Growing Conditions For The Pitcher Plant

To ensure the healthy growth of your Sarracenia plant, it is essential to provide it with the appropriate care and growing conditions. Here are some very important factors to take account of for the plant to survive.

Sarracenia Or Pitcher Plant on windowsill

 

Position Of Sarracenia Plant

Sarracenia plants thrive in bright, indirect sunlight and need about five hours sunlight each day. However we need to be careful as too much strong sun can burn the leaves

 So in the house somewhere that is a sunny windowsill but has filtered light would be perfect.

 In the summer time we also take our pitcher plant outside during the day onto the patio on a saucer filled with rainwater to enjoy the semi shade semi sun conditions we have there. We do leave it out in light rain so it can naturally collect its rainwater but we do bring it in if we get heavy downpours and always bring it back inside in the evening. 


Sarracenia Ideal Temperatures

Sarracenia plants are generally cold hardy and can tolerate quite a wide range of temperatures. However, they prefer cooler conditions, with a temperature range of between 60-85°F (15-29°C) during the day and about 45-55°F (7-13°C) at night. 

 So if you know that your house gets hotter than this do provide shelter for partial shade. This could be a simple piece of cardboard, other plants around the Pitcher plant or a screen of some kind.  


Watering Needs of Sarracenia

Pitcher plants must have moist soil. They must not be allowed to dry out. However, it is very important we never use tap water on a Sarracenia, it can and does kill the plant. 

Rather than tap water always use rainwater ideally, or if you cannot get that, then distilled water.

We do get periods of drought here now, so when it does rain we gather up the rainwater into bottles to save for use on our carnivorous plants.

  

             

Preferred Humidity For Pitcher Plants

 Sarracenia plants prefer higher humidity levels, ideally between 50 to 70%. It is not always easy to give the plants this level of humidity all year round and I find can be one of the most difficult things to get right. 

 However the most inexpensive solution is to put a saucer full of pebbles filled with rainwater under the plant to help increase levels of humidity. This way the plant is not waterlogged but gets the benefit of localised humidity. 

It is often good for plants to live together so that they benefit each other so your pitcher plant can live next to say a Spider Plant or a Banana plant or any houseplant as long as they are in separate pots.

If you can afford a humidifier then that is a great solution. We do not have one and the saucer of water works well enough, but you have to remember to keep it topped up with rainwater.

 

Sarracenia Or Pitcher Plant with houseplants


Soil Requirements for  Sarracenia

Most of us will grow Sarracenia as a houseplant indoors most of the year, so it will be growing in a pot. 

The soil we use is crucial for the health and vitality of the Sarracenia plant and it is very particular. If you have one of these plants it is important not to deviate away from these soil requirements. 

Sarracenia plants must have acidic soil to grow well and thrive. So the soil must be pH of 4.0 to 5.0.

 This acidic ph level replicates their original natural habitat, which is often boggy and acidic due to decaying organic matter.

The soil must be acidic and very well drained, porous and loose with good aeration. Ideally it will be a mix of sphagnum peat moss, sand and perlite. This helps to prevent the plant becoming waterlogged which it dislikes and helps toward good root formation. 

We do not need to use any fertilisers, in fact it would be detrimental to the Sarracenia. Fertilisers often contain chemicals and minerals that will harm or even kill the plant. 

Due to the fact they are carnivorous plants, Sarracenia plants do not require any additional fertilisation, all the nutrients they require come from the insects they attract and capture.

Do not worry if your pitcher plant leaves goes thin. We were told that this is when they have insects inside the pitcher and are digesting them! A little gruesome but equally fascinating. 

Ours is pretty thin at present as it has recently been eating very well! Makes me wish that I went thin when I ate! 

Sarracenia Or Pitcher Plant tubes


So while there is a lot to learn to successfully grow these plants and I am certainly still on a steep learning cure myself, they are truly fascinating. 

They also do a wonderful job of keeping down the insects and recently ours was extremely helpful in dealing with an infestation of a type of whitefly on my new strawberry mint. We simply placed the Sarracenia next to the mint plant and within 2 days all the flies were gone! 

I know of people who keep a host of carnivorous plants in their greenhouses in order to keep insect pests at bay and apparently they work really well.  


 

The Sarracenia plant, with its fascinating characteristics, quite pretty coloured tubes and carnivorous nature, is an intriguing addition to our house plant collection. With care and attention it will reward us with an unusual and intriguing plant for many years. While maybe not a complete beginners houseplant, if you are prepared to learn it is certainly a wonderful plant to own. It was our first pitcher plant but I do not think it will be the last ! 


More House Plant Reviews

 Reviewing How To Take Care Of Your House Plants On Vacation

Swiss Cheese Plant Or Monstera Reviewed As A House Plant And Fashion Trend




Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”


Tuesday, July 11, 2023

Reviewing Ten Top Tips For Novice Gardeners

 

Border of daisy flowers

I have been helping a person new to gardening recently. Its been a long time since I was a new gardener as I started as a child when I was around 5 years old. This person is an adult and has no prior knowledge so I had to start from the beginning to help them with a new garden. 

So I thought it would be useful for any brand new gardeners out there to have a basic list of things to bear in mind when you start gardening. 

To my mind a garden is anything from a window box to a small back garden to large acres of land. Each have their own challenges and rewards. In particular never think you cannot be a gardener if you only have a small patch or containers.   


1.Learn About Each Plant As You Buy It Or Are Given It.

Research where it originally grew, what conditions it likes, what care it needs including its watering and soil requirements, pruning, ideal situation and winter care.

Select plants that are well-suited to your growing conditions, such as your climate and soil type. Right plant, right place will save you time, money and heartache. 

This is better especially in the early days of gardening than trying to cope with plants that will need a lot of care and input from you because your conditions do not suit it. 

If you do this with each plant it is not as daunting and you will quickly learn about a lot of plants. Once you are experienced in your gardening you will be more confident to try more difficult plants.


Hebe shrub with purple flowers


2.Buy A Few Good Quality Tools.

 Every gardener has their tried and trusted favourite tools and that will vary between gardeners and gardens. The ones below are what I use most in my garden so I would suggest a basic kit to include:-

  • Secateurs like these Wolf By Pass Secateurs
  • Shears like these Wolf Garten Shears 
  • Adjustable Loppers
  • Watering can and/or a hosepipe with adjustable head
  • Garden fork
  • Garden spade
  • Weeding hoe
  • Hand fork and hand trowel 

You can always add more as you go and you may need specific tools depending on your garden and the trees, shrubs and plants in it, but get the basics first.


Wolf Gardening Shears


3. Learn About Your Garden Plot 

Get to know your soil type whether it is clay or sandy, loam or stony. To check if it is acidic, neutral or alkaline you can purchase soil testing kits such as the one below, that will give you this information. 

If you garden in containers you will be able to choose the soil type depending on which compost you buy. Ericaceous compost is for acid liking plants, for others a good quality general purpose compost will be fine. 

Get to know which parts of your garden faces south, north, east or west. 

Check which areas of your garden are sunny or shady. It is useful to map out areas that are in full sun, total shade and partial shade.

All this influences the type of plants that will be happy in your garden and enables you to get to know your plot.  

 

4. Have Materials For Propagation And Seed Sowing

Make sure you have materials for taking cuttings and propagating and growing seeds. This will save you money in the longer term being able to grow your own seeds and take cuttings to make more plants. 

So buy a few seed trays, small pots and larger pots, good quality compost suited to young plants, perlite and grit, vermiculite and seed or young plant compost.

Buy labels as well as you think you will remember which pot has which seeds in it but in my personal experience you won't!! 

Climbing clematis with purple flowers

5. Cold Frame And Greenhouse.

Perhaps not immediately necessary but if you can invest in a cold frame to harden off young plants and a basic greenhouse to keep tender cuttings and young plants, you will find it valuable. 

It does not need to be a big elaborate greenhouse, if you are starting out a very basic temporary greenhouse will be sufficient for a while. 


6. Have A Wildlife Friendly Garden.

A wildlife friendly garden will benefit you and your plants more than may be immediately apparent. As time goes on your garden will find a balance of pests and predators and the plants will thrive better. You will have the added joy of watching bees, moths and butterflies, birds and maybe even hedgehogs and frogs in your garden. 

To achieve this it is best not to use pesticides or slug pellets which are harmful to wildlife. 

Get to know the pests and diseases your plants can suffer from so you can identify any issues. 

Design your garden and grow plants so that it attracts beneficial predators that will eat the pests and do the work for you. 

Do not be too tidy, wildlife need messier, wilder areas to live and material to build nests but you can easily incorporate areas like this into a lovely garden.

Grow shrubs birds like to nest in and/or fix up bird boxes, have a pile of logs in an out of the way area that insects and frogs can live in.

Build or buy an insect house. Great for insects and fun for any children to build and watch. Why Insect Hotels Are Good for Wildlife And Gardeners 

If we give garden friendly predators a place to live and do not interfere too much soon your garden will have a balance. Yes you will still get pests but the beneficial predators will keep them in check so they will not do much damage.  

One of the best books about wildlife friendly gardening I have read is The Wildlife Gardener By Kate Bradbury. It is a beautiful book I very much enjoyed reading and learning from. 

Bird nest boxes in the garden

7.Crocks

Keep all broken crockery or broken pots to use as crocks in the bottom of pots so that soil does not block the drainage hole and to increase drainage. 


8.Get To Know Other Gardeners And Their Gardens.

Other gardeners are a wonderful source of information and inspiration. If they are local to you what grows well in their gardens may well grow well in yours. If you get chatting to them they may even share cuttings or dig up and share plants with you ! :) 

Most gardeners are very happy to talk about plants ! If there are any open garden events near you do take the opportunity to go around other gardens, You will learn so much and can continue to improve your skills and knowledge as long as you want to garden!  


Pink Lavataria Flowers


9.Gardening Resources 

  • There are often good gardening programmes on television.
  • Buy a few good gardening books to help get you started. I am a big fan of the late Geoff Hamilton who wrote the book Cottage Gardens and the book listed below among many others. There are also many other good gardeners to learn from. 
  • Check out good gardening magazines
  • In addition you can join online gardening communities. 
  • Read gardening articles by experienced and enthusiastic gardeners like those Gardening Reviews here on Review This Reviews. 
  • If there are any gardening events and gardening shows local to you or that you can travel to they are a wonderful source of inspiration and information and a lovely day out. 


 

  10.Relax And Enjoy Your Garden!

 Few gardens are perfect.

Cultivate patience and enjoy the seasons, gardening takes time and effort, and not everything will be perfect right away. In fact in my experience a garden is always an ever changing dynamic, work in progress. 

Enjoy the process and learn from your successes, failures, surprises and mistakes. I am still learning and making mistakes and having successes after decades of gardening!  The main thing is to enjoy yourself and have fun. 


More Gardening Articles














Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”


Tuesday, June 27, 2023

Reviewing Choisya Or Mexican Orange Blossom Shrub

 

Choisya Or Mexican Orange Blossom Shrub

Choisya or Mexican Orange Blossom is a gorgeous shrub for the garden and one I would highly recommend. It is an evergreen shrub with fragrant white star shaped flowers and lovely sunny aromatic yellow foliage. 

It is related to oranges and other citrus plants and its leaves release a beautiful scent when crushed. It gained its common name Mexican Orange Blossom from its scented flowers 

One of the most sought after varieties and the one we have is the Choisya Sundance. It has bright yellow leaves that add a gorgeous splash of colour to the garden shining out against darker foliage or a dark fence. 

There are other varieties of Choisya some with darker or narrower leaves you may wish to consider. Regarding size they vary between about five to eight feet in height and spread, though will take pruning. 

Choisya Sundance has white scented flowers borne mainly in May and June and yellow-green leaves are very aromatic. It is hard to describe the scent but it is perhaps a little like basil or orange blossom and very gorgeous. I love brushing the leaves and flowers and pruning is a joy! 

Mexican Orange Blossom Shrub


Growing Conditions For Choisya or Mexican Orange Blossom

It is always important to know the native growing conditions of any plant so we can try to give it similar conditions in our own gardens. Choisya or Mexican Orange Blossom is native to North America and Mexico where it grows in sunny locations in well drained soil.  

So it is a wonderful shrub to have in any sunny border. This is not a shrub that will thrive in deep shade, it must have sunshine for at least a significant part of the day, though will cope with light shade. 

It does best in a sheltered position so near a wall or fence or in the company of other shrubs or in a garden with a good hedge or shrubs all around. 

As an evergreen flowering shrub it has beautiful colourful yellow foliage all year round and can be planted in the garden, on patios in a large pot or planted as a stand alone specimen shrub. It pairs very well with spring flowering bulbs like daffodils and tulips and early perennials.

Choisya or Mexican Orange Blossom prefers a south facing location in order to get as much sunshine as possible all day. So for most people a south facing position in the garden is ideal. 

The exception to this is if you live somewhere with exceptionally hot summers in which case a west facing location may be better as that gives the plant respite in part of the day from hot burning sun which may scorch its leaves. We certainly do not live in an exceptionally hot climate but  I did notice last year during our prolonged heatwave that some leaves did turn brown but I simply pruned them off in August and the plant recovered.   

Choisya Shrub


Soil Conditions For Choisya

Choisya thrives in well drained soil, that is rich in organic matter. It dislikes sitting in wet or damp soil so drainage is very important. It can tolerate a wide range of soil types from clay to sandy soil but it does prefer slightly acidic to neutral soil. It may not thrive quite so well if you have very alkaline soil in which case you would be better growing in a large pot filled with ericaceous (or acid) soil compost.  

If you are unsure of your soil type you can buy an inexpensive kit to easily test your soil, which is useful to do in any case then you know your soil conditions for all future planting. They are not difficult to use and can give you a decent information about your soil. 

          

Planting Choisya or Mexican Orange Blossom Shrub

It is usually best to plant shrubs in Autumn/Fall or failing that in early Spring. When planting it is essential to incorporate lots of organic matter such as rich compost. Dig a very large planting hole about twice as wide and deep as you need in order to add all the organic matter.

Very few of us have perfect soil conditions, so this helps to improve the drainage especially on clay soil and to retain moisture if in a very light sandy soil. It is vital to water deeply after planting and to give it a good watering at least once a week until it establishes itself. 

I would always plant Choisya or Mexican Orange Blossom shrub where you are going to brush against it regularly. Although many shrubs are planted at the back of the border, this one deserves to be where you can touch it and smell it every day! So you may like to plant it as a specimen shrub or at a corner or place where you walk past and can brush against it. 

If you do not have a garden or if your soil is very alkaline you can also plant Choisya in a large pot or container. Perhaps choose a variety that is on the smaller side. For container planting it is best to pot and repot in Spring only. I have one in a very large pot and it is doing very well. I planted it first with crocks and good drainage in the bottom to prevent drainage holes getting blocked with soil, then added a mix of high quality ericaceous (acidic) and loam based compost.

 It does require much more deep watering more often than it would if grown in the ground and I need to pay more attention to it to check if it looks stressed or having any issues.

In winter container grown plants are more vulnerable, so I wrap her in fleece and keep by a sheltered wall. 

I also do keep it much smaller at around three foot so it does not outgrow the container too quickly. However, it is worth it as I wanted one in this particular location and it is very happy. 

Feeding Choisya

Choisya in the ground do not generally need feeding although they do benefit from an annual mulch in Spring. In containers top dress each year in spring with fresh compost. If the shrub is not flowering or has few flowers give it a feed in Spring of potassium or sulphate of potash.

 

 

Pruning Choisya or Mexican Orange Blossom Shrub

Once established Choisya needs very little care and maintenance. The main task is to do annual pruning to the desired size and to shape the plant how you like it to look. 

It is a fast growing shrub and can grow to be six foot wide and tall which looks amazing if you have the room. However it can easily be pruned to keep it smaller than this as required. 

The best time to prune it is when it has finished flowering usually around July to late summer. Try to get all pruning done by August as the shrub needs time to recover before winter cold sets in. I usually prune with a pair of sharp secateurs like the Wolf Bypass Secateurs  though you may need Loppers for thicker branches if it is a large shrub. It is simply a matter of shortening each branch to the desired length.


Watering Needs

For the first year after planting it is very important to water your Choisya or Mexican Orange Blossom regularly. This helps to establish a strong reliable root system for the health of the plant. It is vital to not skip this step. 

 As it grows older it can tolerate drought better and will rarely need watering if it is planted in the ground. However, it is advisable to water deeply and thoroughly perhaps once a week if you have a long period of drought. Do remember that it hates sitting in wet so check the soil first. 

This basic level of care will help promote healthy growth and enable prolific flowering. 

 

I would always find room for this gorgeous shrub, even in a packed garden I would have to have it! 

Choisya or Mexican Orange Blossom is a joy in all seasons with fresh spring growth, gorgeous white scented flowers in May and June, evergreen and scented leaves all year round and providing much needed structure in winter. 

Grow it tall and wide or prune to the desired smaller height. A beautiful evergreen, scented and well behaved shrub that I would not be without in the garden.

Choisya Or Mexican Orange Blossom Shrub


More Gardening Articles












Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”


Review This Reviews Quick View Home Page

The Review This Reviews Contributors



Cynthia SylvestermouseDawn Rae BMary Beth - mbgphotoBrite-IdeasWednesday ElfOlivia MorrisRenaissanceWomanThe Savvy AgeMargaret SchindelRaintree AnnieTreasures by BrendaSam MonacoTracey BoyerLou16BarbRadBev OwensBuckHawkDecoratingforEventsHeather426Coletta TeskeMissMerFaeryMickie_G

 

Review This is Dedicated to the
Memory of Our Beloved Friend and Fellow Contributor

Susan DeppnerSusan Deppner


We may be apart, but
You Are Not Forgotten





“As an Amazon Associate I (we) earn from purchases.” Disclosure Statement

X