This last few weeks have been really very hot, blisteringly so, and gardeners everywhere are looking forward to some relief. It is not unknown for my garden to be just a sheet of water at this time, with my poor cactus collection receiving more rain overnight than it receives in five years in its native south-east USA. This is really why they are grown in pots to allow for easy moving to a drier place. It is an interesting thing that cacti will stand quite severe frosts, providing they are not wet at the same time. Our climate is not ideal for most cacti, but we can improve things by a touch of mimicry – by making the compost so open and very well drained that it gets rid of water as quickly as it receives it. It is worth remembering that the root system of cacti is normally very widespread, so that it catches as much of what little rain falls as it can. This is one of the reasons why they are designed to be thick fleshed and very prickly, to prevent loss of water due to damage by animals or wind. My normal soil mix is designed to be more like the desert soil from which they come, and this should help to keep the roots on the dry side. Lots of small brick, stone and coarse sand, and no peat or rich soil. It should work.
Just along the eastern fence I notice that the young seedlings of the cobalt blue legume climber called Clitoria ternata are really establishing themselves. The Blue pea or Butterfly pea is now found throughout the tropical world, but probably originated in South America. There are white and pale blue forms as well as the more common cobalt blue form that I have, and which I prefer. There are also both single or double forms. In the same area of fence I also have some more plants of the Kew primrose growing. I lost my original stock of Asystasia gangetica which, like the Butterfly pea is a climber. The ones I now have were rooted in a glass of water, and planted out as soon as the first sign of roots appear. They will form an attractive display of pale yellow and blue when I finally get them growing together.
It has been possible to get eucalyptus chips for some in Georgetown. In Europe pine chips are in vogue, but apart from the scent there is little to choose between them for looks. I have tried the eucalyptus chips on some of my borders and as a top dressing for some of the plants I have indoors, and I must say it does look very attractive as well as natural. A little bit more agreeable than gravel or stone. It has also been possible to get hold of 40 lb bags of potting soil with added fertilizer for some time. It is interesting to note that it also contains a proportion of perlite, which is expanded volcanic ash. This helps to open up the compost and aids drainage. I have tried some of this for young plants of hibiscus and shall be looking carefully at the results. On the face of it, however, there is no reason to suppose it wouldn’t work well. The fact that it is in bags will no doubt make it attractive for gardeners who don’t want to go to the trouble of mixing up their own compost. I would say though, that one has to be just as careful with watering as with any other compost, and it will pay to place some broken pot at the base of each container to help drain off excess water.
Take the greatest care on the roads, keep your garden tools clean and dry and may your God go with you wherever you are.
