The Named Garden

The Named Garden Houseplants, indoor plants, plant care tips
from my indoor garden to yours.

Mega Monster Monstera! I just stood there, who know how long...This happy chap is enjoying life in the greenhouse of my ...
10/06/2023

Mega Monster Monstera! I just stood there, who know how long...
This happy chap is enjoying life in the greenhouse of my fav botanic garden. Recent visit.

THE MOVESo this has happened. You may have been wondering what has happened to The Named Garden going so quiet. The GARD...
22/12/2021

THE MOVE

So this has happened. You may have been wondering what has happened to The Named Garden going so quiet. The GARDEN has been packed, shoved on vans, transported via motorway and unloaded two or so hours later in the middle of November. Then the GARDEN waited some weeks in a corner to be released from confinement.

How did the move go? Sadly, there has been some casualties. The succulents, the Sansevierias, the Hoyas, the Pothos varieties didn't bat an eye BUT the little citrus tree, the avocado tree, the mango tree are probably gone to plant heaven, then the small Calatheas, the banana plant and some others did not appreciate the ride in the cold van much and need some TLC or more serious nursing back to health.

What's the new place looks like? There are few new and exciting things that will make impact, like a garden (goodbye balcony!), a water butt (no more tap water!), underfloor heating (we will see about that).

SUCCULENTSThese happy gals blissfully basking in the last October sun (it was raining cats and dogs from very early morn...
31/10/2021

SUCCULENTS

These happy gals blissfully basking in the last October sun (it was raining cats and dogs from very early morning till midday) in my south-facing bathroom window. They have changed A LOT!

Throughout spring, summer and early autumn the window was always open. A good few spiders made home amongst the thickened, fleshy 'leaves'. Cobwebs are removed, window is closed, embracing the last sunny day of October.

I will put their previous look in the comments for comparison.

PROGRESSAfter killing Effie, my Alocasia x amazonica (Amazonian Elephant Ear) last autumn, leaving it in plenty of light...
12/10/2021

PROGRESS

After killing Effie, my Alocasia x amazonica (Amazonian Elephant Ear) last autumn, leaving it in plenty of light (south-facing window) but no heating, this autumn she is very well back in the land of living! In spring I have ventured into propagating Effie's corms. You can read about her sad but hopeful story in a previous post (link is also included in the comments).

At the end of April they were ready to be planted up. Five months later they are big and beautiful. Lesson learnt, I have already moved the pot from its summer residence into my kitchen, where there is still plenty of light but also a decent amount of heat throughout the winter months. No cold nights for Effie's children.

PROPAGATIONYou may have guessed by now, propagating is one of my favourite houseplant activity. In the past year alone, ...
04/09/2021

PROPAGATION

You may have guessed by now, propagating is one of my favourite houseplant activity. In the past year alone, I have propagated a number of seeds and cuttings: avocado, lychee (litchi), mango, papaya, kiwi, citrus and pineapple top, succulents, aroids. I will put the links to the fruits in the comments for easy access

This little citrus tree is either a lemon, or an orange, or a grapefruit. It doesn't really matter, I am not planning or expecting to harvest any fruit from it, merely watching the transformation from seed to plant is enough. The grow-your-own brings me more joy than buying a mature version of it.

The leaves are glossy and super fragrant. I keep the soil slightly moist all the time. Throughout summer it received filtered sunlight. Now that we are going into autumn I will keep her in the south-facing window with more direct sunlight.

HOW / WHERE TO START?
It is very easy to start your very own citrus tree. Follow these simple steps to attain good outcome:
- choose a ripe citrus fruit and harvest the seeds (I am yet to come across a lime with seeds, you may have, consider yourself lucky)
- choose the seeds that look plump and healthy
- wash the seeds with lukewarm water, and with a towel gently rub off the slippery layer
- let the prepared seeds dry for a few hours
- in a clear container, that can have a lid, add a inch of soil and arrange the seeds, gently press them into the soil, cover with some soil if you need more coverage
- from a spray bottle, moist the soil thoroughly and cover with the lid
- place the container in a warm place (I like to propagate in my south-facing window during autumn-winter-spring)
- the lid will help to keep the soil moist, but check it every other day, the soil shouldn't left to dry out
- it takes some time but patience is key when propagating
- when will they pop? that depends on the season, temperature, condition of the seeds
- when the seeds start to grow, remove the lid before the plantlets reach the top, mist them daily
- when they reach 8-10 cm, they are ready to be planted into individual pots

PROPAGATIONA piece of Susan, happily growing roots is water. The Rhapidophora not only grows super quick, climbing, reac...
30/07/2021

PROPAGATION

A piece of Susan, happily growing roots is water. The Rhapidophora not only grows super quick, climbing, reaching like in a hurry but also grows roots at terrific rate in water. You put a fresh cut in water and in 2-3 days yo see roots are starting to emerge. Amazing!

I add a pinch of cinnamon every time I change the water, about 3-4 days. When the roots have grown quite a bit and the plant is rapidly growing, I add a wee bit of diluted plant food as well.

Read about Monstera minima care and characteristics in a previous post (link is also included in the comments).

POTSSize 10 'Blue Cornflower' design. When I work on these I feel strongly that this is my favourite design. The flowers...
30/07/2021

POTS

Size 10 'Blue Cornflower' design. When I work on these I feel strongly that this is my favourite design. The flowers stand out well on the white background and the untouched rim gives a nice contrast. I really enjoy adding golden dots as a final touch.

See the four different pot designs currently available in a previous post (link is also included in the comments).

FLOWERCrown is still flowering. One cluster fades, another opens. The fragrance is so sweet that an occasional bee wande...
30/07/2021

FLOWER

Crown is still flowering. One cluster fades, another opens. The fragrance is so sweet that an occasional bee wanders in.

Read about Stephanotis floribunda care and characteristics in a previous post (link is also included in the comments).

LEAFRemember the full sun exposed mango plant with purple leaves? Well, it has changed. Since I have moved it away from ...
25/06/2021

LEAF

Remember the full sun exposed mango plant with purple leaves? Well, it has changed. Since I have moved it away from the south facing window, it has turned green and now looks like a 'proper' plant, although I really liked it with purple leaves. In 10-15 years, I am going to harvest home grown mangoes, or not, no matter.

Read my mango seed propagation tips in a previous post (link is also included in the comments).

LEAFNot long ago this was a smallish corm, my little Eddo (Colocasia) project is not so little anymore.It has outgrown i...
25/06/2021

LEAF

Not long ago this was a smallish corm, my little Eddo (Colocasia) project is not so little anymore.

It has outgrown its windowsill so I have moved it outside, receiving fresh air, morning sunshine and rain when it happens.

Through the posts, you can see how this plant grew and you can read how I germinated the corn in a previous post (link is also included in the comments).

Little Ada got a big sister, Monkey. Found her reasonably priced in a garden centre in Norfolk. There are 3 plants in th...
20/06/2021

Little Ada got a big sister, Monkey. Found her reasonably priced in a garden centre in Norfolk. There are 3 plants in the pot and it took me a while to untangle the leaves grown into the holes of other leaves. Looking forward to see this Monkey growing.

Read about Monstera adansonii care and characteristics in a previous post (link is also included in the comments).

POTSI think this personalised 'Garden birds on spring branches' terracotta pot has turned out quite well. The pot still ...
20/06/2021

POTS

I think this personalised 'Garden birds on spring branches' terracotta pot has turned out quite well. The pot still has the six different birds as per original design and the words are simply incorporated into the new design. I have chosen the branch brown for the text and added some green leaves to it to blend it in, yet it stands out at the same time.

See the four different pot designs currently available in a previous post (link is also included in the comments).

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