Horticultural Bits
09 Dec
0
79
Title image above is copyright © Kristi Ellinopoullos
First published 9th December 2025
Here we are going to explore the botanical structure of a sugarcane stalk. These parts are common to all stems and branches regardless of species, but they are particularly distinct here in sugarcane (and the s..
05 Dec
0
91
Title image above is copyright © Optimate Group Pty Ltd
(This article was originally published 2nd February 2021 here on our Jujube Tree Nursery site.)
First published here 5th December 2025.
Have you ever seen these very smooth round and oval shapes in leaves before, and not known what made them?..
22 Nov
0
135
Title image above is copyright © Kristi Ellinopoullos
First published 22nd November 2025
Back on 28th August 2025 I received a magnificent silk floss tree cutting (Ceiba speciosa) from my wonderful pen pal Helen, and potted it right there and then into a used 4.1 L Air-Pot seed tray. If I didn’t a..
22 Nov
0
143
Title image above is copyright © Kristi Ellinopoullos
First published 22nd November 2025
Some time around winter 2025 (I stupidly didn’t take notes) I uprooted a self-seeded sandpaper fig (there are several species buit this one is most likely to be Ficus coronata), took a bunch of cuttings, and p..
22 Nov
0
140
Title image above is copyright © Kristi Ellinopoullos
First published 22nd November 2025
Some time before 2020 (exact date unknown) I potted up some tiger grass (Thysanolaena latifolia) in a 9 L Air-Pot. More for the aesthetic than for root development as I really like the look of Air-Pot containe..
21 Nov
0
126
Title image above is copyright © Kristi Ellinopoullos
First published 21st November 2025
I like to grow saffron in a 38 L Air-Pot. The 20 L Air-Pot works too but you can’t fit as many in :)
Mind you, when I first began with just three corms, I grew each one in its own 3 L Air-Pot as a hedge agains..
17 Nov
0
93
Title image above is copyright © Günter
First published 17th November 2025
This post was inspired by Günter, who both gave me these cuttings and provided all the following information and photos — thank you Günter!
Maybe you are reading this because, like me, you have never been able to grow drago..
10 Aug
0
736
Title image above is copyright © Kristi Ellinopoullos
First published 10th August 2025
Bromeliads have the most amazing infloresecences* (flower spikes*), and the inflorescence of the pink-and-blue matchstick bromeliad (Aechmea gamosepala var. gamosepala) is no exception!
* A more accurate descrip..
23 Jun
0
749
Title image above is attributed to CoolKoon [CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)]
(This article was originally published 16th April 2019 here on our Jujube Tree Nursery site.)
First published here 23rd June 2025.
[This post] examined the chemistry behind pH, where we saw how pH..
23 Jun
0
1043
Title image above is copyright © Optimate Group Pty Ltd
(This article was originally published 9th April 2019 here on our Jujube Tree Nursery site.)
First published here 23rd June 2025.
Most people have a vague concept of pH in that it has something to do with acidity and alkalinity, but what exac..
12 Jun
0
669
Title image above is copyright © Kristi Ellinopoullos
First published 12th June 2025
If you love alliums (of genus Allium) — onions, garlics, leeks, shallots, chives, and garlic chives — but are unfamiliar with society garlic, you may well need to become acquainted!
The name ‘society’ garlic comes..
11 Jun
0
695
Title image above is copyright © Kristi Ellinopoullos
First published 11th June 2025
Some strong winds recently snapped at the base a bunch of canes growing at an angle out of a tall concrete pot. Decision made: it’s processing time!
Sugarcane is typically processed anywhere between twelve and eig..