Saxifraga stolonifera

I’d like to introduce you to the cutest little fellow and one that has stolen my heart.

Saxifraga stolonifera, commonly known as Strawberry Begonia, even though it’s not relative of either.

In its native habitat, it can be found in forests growing on the ground as a ground over, or even over rocks or rotting timber.

This little guy isn’t widely cultivated, but it’s slowly been making its’ way into our hearts as a cute indoor plant or a great ground cover for shady areas. It has even been awarded the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.

This guy has a beautiful scalloped edge leaf that is a dusty green, with prominent white veins and spreads by sending out little runners on which a new plant forms.

I think they look amazing in hanging baskets, with all their little babies hanging down around them. However, what makes these guys even more beautiful, is that it has these dainty white flowers that sit above the foliage. They mainly flower from spring into summer, but in saying that, mine has also flowered sparingly through autumn.

Saxifraga stolonifera prefer a damp, shady position. They don’t like sitting in water, but also hate drying out for too long. If growing them indoors, make sure it’s a really well lit, well-ventilated space.

I have found mine only do well on a window ledge, where there is constant bright light (not direct sun) ... I guess nobody puts Saxifraga stolonifera in a corner!

Calatheas

I was recently asked what’s the secret to growing Calathea, otherwise known as temperamental beauties!

There is no hard and fast secret with these plants. They kind of remind me of my kids ... they will have a full blown tantrum because the sun came into their room the wrong way one morning, but not be bothered by it at all the next.

Calatheas are pretty much the same- you think you can be doing everything right one day and then boom, the next thing you know it decides everything you’ve been doing is wrong and that’s it. Calathea heaven here we come.

Growing Calatheas inside has been a lot of trial and error for me and I have found some do better than others. First and foremost you need to remember these plants are native to Tropical Americas, so if your house isn’t like a hot humid beach in the Caribbean, you are always going to have some issues.

Calatheas love warm humidity and lots of natural light, but not full sun, so inside you will need to place it in a really well lit area, that’s warm (some houses are cold, think the middle of summer temperatures and air conditioning), and if the air is dry, you’ll need to create some humidity.

I have one room in my house where the morning light streams in and this is where my Calatheas calls home. I make sure they never sit in water - I water them when they are dry, but not too dry, more like ‘I dried out yesterday give me a drink today’ kind of dry.

I have also found with some of them that if I put a little bit of sphagnum moss around the top of the pot and keep it moist, this helps increase the humidity. I spray the foliage about once a week to make sure the leaves don’t dry out and my spray bottle also has a weak solution of Triple Boost. This enables me to feed my plants at same time as keeping up the humidity .

I find that if the tips of the leaves turn a little brown, that’s him screaming at me saying “I’m from the tropics and I demand humidity’.

They really hate the cold, so they may go dormant or even die down in winter if your house becomes too dark and cold. Don’t panic, remember we don’t live in the tropics, so plants adapt. Just remember to not overwater during colder months and try to find the warmest spot you have in the house.

I don’t over pot my Calatheas either, meaning I only ever pot them up to next size pot when they are bursting at the seams of first pot and I only use the best quality potting mix when I do it.

If they do start to look a little worse for wear, they guys can be cut back to ground level just before it gets warm, then simply fertilise and they should shoot back really quickly.I fertilise mine with slow release organic fertiliser, Organic Link, about once every three months.

I really love these plants and while their list of needs seem long and maybe too difficult for some of you, it’s just a matter of finding the perfect spot. The trick with any indoor plant, is find its country of origin and how it grows there, then try to recreate that at home.

I have found these plants work really well indoors in a planter, like a kokedama and in my closed and open terrariums. They can be very versatile and easy to grow, if you are willing in the beginning to put in the effort.

Maiden Hair

Today I am going to blow your mind with a concept that may shock and surprise you.

Today I am going to talk about one of my all time favourite indoor plants and how I treat it.

Maiden Hairs. I adore them, particularly the common ones and the real frilly leaf ones. I adore the ones that get new, red growth and the ones that don’t. I adore the fat leaf ones and the skinny leaf ones. Basically, I love them all!

A few days ago, I bought myself a new maiden hair and put it on my little office desk, which gets minimal natural light. I have a cute little planter it sits in and every single morning and night, I smile and I touch it.

It brings me so much joy.

Actually, over the last few days that plant has bought me more joy than anything else in my house. I have smiled a 1000 smiles because of that maiden hair.

For less than $15, I have gotten an experience that I usually couldn’t afford.

Now, to be totally honest, that maiden hair probably won't last, as together, we have a terrible track record. They are a plant that some people can grow easily and others will always struggle- I am one of those strugglers, but I don’t care!

This plant was cheaper than a bunch of cut flowers and did I mention I am currently experiencing so much joy that I wouldn’t normally be able to afford.

Sometimes we have the assumption that because it's got roots, it has to last forever, but sometimes we need to buy a plant just because it brings us immense joy and happiness and this maiden hair was worth every cent.

So tell me what indoor plant would you buy that would bring you immense joy, even if only for a short time?

Side note : Usually when my maiden hairs give up on me inside, I cut them back fertilise them with Organic Link and plant them outside in a shady spot. They sometimes come back. Indoors maiden hairs like to be moist, but not too wet, they hate drafts and need a very well lit area.

Dracaena trifasciata

Dracaena trifasciata, previously known as Sansevieria trifasciata.

Many of us know this plant as "mother-in-law's tongue" or "snake plant", supposedly because of the shape and sharp margins of its leaves.

One gardener told me it's called mother in law’s tongue because it's so hard to kill!

Another common name for this plant unbeknownst to me is the "viper's bowstring hemp", because it is one of the sources for plant fibres used to make bowstrings.

Dracaena trifasciata has had a hard life. It’s native to tropical West Africa and when it came to Australia, it was used outside in garden landscaping as it was so tough and hardy. Unfortunately, it got out of hand, people started to dump it in bushland and it found itself on the weed list.

However, I believe though that this plant can be used effectively and non-invasively when used as an indoor plant.

Dracaena trifasciata is one of my most recommended indoor plants.

It seems to survive the most unsuitable growing conditions, abuse and neglect. Basically, you have to work really hard to kill these Dracaenas. (I must be honest here and mention I have killed one, but it was purely from too much love!)

The Dracaena trifasciata has long sword like foliage. It’s a great plant when you need height and hardiness. There are three main forms of Dracaena trifasciata.

The original Dracaena trifasciata, has dark green foliage, with light grey-green stripes going across the leaves. Each leaf can reach to about a metre, but in optimal conditions, it can reach two.

There is also a variegated cultivar, called Dracaena trifasciata, 'Laurentii'. This one has green foliage with a yellow band around the outside and can also reach that one metre mark

The third form is the silver leafed called Dracaena trifasciata, 'Moonshine'. Unlike its’ brothers, Moonshine only grows to about 60cm high and has an almost white to silver foliage.

Dracaena trifasciata can handle any light situation from full sun to your darkest, no natural light, office cubicle. They can handle our hot humid summers and our coldest, driest air conditioners!

However, take care when watering these guys. Dry is best and remember that I almost rotted one to death through too much love.

You can grow these guys in great quality potting mix, or you can grow them in water. Weird I know. But without the soil around them, they do fantastically as a water plant!

Keep their leaves clean and free from dust and grease. I only tend to fertilise mine with an organic slow release fertiliser when I split them, which I only do when they break the pot they are in.

If you've never had any luck with indoor plants, this is the plant for you. I know you might think these are old fashioned and uncool, I was the same, but now have several at home and love them to bits. Why? They’re a large chunky plant that will always look good, survive low light and not need care. I have them growing where I couldn’t get any other indoor plant to grow and they look amazing so why not up your indoor plant game and get your hands on a chunky Dracaena trifasciata

Kalanchoe

With the onset of winter, we all need a kick start to get out in the garden. Nothing kick starts you like the vibrant shades of the Kalanchoe and these hardy plants are perfect for giving your garden some TLC during winter.

Kalanchoes are one of the prettiest bushy succulents. They belong to the stonecrop (Crassulaceae) family, which is the same family as the Jade plant or money tree.  Kalanchoes are the ultimate winter plant whether it is for your garden or pots.

These glorious plants flower from June through to September, sometimes even longer. Kalanchoe flowers are best described as masses of small bouquets of starry, four petalled flowers that develop at the end of a stalk. The vivid colour of the flowers - hot pink, bright yellow, brilliant orange and intense red make a dramatic statement during the bleak cold of winter. In the past, the flowers have only been available in single form, but in recent years, a double flowering Kalanchoe has been released and is available in all the vibrant colours, hot pink being my favourite.

Kalanchoes have a compact habit and their leaves are oval with scalloped edges. They usually have lush green foliage, but some varieties have grey leaves, which can actually add a lovely contrast to a dull spot in your garden, or brighten a boring pot.

Kalanchoes are a succulent that can grow anywhere and are extremely hardy. They don’t mind whether they are grown in full sun or shade, so are perfect for shady balconies or the western side of the house. They don’t mind if they are left inside while they are flowering or if they spend their life outside.  They look magnificent mass planted in the garden, or as a specimen plant in a pot.  They even look fantastic in a hanging basket.

Brown or green fingered, Kalanchoes are sure to survive at your house. These beauties don’t need much water and would much prefer to be dry than wet.  A good watering once or twice a week is all that is needed to keep these plants looking beautiful.  They don’t like to sit in water, so make sure that if planted in a pot, their saucer isn’t constantly full or if in the ground, it is a well-drained area.  Try planting in a clay pot with Searles Platinum potting mix as sometimes roots in plastic pots tend to sweat during the warmer months, which can lead to an untimely death.

Kalanchoes will thrive if Organic Link is used every three months and Triple Boost is applied every two weeks. If by chance insects attack your kalanchoe, trim off the affected foliage and spray with Eco-Oil (organic pesticide) or Neem Oil. Don’t fret though, these plants are tough and should survive even if they are only attended to rarely.

Flowering kalanchoes brighten any cold bleary winter’s day, so give your life and garden some TLC this weekend by getting outside with your morning coffee and enjoying the colours of summer whilst wearing your Ugg boots!

Kokedama

Viola hederacea’s made into kokedamas at Trevallan

Kokedama is a style of Japanese bonsai made by taking a plant out of its pot and turning it into a ball held together with a unique soil mixture, moss and string.

Trevallan's Kokedamas can be hung outside in full or part shade, and some are perfectly suited to indoors.

Trevallan stocks a range of  Kokedamas, such as Native Violets, Ficus Pimula, Parlour Palm, Brazilian Walking Iris, Ficus Fiddle Leaf and Anthuriums .

How to look after me

When the sphagnum moss feels dry to touch and the ball is light, I soak them in a bucket of water for about ten minutes. If it’s really hot, you may need to do this more than once a week. If it’s cold, you may only have to do it once a fortnight.

Alternatively, similar to your other plants, you can just water them with a hose or watering can.

If my Kokedamas are inside, I like to sit them in a bowl and top the bowl up with water.

Where to put me

Trevallan's kokedama

Some of Trevallan's Kokedamas come with their own hanger. These can be hung outside in shade or part shade, maybe under a tree or on your patio. They look fantastic as a group.

Some Kokedamas are perfectly suited to indoors and can be hung from the ceiling, or Trevallan's handmade Timber Kokedama Stand.

If hanging isn’t an option, you can sit your Kokedama on a plate or in a bowl. The sphagnum moss will be wet most of the time, so be sure to protect your furniture.

Kokedama’s are definitely worth trying - remember, not every plant needs to be potted!