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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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