PLUMBAGOS ARE BLUE … PLUMBAGOS ARE WHITE

PLUMBAGOS ARE BLUE … PLUMBAGOS ARE WHITE

Yes, Plumbago auriculata is worth singing about! This beautiful, indigenous, evergreen shrub is really a stunning plant with beautiful flowers – complete and perfect. 

It is a fast-growing shrub, mostly for sunny positions. It will tolerate a little bit of shade, but then will flower less and it needs well-aerated, fertile soil. They need moderate water in summer, but should be kept fairly dry in winter. Plumbago should be enriched with compost once a year, and should be mulched well. This plant is fairly pest and disease resistance, and therefore caring for Plumbago is pretty basic – every gardener’s dream! 

Plumbago plants are very versatile. They appear as sprawling shrubs and will naturally scramble up nearby trees. It is a great plant for screening, and can be used as a groundcover, be pruned into a low-growing hedge for a formal garden, be trained up a trellis to form a vertical feature, or can be cut to form a topiary ball. The beauty of the Plumbago plant is that they respond well to pruning and will even flower more profusely because of it.

Beautiful enough to sing about – for sure!

The leaves are a delicate pale green, but glossy. The flowers are five-petalled, phlox-like, are borne in clusters and produced in large masses. Their colours are a soft blue or white, and are borne on new growth. Plumbago flowers from early spring to early autumn, and attract bees and butterflies to your garden. Sunbirds also love these nectar-rich flowers. The fruit of the Plumbago has sticky barbs to attach to animals who aid in seed dispersal – their stickiness can also be used to entertain children, so be sure to remember and show your kids and grandkids how to make flower earrings with this very sticky seed!  Simply, stick them to their earlobes.

In addition, Plumbago, if used correctly, can be used to treat broken bones, wounds and treat warts.  In days gone by, it was also used as a snuff to alleviate headaches and some believed it could dispel bad dreams.

Whatever you believe, Plumbago auriculata is a beautiful flower for any occasion.

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FERTILISER BASICS FOR EVERY GARDENER

FERTILISER BASICS FOR EVERY GARDENER

Even if you are lucky enough to start with great soil, as your plants grow they absorb nutrients and leave the soil less fertile. By applying fertiliser to your garden or vegetable patch you replenish the lost nutrients and ensure that your plants have the food they need to flourish. 

Primary (Macro) Nutrients 

There are 3 primary nutrients that plants require in fairly large quantities.

These are Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium:

  1. Nitrogen (N) stimulates new tissues and gives plants the green colour and abundant healthy new growth. Lack of nitrogen shows up as general yellowing (also called chlorosis) of the plant’s older leaves
  2. Phosphorus (P) stimulates root and shoot growth. Symptoms of phosphorus deficiency include stunted growth and inhibition of root system development
  3. Potassium (K) stimulates fruiting and flowering of plants and also improves the overall health of plants. Symptoms of potassium deficiency include brown scorching, curling of leaf tips, and yellowing between leaf veins

Apart from the above, plants also need oxygen from water and air, carbon from carbon dioxide in the air, and hydrogen from water and air. 

Organic Fertilisers vs. Synthetic Fertilisers 

Organic fertilisers are made of naturally occurring mineral deposits and organic material such as manure. It is not water-soluble and is released over a period of weeks, even months. Organic fertilisers stimulate beneficial soil micro-organisms and improve soil structure. Applying organic fertilisers and compost will, in most cases, provide all the secondary and micro-nutrients for a plant’s need. 

Synthetic fertilisers are water-soluble and can be taken up by the plant almost immediately. Synthetic fertilisers may be made from petroleum products, rocks or even organic sources. They give plants a quick boost but do little to improve soil texture or improve the soil’s long-term fertility. 

How do I choose a fertiliser?

The three numbers that you see on a fertiliser label, such as 3:1:5(26)SR, tells you what portion of each macro-nutrient the fertiliser contains. The first number refers to nitrogen (N), the second to phosphorus (P) and the third to potassium (K). This NPK ratio reflects the available nutrients by weight contained in that fertiliser. The fourth number is always found in brackets and is the percentage value of the whole product that is pure fertiliser in the said ratio – that is, how concentrated the fertiliser is. In this example, 26% are fertiliser with 74% being the filler. The SR letters stand for Slow Release, meaning this fertiliser is not instantly available to the plant. It is released in even, regular doses to the plant, and lasts longer so that means future applications need be further apart.

Fertilisers are a quick and convenient way to add nutrients to your soil, but always remember to use compost together with fertiliser for best results. 

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PROUDLY SOUTH AFRICAN SPEKBOOM

Portulacaria affra

Common names: Spekboom, Pork Bush, Elephant’s Food

Even if you are not a succulent fan, you have to love the Spekboom. It is proudly South African, and is found predominantly in the Eastern Cape, especially in the semi-arid Karoo region where growing conditions are ideal for this resilient plant.

What is not to love about the Spekboom? 

  1. It is a marvellous drought tolerant shrub, and is generally suited to all areas of South Africa.
  2. It is a carbon sponge with the potential to tackle carbon emission like no other plant. This makes it a powerful tool in the fight against climate change.  
  3. It is an excellent soil binding plant to help prevent soil erosion. 
  4. It thrives even in poor soil, and tolerates both drought and a little frost
  5. It is easy to propagate and easy to grow, a very rewarding shrub. 
  6. It can reach up to 3 metres, but is very easily trimmed into a versatile hedge or screening plant. 

Some more amazing facts about the Spekboom

  1. Spekboom can live up to and over 100 years
  2. They can adapt to their surroundings. During the cool, wet cool months, they photosynthesis like other plants, by opening its stomata during the day to absorb carbon dioxide. In the drier times, they have the ability to open their stomata at night time, to prevent water loss in the heat of the day. 
  3. Spekboom is edible with a high nutritional value and is a favoured food for elephants, kudus and rhinos. But even better, we can also eat it! With a slightly acidic taste, its leaves are juicy and full of moisture. Enjoy it in your salad.
  4. It makes a brilliant fast-growing bonsai specimen
  5. It attracts bees, butterflies and birds to your garden. 
  6. Also, is a good container and filler plant
  7. Suitable for coastal gardens and a good windbreak.
  8. The juice in the leaves is used as an antiseptic and for soothing skin ailments like pimples and insect bites. 

The Spekboom can be planted anywhere as long as the soil is well drained. It has no special needs but a little compost will encourage quicker growth and greener leaves. In spring, small star-shaped pink flowers appear, and is followed by tiny, paper, winged fruits. The shrub is exceptionally beautiful in full flower, when it is a mass of pink. 

Portulacaria comes in variegated forms, a yellow leaved variety, as well as the green leaves in smaller and bigger leaves. 

What is not to love about the Spekboom? It is budget-friendly, hunger friendly, health-friendly and most of all environmental-friendly!

If there is any plant that is a definite must in your garden, this is it!

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