- Many cacti will flower only if kept cold in winter; allow the temperature to fall to 2-4°C (36-39°F), even to freezing, provided compost is dry – this does not apply to rat’s-tail cactus.  Christmas cactus, epiphyllum and prickly pears, all of which prefer to be kept at a temperature of at least 5-10°C...
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There are two main ways, as there are with most plants – by seed and by cuttings. Rais­ing azaleas from seed is a lengthy business and, unless you are interested in hybridising them, worthwhile only with the few true species. Reproducing by cuttings is easy and much quicker. Take cuttings in late summer when...
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The plants we call azaleas and rhododen­drons all belong to the Ericaceae family, as do heathers and the strawberry tree. Most of them prefer acid soils. At one time, azaleas were treated as a distinct genus, but they are now. botanically speaking, all considered to be forms of rhododendron. Image Credit: Wiki Perhaps the...
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By removing dead flowers -and the immature seed pods they contain -you encourage the plant to direct its energy into building up strength for the following year rather than into producing seeds, which is what it would do in the wild. Take care, though, not to damage the young leafy shoots that originate close...
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The flowering habits of bamboos have puzzled botanists all over the world for years. Some species of bamboo flower all at once – wherever they are in the world – and then die. Bamboo renews itself each year by sending up new shoots from underground stems. Each plant flowers only once in its life,...
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There are two species of bamboo worth recommending for screen­ing Arundinaria anceps and A. japonica. The first, best for the smaller garden, has a rampant yet graceful habit. Its shiny green canes grow up to 10ft and throw out arching fronds of glossy mid-green leaves. A. japonica reaches a height of 10-15ft. Its olive-green...
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