Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2023 i The Gardener Magazine

We, as a team, have been avoiding this HOT topic for a long time – the cannabis question. I am sure you can understand why. Well, we have now done all our research, found the questions that are most asked by you our readers and Wendy has researched these with the intensity of a sniffer dog (excuse the pun). I am sure you will learn a whole lot, as have I. And I am also sure that some of you may be able to teach us a thing or two. So here you have it. Within these pages is the article on The Cannabis Question. It’s a great read! March is finally on our doorstep, but so far this year, January and February felt like 12 months. The incredible heat…

Seldom higher than about 15cm, the care tips for these three are very well-draining soil, the regular soaking and letting dry out well method of watering and little else. Crassula pellucida subsp. marginalis ‘Variegata’ This gaudy, variegated cultivar of the indigenous Crassula pellucida has small heart-shaped leaves edged in thin lines of red or pink resembling embroidery and adding contrasting colour to the dark green and cream centres. Late spring and summer supply a generous harvest of small white flowers. This slow-growing, spreading succulent will keep its lovely foliage hues in part shade and is perfect as a groundcover or as a single specimen in a hanging basket which it will fill spectacularly. Crassula expansa subsp. fragilis Do not be fooled by the fragile appearance of this tough indigenous crassula…

QUICK Fact file Experts: Gerrit and Marinda Snyman Business name: In2plants Wonderboom, Pretoria Specialising in: Air plants Contact: Open by appointment or shop online at www.in2plants.co.za, email gerrit@in2plants.co.za With a motto like ‘freedom to create’, In2plants is a wonderland of endless imagination. Their exquisite collection of air plants is enough to make any gardener rethink the way they see soilless growing. Their Nursery offers exclusivity and a one-on-one shopping experience but you’ll have to make an appointment before visiting. These are some questions answered by Gerrit and Marinda so we can learn more about these wonderful plants. Please tell us about your journey with air plants and what drew you to this mysterious tillandsia genus? Our passion for these plants started about 18 years ago. Tradition in our house is…

Shady areas are often unfairly called ‘difficult’ places to garden in because of low light conditions, the competition of tree and large shrub roots and nutrient-poor, badly draining soil. Handy tips to manage full shade: Full shade is classified as a place with no direct sunlight in any part of the day. Plant suggestions for full shade with ample moisture include Adiantum capillus-veneris (maiden hair fern), Chlorophytum comosum ‘Vitattus’ (Hen-with-chickens), Plectranthus verticillatus (moneyplant) and Cyrtomium falcatum (Japanese holly fern). Semi or half shade These shady conditions are much easier to deal with as it will receive soft morning sun and will be shaded in the afternoon – luckily the type of conditions most plants love! If it is the other way around, for instance if the shade is caused by…

We have two endemic Phygelius species, P. capensis and P. Aequalis which will keep the sunbirds happy with their nectar at this time of year. Showy hybrids known as the ‘Candydrops’ range in cream, deep rose and red, are also readily available. They are free flowering, compact, bushy and upright, and not only perfect for lightly shaded areas in moist soil in the garden, but also attractive and long-flowering enough to grow in pots on a patio or balcony. Feed your Cape fuchsias regularly from spring to late autumn with a general fertiliser and supply a mulch around the root system to keep it moist. Dead-heading old blooms will encourage the production of more. Give the plants a good chop in early spring and they will soon shoot with renewed…

Chervil (Anthriscus cerefolium) is associated with French cuisine and especially ‘Fines Herbes’, a mix of chervil, tarragon, parsley and chives that’s used to add an elegant, subtle flavour to mild dishes. It is also classified as a sweet herb (along with fennel, anise and sweet basil) because it has a fleeting sweetness and pairs well with salty foods to provide contrasting flavours that are pleasing to the palate. What’s to like Chervil is a compact herb, growing 30 cm high and 30 cm wide. It’s also known as French parsley for its lacy green leaves that are similar to parsley. It’s suitable for growing in pots and window boxes, and regular harvesting will encourage it to grow into a bushy plant with plenty of leaves. To grow Plant in full…

The gift of a pot full of colourful calla lilies is a luxury, but after about eight weeks or so indoors, they stop blooming and the leaves start yellowing. Is this the end of the road for them? Not at all, they are just informing you of an upcoming dormancy period. So, after removing the dead flowers and debris, reduce watering while the leaves are slowly dying down, and then stop doing it altogether for a few months allowing the tubers in the pot to rest in a cool, dry place outdoors. As the tuber’s natural planting time is early spring, start awakening the sleeping beauties gently again by moistening the pot slowly. If you feel that the awakening roots might be a tad crowded, simply lift the ball out…

The 12 Mini Propagator Tray gives you more options to sow different seed in one tray. Sowing in trays Transplanting into the garden Once your seedlings are 2-3cm high, they can be transplanted into the garden. Prepare the planting area well beforehand by adding lots of Garden Master Organic Compost and a few handfuls of Garden Master All purpose Premium Bio Fertiliser. Dig small holes and pop in the seedlings spacing them 15cm apart (for alyssum). Firm down and water in well. After care Don’t let the seedlings dry out, especially in the first two weeks of transplanting. Once the plants start growing well you can pinch out the growing tips to make them bushier. What to sow Alyssum California Poppy Hollyhock African Daisy Phlox Viola Poppy Marigold Nasturtium Lobelia…

Let’s face it, 2023 did not start off with a celebratory bang. Rumbling electrical appliances in a death knoll due to power surges, an inverter screaming in agony every night during load-shedding, and a burst geyser dumping streams of water in the ceiling and down a passage wall did not inspire me to grab a bottle of sparkling wine to have a toast. Rare acts of nature like huge swarms of minute insects forming black clouds near any light source – even a weak, half-charged LED lamp – made it impossible to cook, read, or even open your mouth, as they simply dive-bombed into anything. In their wake, dozens of fat little geckos came out to feast on them, and for a while it was not unusual to find these…

I call agaves my ‘blueprint of God’. The most spectacular feat of nature is the imprint of the thorns and leaf margins first visible as the soft leaves start to uncurl from the growth point and which stay on the leaves even as they mature into adult form. I can take pictures of these imprints forever and they never stop fascinating me! There is just no denying that certain agave species and cultivars are so striking that they completely change the immediate landscape with their presence. This is a diverse genus when it comes to shapes, textures and foliage colours, such colours as dull green, steel-grey, iridescent silvery-blue and even variegated with white, cream or yellow are all thrown in. A common characteristic of these succulents is the symmetrical rosette…

The law In 2018, the South African Constitutional Court upheld and extended a high court judgement making it unconstitutional to criminalise home use and cultivation of cannabis for adults. The two acts that were specified are the Drugs Act (1992) and the Medicines Act (1965) covering the use of cannabis for recreational purposes and the use for medicinal purposes. So, this was the first step and by no means clear and concise but from this ruling came the Cannabis for Private Purposes Bill which was approved by parliament in 2020. As it stands today, the following can be said: An adult can consume, grow and be in possession of cannabis in private for personal use. They can also exchange cannabis with another adult as long as no money is exchanged.…

Flower trend 2023 Tribute to nature This year the focus of floral design is all about nature and making nature part of our lives. The designs are more whimsical, making them more natural-looking. Flowers in a bouquet form an airy ensemble with different shapes and colours. Paired with natural-looking vases and accessories, with dried as well as living materials, the forms come together in a harmonious design. Colours including earthy and green tones are prevalent, complemented with subtle white, lilac and neutral tones. But also, don’t forget to use the Pantone colour of the year: Viva Magenta for a pop of bright colour. Forms mimic natural elements such as boulders and rocks with lots of texture. When arranging flowers at home, remember the words light and playful and you will…

Prolong the flowering of your dahlias by diligently deadheading the old, blown blooms and pinching back the growth tips of side stems. Taking the old flowers off prevents the tubers from expending its energy on trying to produce seed. While they are still going, keep on picking the lovely flowers for the vase and arrange them in water to which you have added cut flower food. Feeding the plants with bulb food will not only reward you with more, late season flowers, but will also fatten up the tubers for a next summer season’s splendour. So, keep on doing it even when flowering is over. Go Shopping Start buying spring-flowering bulbs which become available from late March onwards. Do not plant them yet as the soil temperature needs to cool down…

Divide for more Lift and divide overgrown agapanthus, wild iris (Dietes), penstemon and daylilies. Cut them back, lift them out, split up and re-plant into freshly composted soil. Remove damaged leaves from gerbera clumps or divide them now if they are too overgrown. If you live in a very cold and frosty climate, you should not remove the old flower stalks or leaves of spent perennials. Simply tie the whole lot together at the top with raffia and do the neatening and cutting back and division (if needed) in late spring. It will protect their‘crowns’ from heavy frost. Bulb inspiration for patios Think about indigenous Cape cowslip ( forpatiopots. They are great for indoor pot culture too. The showiest bulbs to grow on pebbles in water indoors or in pots…

Dear Tanya… I have a succulent in the garden that gets watered every day, because it is very hot in Northern Cape. It has now changed colour to off-grey and is not opening. Could it be because of the amount of water given? Thank you, Carlene Fisher Dear Carlene I am very concerned as it looks like there is a ‘white’ deposit on the leaves. Do you use borehole water? If so, this could be the issue as to why the leaves are looking so sad. Some borehole water is very high in certain minerals and salts which can cause damage to leaves. I would advise that you water the soil around the plant and not the leaves at all. I would also suggest using a layer of organic material…

Use fountains for luxurious calm The concept of ‘luxury on a budget’ is big in design this year both indoors and out. And nothing says luxury like a running fountain overflowing with water. DIY fountain options don’t need to be pricey either, requiring a simple pump system to keep the water running. For features placed far out, look for solar water feature pumps that don’t require complicated wiring. Our gardens are constantly evolving. Whether you’re replacing spent annuals or contemplating the next big project, gardeners are rarely satisfied to keep things as they are. Autumn is the perfect time to consider bigger permanent features as activity begins to slow down. The calming nature of water features is scientifically proven and easy to harness in your backyard. You can start small…

Dionaea Venus flytrap The most famous of all carnivorous plants – the Venus flytrap – was first mentioned in a letter by Arthur Dobbs in 1759 and later named by John Ellis in 1768. It was described as “a great wonder of the vegetable kingdom”. Native to North and South Carolina in the United States, this small subtropical, wetland plant enjoys a temperate climate and a winter dormancy period. Over millennia this plant’s leaves have adapted to become fascinating mechanisms to ensnare prey. Sweet nectar in the centre of the trap, lure the innocent and on triggering multiple hairs on the leaf, an electric signal is sent that closes the trap in as fast as one-tenth of a second. Teeth on the outer rim of the leaf, interlock, ensuring no…

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In the food garden Remove spent summer crops and prepare the soil for autumn crops. Transplant broccoli, cauliflower and other brassica seedlings so they become established before winter. Cut down asparagus foliage and add to the compost, along with fallen leaves and grass cuttings. Adjust watering as the days get cooler. Check for pests and use organic or biological insect controls. Cut back herbs that have flowered (basil, marjoram, oregano) to encourage a second flush of leaves. Salvia x jamensis ‘Melen’ Also known as melen sage, this unusual salvia is a semi-evergreen shrub with an upright, bushy habit. The small leaves are ovate, downy, and quite aromatic. Racemes of apricot flushed cream to pale yellow flowers with dark maroon calyxes appear from early summer to autumn. Although being quite tough…

Perennial vygies or ice plants as they are also known as, must be replaced every few years with fresh stock. They root very easily from cuttings about 8 – 10cm long. 1. Pick healthy stems with semi-mature, not too woody growth. 2. Remove most of the succulent leaves at the bottom end and after dipping them in rooting hormone, insert them into a tray filled with damp, gritty potting soil suitable for succulents. 3. Water gently with a fine nozzle and place the tray in a warm and lightly-shaded spot. Keep the soil just moist. 4. As soon as you feel resistance when pulling on a cutting, it means roots have formed. Start feeding them then with a growth stimulant like Kelpak. 5. Pot the cuttings into individual containers as…

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