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Ensure your orchids last for years with Sarah Raven's video advice on caring for cymbidium and phalaenopsis varieties as houseplants.all year roundCaring for house plantsGrowing hippeastrum.How to grow orchids.Installing an automatic watering system.Creating an aloe container dis...

Tomato plants will thrive on a sunny window sill or in a greenhouse, and may even be transplanted outside in the warmest months. You will need just two small pots to sow your tomato seeds; use a good quality seed compost and keep them in a bright place to ensure they germinate.To...

If you're short of sun in your garden but want an interesting summer display, try this rich blend of foliage plants. Both the plectranthus and begonias perform well in shade.April - JuneJuly - September20 minutesBegonia rex x2Purple-leafed plectranthus, e.g. P. 'Mona Lavender' x2...

The sudden drop in temperature has got me flustered. I know it shouldn’t, as every year by Halloween the weather has usually turned significantly colder.Well, the clocks have gone back, evenings have got darker, and the chilly weather confirms the end of the 2012 growing season. ...

At last, the warm weather has kick-started the season, and blossom is finally appearing.What a difference a year makes. Checking back at my diary, in 2012 the first 'Victoria' plum blossom opened on 28 March. One year on and the same plum tree only started blossoming last week, o...

Learn environmentally friendly methods for controlling aphids, and other garden pests with Monty's guide to organic insecticides and how they work. Monty also talks you through how to make your own, organic pesticide.summerAdvice on aphids and other garden pestsAphidsMealybugsWhi...

Banana plants need plenty of wrapping in winter to keep them warm. Without protection, the cold weather will decimate them and they'll have to grow from scratch in spring. A little extra effort will ensure thriving bananas that bring tropical cheer

Learn about the different techniques for protecting cannas and gingers over winter, with Chris Beardshaw's video advice on covering them in the border or lifting and storing them indoors.October-NovemberMore advice on caring for cannas and gingers

Virtually wingless, female winter moths hatch in November, then crawl up fruit trees to mate with male moths. The eggs that are laid hatch into leaf-eating caterpillars in spring. Trap female moths before they climb to mate, by attaching a grease band to trees.Grease bandScissors...

Gazania's bright orange daisies add a fiery glow to this tropical planting combination, while the lantana romps away and the sanvitalia busily produces small, daisy-like flowers. The effect is one of guaranteed sunshine, whatever the weather.MayJune - September20 minutesGazania p...