Canna Lilly

Cannas are native to tropical regions of South America. They became very popular in Victorian times  and were grown widely in Europe and the USA. Most Cannas grown these days are cultivars

there are approximately 2000 known varieties.  Some of  the varieties are grown especially for their edible roots from which starch is obtained, but the leaves and young seed are also edible, and canna was once a staple food crop in Peru and Ecuador. In more remote regions of India, cannas are fermented to produce alcohol ( can you imagine! I wouldn't try it though...)

There is nothing as simple as growing Cannas! They grow best in full sun with moderate watering over the hot summer days, they drought tolerant and will grow in any  soil but would prefer sandy types. A thick layer of mulch is always beneficial as it keeps plant roots nice and cool in summer and relatively warm in winter. Canna lily  will add  an exotic and tropical look to your  garden. There are different leaf and flower colors available for you to     choose from!

Nearly Summer!

Here in South Australia, we live with some extremes of weather. Last week we had a couple of warm days 27C - nearly summer. Then a cold wet front with wild winds, lots of rain (which is good) and even SNOW on Mt Lofty (highest point of the Adelaide Hills). Crazy baby!

It made me think about watering! Summer can come suddenly, and it's good to be ready. Work out your watering arrangements (check the drippers are clear and working) and listen to the weather forecasts! If hot weather is predicted it's better to deep water before the event, and if it's combined with the fierce north wind, try covering up any soft new growth plants - I'm thinking of new leaves on cycads, or young palms which have been planted in full sun. A piece of shadecloth or an old bedsheet thrown over the top can shield them from the worst of the heatwave. The best watering times are early mornings (before 9 am) and late afternoon (between 5pm and 6pm). Watering in between those hours can cause  sunburn and after 6pm there is a chance of getting some nasty diseases (such as mildews, black spot etc.)

Mulch - top it up! And clean the gutters - leaves will catch fire in a bush fire and block the water flow if a thunderstorm comes your way!

So, get ready, summer is nearly here!

Bromeliads

Oh, Bromeliads!!! Once you discover them for yourself - you fall in love with these marvelous plants forever!
Just FYI, you have even tasted it...in the form of pineapple! Yes, pineapple is a member of the wide family of Bromeliads! In fact, this is the only 'family member' you can enjoy the taste of.

Bromeliads  appeared on the Earth more than 12 million years ago, they are native to South America. The ancient population of South America such as Incas and Maya  used them for food, fiber, protection and ceremony ( That's what Wikipedia reckons-but how do you use a Brom for protection?). Once they arrived  in Europe in the middle of the 1700's, bromeliads quickly found their way to people's hearts and gardens, and they keep that place today.
This plant is known for its incredible ability to live under different environmental conditions due to its many adaptations. In South Australia they will grow perfectly  in a shady spot of your garden with a bit of a morning sun, or keep it indoors for a stylish addition to your interior ! Bromeliads' water requirements are really low. They store  water in the 'well' formed by the leaves. Watering with a liquid fertilizer in Autumn and Spring is beneficial. In an indoor situation you can fill the pot with a little bit of potting mix and the rest can be a pine bark mulch or coconut coir. If planting in the garden don't dig a deep hole, 2-3 cm will be enough, place the plant in, cover with soil and top it up with a thick layer of mulch.
Some varieties change their leaf color under the sun from dark green to burgundy. They are perfect for adding some color to your garden. Be careful! Some  Bromeliads can 'bite' (some varieties have spikes around the edge of the leaves).There are so many varieties to choose from...You won't be able to resist their simple beauty....So, don't wait, grab yourself and start to explore the magic world of Bromeliads!

P.S. You can start with a pineapple first :)

Ferns

Tree Fern

Ferns are a very ancient family of plants. They have first appeared in the fossil record 360 million years ago! They are older than land animals and far older than the dinosaurs. They were thriving on Earth for two hundred million years before the flowering plants evolved. We are lucky that we still can behold these prehistoric 'gems' in our environment (can't say the same about the dinosaurs).

So, ferns! There are more than 10,000 varieties of them! You can find them while going for a walk in bushland, happily growing in wet and cool gullies under the shade of the trees. They look stunning! You can easily grow them inside at home, or if there is a shady spot in your garden they will happily live there as well!

Delicate maidenhair fern is perfect for your bathroom, because of the humid air and the absence of direct sunlight. Bird's Nest Fern will look magnificent in your patio in a pot, or plant it straight in your garden! Planting a Tree Fern could be the first step for creating your own 'prehistoric' garden!

Ferns are simple in terms of care and growing requirements. They don't like to be overwatered in winter or over fertilized. Liquid fertilizer monthly in summer will do it!Having plants indoors improves air quality and general well being for the inmates!

This Arum Lilly is 'renting' the Bird's Nest ground floor!

Mulch

The weather is warming up - Spring is here! For those who have already prepared the soil for the new growing season it's time for planting. It is always exiting to watch how small seedlings develop into glorious, mature plants. To make it happen faster you will have to help your young plants adapt to their new growing environment. You probably think you've done everything to make your little darlings happy; you've prepared and enriched the soil with compost, fertilizer and manures but it's not enough. You would ask why? What else? The answer is simple: 'preserve' and keep your soil as rich as it was while you were digging the compost and manure in and spreading the fertilizer. Simply top it up with a good, thick layer of mulch. You wouldn't believe just how important mulch is  for your plants and soil, especially in South Australia. Mulch protects the soil from heavy rains, keeps it cool and comfortable for plants' roots, helps control weeds and keeps some nasty creatures (such as millipedes, slugs, snails etc.)  and diseases away from your plants.
Depending on the style of your garden, choose the mulch that most suits it. It could be a woodchips, pinebark, pebbles, gravel, or peastraw mulch for fruit & vegie plots.
Once you've chosen the mulch type, make sure you have enough material to cover your garden area with at least 15cm above the soil level.
When you spread it, don't jam it too close to the stem of the plant, water it in well and enjoy a happy and healthy garden.

Happy Mulching!

Clivia miniata - Kaffir Lilly

Clivia miniata - Kaffir Lilly

There is a garden up the road from here (on the Main Rd towards 

Willunga) with old Olive trees underplanted with a collar of gorgeous orange flowering Clivia miniata – the orange flowering variety. It looks spectacular every year – such bright colour in the shady gloom under the trees.

These days Clivia’s also come in a yellow flowering form – more a rich cream then intense yellow, but stunning in its own right.

So, we are celebrating Clivias’ this week at Fern Forest! The shiny dark green leaves are attractive on their own, and they are actually quite tough, enjoying the shade and dryer soil you find under established trees.

Clivia’s – named after ‘Clive of India’ and also called Kaffir lilies in their native South Africa, are fabulous pots plants as well. Their clumping habit means they will need potting on separation eventually, but they are relatively slow growing and resilient, so can be kept in a pot for many years, enjoying a spell inside during flowering and being returned to their shady homes outside for the rest of the year.  

Bird of Paradise - Strelizia

Beautiful Bird of Paradise - perfectly suited to South Australia

Strelizia reginae

The original colored Bird of Paradise

  

The origin of this gorgeous plant is South Africa. It was first introduced to Europe in 1773, when it was grown at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Since then, it has been widely introduced around the world, including the Americas and Australia.

This evergreen beauty has a vase shape and can reach up to 1.5m x 1.5m. But don’t worry, there is a range of  dwarf varieties available on the market for  small gardens !

Strelitzias became popular all over the world because of their toughness and ability to grow well in any area that is sunny, warm and of course full of love! There are just a few simple steps to show your love to the Bird of Paradise, first of all keep the soil moist – water well during the summer,less once well established. Give it a good fertilizer for better flowering – strelitzias will be more than happy with a good, well rotted compost and fertilizer with high Nitrogen just before its flowering season -April to November. And the last important step – ‘haircut’! If you think the only ‘creatures’ who can benefit from the services of the beauty salons are human – you are completely wrong! Your Strelitzia plant will love a good haircut after the flowers have finished – so hack away!

New! Yellow flowered Bird of Paradise 'Mandela Gold'