Spring preparations...

Spring it well and truly on its way here in Natland and as usual it looks like it is going to be a photo-finish to see which plants open first with strong showings from Sirena, humilis 'Myanmar' and Margaret Kerr 'Purity' all pushing on.

All plants are potted now and ready for the season, I have given the pots their very first gentle watering, just enough to dampen the compost but nothing more. I have stripped all the benches off and relined then with capillary matting as I have found that this really helps the plants stay cool and damp in the summer. I replace the matting each year for a couple of reasons, first hygiene, secondly the plants have a habit of rooting down into this as they get going and the mat can end up a bit messy.

One thing to note when growing on matting, and as I have mentioned the plants often root through to the mat. Once the plants get going and roots appear through the bottom it is a good idea to avoid lifting the pots off the matting unless absolutely necessary as this will obviously damage any roots popping out of the pot.

Those plants growing in pure moss in lily pots I place directly on the matting, those plants in 'mix' I usually keep in the larger trays for easier handling.

I have had issues in the past with slugs and snails and I deal with this by lifting the trays off and putting the 'treatment' on the mat, not onto the pots. I have found this to work very well.

I am looking forward to the Zoom call with the Lea Valley Orchid Group on Sunday 15th February...

Happy growing.