Sowing with thunder and lightning

By John Warrington

This week has been a busy kind of week. With thunder and lightning as accompaniment. I mixed John Innes potting compost, potted several dozen large Golden Palms into large pots, sowed seed, and sprayed for Red Spider Mite. With severely aching wrists I also managed to sow four packets of seed ordered several weeks ago. I believe I may have mentioned this a short time ago, but it includes a red oriental poppy (Papaver orientale) which is very similar to the Flanders poppy used at Remembrance Day commemorations throughout the world on November 11.

Another new sowing is Brugmansia suaveolens ‘White Lady’ which came to me as Datura suaveolens, the supplier using the old name for this Angels Trumpet which has hanging flowers. Regular readers may remember that the Datura has trumpet like flowers pointing to the sky, whereas the similar Brugmansia has downward facing trumpets. The seeds of both are quite large, and are easily spaced over the surface of the pot and pressed into the compost.

I have a large poinsettia which was planted just after Christmas, and which has turned into a magnificent plant able to bear the heaviest rains we have had so far, suffering absolutely no damage. It is growing in a raised and extremely well-drained border. This household is hooked on hot peppers; our latest one is called ‘Thai Dragon,’ but it is not as hot as Scotch Bonnet. It can, however, be lifted when in full fruit and hung upside down – the fruit being used whenever needed.

My weeping willow has been a great success for several years. It roots very easily and is the kind of plant you can give away to friends. Quite a few members of the cactus family grow very well in Guyana, providing they are given good drainage and exposure to sunlight. Probably the most free-flowering ones are the night flowering Cereus and the Prickly Pears. All the cacti that you will come across are products of the arid regions of the world, and particularly of North and South America in areas of extremely low rainfall. They have evolved their characteristic form and function as a consequence of extreme conditions, where they might only get an inch or so rainfall every few years, are exposed to intense heat, and usually heavy doses of ultra-violet light. Grazing animals as well are also a problem. Loss of water is reduced by the development of thick fleshy wall and many extra cells for water storage. Dense coatings of spines or hair break up the breezes passing over their surface.  Animals, including humans, are deterred by the covering of very sharp spines over the surface of most species. The absence of branch systems reduces the area of the plant above ground, but all of them develop shallow but very extensive root systems over a wide area in order to catch whatever little moisture falls to the ground. Many only receive water in the form of heavy dews or from mists or fog.

Finally, some important things to remember:

If you are applying fertilizer do not let it fall and remain on the leaves. It will scorch them.
Never apply any fertilizer, including foliar feed, when the plants are dry. Water first if in doubt.
Spray when there is no wind, and only in the evening. Add washing-up liquid to make it stick.
And above all, take care and may your God go with you.