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Hey folks 
Things ticking over nicely this side. My overwinters are getting leafy now. I�m regularly turning and moving them but it�s starting to get crowded indoors. I washed a few pots yesterday, and have ordered a bulk bag of vermiculite that�ll hopefully turn up in the week. So my plan is to pot up and transfer out to the glasshouse permanently the overwinters next weekend. I�ve got nine in good health, a tenth which is a bit weedy but it�s growing so that�s the main thing. It�s been windy and cold last few days so no rush to put them out until that passes.
I�ve not had too many issues with greenfly this winter. I think good prep, good house keeping, and most importantly de-leafing the plants around 90% has been key. But with the new foliage coming through so the ever lurking gits are gathering once more. This time though I�m trying the natural predator technique of ladybirds. Spraying seems to be quite hit and miss regarding it�s effectiveness, plus it�s a hassle moving everything outside to be dosed and then back inside. This seems nice and easy. I�ve just ordered a batch of adults though - do I need to get / make a �house� for them to live in or not necessary? Asking as I know a couple of you guys have already tried ladybirds on your plants
My little plug plants I ordered early March knowing I�d missed the boat for seeds this year (shame, I have some awesome ones
- always next year ), anyway these ones are still a decent mix of old and new, and now they�ve had one re-pot and are loving the spring sunshine on the windowsills around the house. About 10� height on average now.
I wouldn�t consider topping any of them. I don�t think there�s any real advantage to that process, I think it just makes for sprawling side shoots in place of a strong central leader that given time was always going to branch anyway. If you�ve got multiple plants competing for space you want a mix of tall and short to make best use of it.
Things ticking over nicely this side. My overwinters are getting leafy now. I�m regularly turning and moving them but it�s starting to get crowded indoors. I washed a few pots yesterday, and have ordered a bulk bag of vermiculite that�ll hopefully turn up in the week. So my plan is to pot up and transfer out to the glasshouse permanently the overwinters next weekend. I�ve got nine in good health, a tenth which is a bit weedy but it�s growing so that�s the main thing. It�s been windy and cold last few days so no rush to put them out until that passes.
I�ve not had too many issues with greenfly this winter. I think good prep, good house keeping, and most importantly de-leafing the plants around 90% has been key. But with the new foliage coming through so the ever lurking gits are gathering once more. This time though I�m trying the natural predator technique of ladybirds. Spraying seems to be quite hit and miss regarding it�s effectiveness, plus it�s a hassle moving everything outside to be dosed and then back inside. This seems nice and easy. I�ve just ordered a batch of adults though - do I need to get / make a �house� for them to live in or not necessary? Asking as I know a couple of you guys have already tried ladybirds on your plants
My little plug plants I ordered early March knowing I�d missed the boat for seeds this year (shame, I have some awesome ones
- always next year ), anyway these ones are still a decent mix of old and new, and now they�ve had one re-pot and are loving the spring sunshine on the windowsills around the house. About 10� height on average now.I wouldn�t consider topping any of them. I don�t think there�s any real advantage to that process, I think it just makes for sprawling side shoots in place of a strong central leader that given time was always going to branch anyway. If you�ve got multiple plants competing for space you want a mix of tall and short to make best use of it.
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