These notes are a general guide only. As your growing conditions are beyond our control we can accept no responsibility for problems that may arise due to wrong environment, misinterpretation or any form of pestilence. However if you have any questions we are more than happy to advise you.

Agapanthus.
Agapanthus require an open sunny position, they will however tolerate some shade. Once established they are drought hardy requiring a minimum of water. To encourage flowers use a top dressing of Nitrophoska in spring.

Anemone Japonica & Tricyrtis.
Plant root stock in a shaded well drained open garden loam enriched with leaf mould. They require some water during summer; less once established in the garden.

Perennials including Aquilegia, Cosmos, Day Lilies, Gentiana, Lupins, Penstemon, Sidalcea & Tulbaghia.
Plant with crown slightly above ground level in a sunny or part shaded position. Apply slug and snail killer on a regular basis. Once established these plants will survive drought conditions with almost no water during summer.

Arum Lilies.
Plant tubers Feb to April in a well drained open sunny to semi shaded position. Cover bulbs to a depth of 8cm. Bulbs may be left down indefinitely.

Arisema.
Plant bulbs about 5cm deep in a good friable loam in a sheltered position. They will tolerate dryness for a short time but will require occasional moisture during the summer.

Iris.
Bearded Iris.
Plant in a well drained soil, fairly close to the surface. Press soil firmly around the base to hold securely. The position can be open but they should have some moisture during the Summer. High Potash liquid fertiliser during flowering will increase the size of the bloom.
Specie Iris.
Most specie iris can be planted in a damp position. Once established they will take a dry summer. Place the rhizome just below the level; of the soil in either a sunny or part shaded position. Apply a dressing of high potash fertiliser in early spring.

Bulbs including Albucca, Crinum, Eucomis, Hymenocallis, Ifafa Lily, Sprekelia, Tigridia, Lycoris, Nerines & Vallota Lily.
Plant bulbs from June to October in a well drained open position with the top of the neck just below ground level. These bulbs love to be crowded and enjoy a dry Summer. DO NOT USE ANIMAL MANURE.

Dwarf Nerines.
Plant in a well drained open sunny position in the garden. Add grit to the garden soil to enhance the drainage. In their natural state these bulbs grow in rocky granite outcrops in decomposed granite and humus. Do not plant them in potting mix or you stand a high chance of loosing them. DO NOT USE ANIMAL MANURE.

Cyclamen species.
Plant upon receipt of the bulbs in Autumn in a cool semi shade position which is sheltered. Bulbs should be planted just below the surface in a well drained humus enriched soil or potting mix. They should be kept moist through the dormancy period of Summer. DO NOT USE ANIMAL MANURE.

Galtonia, Ornithogalum.
Plant bulbs about 10 -15cm apart between May and October in a sunny well drained position, covering them with about 6cm of soil. Can be left in the ground for years. Dig and divide when they become overcrowded. The bulbs should be treated carefully when lifted and stored, due to their tender skin. Store in an airy, cool shed. DO NOT USE ANIMAL MANURE.

Ginger Lilies:
Gardenranium and Cream Hedychium.
These sub tropical plants are very hardy. Plant tuberous rhizome just below soil level in a well drained part shaded position. Fertilise with Nitrophoska.

Blue Ginger.
Requires full shade and total protection from frost. Base of the plant must be placed 3cm below ground level.

Alpina, Elettaria, Hedychium coronarium and Pink Ginger.
Requires part shade. Base of plant must be placed at ground level. Best in a frost free area. Fertilise with Nitrophoska.

Gladioli & Acidanthera.
Plant corms in a well drained open sunny position from April till December, approximately 10 cm deep and 8 cm apart. Top dress with Nitrophoska. Gladioli do require regular water during summer. Bulbs should only be dug when they are dormant. An insecticide will help to control thrips. DO NOT USE ANIMAL MANURE.

Gloriosa Lily.
In colder districts the tuber, when received, should be removed from the packaging and stored in a warm environment; it should only be planted when the soil has begun to warm up.

Plant the tuber in a sunny to semi shaded position sheltered from the wind at a depth of 30 mm.

The plant requires some support such as a trellis, stake, netting or chicken wire as it uses tendrils on the end of its leaves in order to climb. In ideal situations it may grow to 1.8m.

In colder districts the tuber should ideally be dug and stored over winter. When digging or handling the tuber care must be taken not to damage the fragile growing tip, as this could render the plant useless. DO NOT USE ANIMAL MANURE.

Hellebores & Hosta.
Plant in a semi shaded position enriched with organic matter. Once established the plants require a minimum of water over summer. Apply a dressing of high potash fertiliser in early spring.

A fertiliser high in potash should be used for all your bulbs & perennials. Potash helps to promote flowers. For pots we recommend "Nitrophoska" granules available from most large supermarkets. For the garden we recommend "Pivot blue special" or "Rustica" fertiliser.

Hippeastrums.
Require rich well drained soil but DO NOT USE ANIMAL MANURE. Plant the bulbs with the neck just above soil level. Apply an application of Nitrophoska fertiliser straight after flowering.

Hippeastrums are susceptible to bulb mite which is obvious by saw marks on either the foliage or the flower stem. This can be controlled by dipping the bulbs prior to planting in a pesticide solution containing a mix of miticide (kelthane, confidor) and a wetting agent (house hold detergent).

For pot culture use a very rich loamy soil containing well rotted leaf mould. Use a 17cm pot for a 7cm bulb. Plant with the neck and half the bulb exposed. Place the pot in a warm position to prevent excess foliage. Keep the foliage clean by sponging with luke warm water. Water once weekly. Keep the bulbs dry in winter. DO NOT USE ANIMAL MANURE.

Kniphofia & Liriope.
These evergreen perennials do well in an open sunny to semi shade position. Plant the root so that the base of the foliage is just below ground level.

As the plant begins to establish itself it will benefit from some animal manure and more so from a top dressing of Rustica or pivot blue special.

Will require a little water over the first summer but once established they are very drought hardy.

Liliums.
The majority of liliums prefer a slightly acid soil and in general like a deeply dug medium loam. We have grown them successfully in heavy clay soil with well rotted humus and grit added to the soil to allow it to breathe. Good drainage is essential.

The bulbs should be planted about 6-8 cm deep. When planting the bulbs place then on their side with the scales pointing down hill. This prevents the bulb filling up with water that is unable to escape and causing it to rot out at the base.
Mulching with well decayed humus also helps to keep the bulbs cool in summer. Top dress the bulbs with a high potash fertiliser before they flower. DO NOT USE ANIMAL MANURE.

The root run should not be allow to dry out before they have flowered. This will be detrimental to the quality of the flowers and also have a bad effect on the bulb itself.

At the same time care must be taken not to over water the bulbs. Once they have flowered remove the old flower heads and be very sparing with the water.

Lily Of The Valley, Disporum & Solomon’s seal.
The prize of all bulbous plants suited only for cooler climates with tough winters. Plant on receipt of stock. Remove the rubber band from the bundle and spread the pips in a shallow hole, covering them with about 4 cm of soil.

Planting site should be enriched with plenty of well rotted organic material. The soil must never be allowed to dry out before the clump is established. Once established these plants can withstand dry periods throughout summer.

A top dressing of well rotted animal manure and or leaf mould in winter is particularly beneficial. This plant prefers to be crowded and beds may take several years to become established. Once established do not disturb.

Herbaceous Paeony Rose.
Herbaceous Paeonies are deciduous, dying down to ground level. They are best grown in a sunny position with some afternoon shade. Plant the tubers with the buds 3-4cm below ground level. 

These plants prefer a heavier well drained loam rather than sand. When planting the tuber, half a bucket of dolomite should be mixed with the soil around the immediate planting site to create an environment acceptable to the plant. Top dress the site each winter with lime. Chelate of iron should be watered in during the spring.

Some people recommend for planting in warmer climates, that an ice cream container of water be frozen into a large ice block, and placed on top of the plant site once a week during it’s winter dormancy. It is thought that this will encourage flowers. Once established they should be left alone- only moving them in winter if absolutely necessary.

Pleione Orchids (Himalayan Orchid).
These rare little bulbs prefer a cool position, and should be grown in a shade house, fernery or under trees giving 70% shade.
Bulbs should be planted as soon as they are received. They should be grown in a high quality, fine, well drained potting mix. Place the bulb on top of the mix leaving only half of the bulb above soil level.

The bulbs will flower from mid September to October depending upon the variety, these will be followed by the foliage. Take care not to over water until the leaves are established. Once established continue to keep the mix moist but not over wet.

When the foliage has died off, the bulbs can be divided, removing and discarding the old pseudo bulbs. Replant the new bulbs using fresh mix together with some of the old potting mix. This is important as it transfers organisms required to aid the plant to digest nutrients from the soil.

Pleione orchids are gross feeders and should only be given a water soluble fertiliser such as Phostrogen about once a month until the foliage dies down in late autumn. Do not use granular fertiliser; it will burn the plant.

Primrose.
Best planted in a shaded position that receives morning sun. They prefer a humus enriched soil. Use a small amount of slow release fertiliser. Keep moist especially in warmer periods. Use snail bait to control snails and slugs. Clensel may be used to control sucking insects.

Rhodohypoxis.
Plant these bulbs in an open sunny well drained position 3cm deep in a group. They may be left for years, developing into a mass of colour during late spring.

They need very little summer water once the clump is established after the first year.

Sandersonia.
These tubers may be grown in a pot or the open ground. They need to be planted at a depth of 5cm in a well drain open position in part shade.

Scleranthus.
These prefer a well drained sunny position and like to be planted against a rock. They will grow into a matt the size of a pillow and require adequate room. They do require moisture during summer. They enjoy a gravel mulch which also helps to preserve the moisture.

Trillium.
Woodland species that requires shaded humus enriched well drained position. Plant rhizome 3cm below ground level. DO NOT USE ANIMAL MANURE.

Tree Dahlias.
These will grow in a semi shade to sunny position reaching a height of up to 3m. They will grow into a large clump. Once established they are very drought hardy and can survive with a minimum of summer water.

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