Cacti Care

My cacti plants have been neglected this year. And they love it. I did repot them at the beginning of the season, then put them on a shelf in the tunnel and promptly forgot about them. Their only water source was condensation and the odd over spray from the tomatoes. A few of them are flowering as well which is always pleasing to see.

Cacti

Cacti are classic examples of plants that have evolved to grow in environments where water is scarce for large parts of the year. Most of the varieties don’t have leaves but swollen stems. These stems contain water-storage tissues and a thick waterproof skin, usually covered with a waxy layer to help prevent water loss.  Cacti can have extensive root systems, spreading just below the soil surface, so that they can absorb even the relatively small amounts of water that moisten the soil surface during light showers of rain, which isn’t much help to them in my small pots. To help them store water in the occasional time I give them water, the fluted stems with ribs expand and contract without damage to the surface tissues.

Cacti also have evolved to use the stems as the main method of photosynthesis  rather than using leaves. 

In place of leaves, cacti have areas where spikes come out (areoles). These are like buds and they are arranged regularly along the ribs of the stem. They produce spines which help to protect the stems from being eaten. In some cacti that I have the spines are so dense that they almost completely obscure the underlying stems, shielding the stems from intense sunlight and preventing the plant from overheating.

Cacti as Houseplants

Cacti make great houseplants and makes a big impact to a room. 

What to look for when buying cacti

• Assess the size where the plant will be going. Larger plants generally cost more.
• Check that the cacti are free of mealybug on both the plant itself and the root system. With its woolly white layer of wax, it’s one of the most common pests on cacti and difficult to deal with.
• Spider mite (eight-legged insects that cover the plant in a fine and dense web), aphids, brown scale and scale insects or thrips can also occur.
• Check for damage, and ensure that the roots are in good condition. If the plants have been left in wet soil for an extended period, they may have rotted ‘from the pot’. This can also be caused by fungi and bacteria. The green part, the actual stem, will then feel soft and could be discoloured.

Choice of cacti

Many cacti are sold in mixed trays, particularly the smaller sizes. The plants I have now came from a job lot on e-bay of bare rooted plants and was very happy with the quality. I have tried growing the plants from seed but it takes a long time and is pretty fiddly. I had about fifteen different types in the bundle.

If you have friends with older cacti you will find they have small offsets. These can be pulled off and planted up after leaving to dry for a day or two.

Succulent Euphorbia species closely resemble cacti and are often placed in the same product group. It’s easy to spot the difference. On Euphorbia the spikes and thorns grow directly out of the green body of the plant, whilst on cacti they grow out of the areolae.

Care tips

Cacti are easy to care for. In order to get the plant to flower successfully every year, it’s best to give it more water in the summer and less in the winter. This is partly dependent on the species and the size of the plant.

• Too much water is never good; it’s best to allow the soil to dry out before watering again.
• A cactus appreciates a warm and sunny spot in the summer; it can even go outdoors on a patio or balcony. The position should be cooler and light in the winter. This rest period in the winter helps the cactus to flower in the spring.
• If the plant needs to be repotted, use a fairly impoverished soil. Special cactus soil is available for this.
• Place the plants in a safe place if there are children or pets around.

Autumn Flowers and Climbing Ladders

Errigal?,no thanks... 

I’ve been cleaning the guttering this week. Well, more accurately I’ve been watching a very agile, capable young lad go up a ladder and clear them out on my behalf.  I’m not very good with ladders, it’s OK getting up them but it’s coming down I have bother with. It all started when I was a young lad (cue a flashback wave) my mother took me to a large lighthouse for a pleasurable day uot. I got half way up the sweeping spiral staircase and then just froze. The rest of the group went ahead to see the joys of huge pieces of cut glass dissipating the light over the sea whilst I huddled in a ball on the 200^th stone step waiting for some company. (Cue another wavy flashback)

My other memorable time going up heights was the time I worked in a sand quarry. I thought to get over being scared of heights I would climb the vertical ladder up to the top of a 100 foot silo. “That’ll sort me out” I thought.

 It was a cold clear morning when I set foot on the cold steel and eventually made my way to the top. It took a while with lots of stops but I got there and climbed on the flat roof. As I mentioned earlier, it’s getting back on the ladder that’s the problem, I just couldn’t do it. Three hours I sat up on the top of that silo. It seemed like three weeks.

Eventually because of the cold, I plucked up the courage to dangle my legs over and slowly made my way down to the ground, one slow rung of the ladder at a time. I was under the impressing that facing your fears was a good thing, but as it turns out, not always. 

My latest wobble on a high place was climbing Errigal. I managed to get to the first peak but couldn’t for the life of me step on the narrow path to get to the second one. try as I might all I could see was the lake below and nothing to stop me falling into it. I wasn’t really a good role model for the children (who managed to take no notice of me and get to the other side) at least I can teach them not to be scared of spiders.

Anyway, that’s why I am not cleaning the leaves out of the guttering. It’s far too jarring on my nerves. 

It’s pretty early do be doing this type of job as there aren’t many leaves falling just yet but the lad was also fixing and replacing a few  tiles on the roof that had either broken or dropped off this year so anytime is a good time just to check.

Growing for Showing

This is the time of year that keen vegetable and flower growers make their way to the summer shows in the hope of winning a rosette or cup for “Best in Show” I had my moment of glory earlier in the spring when I won the “Best Air plant Display” in our local show (the only entrant if you recall) but at this time of year it’s huge carrots, onions and leeks, perfectly formed courgettes and longest beans. Vases are full of gladioli, dahlias, antirrhinums, sweet peas and asters and the judges take their role very seriously to keep up the high standards. I don’t have anything of show quality in my own garden. I was reading an article recently saying the broad beans have finished which made me realise I haven’t even harvested mine yet as they are hiding behind the runner beans.  They will probably be very tough and certainly not good enough to show, so I’ll just give them a good boiling.

Autumn Flowers

It’s not all about growing for showing, we can enjoy many beautiful swathes of colour in the garden for the next couple of months. Here

Asters and Michaelmas Daisies

Ice Plant (Sedum spectabile and other varieties)

• Alstroemeria
• Bergamot Japanese Anemones
• Carex
• Cranesbill (Hardy Geranium)
• Dahlias
• Echinacea
• Eupatorium maculatum ‘Atropurpureum’
• Ornamental Grasses
• Monk’s hood (Aconitum carmichaelii)
• Pennisetum varieties
• Prairie Daisy
• Verbena

Planning and Planting Tips

When planning your borders, choose a selection of plants that flower at different times through the year so there’s always something colourful to enjoy.

Plant taller growing autumn flowering varieties behind low growing summer ones so they’ll grow up above them once summer displays fade away.

A small group of, say, three plants of one variety often looks more impressive than choosing three different things.

Front Garden Ideas

Most people living around me have small front gardens. For this reason it’s always a pleasure walking to the local shops or to nearby friends and relations.  I’d say most of the gardens are no more than 25-50 square metres a piece but it’s amazing just how much variation there is in each garden. I’m always hanging my nose over fences to have a look at the attention to detail, so much so that progress can be very slow getting anywhere. If you think about it, front gardens are the only gardens you go into when the weather is bad and differ greatly from the rear gardens which are made for (in the most part) rest and relaxation. When we head out to the car or go out of the house it’s usually the front garden we move though. For this reason it’s a good idea to pay a bit of attention to the finer details.

Five Suggestions

I’ve thought of five suggestions to get the most out of the front gardens. 

Complement the street scene. Most roads have a look and if you work with the surroundings this can give the garden a feeling of greater space. Low key and formal would work well for easy care.

Symmetry and Structure. Well defined flower beds, straight lines and solid planting could work and would be easier on the eye than attempting a wildflower meadow.

Structure. Keep well defined paths and edges and when the winter comes these could be the main feature, or the ‘bones ‘of the area. You wouldn’t want dead soggy plants on the pathways. Work with the house planting low shrubs under the windows and taller ones next to the wall areas. Work with the flow of the house not against it.

Layout. Show the way to your front door. A clean path up to some large planters besides the door would be good. You’ll find a wavy indirect path will only cause people (including yourself) to take a short cut.

Kerb Appeal. This is only an issue if you are thinking of selling the house, or using a room as an Airbnb. 

Plants to Add

Steady, practical and low maintenance is the order of the day when it comes to plants for the front garden.

Evergreens. Shrubs which stay green and have a good bulk all year round - are key to front gardens.

Climbers. Say no to ivy and climbing hydrangeas which have suckers and will find their way into the guttering, the mortar and, eventually, the windows. The climbers that are less likely to damage your house are ones which need support to grow up, so wisteria, clematis and roses would suit. A good tip is to grow them up sturdy trellis which is just hooked on to the wall. The trellis (and the climber with it) can be removed for cleaning or painting the walls. 

Trees. Remember they grow big! I always shiver when I see a monkey puzzle tree planted six feet from the front door. They grow over 100 feet eventually. Other trees can undermine the house foundations too.

Seasonal Changes

As you see the garden everyday planning the seasons will be fun.

Front gardens are perfect for pots. Some of my neighbours especially like putting out ornaments .

Keeping it low maintenance

I chose chamomile for my front garden this year as cutting the grass was a bit of an inconvenience. Maintaining the chamomile takes longer to do but it’s generally just hand weeding. You could try gravel or paving for an even lower maintenance option, generally the more hard landscaping you have the lower the maintenance will be. The easiest solution to look after is paving - bricks, slabs, driveway pavers - but it can prove to be expensive to put these over the whole of the front, even if your garden is small. So gravel is a decent halfway house.

A Few No-No’s

The place for expressing yourself in your garden is in the back garden. Keep the front garden simple. Don't make life more difficult that it needs be. If you need access to your windows make sure there's a path there and the plants aren't too big. Remember the straight paths too. Path materials and walls are pretty safe but maybe choose lower cost pots, plants and containers just in case they decide to go walkies.

Sonairte and Pesky Flies- Where Have They Gone?

Do you fancy visiting the Sonairte Ecology Centre in Laytown , County Meath in the near future. Well you can’t. 

The centre, which was established in 1986 by members of the local community and concerned environmentalists to promote environmental awareness and education promotes ecological awareness and sustainable living  posted this message on Facebook:

“For the avoidance of any doubt, Sonairte "in its entirety" will be closed to the Public from 5pm this Friday 25th August. This includes all Tenants, which includes The Sunflower Cafe, who after 5pm on Friday will no longer have access to the Centre. After this point, the Centre will be solely "Private Property" and trespassers will be prosecuted. We appreciate the public’s support at this difficult time. Thank you Sonairte”

Short and to the point, the centre didn’t go into any more details about the sudden closure. It is speculated that spiralling insurance costs have something to do with the decision to close, rising from under €10,000 to over €30,000 in the space of a year. 

The ecology centre was a busy place with training courses, school visits, monthly craft markets selling produce from their 10 acre gardens, nature trail and river walks along with a craft shop were just some of their biggest attraction. The centre will still sell it’s produce but you’ll need to go to the local shops for it as the gates are staying firmly shut for the time being until the matter has been resolved.

Splat

As I am in the mood for a bit of news, have you heard about the “Windscreen Phenomenon? It’s been reported that there are far fewer squashed insects on your car windscreens a compared to life in the 1970’s. Flies, gnats, hoverflies, beetles and wasps all seem to be in fewer numbers. Even driving at night people have commented they see far fewer moths diving into the headlight beams.

Some people are blaming the reduction in insects on insecticide use with intensive farming. Since 2006, beekeepers have lost about a third of their managed bee colonies each year largely due to the loss of flower-rich grassland which has declined by 97 per cent from the 1930’s.

Rothamsted Research has also monitored insect populations using traps for more than 50 years. Chris Shortall, an entomologist from Rothamsted said they had found evidence that the number of flying insects is falling, but said ‘the windscreen phenomenon’ was difficult to prove.

“The loss of insects from our windscreens is a well-noted anecdote, however actually demonstrating it is very tricky, if not impossible”

In 2004 the RSPB asked motorists to attach a ‘splatometer’ to the front of their cars - a piece of PVC film to collect insects, to see if they were declining. They recorded 324,814 ‘splats’, an average of only one squashed insect every five miles.

However the survey was only carried out once so it was impossible to see whether bug numbers had fallen over time. It will become more apparent in the near future if we see the decline in animals that depend on these insects for nutrition in the food chain. It’s estimated we have only identified about one quarter of the insect species on the planet

I doubt it as I think fewer insects hit the windscreens now than in the past.  Cars have changed shape over time, and are now far more aerodynamic with steeper angled glass, meaning fewer insects are hit. They just get caught in the updraft and fly over the top of the roof.  

Just to add, I think I have done my fair share of ‘bug cleaning’ from the car windscreen. As the summer draws to a close and the sleepy, drunk wasps come out to pester us I’m sure a few people will still think there are just a few to many insects around still to annoy us.

Ident Groups

There are a couple of insect identification groups in Ireland. The National Biodiversity Data Centre currently runs two insect monitoring schemes: the Irish Butterfly Monitoring Scheme, established in 2007 and the all-Ireland Bumblebee Monitoring Scheme, established in 2011. 

The Irish Butterfly ‘Red List’ found that, of the 35 resident and regular migrant species of Irish butterfly, one species is now extinct, six species are threatened with extinction and five species are of ‘Near Threatened’ status. Therefore, 18% of our butterfly species are now under threat, with another 15% heading in the same direction.

The Centre provides support and training for anyone wishing to begin to identifying and monitoring these wonderful insects. They will be expanding the monitoring schemes to cover more insect groups in the near future as they see the importance of monitoring this vital part of the food chain in a diverse world.