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Category: Gardening Articles

How to grow mounted orchids on wood
How to grow mounted orchids on wood

How to grow mounted orchids on wood

Most people grow orchids in pots which I recently talked about here, including repotting them. However, in their natural environment, semi-terrestrial orchids send their thin roots down into decomposing leaves or into moss on stones or trees for their nutrients. Cymbidium orchids are one species of this type, and they’re one of the easiest orchids to grow in the home. Here’s how to grow orchids mounted on wood instead of in a pot. This is now one of my favorite…

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Why is my cymbidium orchid not flowering?
Why is my cymbidium orchid not flowering?

Why is my cymbidium orchid not flowering?

There are several reasons why your cymbidium orchid is not flowering. These range from its natural growth cycle through to the environment you’re keeping it in and the care you’re giving it. The most likely reason it’s not producing any blooms is it probably not getting enough light; they need around 10-12 hours of indirect sunlight each day. Read on to learn more reasons why there are no blooms on your orchid. Natural life cycle The flowering period of cymbidium…

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Why are the leaves in my swiss cheese plants curling
Why are my Swiss cheese plant leaves curling?

Why are my Swiss cheese plant leaves curling?

If the leaves on your Swiss cheese plant are curling, the main cause could be that you have either overwatered or underwatered your plant. More often than not, most of the issues you will experience with Monstera plants, from yellowing leaves to drooping leaves always comes back to a watering issue. However, problems with watering are not the sole cause of curling leaves and it could also be down to the fact the plant is under heat stress or an…

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Learn how to keep your Monstera swiss cheese plant thriving with these expert tips! From watering and fertilizing to pruning and repotting.
Discover the Secret to Keeping Your Swiss Cheese Plant Healthy and Happy

Discover the Secret to Keeping Your Swiss Cheese Plant Healthy and Happy

Swiss cheese plants originally became popular in the 1970s and they are enjoying a revival now because, as a houseplant, swiss cheese plants are very easy to care for. These plants quickly grow and will easily become tall plants. They are also good air purifiers for your home. I actually have several Monstera, with my biggest plant currently being around 6ft tall. Swiss cheese plants are incredibly easy to look after, and it all starts with providing them with the…

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Learn how to propagate Monstera Swiss Cheese Plants using my favourite method, stem cutting and 2 other ways that can be just as fun.
Discover the Joys of Swiss Cheese Plant Propagation with These Three Easy Methods

Discover the Joys of Swiss Cheese Plant Propagation with These Three Easy Methods

You can choose from three ways of how to propagate a Swiss cheese plant – by stem cuttings, my personal favourite and probably the easiest, air layering or by seed which I don’t really recommend. The easiest method is by using bits of the stems that you cut off as they’re really easy to get to root. All three methods are straightforward but takes time for the new plants to grow.  I cover how to carry out all three processes…

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Why is my Monstera Swiss Cheese plant turning yellow with black patches
Don’t Let Your Swiss Cheese Plant Turn Yellow or Black – Here’s What to Do?

Don’t Let Your Swiss Cheese Plant Turn Yellow or Black – Here’s What to Do?

The main reason that your Swiss cheese plant is turning yellow is probably to do with water. You could be over-watering or under-watering the plant; the symptoms are almost the same. In my guide, I explain how to tell which of these is the problem. I also cover other issues that can cause the leaves to turn yellow, including to much light, environmental shock often from repotting, lack of nutrients, root bound plants and more. I also look at other…

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How to repot a Swiss cheese plant
6 Easy Steps to Repotting Your Swiss Cheese Plant

6 Easy Steps to Repotting Your Swiss Cheese Plant

To repot a Swiss cheese plant (Monstera)  isn’t really any different from repotting other house plants. The keys are to choose a pot that’s large enough and has plenty of drainage holes; to use the right potting mix, and to not pack everything in too tightly. Here’s my step-by-step guide to doing all this to get the most out of your Monstera plant. I have personally done this to plants up to 6ft, so I have experience with both repotting…

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Why is my Swiss cheese plant dripping water?
Solving the Mystery: Why is Your Swiss Cheese Plant Dripping Water?

Solving the Mystery: Why is Your Swiss Cheese Plant Dripping Water?

If it looks like your Swiss cheese plant is dripping water, or ‘crying’, some people even describe it as sweating, it could be because of one of two reasons. You could be overwatering your plant, and it’s using a process called transpiration to get rid of the excess water. Or, it could be a perfectly natural process called guttation. I discuss both of these in this article and give advice on what to do about each. Over-watering often leads to…

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Monstera Swiss Cheese Plant Pests and Diseases
Swiss Cheese Plant Pest and Disease Alert: Top 6 Threats

Swiss Cheese Plant Pest and Disease Alert: Top 6 Threats

Swiss cheese plants are more prone to pests than diseases. The Swiss cheese plant pests are the usual ones found on houseplants and plants grown in greenhouses. Think scale insects, thrips and mealybugs. As for diseases, there are none that are exclusive to Swiss cheese plants. But I’ve included the ones most common to plants like the cheese plant, including root rot and powdery mildew. If you have issues with the leaves turning yellow, this guide is probably the guide…

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Revive your struggling Swiss cheese plant with our expert tips and tricks. From proper watering to pest and disease prevention, we've got all you need to bring your plant back to life.
Swiss Cheese Plant Survival Guide: How to Revive a Dying Plant (Monstera)

Swiss Cheese Plant Survival Guide: How to Revive a Dying Plant (Monstera)

It’s often difficult to tell if you’ve really got a dying Swiss cheese plant on your hands. Wilting yellow leaves or soft mushy stems are not necessarily mean it’s too late to recover what looks like a dying plant. My guide leads you through troubleshooting the problems with your (dying) Monstera and helps you deal with them and help revive them. I have been growing Swiss cheese plants for over 20 years in the nursery. However, I’ve also grown them…

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