Care Guides
Care guides by Rupert Foxton-Smythe
426 guides
How to Grow Violets
Some like to grow violets as cut flowers, but not every soil is suitable for violet growing. Light soils have a tendency to get too dry and make the plants liable to red spider.
Marginal Plants for the Pool
If you are fortunate enough to live in the country or enjoy tramping across the countryside around lakes and natural ponds and rivers, you can hardly have failed to notice how plants grow in their…
Fertilizers for Indoor Plants
There are two main groups of fertilizers: organic and inorganic. The organic types can be rotted garden compost, manure, dried blood, bone meal or fish meal.
How Plants Feed
The bulk of every green plant comes from water and air. The air supplies mainly carbon; the water, oxygen and hydrogen.
Aquatic Plant Ailments
So much for the actual pond; water-lilies and marginal plants are susceptible to few ailments. Nymphaeas may sometimes suffer from a fungus disease of the genus Cercosporae.
Garden Pond Fish Ailments and Pests
Fish are susceptible to quite a few ailments and pests; but one pest constitutes a greater threat than all others combined. And sadly, I know of no satisfactory remedy. That pest is the heron.
Bulbs in Containers
Patios are now very popular features in many gardens and they will be enhanced by tubs and other ornamental containers filled with bulbous and other subjects.
Garden Flowers for Beginners
Garden flowers are divided according to their life-cycles, into three types. Annuals complete their life-cycle, from sowing to flowering and seed production, within 12 months.
Inside and Outside House Plants
House plants, like people, often enjoy a spell outdoors, in warmth, sunshine and fresh air.
Flower Gardening Month by Month
January February March April May June July August September October November December
How to Take Cuttings From Flowers
Some flowers, such as lupins, delphiniums and chrysanthemums, are best propagated from cuttings of new shoots.
The Families of Succulents
When referring to succulents many people speak rather of ‘cacti’ and include in that name the other groups – if, indeed, they realise that there are other groups.