Garden Guide With James Kilkelly

I'VE had enough. At the start of the month, on hearing some amateur weather forecaster predict the coldest and wettest June since 1972, I scoffed â€â€ but now I'm beginning to think he might have been right. The rain is sheeting down outside as I write, so although it's 'summer', I thought it might be fitting if I turned my attention towards indoor gardening for a spell. Whether you are a newcomer to houseplants or a more seasoned grower there is a fresh plant out there for you, should you have the space of course. Let's take a look at two suitable candidates: A houseplant for low light Many of us have a corner of a room that could benefit from a touch of plant softening, but we are often held back due to low light within that particular area. Now I am not talking about total darkness, but rather those positions that are away from direct window light. In such a position I can heartily recommend the dwarf umbrella tree, also known as Schefflera Arboricola. You may recognise the dwarf umbrella tree from a neighbour or friend's house due to its unmistakable finger-like leaves. These are a singular glossy green in colour but if you stumble across the variegated version then this glossy green will be boosted by creamy-yellow splashes. I have often seen products that hail from Taiwan scoffed at by certain consumers who regard them as pieces of cheap mass-produced tat that are easily broken. This is not the case however with this tough Taiwanese native. The dwarf umbrella tree is an extremely easy-to-care-for houseplant that tolerates a wide variety of soil, light and temperature conditions, making it a perfect choice for beginners. If you are looking for something evergreen, elegant, yet forgiving, then you should consider the umbrella tree. Here are its details: â€Â¢ Expected height and spread: 1.8 metres (6ft) by 90cm (3ft) â€Â¢ Sunlight: Prefers it bright, but copes with shade â€Â¢ Temperature: Prefers it warm, 15 to 30°C, but is quite capable of growing outside of these temperatures â€Â¢ Water: Do so when the top two inches of compost are dry. Keep moist, but not wet â€Â¢ Feed: Every two to three weeks during spring/summer with a fertiliser specifically for foliage houseplants A houseplant with long-lasting flowers Have you heard of the African violet? Now this houseplant is a bit more finicky to grow than the umbrella tree, however it is well worth the extra effort for all the flowering return it will grant your indoor space. Also known as Saintpaulia, after Walter von Saint Paul-Illaire who discovered the plant in Tanzania, the African violet is known firstly for its finely haired or fuzzy oval-shaped leaves. It's the flowers in shades of violet, purple, light blue and white, depending on the variety, that are the real stand-out feature though, and then there's its ability to produce these flowers almost right throughout the year. Visitors react to my African violet by asking if it's actually an artificial plant since it is in flower every time they call round. As mentioned it takes a bit of care to keep this houseplant producing. For example, you should be pinching off any spent blossoms (deadheading) to promote regular development of new blooms throughout the season. Read on for more all-important care tips: â€Â¢ Expected height and spread: 15cm (six inches) either way. â€Â¢ Sunlight: Requires a bright window ledge to flower well. â€Â¢ Temperature: Prefers a steady temperature, somewhere between 15 to 30°C. It will forgive a small variation between day and night-time temperatures, but extreme fluctuations experienced when positioned near to regularly opening exterior doors can cause flowers to drop. â€Â¢ Water: Like the dwarf umbrella tree, water when the top two inches of compost are dry, keeping it moist but not wet. Use water at room temperature, as cold water will also cause flowers to drop. â€Â¢ Feed: Every two to three weeks during spring/summer you should apply a fertiliser that has been created especially for African violets. It should have approximately equal amounts of the main nutrients, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), such as 7-7-7. I will uncover more houseplants next week (weather permitting). Until then, happy gardening and remember that a weed is just a plant in the wrong place.