According to scientific research, our brains are wired to release the reward hormone dopamine when looking at flowers. Find some great ideas here for plants to show you care.
Phalaenopsis (moth orchid)
These popular indoor orchids have lasting flowers produced year-round. Find them in a range of colours, including classic white, purple, pink and more. Orchids have a lot of symbolism associated with them, including love, beauty and strength.
Position them in a bright room out of direct sunlight, watering little and often. A great tip for Phalaenopsis is to keep it in a clear pot or glass vase, as the roots photosynthesise as well as the leaves. I have a great video on my YouTube channel on how to care for orchids via @daviddomoney.
Indoor azaleas
Potted azaleas make wonderful Mother’s Day presents because they flower at the right time. Plus, as evergreens, they provide indoor interest throughout the year. The frilly flowers grow up to 30cm when grown as houseplants and are symbolic of caring for loved ones in some cultures.
Keep indoor azaleas in a cool, humid position with bright, indirect light. They like plenty of water, so keep checking the soil regularly. Also, they much prefer acidic soil, so water with rainwater rather than tap, which is slightly alkaline. Then, plant it out after it finishes flowering once the risk of frost has passed.
Indoor roses
Miniature indoor roses are full of symbolism and are a fan-favourite in the UK.
Each rose colour has a different meaning, so consider which message you want to convey. Perhaps pink, representing gratitude, apt for a day dedicated to thanking our mothers for all they do. Or perhaps yellow, for enduring friendship.
If you want to keep your miniature rose indoors, maintain a steady care routine. Make sure you keep on top of watering and feeding, and deadhead spent flowers to preserve energy. Alternatively, you could plant them out in the garden once all risk of frost has passed, but there is no guarantee that this plant will live on.
Stephanotis floribunda (Madagascar jasmine)
With glossy leaves and fragrant flowers from May to October, these are wonderful to grow. While they might not have flowers in time for Mother’s Day, they are truly worth the wait. Plus, as climbers, they can be trained around a framework, whether it’s round or perhaps heart-shaped, maintaining interest.
They grow well in a heated conservatory but enjoy warm, bright positions at home. Just ensure they are kept at a minimum 15C. Keep soil moist in summer, and water less frequently during the cooler months.
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Now is a great time to review your support structure for climbing roses, making sure that they are secure. It’s great to train climbing roses horizontally, as this promotes more flowers and great wall coverage. Tie them in loosely, giving the stems room to thicken as they grow.
March is a great time to sow chilli seeds, as they take a while to start fruiting; the earlier you start, the better. Sow them indoors in peat-free compost, ensuring that they are at around 21C (this heat is required for them to germinate). Once seedlings have appeared, a slightly lower temperature of 16 to 18C will be perfect.Keep in bright light and water often.
While there is still a hint of a chill in the air, it’s best to sow cold-tolerant herbs, as they’re most likely to thrive. Parsley is a particularly good one to begin with, a fantastic herb that gives a refreshing flavour to food. Sage is also good to start growing from seed now by sowing indoors in small pots or trays with peat-free seed compost.
If you’ve got a rhubarb plant you have been growing for five years or more, it is likely time for it to be divided. By not doing so, rhubarb become overcrowded, and growth becomes weak.
Dig the clump up in early spring, and use a spade or old kitchen knife to slice it into several sections, ensuring each portion has a rhizome and a bud. Replant them straight away.
After chitting your potatoes (preparing them for planting in an eggbox to allow shoots to grow), when the sprouts have reached about 2cm in length, they are ready to plant after the risk of frost has gone.
Plant the first earlies in a trench 15cm deep, with the sprouts facing upward. Cover with soil and water them well. Make sure each potato is about 30cm apart, with 60cm between rows.
Once the shoots grow to 20cm tall, cover up to half of the stem with more compost. You can see me planting potatoes in a dustbin and more in my new “Year In My Garden” series on YouTube, @daviddomoney.
Did you know?
The largest forest in the UK is Galloway Forest Park, which is in Scotland. It covers almost 300 square miles, crossing Dumfries and Galloway. According to some measurements, this is almost the size of New York City.
Bamboo is technically a member of the grass family. While they look like trees, bamboos are a type of woody grass and very fast-growing too.
It was once believed that eating asparagus during pregnancy could improve the chances of having a baby boy. While we know this isn’t true, asparagus is rich in folate, which is very important for foetal development.
While most of the rhubarb plant is delicious, the leaves are toxic. They contain high levels of oxalic acid, which can be deadly when eaten in large quantities.
Focus on Blackthorn:
Providing early spring blossom in the UK, Prunus spinosa, blackthorn, works wonderfully as a natural hedge for a countryside feel.
Blooms are snowy white at the start of spring until April.
Later in the autumn, they produce blue-black fruits, which are used to make delicious sloe gin. You could try your hand at making your own sloe gin.The UK has a rich history of folklore and witchcraft associated with blackthorn, particularly in Celtic beliefs, thought of as a sacred tree of protection.
You can grow these in your garden as a native shrub or small tree, depending on your preference, and they are quite vigorous, so pruning is essential for smaller gardens. They are tolerant of dappled shade but do best when positioned in a sunny spot, and make sure you avoid waterlogged soils.
