9 MARCH 2023
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DOWN IN THE GARDEN: WORKPLACE PLANTS Planning on a home office? Going back to work soon and want to take a green friend with you? Indoor plants can make us healthy, happy, calm, more focused and breathe a little easier, science has proved it, but can you plonk any old plant anywhere? The secret is, there is no such thing as an ‘indoor’ plant, just ones that usually live in the understories of forests and jungles, the shadier side of life on rocky outcrops, caves and cliffs and ones who are simply good at adaptation. While you must ensure that your indoor environment matches your plant’s needs to thrive there are also meanings and energies that many cultures across the world attribute to plants. Here are some of my suggestions for plants that will not only match your workspace but will bring with them some interesting and helpful energies. Survivors These are the tough guys of the plant world, but you can also use self-watering pots and devices to do the work for you and slow-release fertilisers
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if you want to try other plants. Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior) is almost indestructible. It adapts, half dies and revives but if you treat it nicely this plant will love you back. It is said that this plant brings good work ethics and increases productivity. ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) can handle just about whatever you can dish up and still look amazing. Low light is also no problem for this stunner either. Said to increase security and smooth negotiations. An honourable mention goes to Spider Plant because while not as tough as most, they are easy to grow. Spider Plants (Chlorophytum colosum) are enjoying a big comeback from their 1970s heyday and why not? They are also very easy to propagate from their ‘jumping spiders’. It is said they boost mindfulness.PLANT NAME POSITION Low light Lovers Goldfussia 1P 12 Grevillea 3P 3-4 You will need to find plants Groundcovers N4 that can survive Gymea and Lilly 3Phopefully 11
Lots of Light Lovers Care needs to be taken if you have a lot of light and placement of your plants. Do not sit them on windowsills or next to window if they don’t open as it will be akin to sticking it in an oven. Move the plants into the middle of rooms. Light loving plants: Swiss Cheese Vine (Monstera obliqua) likes to be in the light and makes a lovely desk plant on a trellis or even left to run along PLANT NAME POSITION surfaces. NZ Flax 2P 4-6 Can help boost opportunities Orange Trumpet Vine 3P 9-10 and helps others your Parlour see Palm 3P 12 point Paulownia 4P 8 of view. Peace Lilly GH Outside
Hebe 1P 11 Philodendron GH Outside Hibiscus N 11 Photinia N 18-20 Hydrangia N14 Pittosporum 3P 20-21 Ixora 1P 17-18 Plumbago 1P 14 Jacaranda 4P 3 Polygala N 17 Jasmine 3P 9-10 Ponytail GH Outside Kangaroo Paw 3P 3 Doyalson Community Garden Market Day - 1pm 11th MarchPotato Vine 3P 9+10 Kentia Palm 3P 8am 12 Protea 3P 06 Lavender 2P 7 Rhaphiolepsiscakes, 3P 02 Come along and support the garden. Plants, ‘Ken Mar’ wooden crafts, homemade Leptospermum 3P 20-21 Rhoeo GH Outside Lilly Pilly 3P 17-19 candles, ladies new & pre-loved clothing, baby clothes and Breakaway Auxiliary. Rosemary 2P 02 Liriope GH Spirea 1P 9-10 357 Wyee Road, Doyalson, next to the church Lomandra GH + 4P 27-30 Syzygium 3P 17-19 Loropetalum N05 Tibouchina 4P 21-24 Permie Kids - Killcare, Wednesdays 3.30 - 5.30pm Magnolia 4P 17, N 17 Tiger Grass 4P 15 Melaleuca 3P 21 Tricolour-N$25 3 M 15-17 Nature based activities in the garden forMichelia 8–12-year-olds. Bookings Essential per Viburnum 4P 1+2 Monstera GH Outside class - SMS Anna 0407 591 278. Coming up: 8 March Create a Permie Kids Edible Garden; Yucca 2P 1 Mop Top N 21 N 5-7 - Worm Farms; 29 March - Building 15 March - Exploring patterns in nature; Murraya 22 March N4 habitats for native animals; 5 April - NaturalMyoporum decorations - egg blowing and decorating. Nandina N 10 Native Frangipani 4P 10 Bush Tucker & Gardening Responsibly - 1:30pm NSW Xmas Bush 1P 12 Saturday 11th March
Wax Plant (Hoya spp.) can be trained to climb up or along a support or left to cascade over an edge. They also do not need much water, preferring things on the dry side. This plant brings with it protection and prosperity. We Like it Hot Beware, all the ways you try to cool yourself will not be taken as well by the plants but if the area is hot, try these. Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica) prefers things on the warmer side and humid side so make such you mist, mist mist! In winter they can survive with a drink every few weeks. They boost interest and help those learning. Succulents and Cacti are both warmth lovers and enjoy light so don’t keep these babies in the corner. Don’t overwater as this is the usual cause of death. With various meanings, most will bring longevity and ingenuity. Cool Area Plants Chilled environments also usually have dry air. If your workspace is just a touch on the cooler side, then you can try standing pots on trays filled with pebbles that
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GAR DEN NEWS
GAR DENING PLANNER This week you could plant: culinary herbs, beetroot, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbages, carrot, cauliflower, chicory, cress, endive, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, mustard, onions, parsnips, peas, radishes, salsify, shallots, silverbeet, spinach, spring onions, swedes, turnips, ageratum, alyssum, calendula, candytuft, carnation, cineraria, columbine, coneflower, delphinium, dianthus, everlasting daisy, forget-me-not, foxglove, godetia, gypsophila, hollyhock, larkspur, linaria, lobelia, nemesia, nigella, pansy, polyanthus, poppy, primula, snapdragon, statice, stock, sweet pea, viola, wallflower Cheralyn Darcey is a horticulture author and along with Pete Little, hosts ‘At Home with The Gardening Gang’ 8 - 10am live every Saturday on CoastFM96.3, on air locally or streaming by asking ‘play coastfm963’ Archived articles: florasphere.com | Send your gardening questions, events, and news to: gardeningcentralcoast@gmail.com
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The Australian Plants Society Central Coast March Meeting features a talk presented by Samantha Newton of Tonbo Garden Design. She will share news of the ‘Gardening Responsibly’ science-based initiative and give her tips on growing a bush tucker garden. $3 entry. Lucky Door prize and plants are available for sale. Philip House, 21 Old Mt Penang Road Kariong. www.austplants.com.au
are kept moist. Jade Plant (Crassula ovata) does need bright light, but it can live happily in cooler temperatures and as a bonus, it can stay alive for weeks without watering. Jade Plant brings luck and financial gains. Dragon Tree (Dracaena marginate) is a ‘false palm’ meaning it looks like a palm but is not one and this leaves us with the palm feel but a plant that can tolerate cooler spaces. This plant will help heal relationships. Desk Mates I’ve had a few accidents with water and plants on my desks so while you can forgo flowers
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and plants around electronics and paperwork all together, these two can work well with you. Painted-leaf Begonia (Begonia rex) are great substitutes for flowers with their pretty colours, but they will need to be watered with rain or distilled water. These plants boost creative thinking and set a firm boundary. Air Plants (Tillandsia spp.) are the perfect desk mates because there are no pots of dirt or saucers of water to tip onto your electronics. They do need good airflow, just like you! They bring calm and peacefulness.
Little Rubies Now Available
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thrive in these low light conditions or place a few strategic grow lights over them. Devil’s Ivy (Epipremnum aureum) will grow in filtered light to shade and can handle the top few centimetres drying out. In the Language of Plants, they are thought to build prosperity and block unwanted visitors. Lady Palm (Rhapis excelsa) is a shady lady as well and only needs watering once a week. Thought to help stimulate new ideas and encourage communication. Radiator Plant (Peperomia spp.) suits a desk but will tolerate a bit of shade. They are very easy to grow with a huge number of beautiful varieties available. This plant brings with it the ability to see the facts and truth.
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Little Ruby (alternanthera)
Little Ruby or Little Maroon is the perfect mounding ground cover that has stand-out deep burgundy foilage with a compact, spreading habit. Loves humidity and can tolerate frost better than most forms. Uses: Ground cover, border containers and green walls. Full sun to part shade
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Phone: 4362 2236 24 Burns Road, Ourimbah (at the M1 intersection)