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How much water does a house plant need? Most prefer a reliable source of moisture – neither too much, nor too little. In most cases, house plants will readily reveal their needs, which vary from plant to plant and season to season. If you learn

up’ one or more of the organisms that can cause damping off.I’m not saying don’t use water butts, but it’s well worth taking care with what plants you use the water on. I use water butt water on more mature plants, and on those in open ground. I

with water whenever it rains. It’s important to keep these ‘tanks’ filled up, but try to use rain water if possible, as lime scale will mark the leaves. Once a month, empty the rosette by turning the plant upside down, then refill with fresh water

conditions, house plant orchids should be potted in a mix of moss, bark chips and perlite.Orchids living on branches get soaked regularly by tropical storms, but the water quickly drains away, and orchid compost is similarly free-draining. Over the years

Cacti and succulents are the perfect choice if you're looking for an indoor plants that almost look after themselves.Most cacti and succulents can be easily propagated from stem or leaf cuttings, as explained below. For those cacti whose stems

or modular trays. Once the risk of frost has passed (usually around the end of May) they will be ready to plant out. Use them to fill gaps in summer borders or grow larger quantities in rows on the allotment or veg plot. And don't forget to stagger sowings

of the brassica family, which is apparent in the flowers. It grows best near water, hence its presence by my ditch.As folklore has it, this plant is sacred to the fairies and is therefore unlucky if brought indoors. I have no idea what terrible revenge the fairies

hiding amongst piles of debris.Try making a slug deterrent by crushing two bulbs of garlic and boiling them in a litre of water for a few minutes. Add a tablespoonful of this to five litres of water and sprinkle on the leaves every couple of weeks

of its tray with the blunt end of a pencil. Supporting the roots with the pencil, transfer it over to the pot. Work the roots into the hole, firm it in, water it and that's it: your baby plant is in its new home.That done, it's off to the greenhouse

dedicated to wildlife.At times, I felt I was looking in the mirror at a South American version of myself. Unlike Fabiana, I doubt I will ever be in the position of having to commission the building of a water tower, but I can empathise with her desire