Category: Flower news

Conifer facts

With the arrival of various conifers here at the nursery, we thought we would share some information on these gorgeous green trees.  Like people, conifers come in all shapes and sizes ranging from tall trees to ground cover plants. This versatility coupled with being easy to grow means they can fit in any garden.

Although they are known for being green these (mostly) evergreen trees come with a range of foliage colour from green, grey, silver or gold.  They also have seed-bearing cones – from typical ‘fir cones’ to the small berry-like fruit of yew.

Best planted in October and March – most conifers are hardy enough to survive the winter and will add structure to your garden. They do love a sunny spot in moist soil – whether that’s in the ground or a container.  However, keep them away from other plants or waterlogged soil as they won’t thrive.

We stock a variety of conifers including;

Cedars – The trees are usually grown as standalone trees in larger gardens. However they can be grown in pots and shaped. Our stock includes various types of Thuja and Juniperus.

Cypresses – Chamaecyparis are also common evergreen trees or hedging plants in UK gardens. These are known as ‘false cypresses’.  They thrive in our climate and are prized for their variety.

Spruce – Popular as a Christmas tree, they vary in denseness and shape.

Yew – Yew, like many conifers can be a great option for hedging.  This native evergreen tree is officially known as Taxus baccata.

Although many conifers make good hedges, most won’t re-grow if you prune them back into old wood, so trim regularly to keep them looking good.
If you have would like to know more about conifers, please do get in touch, we’d love to help!

With the arrival of The Glasshouse here at the Plant Market, we thought we would share some tips on how to best care for your house plants.

The benefits of having houseplants can’t be underestimated. They’ve been proven to improve the quality of the air you breathe and reduce stress levels. Houseplants don’t need a huge amount of care and attention but it’s important keep them healthy and happy.

Wondering about watering?

It sounds simple but it’s so important to keep your plants hydrated. Most houseplants die from overwatering as the water clogs the compost and the roots then can’t absorb any oxygen.

There are a couple of ways to water your green friends. One way is by using a watering-can soak the compost from above.   Here at the Plant Market, we tend to fill a saucer that sits under the pot, so the water is gradually absorbed up through the compost. All our plants come with a care label, so you know how much water they need and how often. If you’re unsure, then let the leaves wilt a little then water it. It’s better to let it become a bit too dry than too saturated. Watch our video on ‘How to water houseplants’, it’ll show you how we do it.

Misting for moistness

Regularly misting the leaves of your house plants as well as arranging them in groups increases humidity. This is beneficial as the increased humidity around them mimics their natural growing conditions.

Feed me!

Many people think that watering their plants regularly is enough but if you really want them to thrive then you need to feed them. You should use a (diluted) liquid feed – just make sure to check the instructions on the feed and that it’s one that suits the plants you have. It’s best to start feeding them after about 3 months as that’s when the nutrients in the compost will start to deplete. Then if you feed them, every 1-3 months after that, they’ll thank you for it.

Keep it clean

There are a couple of reasons we suggest dusting your house plants. Yes, it makes them look better but did you know it also helps with photosynthesis? A layer of dust on the foliage will block sunlight and reduce the plant’s ability to photosynthesize, which is ultimately how the plant feeds itself. A clean plant that’s photosynthesizing at optimal levels will be a healthy plant, and in-turn more resistant to diseases and pest infestations.

Give the leaves a gentle rub with a damp cloth or you can always put them in the shower and spray with lukewarm water. You can also use a leaf shine spray for a quick fix.

Deadheading

It’s not just from an aesthetic perspective that deadheading is important, the brown leaves can play home to pests and disease.  Use secateurs to cut off dead or damaged leaves just above a leaf point. You can also usually remove them by gently pulling them with your fingers.

If you need any help with your houseplants, please do get in touch.

RIPENING YOUR TOMATOES

There’s nothing quite like the smell of tomatoes on the vine. Hopefully your tomato plants started producing fruit from June and will continue right through until the first frosts.  By September however, the ripening process slows down as the days become shorter. They love a warm, light place to grow and ripen so try to leave them on the vine for as long as you can.

So how can you encourage them to ripen as we head towards shorter days? As we said, keep them on the vine for as long as you can, giving them as much light and warmth as you can.

If the plants have any remaining flowers, snip them off. The plant needs its energy to develop the fruit so by removing the flowers, you give them a better chance of ripening.

By early autumn, the plants should have a few trusses of fruit. To encourage them to ripen, remove the top of each plant. Just cut through the main stem a couple of leave above the top truss of green fruit.  By doing so, it lets the plant get maximum exposure to light thereby aiding the ripening process.

As it starts to get a bit chiller, it’s time to move the plants indoors. Our favourite top tip to help the ripening process  – keep them in a drawer or paper bag with a banana. Bananas release ethylene, a hormone associated with the ripening of fruit, which will help speed up the ripening process.  Remember to check the drawer or bag regularly and remove ripened tomatoes as and when you find them. You can also place them on a windowsill to ripen.

If you do have any green ones left at the end of the season, use them to make a green tomato chutney – great for a thoughtful Christmas gift!