Water Wise Flowers to Flowering Plants in Your Garden

Water is not only one of the most precious resources on earth, but also one that is becoming scarcer with every passing day. Each additional person taking responsibility for their water use contributes to preserving it.

Using water sparingly does not have to be bad news for green fingers and flower enthusiasts. In South Africa there are an abundance of water wise options when it comes to flowering plants. Being water wise, as the name implies, simply means using water sparingly.

And you can do this by planting specific plants in your garden. Some of the most popular types of plants that fall in this category are:

• Vinca – this plant is not only water wise, but also an annual meaning you get to enjoy it all year round. Their star shaped flowers will brighten up any garden, and as an added bonus, they require minimal maintenance.
• Sage Bush – this east African plant thrives in South African climes and offers striking blooms. Their flowers come in a variety of colours and they are sure to make an attractive addition to any garden.
• Giant Honey Flower – its large leaves are complimented by tall bronze flowers. It is ideal if you have a large area that needs to be covered as it grows quite quickly. Just be careful, this plant is toxic and should be handled with care.
• Pelargonium cucculatum – is also known as wild geranium and can reach impressive heights of up to one meter. The flowers are large and extraordinary and will attract attention when in full bloom.
• Petunia – Orginally of South American origins, this plant is widespread and easily found in South Africa. They are also ideal water wise options as they can survive harsh and very hot climates with ease.

Why not make a change this coming spring by trying to reduce your water consumption and planting some of the above seeds.

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Top Indoor Flower Choices

Flowers in full bloom have a wonderful effect on a person’s mood and many people don’t realise that you don’t need a garden to enjoy the beauty of blossoms. There are a wide variety of flowering plants that you can keep indoors.

You can keep these flowers inside all year round, provided you take correct care of them. Some of the most popular plants to keep inside your house are:

The African Violet

These plants are exceptionally easy to grow and, if taken care of properly, can bloom all year round. They come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes.

Poinsettia

The poinsettia will provide a feast of striking red flowers for you to brighten up your house with. It is a little bit trickier to take care of as it needs good light and a stable temperature.

Clivia

Clivia come in a wide variety of colours and shapes – the most common being orange. Provided the plants are potted, you can bring them indoors to enjoy during flowering season. If you can, try and get your hands on pastel and yellow coloured flowering clivia flowers.

Barberton Daisy

This is a versatile plant that can survive in moderate climates. It is ideally suited for being kept indoors and the flowers come in a variety of shapes and sizes. You should be careful not to overwater these plants!

Kalanchoe

This stunning plant originates in Madagascar and is a succulent. Originally and naturally, it had red flowers. Over the years with selective breeding, it has become possible to obtain a wider selection of colours like white, cream, yellow and even orange. These plants require a lot of water so don’t be shy with the watering can.

Lady Slipper’s Orchid

The most important factor with this plant is to pick a spot and keep it there. They don’t do well when they get moved around a lot. They need light but not midday sun and should be kept moist. When you first place the plant, wait between 10 and 12 days to water it.

Pick your favourites from this list and see how well they do in your own home.

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Spectacular Local Flowers To Plant In Your Garden This Year

More and more South Africans are taking advantage of locally available flowers for a number of reasons. Being native to our shores, these plants usually tend to thrive in the areas where they are from, and are often less thirsty than their alien cousins.

In addition to the above, they are easy to source in the areas where they occur naturally. With this in mind, let’s take a look at some of the most popular local flowering plants.

Strelitiza Reginae

Many people refer to this as the Bird of paradise due to its truly unique shape. If you’re after something that will grab attention, consider planting a few of these around your yard. These plants will thrive in full sun and partial shade and as an added bonus are relatively low-maintenance.

Clivia

This is one of the most popular flowering plants in South Africa. There are a number of different species, all offering different shapes and colour flowers. Clivias are attractive garden plants when planted in large numbers, but are equally sought after by breeders and collectors for their ornamental value.

Aloe Ferox

The flowers produced by this Aloe are something to behold. Their fiery red blooms attract special attention in addition to the plant itself being a somewhat unusual to look at. If you plan on cultivating these from seeds, you should be aware that you may wait up to 5 years to see it flower. If you have the patience, it will be well worth it.

Arum lily

You’re bound to have seen them near a vlei, or as part of a floral arrangement. Arum lilies are widespread across Southern Africa and are often grown specifically for their flowers. There are a number of different species to choose from, and it is advised to select a type that is suited to the climatic region where you live.

Local is very lekker when it comes to South African flowers so why not plant a few indigenous flowers in your garden this year?

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Maintaining Your Garden during the Winter Months

As the worst part of winter comes to an end and you get one step closer to spring, it’s probably a good time to start prepping your garden for the new season. Depending on where you live, it might not always be easy to maintain your garden during the cooler months of the year.
Doing this preparation work will not only ensure that your garden is ready for spring, but it will also save you some hard work if you let the garden lay idle to long.

Cleaning Up

One of the easiest ways to start is to clean away winter debris. This could be in the form of leaves that need to be raked up or to pick up branches that have fallen into garden beds. If it’s a nice day you could even give the lawn a good mow. Once that’s done, consider changing the shape of garden beds to give your garden a fresh look. It is also the ideal time for pruning.

Planting Season

Once you feel that your garden is in a satisfactory state, you can decide what to plan for the coming season. You can start by chatting to your local nursery about spring flowering plants. These may include:

• Alyssum
• Begonia
• Petunia
• Pansy
• Delphinium
• Lobelia

You can also use the time to get your vegetable garden ready by planting a few of the following:

• Garlic
• Leeks
• Onions
• Radish
• Potatoes
• Spinach
• Carrots
• Pees

To ensure that your freshly planted seeds or plants have the best possible chance to grow well, it is best to provide them with a fertilizer. If you’re resourceful and have your own compost heap, you can use that. If not, visit your local nursery or source some high grade fertilizer.

By following this basic advice, you could have a colourful and productive garden come spring time.

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Getting Your Garden Ready For Spring

A large part of having a successful spring garden happens during the preceding months, in getting your garden ready for a new season. There are a few easy steps you can follow to make sure that your garden is in the best possible shape come the new season.

Maintain Your Garden all Year Round

You can start your preparations by pruning your perennials and getting rid of any dead plants or debris in garden beds. You might also want to consider doing some landscaping or adding a new deck or patio to enjoying when the sun comes back.

Prepare your Soil

You can start this process a few months in advance to get the best results. Different types of plants require unique types of soil to thrive in, so it’ll be worth your while to decide before hand what type of plants you would like to have.
When you have identified a space in the garden where you would like to plant, clear the area of any unwanted materials such as rocks or twigs. The next step would be to break up the soil and turn it over in order to aerate it. While you’re doing this you can remove any other objects that might not be beneficial.
Lastly, find a high quality fertilizer and mix this into the soil. Alternatively, you could use your own compost or other types of plant food. Soils that contain lots of nutrients are mostly likely to produce healthy and beautiful plants.

Plant your Seeds

Once you are satisfied that your soil is ready for planting, you can sow your selected seeds at an app ropriate time, i.e. at the end of winter, or beginning of spring for example.

You’ll thank yourself for getting your garden ready when you are enjoying the fresh spring blossoms on a lovely sunny day.

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Easy To Grow Flowers for Your Garden

It is an unfortunate reality that not every person was born with either green fingers or the patience to cultivate and nurture a beautiful garden. If you are somebody with very little spare time there is good news.

There are a large number of flowering plants that you can grow with minimum effort while enjoying gorgeous results. Some of the most popular easy growing options include:

• Sunflowers – the humble sunflower is first on the list. Find a sunny spot, plant the seeds and wait to witness a giant rising. Be careful to keep them out of the wind to protect their tall stems from breaking.
• Sweet peas – this petit plant produces pretty small flowers. It is also a creeper and can therefore cover large areas with beautiful blooms. It requires lots of water, so it’s ideal if you live in an area where water restrictions are not imposed.
• Marigold – if you want a plant that can grow almost anywhere, marigold should be somewhere close to the top of your list. They love and thrive in lots of sunlight and the soil in which it’s planted should be able to drain water easily.
• Pansy – you can plant the seeds in sunny or slightly shaded areas of the garden in soil that is porous enough to drain well. It will flower in its first year of growth after which it might die. Pansies come in a wide variety of colours allowing you a wide range of options.
• Fuchsias – it will grow just about anywhere and is therefore a good choice for those with limited gardening time. They thrive during the summer months and look especially good in hanging baskets on porches around the house.

There are many more options to choose from but the above selection is a great place to start.

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