Plants @ Mum's House

Aloe

Common Name: Aloe

Genus: Aloe

Species: vera

Skill Level: Beginner

Exposure: Full sun

Hardiness: Tender

Soil type: Well-drained/light

Height: 60cm

Time to divide plants: June to August 

This easy-to-grow succulent forms dense clumps of
fleshy,light green leaves with soft toothed margins.
Spikes of tubularyellow to orange flowers appear in
summer, but rarely in the UK. It is best grown as a
houseplant in the UK. Grow in a mixture of
loam-based John Innes No 2 compost with additional
sand or perlite for increased drainage. Apply a balanced
liquid feed during the growing season and reduce
watering in the winter. It should be kept at a
temperature no lower than 10 degrees C. It has been
given an Award of Garden Merit (AGM), which is for
plants of outstanding excellence.

Looks good with:

Ceropegia linearis subsp woodii
Aloe variegata

Christmas cactus

Common Name: Christmas cactus

Genus: Schlumbergera

Species: x buckleyi

Skill Level: Beginner

Exposure: Full sun, Partial shade

Hardiness: Tender

Soil type: Well-drained/light, Dry, Sandy

Height: 30cm

Spread: 30cm

In their natural habit of the tropical rainforest
of south east Brazil schlumbergera form large
plants that grow on the forest floor. They are
grown for their bright tubluar flowers, often
appearing around Christmas, at the ends of
flatten stems. They make excellent indoor plants
and look very effective in hanging baskets. Place
in a cool room and flowers will last six weeks.
Plants can be propagated by leaf cuttings taken
in spring or early summer. S. buckleyi has
arching, bright green stems made up of segments.
The flowers appear in winter and are deep pink,
red or white. Grow in cactus compost in bright
but indirect sunlight. Apply a high potash fertiliser,
such as tomato feed, every month during the
growing season and reduce watering after flowering
has finished.

Golden barrel cactus

Common Name: Golden barrel cactus

Genus: Echinocactus

Species: grusonii

Skill Level: Experienced

Exposure: Full sun

Hardiness: Half Hardy

Soil type: Well-drained/light

Height: 60cm

Spread: 80cm

Time to plant seeds: March to May 

The golden barrel cactus is armed with golden
yellow spines. Spines grow from areoles,
modified leaf stalks, and are arranged in rows
up and down the plant. It quickly grows to about
10cm (4in) in the first few years, then taking
many years for it to double its size. In its native
Mexico, plants can eventually grow to around
90cm (3ft) wide, but cultivated usually only grow
to around 30cm (12in). Feed plants once a month,
during the growing season, with a high potash
fertiliser. During winter, do not water the plants
but just keep them moist otherwise they will rot.

Weeping fig

Common Name: Weeping fig

Genus: Ficus

Species: benjamina

Skill Level: Experienced

Exposure: Partial shade

Hardiness: Half Hardy

Soil type: Well-drained/light

Height: 200cm

Spread: 150cm

This is one of the most elegant indoor plants
with its graceful weeping branches bearing
glossy dark green leaves. Grow in a loam-based
compost in full light, but not direct sun. From
spring to summer feed every two weeks with a
balanced liquid fertiliser and then sparingly in
winter. It has been given an Award of Garden
Merit (AGM), which is for plants of outstanding
excellence.