Scented Rhododendrons
Scented Rhododendrons such as Rhododendron ‘Fragrantissimum' and Rhododendron ‘Lady Alice Fitzwilliam’ grown in pots will be coming into flower and can be brought briefly indoors to scent the house. Scented rhododendrons tend to have an upright ‘leggy’ growth habit and after flowering there is a temptation to prune them back. This is usually a failure as just one new shoot will emerge from each pruned branch. One must accept their scruffy growth habit and enjoy the wonderful scent! After flowering the plants can be potted on and kept outside in partial shade.
Click here for more information on growing and caring for Scented Rhododendrons
Abutilon
Abutilons may well have flowered long into Autumn.
They now often look scruffy and take up too much room.
Now is the time to prune them back hard and pot them on to encourage new growth and a whole new set of ongoing flowers in Summer and beyond.
The best Abutilons for the conservatory or as pot plants are Abutilon ‘Canary Bird’ or Abutilon ‘Ashford Red’.
Passiflora
Lateral growths on Passion Flowers (Passiflora) can be cut back to 4”-6” from the main stems and will produce fresh young trails which will flower later.
Water Collection
Erect a water butt, tub or even an old bath to collect rainwater from the roof of your greenhouse or conservatory for free and legal use in the event of a hosepipe ban or drought.
If your greenhouse is primarily for growing plants rather than as conservatory living space consider adding a water tank to one corner. This will greatly raise humidity levels, reduce the need for water and encourage more healthy new growth. Alternatively you can damp down the pathways in your greenhouse once a day.
