Alice Coetzee
F YOU are finding it hard to keep the garden going because of water restrictions, consider creating a patio garden instead. It is the water-wise and easy-towater option. All that’s needed is a watering can and you won’t be flouting the 6am to 6pm watering restrictions.
Generally, pot plants only need to be watered every second or third day, especially if the patio is partially shaded, or has a mix of sunny and shady areas. Plants will need much less water than garden plants growing in the shade of water-hungry trees.
It is also easier to manage the water requirements of pot plants. Advice from Leonie Coulson, of Plantimex, South Africa’s largest growers of indoor and patio plants, is to keep plants “consistently moist” rather than watering them too much. “Over-watering”, she says, is one of the biggest killers of pot plants because it rots the roots.
If your pot plant has a saucer, Leonie’s tip is to put a layer of bark chips in the saucer so that the pot plant stands on the bark chips and not in the water.
The capillary action of the roots will still draw up the excess water and keep the patio clean.
The best way to check if a plant needs water is to push your finger into the soil up to the first knuckle.
If the soil is moist and clings to your finger, delay watering until the next day or beyond.
Ithe summer heat. Here’s how to transform yours into a water-wise tropical paradise: ● Colour in the form of flowering plants is always a winner. Fuchsias are showy shade lovers, producing loads of dainty flowers that look like miniature ballerinas. Other flowers for the shade are begonias (big flowered varieties), impatiens (especially New Guinea impatiens), hydrangeas, peace lilies, Anthurium, orchids, and clivia. ● Fillers are spreading plants that overflow the edges of containers and create a more natural look, like ferns, such as delicate Maiden hair (Adiantum raddianum), the ruffled leaf of Nephrolepis exaltata or the lushness of Zamioculcas. ● Contrast can be provided by including plants with differently coloured leaves, like coleus, with its vivid colours, or the pinkish tones of Aglaonema, Caladium bicolor, Heuchera, Hypoestes phyllostachya and Peperomia. ● Texture can be as varied as spikyleaved plants (Cordyline), or plants with prominently veined leaves (Fittonia or Zebra plant) or swordlike leaves (Sansevieria). Opt for the spiky leaves because they bring an energy and contrast to the leafy tropical look. ● Height, especially towards the back of an arrangement of pots, produces a sense of depth and great candidates for this are palms (Chamaedorea elegans), large leafy plants (Chamaedorea metalica) or Ficus benjamina. These are all long-lived patio plants that don’t require any special care, just feeding with a nitrogen-rich liquid fertiliser to keep the leaves green and lush. Light – know the light requirements of plants and group them together accordingly. Many plants are happy with bright indirect light – that is, no trees or walls blocking the light.
Fertilising is not necessary for the first month or two if the plant remains in its original pot. That’s because the potting medium contains a slow-release fertiliser and is peat-based which retains water.
Once the plant is repotted, feed it with a liquid fertiliser once a month; nitrogen-based for leafy plants (Nitrosol, Seagro or Kelpak) and potassium for flowers (Multifeed).
Repotting is necessary when the plants outgrow their original pots or become root-bound. Make sure the new pots have plenty of drainage holes and use a good quality potting soil, not garden soil as it is too dense.
Save water by watering patio plants with “grey” water from the shower, bath, or washing machine; many plants do well with the additional phosphates.
Use municipal water once a week to flush out any accumulated salts.