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house plantsLooking after orchids, with a video guide from Sarah RavenGrowing orchidsGrowing cactiInstalling an automatic watering systemBrowse a selection of general houseplantsView a variety of cactus plants

Orchids are now an affordable luxury; their sensational and long-lasting blooms bringing a touch of elegance to any home or greenhouse. With the wide range of young orchid plants now on offer at local garden centres and florists, you can choose

Anemones make a beautiful indoor display, particularly at Christmas time. If you want to create a festive display of anemones, you'll need to 'force' the corms approximately 20 weeks ahead of the big occasion.In nature, spring bulbs and corms spend

Bedding geraniums are actually members of the genus Pelargonium. Many varieties of pelargonium are used as bedding or house plants.Unlike most annual bedding plants, geraniums are easily propagated by cuttings, so you don't have to fork out for more

Breathe deeply as you enter my sitting room this month and you’ll take in the powerful, almost intoxicating fragrance of paper-white narcissi.I planted the Narcissus papyraceus bulbs last autumn, in a glass bowl layered with gravel. All I've done

. Acclimatise them to outdoor conditions by placing trays outside during the day, and bringing them indoors at night.Plant seedlings into well prepared soil, about 20-25cm apart (check seed packet for spacings of larger flowers). Once planted, firm the soil

planting in spring, save a few tubers for a later planting in June, and you could be reaping the rewards at Christmas. Grow the potatoes in large sacks, as they're best raised outdoors in summer, then moved indoors at the first sign of frost. 40-litre

.AdamAfter planting, keep the hyacinth bulbs moist during the growing season and they should reward you with flowers over a long period of time.When buying bulbs to plant outdoors, avoid those that have been specially treated to flower indoors at Christmas.More bulb

) the pots won't need bringing indoors over winter. Over the years I've amassed quite a collection. So why is it that so many of them have broken?Admittedly we've had a colder winter than in recent years, but it wasn’t that cold, and I live in Hampshire

to everyone.For me it's the single colours that appeal. Bedding plant producers tell me that at retail it's always packs of colour mixtures that sell best, but I always avoid these. OK, so I must be an exception, but thankfully the seed companies cater to my