Silver squill originates from South Africa and is used to dry environments. It has purple teardrop-shaped bulbs which sit above the soil surface, these bulbs can store water making it perfectly adapted to periods of neglect over the summer holidays. Your Contributions are not unsolicited or unauthorized advertising, promotional materials, pyramid schemes, chain letters, spam, mass mailings, or other forms of solicitation. Although our own houseswill struggle to replicate the sealed laboratory environment created by NASA there is no doubt that there is a positive benefit to having houseplants in our lives; they can help us get a good night’s sleep, improve our wellbeing and perhaps help our respiratory health. Fungus gnats thrive on moist soil. If you see these tiny flies on the soil surface, reduce your watering schedule and Spray with Plantsmith Protecting Bug Control Spray. A gravel mulch on the pot’s surface may also help. You can also apply parasitic nematodes, Steinernema feltiae, as a biological control to try and quash the infestation. The nematodes are mixed in a watering can and then applied over the soil as part of your normal watering regime. Always read instructions carefully, and wear gloves when using. Feed every couple of weeks when your orchid is actively producing flowers and leaves. Flush water through the growing medium and let it drain then water again using Plantsmith Nurturing Orchid Feed and Tonic. Our professional orchid feed formulation contains 12 essential plant-boosting nutrients – everything your orchid needs to thrive.

Houseplant food is nearly always a liquid which is diluted in water; this is the fastest way for your houseplant to make use of this food. Plants conduct all their metabolic processes in solution so by providing food as a liquid stops them wasting energy breaking down solids. Unless otherwise stated, discounts and coupon codes are for your own individual use and may not be shared. Coupon codes cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer or promotion. Coupon codes and discounts may not be redeemable against all products, these usually larger items or third party products. We reserve the right to change details or withdraw a promotion or coupon code at any time. Keep your Schlumbergera’s soil moist. As with many houseplants, let the soil dry out between waterings and then give them a good soak and allow the water to drain through the pot. Waterlogging can cause root rot.Orchids have special requirements; their sensitive roots can be burned by high strength fertilisers so always use an orchid specific feed. Orchids obtain their nutrients from the air via aerial roots and what washes through the soil. In the wild these epiphytes grow on trees so do not like standing in water for long periods. Make sure you flush your diluted feed through the growing substrate a few times and let it drain out. The Parties agree that any arbitration shall be limited to the Dispute between the Parties individually. The the full extent permitted by law, (a) no arbitration shall be joined with any other proceeding; (b) there is no right or authority for any Dispute to be arbitrated on a class-action basis or to utilize class action procedures; and (c) there is no right or authority for any Dispute to be brought in a purported representative capacity on behalf of the general public or any other persons.

At this time of year, shops are flooded with Thanksgiving cactus, Schlumbergera truncata, Christmas cactus, Schlumbergera bridgesii;these profusely flowering plants offer months of colourful blooms which inject a burst of colour in to winter days. The Thanksgiving cactus makes an ideal Christmas gift for plant lovers. Image: Debi Holland Aerial roots are the orchid’s blood vessels, coated in cells called Velamen which act like a sponge. Healthy air roots are silvery-white and rounded, unhappy roots are beige and shrivelled. Ailing roots could be due to low humidity so snip away the shrivelled roots, mist with Plantsmith’s Invigorating Orchid Care Mist and place your plant on a tray of watered gravel or small stones, this will raise humidity. Inspect the roots of your orchid. Image: Debi Holland It’s best to feed houseplants regularly during their growing season, a period that generally runs from March to September. During this time, feed every other time you water. Apart from some flowering houseplants, most are dormant over winter, so require fewer nutrients to keep them in good shape. Either stop feeding completely or give them some nourishment with every fourth watering. How to feedWater is absolutely essential to a plant’s survival to facilitate all the chemical processes required for it to photosynthesise. Soil