Looking after houseplants requires attention to detail - but how do you know what to look for? These episodes will guide you through the basics of watering, repotting, feeding, and what to do when it all goes wrong.
Four listener questions answered, and we hear an intriguing story from listener Greg about the airplant Tillandsia tectorum.
Get the lowdown on repotting your houseplants, from spotting the signs to the nitty gritty of how to repot. Plus botanist Dr Scott Zona answers a question about plant lifespans.
This week I explain how do you tell when a houseplant really is dead, and what to do with its remains; plus I answer a question about a Monstera with a split personality.
More soil science insights in part two of my interview scientist Ashley Esakin, plus a Q&A on a weeping fig.
Only got five minutes to give your houseplants a lift this weekend? I suggest three quick jobs to give your plants a boost, plus I answer a question about ferns.
Raffaele Di Lallo of Ohio Tropics joins me to talk about the best ways to water houseplants, and I answer a question about repotting an old jade tree.
Clear plastic pots are common in the world of orchid growing, but can they work for other houseplants? I share my experiences growing in transparent pots, plus I answer a question about millipedes in a Monstera.
Hear my talk on houseplant care from the Leaf Houseplant Festival. Plus I answer a question about aphids.
Want to give your houseplants a staycation outside? Here are my top tips on what to put outside, what to watch for and what to do if you don’t have any outside space. Plus I answer a question about moss poles and we hear from listener Sophie from Wales.
Terry Richardson aka The Black Thumb joins me to answer all your orchid rescue questions: plus I answer a question about plants that can hold their own in a loft space.
Moisture in the air helps keep many houseplants healthy, but how do we know how much humidity our plants need? Kevin Espiritu and Jonathan Jarry join me to explore the misty world of humidifiers. Plus we hear from listener Teagen in Meet The Listener.
If your new plant has super-shiny leaves, it may have been treated with a leaf shine spray. I find out more about these products with Canadian plant expert and garden writer Larry Hodgson, and discuss the best ways to clean plant leaves. Plus we hear from listener Beth.
It’s the final part of my run-through of the various things you can use to make up your houseplant potting mixes, including perlite and vermiculite; plus I answer a question about a mixed planter.
In the second part of my potting mix ingredients A-Z I work through from C to L, covering leca, leaf mould and coir, plus I answer a question about watering citrus trees, and we hear from listener Theresa.
I am joined by fellow houseplant expert Mr Houseplant, aka Vladan Nikolic, to discuss the ingredients that go into your plants’ pots, plus I answer a question about finding name-appropriate houseplant gifts.
If you’ve ever been flummoxed by a houseplant that came with a label marked simply ‘foliage’, this episode will help you start to figure out the name of your new addition.
When it's unusually hot, you may feel the strain: your houseplants can struggle too. I offer up some tips to help your plants cope with a heatwave, and Doug Chamberlain of Vermont Hoyas joins me to answer a listener question.
One of the best things you can do this winter is give your houseplants a health check: I explain how it’s done. Plus I answer a question about what to do with fallen leaves, and we discuss developments in OTL’s quest for a monstera emoji with my assistant Kelly Westlake. And we meet listener Nick Shalosky.
Find out how to help your houseplants survive ‘the death months’ with Anders Røyneberg, aka the Arctic Gardener. And I answer a question about how to keep carnivorous plants happy when you can’t get hold of rainwater.
If you’re suffering from window envy, this is the episode for you! I talk to the Houseplant Guru, Lisa Eldred Steinkopf, about her new book Grow In The Dark, and all the wonderful plants you can grow even in dimly lit rooms. Plus I answer a question about leaves with red undersides.
From tablets to foliar sprays, choosing what to use when you fertilise houseplants can seem like a bit of a minefield, but On The Ledge is here to help you get your feeding right! Plus I answer a question about aquascaping soil and bring you part four of the On The Ledge sowalong, looking at what to do once your seedlings have emerged.
Botanical Latin can seem like a confusing alphabet soup that’s full of tongue twisters. But Latin names help us learn about the history of the plant, who brought it into cultivation and what it looks like. This episode will set you on the road to becoming a scholar of plant taxonomy - the science of naming plants. Plus a question on corkscrew rush.
I profile seven iconic trailing plants in bite-sized daily mini-episodes. From string of pearls to flame violet, find out how to look after these fascinating indoor beauties.
The thrill of buying new houseplants quickly turns to horror when the plant promptly drops all its leaves once you get it home. Jane Perrone gives her top tips for taking care of newly-bought houseplants, from the shop to your shelf. And a question about a floppy Aloe vera prompts a bit of a singalong...
This week I find out what yellowing leaves mean in a houseplant, confess to sawing a peace lily in half and get the lowdown on plant pests from Veronica Peerless, whose new book How Not To Kill Your Houseplant (£9.99 from DK) is out now.
Raid your kitchen cupboards and you’ll come across all kinds of free stuff you can utilise to take care of your houseplants.