Potted cyclamen are fabulous for adding a cheery splash of winter colour indoors or on a verandah.
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Cyclamen need a few basic conditions; find a spot that is airy with good light but not direct sun.
Cyclamen like to be kept cool, and don't like being in rooms that are too hot or stuffy, so when you have the heaters on at night, perhaps move them to somewhere well ventilated, maybe the laundry.
Keep the potting mix just moist but not soggy and let it dry out completely before watering.
Watering from the top can cause the crowns to rot, so sit the pot in a tray of water and allow the pot to soak it up.
Remove yellowing leaves and dead flowers by plucking them out from their base - don't cut them off as the remainders of the stems will rot.
Sasanqua camellias have been flowering for a while now and other camellias are nearly into full bud or are just starting to flower.
Sasanqua camellias have been flowering for a while now and other camellias are nearly into full bud or are just starting to flower.
Don't let camellias and other winter flowering shrubs get too dry and water them if necessary, to help ensure they have a good flowering season.
Japonica camellias prefer some shade to protect the winter flowers and stop the leaves scorching.
It also offers protection from morning sun in frosty areas.
Thus they are sometimes planted in locations where rain doesn't always reach reliably, under eaves for example.
And they can benefit from additional water when flowering.
Keeping lawns raked and clear of leaves at this time of year will help prevent the grass going yellow and becoming unhealthy due to lack of light.
Put the leaves into the compost, straight onto your garden beds or make leaf mould with them.
Dahlia tubers will be ready to lift and store and the stems ready to compost.
Cut the blackened flowering stalks off, leaving a 10-15 cm stem and compost.
Lift the tubers, discarding the oldest or diseased tubers and store the healthiest ones in moist sand or sawdust ready for next year.
If you choose not to lift them, protect the crowns well with mulch.