The October issue of Hort Journal Australia has my latest article on eco-neem – an amazing certified organic insectide.

The article is on page 36 and discusses the latest developments with eco-neem in Australia. Definitely worth a read.

You can read the article online by visiting Hort Journal Australia’s site.

PS Don’t forget to check out The Plant Addict Shop while you’re here. 

You’ll find great gift ideas for garden lovers and fellow plant addicts!

Can you guess what this is?  It’s a pretty popular Spring flowering bulb…

Still puzzled?

If you couldn’t work it out don’t feel so bad.  When I first saw this in my local florist I did a double take as it was totally new to me too.  It’s actually a variety of ranunculus.  Have a look at the photo below and you’ll see the resemblance, especially with the younger flowers which haven’t fully opened.

I haven’t been able to find out it’s name so I assume it is still only available commercially to cut flower growers.  I look forward to the day that it is released as a bulb for home gardeners to grow.  I’ll be first in line!

PS Don’t forget to check out The Plant Addict Shop while you’re here. 

You’ll find great gift ideas for garden lovers and fellow plant addicts!

Grab the Spring issue of Your Garden magazine to read all my articles…

Learn how to choose the right kangaroo paw for your garden and be rewarded with stunning flowers and more birds in your garden.

Plus you can read up on how to grow your own shiitake mushrooms at home.  It’s actually dead easy.

And of course there’s my regular section in Garden Basics giving you tips for what to do during Spring in your garden.

So pick up a copy today and enjoy the read.

PS Don’t forget to check out The Plant Addict Shop while you’re here. 

You’ll find great gift ideas for garden lovers and fellow plant addicts!

 The Winter edition of Your Garden magazine is out and I encourage you to go buy a copy.  Why? Because I’m in it again!

Catch my article The Travel Bug (starting on page 98) about the recent Taipei Flora Expo and the following list of other upcoming horticultural shows around the world.  I definitely recommending trying to get to any of these events.  Hidden Treasures (starting on page 138) is also mine and showcases some stunning but rarely grown plants.

So go on and buy a copy.  Let me know what you think!

PS Don’t forget to check out The Plant Addict Shop while you’re here. 

You’ll find great gift ideas for garden lovers and fellow plant addicts!

Follow these easy steps and learn how quickly you can mount your own air plants.

I have to confess to being quite addicted to air plants (botanically known as Tillandsias). I stopped counting when I reached over 50 of these beauties in my collection. I pick them up from flower shows, bromeliad society meetings and online suppliers. To save money I almost always buy them unmounted and do it myself. It’s fun and easy. Just follow the steps below:

Materials Required
Air plants
Backing Material
Glue (the correct type)
Wire
Label

Step 1 – Select your mounting material
You can pretty much use anything you want but common materials are cork bark*, rocks, freshwater driftwood and other random pieces of wood. My preference is for anything that looks natural. I’m not really into air plants glued to a crystal and used as fridge magnets!

*Cork bark can often be purchased from your local bromeliad society.

Step 2 – Clean up your plants
Gently remove any dead or dying leaves from the base of the plant. You want to make sure that the glue has something solid to adhere to do.  Have a look at the image to the right.  See how the plant on the left has a few dead leaves clinging on and the plant on the right has a clean stem?  That’s what you want to aim for but don’t go overboard and pull off living leaves!

 Step 3 – Positioning the plant(s)
Spent a few minutes working out where to place your plants on the mounting material. Try a few different angles and spots to work out what looks the best.

Step 4 – Drill a hole in the backing material
Chances are you’re going to be hanging your airplant somewhere so drill a small hole now before you attach your plant. It’s easier to do it now as the plant can get in the way and you may damage it.

Step 5 – Attach your plant
Apply a small amount of glue to the mounting material and then push the base of the plant on to it. Hold it firmly until the glue begins to set. You may need to prop it against something so the plant stays in the right spot until the glue really hardens. How long this takes will depend on the glue you’re using. I always leave my for several hours or overnight.

There are two very important things to note regarding the glue:
* Not all glues are suitable. Some contain toxins which can harm your tillandsia and are best avoided. I use the green Selleys Liquid Nails which was recommended to me by the Bromeliad Society of Australia. It must be the green version. If you can’t get this type ask your local bromeliad society for other recommendations. Do not use hot glue guns as the heat can easily damage the plant tissue.
* When pushing the plant onto the glue do not entirely cover the stem or end part. These are the areas where the tillandsia will produce roots and covering in glue will restrict this. Have a look at the photos below to see how I have left an area clear of glue. Some tillandsias don’t produce roots at all but it doesn’t hurt to play it safe unless you know for certain that your particular plant will always be rootless.

Step 6 – Make a hook and label
If you are hanging your tillandsia then thread some wire through the hole you drilled earlier and fashion it into a hook. I like to keep track of the species or variety name so I also put a label on the wire and hide it at the back.

You are now ready to hang your air plant wherever you like! I told you it was easy.

PS Don’t forget to check out The Plant Addict Shop while you’re here.

You’ll find great gift ideas for garden lovers and fellow plant addicts!

This weekend I’ll be at the Brisbane Gardening Expo and would love to see you.  I’ll be appearing on the Ask It, Solve It stage Friday and Saturday at 11.20am.  See you there!

http://www.abcgardeningexpo.com.au/

The April issue is out now and has not one but two articles by me!

In the first article I discuss fresh ways to promote your business using seeds and in the second I review the Taipei International Flora Expo.

You can read both articles by visiting www.hortjournal.com.au. And while you’re there you can see a picture of me on page 29 at a recent industry function.

PS Don’t forget to check out The Plant Addict Shop while you’re here. 

You’ll find great gift ideas for garden lovers and fellow plant addicts!

 So what do you think these are?  Would you believe me if I said they are edible fruits?

Russet Apples

Yes these lumpy things are apples and despite their rather ordinary appearance they are actually quite tasty.    Their name refers to the thick uneven texture of the skin which feels like fine sandpaper.  There are many different russet apple cultivars some of which are covered entirely with the ‘russeting’ like these ones.  Others, like Cox’s Orange Pippin, only have the russeting in patches with the rest looking like regular apple skin. 

For the most part all russet apples have disappeared completely from our supermarket shelves.  They have been superseded by more aesthetically pleasing varieties like Granny Smith, Delicious, Jonathan etc…

And whilst I can understand that visually these guys are a bit of a challenge it such a shame as they taste delicious!  These came from a friend’s orchard and I thoroughly enjoyed them picked straight from the tree. 

I am saddened to think that varieties which have been around for hundreds of years (russet apple “leathercoats” are mentioned in Shakespeare’s Henry IV) no longer have prominence in our fruit bowls.  If you are thinking of planting an apple tree don’t bother with a common variety like Delicious or Gala.  You can get them from the supermarket.  Instead search out a supplier of old-world or heritage varieties like the russet apples.  You won’t be disappointed.

PS Don’t forget to check out The Plant Addict Shop while you’re here.     

You’ll find great gift ideas for garden lovers and fellow plant addicts!

EXPO INTRO   

The Expo is spread over 92 hectares and contains 14 Pavillions each with a different story to tell. Most stories revolved around advancements in horticulture, connecting with nature and environmental issues. It was great to see people learning about plants, realising how important they are to our everyday life and even how they can be part of the solution to the current environment pressures our planet is facing.  

There are approximately 32 millions plants used on the site in a myriad of ways and I did my best to see them all! Following are just some of the photos I took.  Enjoy!   

Masses of colour and people

The Expo Dome with its Flora Rainbow was once a sporting stadium

Walking across the green roof of the Pavilion of the Future

Display Garden & Planting Features   

There were 22 Global Gardens representing countries and cities from all over the world.  Some were truly amazing like the Thailand display below.   

The ceremonial boat was planted mainly Alternathera ‘Exhibition Border’, whilst the elephant and Buddha were miniature pilea (Pilea depressa), earthstars (Cryptanthus bivittatus), dwarf mondo grass and more Exhibition Border.  

Philippines display (left) with its mass of bromeliads  

Shanghai display garden (note the building in the background on the right – its exterior is made solely from recycled plastic bottles)

Cavorting Whales

Giant pineapple and watermelon

Dragon fruits

 Of course there were orchids everywhere including the stunning purple vandas (above left) and moth orchids (above right and below).  Interestingly the common name they use for the moth orchid (Phalenopsis) is the butterfly orchid which I thought was much nicer.  

550 year old bonsai

I instantly fell in love with this begonia (B. symsanguinea  cultivar) and am on the hunt to see if I can find it in Australia.  Don’t you think it’s just fantastic?    

And for a complete change of pace there was a huge display of cacti and succulents which the locals absolutely loved. My favourite was the ‘tortoise’ swimming through the display.  

Something told me it had been sometime since this cactus was last on the dancefloor.

Me with some new buddies - two of the Expo Mascots.

All up I thoroughly enjoyed the Expo. It’s always great to see what other countries are doing with plants.  The Expo finishes April 25 so you’d need to be quick if you want to catch it.  However even after the Expo closes there’s still plenty of interesting stuff to see in Taiwan – especially the orchids!  

PS Don’t forget to check out The Plant Addict Shop while you’re here.     

You’ll find great gift ideas for garden lovers and fellow plant addicts!

In three days time I will be heading to Taiwan to enjoy the Taipei International Flora Expo.  It’s been open since November 2010 and finishes up 25 April 2011. Already 4.7 million people have visited the site spread out over 92 hectares and 14 Pavillons!

The overall theme of the Expo centres around gardening and the environment and looks at combining gardening, culture and art in an eco-friendly manner.  It’s hoped that attendees will improve their relationship with nature and implement some of the ideas and in turn help to protect the environment.

Sounds pretty serious hey!  Well don’t let that fool you.  I’m expecting to see cutting edge garden design and amazing plant specimens.  Watch out for the photos when I return.

Go to www.2010taipeiexpo.tw to learn more.

PS Don’t forget to check out The Plant Addict Shop while you’re here. 

You’ll find great gift ideas for garden lovers and fellow plant addicts!