Bonsai

Pepper tree

The word ‘bonsai’ simply means ‘a plant in a tray’. Indoor and Outdoor bonsai are fascinating to grow but they are high maintenance plants. It is important to select the type of bonsai carefully and to follow care instructions.

Workplace by Wallpaper Magazine

Last week we attended the launch of Workplace, a temporary exhibition of ideas, furniture and interior design for the place where we seem to spend more and more hours every day.

Wallpaper Magazine hosted a fabulous party with drinks and nibbles showcasing an inspiring interior design. Every element from the desks to the chairs and storage were chosen for their design and functionality. Three different yet equally inspiring areas were designed to create the fabulously original work spaces.

Dominic McCartney designed a creative display of plants and containers provided by The Chelsea Gardener for the exhibition.  Here are a few images to show you the process from start to finish:

Display area

The first plants arrive

Final touches

With this post we thought it would be appropriate to communicate the importance of a healthy and pleasant work space – not only does it increase productivity but also people’s wellbeing.

In this competitive and ruthless world, big companies have been implementing many changes in the offices. From Google to Amazon, the working spaces tend to be more relaxed, full of colour and less restrictive and serious.

And here is where plants play a very special role. In addition to the obvious benefit of purifying the air, they also provide visual improvement. And the options are as wide as your imagination can reach which is why we recommend hiring a professional to choose the right plants for your particular space.

The plants frame every space adding a touch of green. Some plants of interest used in this project are the Yucca rostrata (Grass Tree), Yucca elephantipes, Trachycarpus fortunei and Cyca revoluta.

Here is an example of a very apealing break area in Hong Kong (Lane Crawford offices):

Hunt for Design

The appeal of cacti and succulents

Aeonium canariensis

Did you know that Christopher Columbus brought the first cactus (Melocactus) to Europe? Did you know that Aloe is one of the most important plants cultivated for pharmaceutical and beauty purposes? Or that tequila is made form Agave?

Cacti display at The Chelsea Gardener

Cacti and succulents store water in their leaves and branches which enables them to survive very dry conditions. Another way of coping with a lack of water is by opting for a smaller sized plant, keeping the evaporation of water to a minimum.

The Chelsea Gardener’s conservatory

We have to mention the spines of course… They have a double purpose: trapping the night moisture that will drip into the ground for the roots to absorb and also for protecting it from animals and physical attacks.

Polaskia chichipe from Mexico

These plants make very nice features in any house adding sculptural interest to any room. They are also very easy to look after as they need very little attention!  The Chelsea Gardener has many individual plants and arrangements that make the perfect gift.

Display at The Chelsea Gardener

When repotting cacti, don’t forget to use the right compost.  The most important tip: well-draining and slightly acidic compost.

Compost

You can also add gravel on the topsoil for a neat and clean finish.

Poinsettias

The conservatory at The Chelsea Gardener is now full of red! Poinsettias are one of the most popular house plants at this time of year.

Here is an interesting fact about them:

Euphorbia pulcherrima is indigenous to Mexico and Central America. It derives its common English name from Joel Roberts Poinsett, who was the first United States Minister to Mexico, who introduced the plant into the United States in 1825.

Another interesting aspect about them is that the distinctive red colour is not a petal but in fact a bract (the botanical term for a modified leaf). The true flowers are the small yellow central buds.

Usually they are disposed of after the festive season as they tend to drop leaves due to the heating and other house conditions but, with a little care, you can keep them all year.

Poinsettias need to be positioned in a bright area, away from full sun and draughts. They need a minimum temperature of 13-15°C.

Water poinsettias carefully as overwatering can damage them. A little tip -only water when the surface of the compost has begun to dry out. Misting plants regularly will encourage the flowering to last longer.

We recommend feeding monthly with a low nitrogen, high potassium fertiliser.

Hyacinths

As you may have read in a previous post, there are just a few weeks left before it’ll be too late to plant any bulbs.

However, if you don’t have time there is a solution – at The Chelsea Gardener we have ready-planted bulbs that will flower nicely.

Hyacinths are some of the most popular, with their beautiful and fabulously strong scent.

Some bulbs like hyacinths can be ‘forced’ to flower at Christmas. The easiest way to do this is to:

• Place the potted bulbs (bulb fibre) in a black polythene bag and leave them in the dark.
• Simply water when needed and check regularly.

 

For hyacinths that are already flowering, visit our colleague Leila in the conservatory (indoors@chelseagardener.com). We’re getting ready for Christmas and the place is looking amazing!