flowers articles

Brilliant Potted Colour

Friday, August 31st, 2007

The first secret is a quality potting mix like Yates Thrive Premium Potting Mix, which is free draining and contains the right stuff to get your pots off to a great start. It has a slow release fertiliser in the mix as well as a wetting agent to …
(more…)

Carnations (Dianthus)

Thursday, April 26th, 2007
Pink Carnations
Pink Carnations
.

In 1908, Anna Jarvis chose dianthus caryophyllus (pink carnation) as the emblem of Mother’s Day, a celebration she campaigned to create that became a U.S. public holiday in 1914. Today, it is one of the most widespread public holidays. Carnations are also widely used for other celebrations and important occasions such as weddings, funerals and Velentine’s Day.

The “pink” in pink carnation actually refers to the frilled edges of the flower. Pinking shears were named after flower, as they produce a similar frilled edge on fabric. It has been suggested that the colour got it’s name from the flower, rather than the other way round.

(more…)

Bromeliad (Bromeliaceae)

Thursday, April 12th, 2007

Bromeliads for the
Contemporary Garden
.

Bromeliaceae (the bromeliads) are a diverse family of plants endemic to Central and South America. They are a durable, colorful and exotic plant that grows well indoors or in a pot. The pineapple is a member of the bromeliad family, but so are 3000 other species ranging from tiny air-plants to terrestrial plants reaching 10m in height.

Around half of the bromeliads are epiphytes, meaning they attach themselves to the truck or branches of trees and shrubs. Epiphytes are not parasites, as they gather the moisture and nutrients they need from the air and what they catch falling from above. If you don’t have a tree handy, they can be mounted to a piece of (untreated) wood or cork bark.

(more…)

Easter Lilies (Lilium longiflorum)

Friday, April 6th, 2007
Easter Lily.

Easter Lilies are a fragrant lily, with white trumpet-like flowers that blooms around Easter in the Northern Hemisphere (spring). Their popularity makes them the fourth-largest potted floral crop. They were originally native to Southern Japan and Taiwan, but are now grown around the world in cool climate regions.

Peak flowering period is late Spring to early Summer. Potted Easter Lilies are unlikely to flower again unless replanted outside.

(more…)

Gardenia

Thursday, March 22nd, 2007
Gardenia
Gardenia

Gardenia is a genus of evergreen flowering shrubs and trees native to tropical and sub-tropical Australia, Asia and Africa. They are prized for their strong sweet aroma and large flowers.

Gardenia prefer sheltered humid locations, and acidic well-drained soil. Specialized potting mixes are available. They do not tolerate frost. Fertilize well with an organic mix.

(more…)