Monday 21 June 2021

Jane Perrone - Growing Successful House Plants, June's zoom meeting

 

 June’s talk was a real treat! Jane, is a freelance writer specialising in house plants and gardens, she also presents On the Ledge, a podcast about indoor gardening.  Jane’s approach and advice on keeping house plants was fresh, imaginative and original. Jane’s five golden rules are:

  1. Become a plant detective, Jane emphasised the importance of knowing what conditions a plant needs to thrive 

  1. If in doubt check the roots, over compact roots are telling you repot me! If the compost is too solid then make some holes to improve drainage a pencil is ideal for this

  1. Jane said an ideal way to check the level of moisture in the compost is to use the tip of your finger. Place your finger a little way into the pot, if on removing your finger there is no compost then it is dry (and time to water) if covered with compost then it is moist   

  1. Keep plants where you can see them, if you can see your plants every day then you will soon notice a problem which you can address 

  1. One yellow leaf does not mean a dead plant, Jane said don’t worry if a couple of leaves turn yellow this is a part of the natural process of a growing plant. If all the leaves turn yellow, panic!      
Jane reminded us that wherever possible plants should be watered with rainwater, and a compost which includes some loam (John Innes is ideal) should be used. Self-watering pots are ideal for plants which are in awkward places or for plants that need a lot of water. As promised Jane has provided us with a list of recommend plants and useful links.
Jane’s key message was to do a little bit of plant research so you know what the plants needs are. You will then know where to place your plant so that it with thrive and live long past its first year. As Jane was so popular we will invite her again to present one of her other talks.