With summer now behind us, it’s time to put plants to bed for the cold season
At this time of year, with the days shortening, nights getting cooler and a distinct autumnal scent in the air, we instinctively know without even looking at our plants that things are changing.
We’ll soon see summer-growing plants going dormant for the winter, but before they do, there are many that put on a pretty autumn display of colourful foliage, such as Crassula perforata, or string of buttons, which is tinged with pink.
This is now the time to prepare for winter and there is still plenty to occupy us before we look at seed catalogues in front of the fire. With dwindling light levels, it’s an ideal opportunity to clean the glass of greenhouses to ensure as much of the sun’s rays as possible can reach our plants. Wash off all greenhouse shading or remove shade nets.
It’s also an ideal time to clean all the nooks and crannies, as this is where pests and diseases lurk waiting to infect our plants later. Remove as much detritus as possible (dead leaves, flowers or stems) that will otherwise be a host for mould or bugs later in the year. Have a good look for pests such as mealybugs so you can treat them before plants start to contract and the intruders become more difficult to spot.
Now’s also the time to check heaters and make sure you’re ready for some cold nights. Insulating a greenhouse with bubble wrap really can save a lot of money. Most cacti and many succulents can survive in a frost-free environment provided they are dry at the roots. What we need to avoid is a cold, damp environment where fungus spores can thrive; on a sunny winter day, allowing fresh air to blow through the greenhouse is very beneficial.
Our cacti and summer-growing plants should now be allowed to dry for a winter rest. If you grow your plants in a centrally heated house, then an occasional water over winter is something that may help your plants from shrinking too much, but otherwise dry is the safest option. Nothing encourages flowers next year better than a cool, dry period for our plants.
If you grow a few plants outside (some are hardy enough) make sure there is plenty of drainage and, where necessary, protect them from rain and excessive wet soil.
There are plenty of succulents that grow in the winter and one of the most popular is schlumbergera, the Christmas cactus. This is a true cactus and is an epiphyte that originates from semi-tropical forests in Brazil. It is at this time of year they are developing their buds, ready to display their beautiful flowers from the middle of November through to Christmas. These plants can stand quite cool conditions but will benefit from a moist (not wet) compost and a monthly feed.
Keep them in a bright location out of drafts and you’ll be rewarded with a wonderful display of flowers later in the year.
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