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months later, and go on doing so for years. My kitchen windowsill now boasts six moth orchids in various colours, so at least two or three of them are always in bloom. The oldest is probably five years old, so must have produced 15 or more flower spikes

I'm not sure I like moth orchids. They're pretty to look at when in flower, but a bit of a pain to care for if you want them to bloom again. And I think it's a bit sad that these beautiful plants, which should be growing in the canopy of an exotic

to attract moths. In turn, the moths pollinate the plants. I know a number of people who won't grow night-scented plants because they can't abide moths, and the thought of attracting them in is unthinkable. But I'd say give them a try, because in my

from late summer to autumn, attracting bumblebees, honeybees, butterflies, moths and hoverflies.HebeA trusty, late-flowering favourite. The plant's pink flowers make the perfect landing pad for pollinators such as butterflies, moths, bumblebees

exciting varieties to grow on yourself.Potted orchidSpecialist orchid compostOrchid fertiliserall year round20 minutesStand the young orchid plants in trays in the greenhouse, well out of any direct sunlight. If the compost looks very dry, water the plants

. Their root systems become inseparable. Very romantic. I engineered a similar occurrence here by planting three birch saplings together and then plaiting them: now, 12 years later, they have grown into one rather singular tree.If I might wander off in a new

problem: the hazel (unlike many plants) cannot fertilise itself, so needs to find another tree. How to disseminate pollen from one tree to another? Many plants use insects — bees, wasps, moths, butterflies or ants — while others draw on the services

into their many nectaries. I wondered what colour this parent plant would be, praying it would be white, or at least purple, but definitely not 'apricot'.I finally planted it out in January when the topsoil arrived. Normally I wouldn't recommend jolting a plant