Page 15 - FEB2020

Mimi’s secret garden patch

Summer can be good for ferns inside the house. I have filled our conservatory
with pots of ferns which definitely seem to like the warmth and occasional water
spray. They are so unobtrusive and I believe the olden day Victorians were not
wrong when their houses were full of delicate sprays of greenery – especially the
maidenhair fern. This is more fiddly to grow, but cutting down to root level and
starting afresh, it is quick to give re-growth and resume its original finery. Double
potting plants also helps provide extra moisture. Nephrolepis ‘sword’ ferns are very
easy to grow as they can tolerate dry, hot weather better than most.
We have a ‘grey’ watering system for the plants. Every area of the garden is di-
vided into 7 portions for watering and every day, we have a procession of collect-
ed bath and shower water – amounting to +/- 8 builders size buckets which is
rotated daily. This results in every portion of the garden getting a good watering
once a week.
For the small pots I water them more carefully and have listened to the Epsom
Salts advice – it works! Just a big teaspoon in a small watering can is sufficient. I
applied it to our Lemon Trees this year and in spite of the hot weather, we have
so many lemons growing in clumps of 2 to 3 up and down the branches. Our
Lime tree has had the same Epsom Salt treatment plus 315 fertilizer and the latest
tree is full of new growth while the older tree has little limes everywhere. Limes
are so gratifying as their insides are rarely blemished and the clear juicy fruit looks
so appetizing. This is what encourages one to carry on, almost individually -
plant by plant. I am lucky to have a small garden which enables me to concentrate
on all the different corners of our little plot.
So, - what is that almost mocking proverb? “If at first you don’t succeed, try and
try again” ….

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