Moth Orchids
Moth Orchids are beautiful and very popular orchids with their stunning and long lasting flowers that come in a wide range of gorgeous colours.
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As its name suggests, the cast iron plant (Aspidistra elatior) is a toughie! It basically thrives on neglect and looks good all year round. The upright, glossy green leaves (which can also be patterned) grow incredibly well indoors or can also be planted densely in a dry shaded spot – you won’t find a plant that loves it more! They do very well indoors but can also be grown outdoors as they clump together and make a lovely display.
How to grow cast iron plant in a garden
- Choose a shaded spot with well drained soil. Enrich the soil with Yates Thrive Natural Blood & Bone with Seaweed.
- Dig the planting hole twice as wide and to the same depth as the root-ball. Remove the shrub from the container, gently tease the roots and cut away any circled or tangled roots.
- Position in hole and backfill with soil, gently firming down. Water in well after planting to settle the soil around the roots and keep the soil moist for several weeks while the new plant establishes. Once established, it will benefit from regular watering, especially during dry conditions, but it’s not absolutely necessary.
- Mulch with an organic mulch, such as bark chips, woodchip or pea straw ensuring to keep it away from the trunk.
- Feed with Yates Thrive Natural Blood & Bone with Seaweed every 8 weeks from spring until mid-autumn.
How to grow cast iron plant in a pot
- Choose a pot at least 500mm wide and deep. Position in a well-lit spot, out of direct sunlight. Fill with quality potting mix, such as Yates Thrive Indoor Plants Potting Mix.
- Remove the shrub from the container, gently tease the roots and cut away any circled or tangled roots.
- Position in pot and backfill with potting mix, gently firming down. Water in well.
- Water when the potting mix is dry – insert your index finger to the first knuckle, if it’s dry, water and if it’s moist, don’t water.
- Feed fortnightly during the growing season with Yates Thrive Indoor Liquid Plant Food.
Growing tips
To help the potting mix and root zone stay moist, cast iron plants can be gently and briefly immersed into a tub of water every month.
Dust the leaves regularly by gently dusting them with a small brush or feather duster. Dust can clog up the pores of the leaves and make it difficult for the leaves to function.
Lightly prune in winter.
Divide plant clumps every couple of years to keep the plants happy and healthy. Use a spade or sharp knife to separate the clumps, ensuring there are a couple of leaves to each clump and re-plant else where in the garden. The best time to do this is in winter.
Chain of Hearts
Chain of hearts is a gorgeous trailing plant that’s perfect for hanging pots or baskets. The chains can reach 4m long & the heart shaped leaves are sweet.
Bromeliad
For a feature plant in a shady or sheltered area in the garden or even for indoors, Bromeliads provide great foliage colour and form to the garden.
Air Plants
Air Plants literally live off the air & can be grown indoors, hanging from tree branches or balancing decoratively on intriguing objects.
Recommended products
Yates Thrive Natural Blood & Bone with Seaweed
A certified organic garden input boosted with NZ Seaweed to gently nourish plants, enrich the soil and encourage a strong healthy root system.
Yates Thrive Indoor Liquid Plant Food
Provides indoor plants with the balanced nutrition they need to produce stronger, healthier foliage and an abundance of vibrant flowers.
Yates Thrive Indoor Plants Potting Mix
To give your precious plants the perfect start, we've created the ideal ready-to-use NZ indoor plant potting mix.
Yates Thrive Natural Seaweed Tonic
A 100% bull kelp seaweed tonic. Great for improving plant resistance and protection against pests, drought and frosts plus reduces transplant shock.
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