Growing tips
Growing tips from the Chairman
v Make sure your propagator is clean and up for the job - check that it is working BEFORE taking cuttings.
v Don’t grow more plants than you can comfortably look after.
v In the growing season try to pick up every plant every day and don’t neglect your plants.
v Always use a good quality compost and perlite.
v Don’t make up more compost mix than you need - never use a compost that is either too cold or too hot.
v Where space is limited use some form of a ‘Potting Tray’ which can stand on top of an existing bench.
v Mark your pots so that you know when they have been turned to ensure even growth. I use a correction fluid type pen.
v If you grow standards remember that they take up a lot of time and space and they are also difficult to over winter.
v Go steady with the watering - if you are heavy handed use a small watering can.
v Use a clean empty washing up bottle for watering cuttings and small plants.
v Use the correct type of feed at the correct time - never feed a ’sick or dry plant.
v If you find a plant with any type of disease isolate it carefully from your other plants.
v Try to get as many stops as possible on your plants.
More stops = More flowers - (remember your stopping dates).
v Spray your plants regularly with a good quality insecticide and fungicide.
If you don’t use chemicals find a safe alternative pesticide.
Remember prevention is better than a cure.
v If you use chemicals treat your plants with vine weevil killer BEFORE you put them in their winter quarters and in spring when they start back into growth.
v If you don’t use chemicals you will need to tease out the compost from the roots to check for grubs and replace this with fresh compost - or suffer the consequences.
v Having problems with your hanging pots/baskets? - Use ‘pegs’ to weigh the branches down.
v Shade your plants whenever there is a risk of them being in the hot sun and wilting.
v The open weave shade netting is also good for diffusing heavy rain.
v ‘Sports’ type drink bottles can be used as drip feeders for baskets and hanging pots.
v Whenever it is really hot, place your plants inside larger pots (preferably clay) and if possible fill the gap with grit which will help keep the roots cool and stop the fine roots ‘burning’.
v Start your show preparations well before the show date by obtaining the schedule as early as possible.
v A couple of weeks before the show start cleaning pots, saucers and generally getting plants ready by removing any debris inside the plant and on the compost.
v Use light weight stockinette or fine cheese cloth when moving plants to and from the show.
v Old labels can be cleaned by scraping them with a sharp blade or razor - watch your fingers though.
v When carrying out more than one operation i.e. using a fungicide and vine weevil killer - use different coloured labels so you know which have been done.
v Instead of having to use a tape measure or ruler to check the length of the stem on your mini and quarter standards - use a piece of dowel or cane with the sizes marked on this - much easier and usually at hand.
v To stop your plants blowing around when placed outside - make concrete or wooden pot stands - polypropylene trays as found in garden centres and nurseries can also be used to good effect.
v Buy a good quality pen to write your labels - cut labels in half or quarters if you are a bit tight like some growers.
v Slip a label down the side of the pot as an insurance if you lose the other label.
v Use the ties from food bags to keep young cuttings and plants securely tied to canes. These are ideal for training standards and other trained forms and with these ties being white they are easily seen when they need to be removed or replaced.
v Find out which plants grow well for you and don’t struggle with those you find difficult to grow.
v Check the weather forecast daily - whatever the season!.
v Use horticultural fleece to protect against frost and to supplement any heating you provide for your plants. The fleece is available in 17gms (lightweight) 25gms (medium weight) or the heavyweight 30gms version for ‘Arctic conditions‘.
v If you are seriously thinking about exhibiting your plants - Join the West Yorkshire Fuchsia Society and the British Fuchsia Society.
v Remove the ‘clip on saucers’ on the bottom of some hanging pots to prevent plants sitting in water.
v Listen to what the speakers tell you - but don’t make the mistake of thinking that theirs is the only way. Much of growing anything is by trial and error - the speakers will only be able to point you in the right direction. The rest is up to you!