Zen Plants

 Ginseng in a pot

Relaxing and admiring the plants in the garden is always a delight. What about when we go indoors though?

We can always look out of the window but in the evening when the soft lights are on, having some easy to look after, compact, serene looking plants is a lovely addition to the home. Even through (speaking for myself) I’ll probably be looking at a computer screen. The plants are there for me to admire when I do lift my head up occasionally.

This time of year prompts really fast growth from a lot of houseplants and it’s not long before they are out of hand, taking up too much room, going leggy and dropping old leaves and petals everywhere. Busy Lizzies and begonias are just two that spring to mind.

I think wholesale growers are realising this and this year some of the larger Dutch companies such as Van der Plas are promoting bonsai, dracaena and fiscus type plants to retailers for the consumer to enjoy and have as a relaxing meditative focal point in a room. To make things more marketable for us the consumer, these types of plants will be going under the banner of “Zen Plants” which instantly gives us waves of relaxation. The types of plants under the “Zen “banner are generally easy to look after, don’t drop too many leaves and are attractive to look at and blessed with a serene look that really impacts on their surroundings. There are exceptions to the rule though and some really hot, centrally heated houses might not be suitable so if you are thinking in investing in a €200 bonsai tree, I’d start with something a bit cheaper first to test the conditions.

Zen Plants

Zen plants as a phenomenon before the advertisers decided to use the phrase as a selling point, dates back from the end of the 14th century, when Zen Buddhists created stylised gardens of exceptional beauty in order to meditate and contemplate the world. Respect for nature was key part of the overall design. They would pay a lot of attention to the finer details of the plants, maybe more than most of us would so the types of plants we will be seeing should be tidy and compact for us to ignore for long periods

Some of the plants have a calming effect and can look a lot older than they actually are as their trunks mature, which adds to the look. Bonsai, Ficus Ginseng and Dracaena lucky bamboo all have powerful shapes, natural strength, and a stylised appearance. “All three species fit well with the growing interest in bringing more calm and meaning to our lives.” Boldly claim van der Plas the plant wholesalers.

Bonsai in Japanese means ‘tree in pot’. Woody plants are transformed into miniature trees by pruning and trimming whereby the appearance is determined by the plant’s essence.

Examples of plants that are particularly suitable for bonsai are Chamaecyparis, pomegranate and Crassula ovata, Ficus species are currently the most popular. 

The Ficus ginseng is cultivated in southern China and Malaysia. A small-leafed Ficus microcarpa is grafted onto the distinctive trunk, which is then pruned into a bonsai shape.

It can be narrow and tall or broad and low, depending on the pruning. To achieve the best aesthetic effect, the pot usually takes up less than one third of the total height of plant.

Dracaena lucky bamboo is an eye-catching feature plant, and is available with straight and twisted branches, woven, as a mini bamboo forest or as a solo statement plant.

All shapes need a lot of water, which is why they’re often sold in a glass bowl, vase or other vessel where the water is visible. This also contributes to the plant’s Zen look.

What to look for when buying Zen plants

• Bonsai and Ficus ginseng need to be well-rooted. The trunk and foliage must also be attractively in proportion.
• A lack of light can cause leaf shedding. Check that the leaves are sturdy and the plant has been hardened.
• Check for mealybug and scale insects.
• Dracaena lucky bamboo should not have any yellow stems, and must be sold ‘on water’.

Care tips

• All “Zen plants” like a light spot with no direct sunlight.
• Bonsai and Ficus Ginseng like having slightly damp soil but not wet feet.
• Dracaena lucky bamboo should always be standing in a layer of water.
• Some plant food every 3 to 4 weeks is sufficient.
• If Zen plants grow too big, they can be pruned back.
• If the temperature remains above 15°C, these plants can also be placed on the patio.

Plugs, Trays and Impulse Buying

 The moss covering the seedling is coming on well

The delivery of my multi pack perennial plugs has been put back a month. Apparently there has been a huge demand for the 70 plug offer and the company want to make sure they are only delivering the best plants, so they will establish quickly.  

I’m quite pleased in a way as it means they will be keeping the slugs off the tender new leaves for a whole month so I don’t need to bother.  I have been busy in preparation though and have washed/disinfected enough pots to house them all when they arrive.  I’ve been mixing my own blend of potting material too, a bit of soil, a bit of garden compost, a bit of bonemeal, a bit of bagged compost and a touch of sand.  

 Hopefully there will be enough nutrients in there to keep them healthy until summer when they can be planted out. I’m still no clearer where they will be going as we really haven’t any room, especially when the veggies start getting big. I might need to get a load of large pots

 Garden Tat

 

Talking of pots, I couldn’t resist increasing my collection of “Garden Tat” when I saw three old chimney pots - I just had to have them.  They are very structural and perfect as stand-alone items but I might put a perennial or two in the tops.  I have also impulsively bought a large tray of geraniums though, so they will probably go into the ‘architectural salvage’ as they can tolerate dryness if I forget to water them. 

The new additions have pride of place next to my old stained glass windows which I refurbished last winter when it was too cold to go outside.  I’ve put a mirror effect on the glass to close them in a bit. To most people it looks like either a reclamation or scrap yard, but I have the whole are lit up in the evenings and I think it looks fabulous through the patio doors in the evening.  I did resist the offer of buying some really old cast iron and oak based bar stools, they needed a lot of work to bring them up to a usable condition and I couldn’t see me getting around do doing anything with them for a long time as they would be joining a long list of ‘things to do ‘in the garden. I didn’t want to bring anything home that would cause me stress and stain visitor’s clothes with rust when they came to visit.

Keeping it Clean

My seedlings are not doing too well. A lot of things are really slow to germinate and one of the reasons might be the compost I used. I have made a recipe for the chamomile plants I grow and the  top has gone green with moss and algae really quickly.  These plants have a really good survival strategy whereby they absorb all the water like a sponge leaving the soil below bone dry.  I have to water the trays from below dipping them into a bath or really give them a good soaking. A lot of the seeds were quite small too and just under the surface so if I scraped the moss off it would probably take the seeds with it.  larger seeds such as the sunflowers, beans, mange tout and sweet peas all came up well as they build up some strength before bursting through the top layer of green covering the trays.  Hygiene is very important early on in seed germination and I have learnt my lesson to only use fresh sieved compost in future.

Bag It Up

I tried burning the rough, fibrous garden waste in my newly acquired, skip found galvanized and rust incinerator.  I also have a lot of tap root weeds such as docks as well as nettles.  After lighting the material, it kicked out a load of smoke for a while and then fizzled out; leaving me with a bin full of smokey stems and dead leaves.  They were probably a bit too wet so I have decided for now to just bag everything up and take it to the recycling centre. I’m sure the neighbours will be relieved as they will only need to wash their whites once after hanging them outside. 

Dare you pull up a dandelion and would you buy nettles?

 A dandelion growing in asphalt

Would you pay €10 for three small nettle plants?  Some people will apparently.  

Advertised on E-Bay, I actually thought they were joking but no, there they are, small rooted offsets being marketed as “Organic” and “All health giving”.  

True, nettles are pretty good for making tea, soup, fibre and balms but I’m sure of you poked your head out of the door you will see a clump somewhere within throwing distance.  Well apart from the 17 people who have bought the item, they couldn’t find any obviously.

You can get 1000 seeds for €3 too if three small clumps aren’t enough.  To find the offer on E-Bay just look above the advert for Roundup packets to “Eradicate Nettles”  

Dandelions

Then there are dandelions. You can get 3000 seeds for just €5 but to be fair they can be used as food for tortoises.  

Here’s a question – Dandelions, are they weeds, medicinal plants, play things for young children, food for bees and of course food to the aforementioned tortoise?  The answer to all is Yes, that’s what dandelions are.   It won’t be long before there’s a national dandelion day.  

There are loads of posts popping up on social media about how great the flowers are for the bees as they come out early. It’s got to the stage where the very mention of daring to pull up a dandelion plant from the pathway is met with a barrage of negative comments about how the bees will starve if we dig up some plants, even the ones growing in cracks on the drive way.

For the very attentive among us you could be brave and wait until the flower turns into a seed head and then dispose of that before they set in more cracks on the driveway ( or save the seeds up in a jiffy bag and sell them on e-Bay)  

Honeybee conservationist Michiel Verspuij from Boomtree Bees in Buncrana agrees that dandelions are a valuable source for bees.  But also understands that the more diverse flora the better it is for bees. “This time of year there isn’t a great selection of flowers for them to forage on. So from my perspective, if they can be left, the better it is for the bees. Also what harm is there if there are a few dandelions growing in a garden?”  and Michiel knows, he has three bee colonies move into his garden this year.

Michiel also feels that it’s a slippery slope getting rid of all the dandelions from the garden and wonders where it’d stop once you started “Unwanted plants” He has a good point.

To save the garden becoming too sterile and lacking in biodiversity he suggests leaving a few borders natural then annually mulch with leaves in autumn to keep weeds at bay.

“Bumblebees like untidy gardens” Michiel says, so mine is a pretty good hang out. He also suggests we allocate a little area in the garden for wildlife; it doesn’t have to be much.  This could be a great way of not feeling guilty or apologetic about the ‘neglected corner’ of the garden that you always think you need to tidy up. It’s now miraculously turned into a ‘Bee Feeding Station’

Any landscaping work Michiel does is focused in bee friendly gardening and he will always try to incorporate plants for bees and early on in the season we have the bumblebees out.

Bumble bees, out first visitors

Bumblebees are able to fly in cool temperatures earlier in the year because they are able fly chemically without needing heat. This allows them to fly in cool weather, unlike the honey bee. In fact, five species of bumblebee actually thrive within the Arctic Circle.

Why are bumble bees so important?

Bumble bees pollinate the earliest crops and these include currants, broad beans, gooseberries and early fruit trees. The bumble bee has the ability to vibrate pollinate flowers. It shakes the stubborn pollen down by buzzing enthusiastically inside the flower. Some plants (like tomatoes and other members of the solanum family) can only be pollinated in this way.

Bumblebees are much more likely to browse from one flower to another, whereas honey bees go back and forth to the same plant systematically. This ability to browse makes bumble bees excellent garden pollinators.

Early plants for bumblebees

• Large petals -  mallows, hollyhocks and most hardy geraniums
• Borage family - pulmonarias, comfreys and echiums
• Pincushions - scabious, knautias and cephalarias
• Thistles - cardoons and globe artichokes,
• Tubular bells - penstemons, foxglove, catmints, Hellebore
• Herbs - lavenders, sages, origanums and thymes
• Annuals - blue cornflower Daisies - echinaceas, anthemis and asters
• Climbers - Lonicera x purpusii
• Bulbs – Muscari, crocus,
• Then don’t forget the willow catkins, ribes and winter flowering heathers.
• Did I mention dandelions?  You can decide yourself if you want to keep them in the garden.

Garden Furniture

 Locally made garden benches

Sitting in the garden as the sun is shining is one of life’s great pleasures.  

Finding somewhere comfortable to rest and take in the rays is an important part of the relaxation process and although I’ll be happy sitting on an old rotting log and watching the woodlice, I have other visitors to consider.  

I’ve been looking at the huge range of garden seating this week and the choice is pretty daunting. It is like furnishing a room – only outdoors after all so style and functionality are all important for comfort, and contrast to the design of the garden. 

I have had to narrow down the search to suit my needs and budget.  I don’t really need a parasol in the equation as they tend to blow away taking the table with them and I’m not really that sociable so I should only need about 4 chairs or seating areas, more than four people and I tend to hide in the polytunnel. The idea of a gazebo, pergola or arbour sounds fun but I don’t really think they would fit in with the style of our seating area which is the foundation of an old 1930’s greenhouse, which is the closest thing we have to a patio.

Choosing the Seating

Choosing the chair and table materials to narrow down the choice helps reduce the confusion too. I have a couple of old chairs that stay outside in all weathers and even after five years they are holding up well. They are the woven plastic type of seating with powder coated steel legs so the only issue is you get rusty water dripping on your feet if you try to move them as the tubes do tend to store rainwater. They are recliners too so not much good around a table. 

I’ve found the most popular types of furniture are broken down into four types. 

Wood, of various thickness quality and type ranging from old pallets to mahogany and cedar. 

Steel which is usually powder coated, stainless steel, aluminium or cast iron which can be really elaborate designs in the casting process. Although top of my list for aesthetics, the reason for not considering the cast iron is that is needs annual maintenance of paint or they become unusable and you’ll need to sit on a cushion as they can be pretty uncomfortable after long periods of lolling around drinking Pims.  A good sturdy Victorian bench seat made from ornate cast iron could cost you as much as €800-€1200 too. 

Then there’s Bamboo, which has its own charm but a bit too bobbly for me.

The plastic woven or ‘rattan’ type of furniture is extremely popular and some of the designs totally cover the frames making the whole seating quite soft. These are better for big clean patios and without dogs like mine that really enjoying chewing the edges on that type of outdoor furniture. One of my dogs actually climbs the garage shelving looking for old yogurt and plant pots to chew on. I only know this because she leaves tell-tale paw prints in the dust. This type of chair generally doesn’t fold up and store in the shed in winter either.

It’s worth considering getting chairs and tables that fold away as they can be kept in the dry over winter.  With my track record I probably wouldn’t do that so my choice this year is pressure treated wood. At least with wood I can chop up and burn the seating after a few years to keep warm instead of having to take the rusty metal and ripped plastic to the recycling centre.

My Decision

After deliberating for a long time about the style I think my seating of choice will be a wooden picnic type table and benches hopefully made locally. There are a lot of really wobbly flatpack ones on the market with really thin wood which wouldn’t withstand a lot of weight.  I think if you can’t dance on a table then it’s not sturdy enough.  So I am on the hunt for something similar to the benches on the shorefront in Buncrana. Maybe I shouldn’t say that as if one goes missing, I’ll be the prime suspect.