It's Winter

So since it is Winter I will focus mainly on indoor plants.One thing we have to be aware of in the winter with indoor plants is that the air in most rooms tends to be a little drier due to the fact that we now have heating going on. One way to combat this is to mist plants at least once a day to create at little more moisture around them, people tell me all the time that their houseplants have yellow or even brown leaves and this is due to the change in the air in the room usually. It usually occurs with the older leaves, the plant will sacrifice these leaves in order to give all it's moisture to the younger leaves and growing tips.
As a general rule I like to water my indoor plants 3 times a week and I pick Monday, Wednesday and Friday as these days, of course I check on them everyday just in case they need to be watered on a day in between this schedule. Most plants have less growth during the winter so this can be reduced to 2 days a week if needed.
There are some plants they are native to countries in the southern hemisphere that are experiencing Summer while we are in the throws of Winter, one example is the Clivia, native to South Africa and with this plant you can stop watering completely for the months of November, December and January and if you follow this advice you will find that they will flower later in the year. I have had them flower in April or June and I have to say I love this flower, check it out.
Well that's it for now. I will try to post some photo's in the next one.

A Beginning

I decided to start this blog because I have been asked many gardening questions over the years and finally felt that maybe it was time to write something down.
Since the age of about 7 I have had a close relationship with plants they have always given me joy and peace of mind. My father who was an avid gardener and my maternal grandfather who was likewise encouraged me and taught me many things about plants and gardening I was an eager learner.
When I left school I started an apprenticeship on a local Parks department, during that time I also went to college to study Horticulture coming away with a National Certificate and an Advanced National Certificate in Horticulture, but my real learning has always been hands on.
So I would like to offer some of my more than 50 years of experience and knowledge in this blog to maybe help and encourage.