I am joined by epiphytic cactus expert Mark Preston to talk about how to take care of Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving cacti, aka Schlumbergera and Rhipsalidopsis. And I answer a question about baby spider plants.
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I talk to Scott Cain of Instagram accounts @tropicaloco and @boyswithplants about his houseplant collection, his new book and what it’s like keeping a whole forest of foliage plants alive on an Australian balcony. And I answer a question about a Monstera with dodgy leaves.
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Hoyas are shooting up the houseplant popularity charts, and so they should: these climbing and trailing vines have lovely foliage and flowers that are otherworldly and sometimes heavenly scented. Doug Chamberlain of Vermont Hoyas joins me to discuss how to care for these enchanting plants.
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Botanical Latin can seem like a confusing alphabet soup that’s full of tongue twisters. But Latin names help us learn about the history of the plant, who brought it into cultivation and what it looks like. This episode will set you on the road to becoming a scholar of plant taxonomy - the science of naming plants. Plus a question on corkscrew rush.
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Michael Perry aka Mr Plant Geek joins me to share some of his insights into the houseplant scene in China, Japan and Thailand, from how much you’d pay for a 6ft Adenium in Thailand to how the Chinese are marketing houseplants to children. Plus I answer a jaw-dropping question from a listener who has a peace lily that’s anything but peaceful…
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In this episode I highlight some of the gadgets I have found useful, from soil moisture testers to hand lenses. And I answer three questions: one about Calatheas, another on Aloe vera and a final one about variegation in Monsteras.
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We’ve all been there: the moment when that must-have houseplant leaps off the shelf and into your basket (real or virtual) and you have absolutely no idea how you are going to fit it into your home. In this episode I hear from a couple of listeners - Ehren Wessel and Letty Reynaldo - about their plant addictions, and I chat to hoarding expert Jo Cooke about how to know if you have a problem with hoarding houseplants, and what you can do to improve the situation.
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As it’s the final episode of the year, I thought I’d have some fun and discuss some of the houseplants that embody the Pantone colour of the year for 2019, ‘living coral’; plus I offer up some festive houseplant care tips and talk about what’s coming up in 2019 on the podcast.
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I speak to three plant photographers to find out their top tips on lighting, framing and focusing your shot. Plus - I answer a question about a Philodendron ‘Pink Princess’ that’s letting its name down by being anything but pink.
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Do houseplants really clean the air in your house? I talk to PhD researcher Curtis Gubb about his project to discover whether houseplants really do have a positive effect on air quality. And I answer a question on small ferns for terrariums.
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Professional aquascaper George Farmer turned his hobby into a successful career. I get some tips on how to get started with your first underwater landscape, and find out how aquascaping helped George deal with PTSD. And I answer a question about a Peperomia with bumpy leaves.
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Join me as I tour Dutch houseplant nurseries with fellow plant nut James Wong, finding out how growers produce millions of plants of every kind, from Ficus to barrel cacti. Plus a question about houseplants for poorly ventilated places.
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