Summer Scoop 2021 by Kings Plant Barn

FREE ISSUE

SUMMER SCOOP 2021/2022

Companion planting for

BEGINNERS HYDRANGEAS All you need to know

Little GROWERS

Liven up your summer garden

Summer seed balls

Our Summer

Ask the

Summer Ready

Crafting cocktails with your own produce

Your seasonal questions Our expert advice

Top recipes to try with your summer harvest

COCKTAILS

PLANT DOCTOR

RECIPES

we help you

OW N N U R S E RY

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AD VIC

E AND PLA

O D NT

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CC TTO O R RSS

N RA

EE XPP EEX

GROW WELL

TO AN G ROW G UAR

At Kings, we love helping our plants and our customers grow. Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, we make things easy every step of the way. With our exclusive range of top quality plants grown with care in our own nurseries, expert advice from our team of plant specialists plus ongoing support from our Plant Doctors when you need it, and a Sure To Grow Guarantee to back every plant, we’re here to help you grow well.

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CONTENTS SUMMER 2021 / 2022

FEATURES

EVERY ISSUE

14 Choosing the Perfect Hydrangea

Gardeners’ Mail

Celebrating your garden success stories

Summer Checklists

What to plant and tend to this summer

Our top varieties and tips for growing success

18 Chillies

Learn which chillies to plant, from mild to extra spicy

20 Prepare Your Garden

Keeping your plants and soil healthy through the hot summer months

22 Create a DryTolerant Garden

Top plants and growing tips

24 Create an Oasis with Tropicals

Bring the tropics to your garden with our top summer plants

28 Companion Planting

A guide to planting beneficial plants for a healthy garden

16 Flowering Guide for Bees

The best flowers to plant this season to help feed the bees

36 Garden to Plate

Summer favourite recipes using seasonal produce

40 Kids Corner

Seed-ball crafts for your little growers

42 Indoor Plants

Styling tips and top varieties

46 Plant Doctor

Your questions, our expert advice

34 Summer Cocktails

Try our delicious cocktails using fresh, home-grown herbs, fruit and veggies

GARDENERS’ MAIL

CELEBRATING YOUR SUCCESS

A NEW RAISED GARDEN

My awesome hubby made me this amazing raised garden. After a serious car accident and a damaged back, I found it very difficult to do what I love to do, potter in my garden, so my husband designed and built me this incredible garden, which meant that I could return to my happy place. It was a labour of love and hard work but look how it turned out! I’m very grateful for it, and spend a lot of time out in it. It’s usually full of flowers and veggies, which I can share with my friends.

–Dianne Woods, Temuka

Send us your stories and be in to

PROUD GARDENER

What started as a simple hobby, turned into a passion. It warms my heart when friends and family comment that my garden looks heavenly. Now I’m growing different plants and will continue to do so to help Mother Nature and keep our environment healthy and happy.

–Sheryll Martinez, Henderson

WIN a Kings $50 Gift Card

Every published story wins, so send us your gardening success stories!

SLICE OF HEAVEN

This is my little slice of heaven. I have planted various bulbs that flower at different times, so it is a forever-changing garden. My pink birdbath attracts all manner of birds in the hot afternoon sun, and I enjoy watching them drink and cool off together, before drying out in the nearby tree.

–Antonella Hodgson, Albany

Post: PO BOX 31002, Milford, 0741 Email: info@kings.co.nz or message us on Facebook or Instagram 5

YOUR DECEMBER CHECKLIST December mornings are a perfect time to get stuck into the garden before it gets too hot during the early afternoon. Keep your garden looking great leading up until Christmas with our December checklist.

Veggies

Fruit

Flowers

 Tomato plants are heavy feeders. Feed with a potassium rich liquid feed every two weeks such as Kings Tomato Food.

 Mulch your fruit trees well with Living Earth More Than Mulch if you haven’t already.

 If you haven’t already, plant out some hanging baskets filled with Potted Colour and Kings Colour Your Garden. Add a mix of white, yellow and reds for variation.

 Plant out summer seedlings for a late summer harvest, including lettuce, courgettes, cucumbers, squash and melons.

 Sprinkle some Kings Slow-Release Citrus Food around the base of your potted fruit, including lemons, limes, mandarins, feijoas, figs and even olive trees.

 Water your veggies in the mornings so they have time to soak up the moisture before the afternoon heat. Avoid wetting the foliage.

 Plant two different varieties of blueberries on the same property for cross-pollination and a bumper crop.

 For an organic feeding option, dissolve a handful of sheep pellets in water before pouring around your normal crops once every three weeks.

 Annual chrysanthemum and feverfew will self-seed, add these to flower beds and enjoy them as they pop up each year.  Secure your dahlia flowers with a bamboo stake and some soft tomato tie if their flower heads begin to get too heavy for their stalks.

Grow well with these Essentials

Trees & Shrubs

Indoor Plants

 Plant hydrangeas into partly shaded areas in your garden, under trees or on the south side of a fence or structure.

 You can now start propagating your indoor plants either in water, or in a sandy pumice mix/ sphagnum moss that is kept moist at all times. Use Groconut to help accelerate root growth.

 Roses are out in full bloom in stores now. Choose your favourite colour and sample the smells of our fragrant varieties.  Now is the best time to start thinking about creating a tropical themed part of the garden. Choose a semi-shaded spot for bromeliads, ferns, palms, ligularia, and gardenia.

Kings Tomato Food Best used for tomatoes, chillies, capsicum and eggplant, as well as other fruiting veggies. Liquid feed once every two to four weeks. 500mL $11.99

 Add cloning paste to encourage new growth from hibernating nodes. Use this on vining and climbing plants such as monsteras, philodendrons, hoyas, and epipremnums.  Water your indoor plants more as temperatures rise. Test the soil's moisture with your finger to see if it needs a deep drink, or a light trickle.  Venus flytraps and sundews should be available in stores now. Sundews are great for catching fungus gnats while venus flytraps can be helpful for flies both inside and out!

Cloning Paste Use on indoor trailing and climbing plants' dormant nodes to encourage new growth and bushing. 9g $33.99

General Tasks  Cut back new flowers from the garden a couple of days before Christmas for fresh floral bouquets, including hydrangea, dahlia, sweet William, lavender and lilies.  Get those weeds before they get too big! Pull out small ones by hand, or spray with organic weed killer if they are still young.

Garden Stakes and Tomato Tie Great for holding up tomatoes, dahlias and other top-heavy, summer plants. Use fabric tie as it won’t damage soft stems. Cloth Garden Tie $3.99 Plastic Coated Metal Stakes from $2.99

YOUR JANUARY CHECKLIST Happy New Year from everyone at Kings! Have you made any new year garden

resolutions? How about making one of them getting on top of those weeds before they get out of hand or checking for pests before they become a problem.

Veggies

Fruit

Flowers

 You can still squeeze in some summer veggie planting with mature tomato plants, large grade chillies, eggplants and okra.

 Plant out subtropical fruit now, including feijoas, cherimoyas, pawpaws and natal plums.

 Keep flower beds weed-free and feed with Kings Fast Food or, for an organic option, use Aquaticus Organic Garden Booster.

 Continue feeding tomatoes with Kings Tomato Food, and other leafy greens with Kings Fast Food.  Cover your crops with Bug Netting for a spray-free option.

 Water blueberry plants deeply – as they will drop fruit if they aren’t getting enough moisture. Collect rainwater or water from the shower if the season becomes increasingly hot.  Trees that have been planted within 12 months still need deep watering. Using greywater in droughts is fine as long as eco-friendly soap has been used.

Don't forget to harvest your tomatoes as they turn ripe on the vine. Over-ripe fruit can attract oppertunistic insects.

 Fill gaps in the garden or outdoor pots with petunias, gazanias, marigolds and tropical impatiens.  Heat-resistant plants are perfect for getting in the garden now. Try out ice plants, kangaroo paws, portulaca pizzaz and osteospermums.

Grow well with these Essentials

Kings Blueberry Food

Trees & Shrubs

Indoor Plants

 Make sure that hedging is kept moist throughout summer. Pittosporums and griselinias are hardy but can succumb to dieback if they don’t get any extra water and are in clay soil.

 Continue to monitor watering – if leaves have started to droop, this can be a sure sign that your plant isn’t getting enough moisture.

 Plant tropical hibiscus in your garden and enjoy them each year while they bloom in summer.  Does your eugenia have bubbled and curled new leaves? This could be eugenia psyllids. Cut back most of the affected new growth and spray with GroVentive.

Sprinkle around the base of your blueberries in large containers or in the ground. Feed plants from when flowers start to bloom until the last harvest of the year. 900g $7.99

 Remember, always plant into pots with drainage holes, as rocks in the bottom of pots without drainage will cause problems later down the track.  Prune back your ornamental tradescantia to encourage bushier growth.

General Tasks  Harvest your blueberries while feeding them with Kings Blueberry Food, or Aquaticus Organic Garden Booster. Blueberries like acidic soil, so be careful not to use lime around them.  Mow your lawns once every ten days to two weeks. However don’t mow them too low, as this can expose gaps and encourage weed seed to grow.  Deadhead spent flowers regularly.

GroVentive This is a brand new two-way systemic spray that doesn’t affect bees. This kills sap-sucking insects, including mealybug, aphids, vinehoppers, scale and psyllids. 200mL $35.99

Bug Netting An alternative to spraying your garden this summer. Cover newly planted veggie beds to keep off butterflies (and caterpillars), birds, aphids, whitefly, and slugs and snails. 1m $6.99

YOUR FEBRUARY CHECKLIST February usually means enjoying the last of the summer heat before autumn starts to arrive, so between going on walks and visiting the beach, don’t forget these gardening jobs:

Veggies

Fruit

Flowers

 All our large grade chillies are available in stores now. Go on, get a bit adventurous this month and find a different variety to grow!

 Plant out citrus plants such as lemons and limes in free-draining soil. Mix in some Kings Organic Compost to your original soil, along with some Claybreaker Gypsum if you have clay soil.

 Continue to deadhead spent flower heads to encourage a long blooming season.

 If needed, swap out spent herbs with fresh plants such as parsley, coriander, and chives. Check for caterpillars regularly, they might be camouflaged!  Water around the roots each morning, rather than watering the leaves as this can encourages powdery mildew.

 Harvest late summer fruit as they ripen on the tree, or pick slightly early if you want to share them with friends and family. Once picked, you can do a light summer prune on your trees.  Plant out passionfruit vines into fertilised soil with a sunny, warm and sheltered position. A raised garden is best.  Remember that most feijoa varieties need two plants to pollinate fruit. If your neighbour has plants, then you will only need one!

 Alstromeriums, penstemons, gazanias, geraniums and petunias will be out in flower and look fantastic in pots or planted en masse against fences.  Fertilise your summer flowering plants with Kings Liquid Fast Food.

Trees & Shrubs  Mulch well with Living Earth More Than Mulch and water deeply once a week.  Plant mandevilla, frangipani, bird of paradise and hibiscus in welldraining soil and in full sun. If you have clay soil, mix in Kings Organic Compost, creating a slight mound or raised bed for increased drainage for the plant’s roots.

Keep plants well mulched throughout summer to ensure the soil retains enough moisture during hotter periods.

Grow well with these Essentials

Living Earth More Than Mulch More Than Mulch contains bark which creates a barrier between the sun and bare earth, allowing plants to stay hydrated for longer. More Than Mulch also contains compost which provides nutrients for plants and absorbs extra moisture. General Tasks

40L $13.99

 Continue to deadhead spent flowers to encourage new growth faster. Use a pair of sharp secateurs.

Indoor Plants  Use Kings House Plant Slow Release Plant Food on larger plants such as ficus, dracaena, and monstera.  Continue to water regularly. To judge if a plant needs watering, lift the pot and assess how light it feels.  If your peace lilies are wilting faster than normal – it may be time to replant them into slightly larger pots.

 Use a grubber to easily take out medium-sized weeds in the garden, ensuring you get all the roots as well.  Look into starting your own compost bin. If you have a smaller area, try a worm tower. Worms will dispose of your food and garden waste, as well as providing your garden with natural and organic nutrients with worm tea or composted matter.

Kings Organic Compost Mix into your original garden soil for organic nutrients, as well as helping to improve drainage, conditioning poor quality soils and encouraging more worms to the area. $6.99 or 4 for $25

 Harvest passionfruit, sweetcorn, cape gooseberries, capsicum, early chillies, beans and berries, as well as any Reed or Hass avocados.

Claybreaker Gypsum If you have hard, compact clay soil, add a handful of Claybreaker Gypsum into the bottom of your hole to help with drainage. From $18.99

GROWING TOMORROW’S GARDENERS WITH

OKE

Earlier this year Kings became an official foundation partner of Oke – a home grown charity that funds and builds productive school gardens to give Kiwi kids the opportunity to learn life and social skills in an “outdoor classroom”. Founded in 2016 by Paul Dickson, Oke has just celebrated the completion of their 20th school garden in South Auckland – building the raised beds, setting up composting and irrigation systems, and providing all the tools and plants for the school – a package worth over $25,000, that Oke funds 100% so there is no cost to the school. Paul says Oke organically grew from just a single fundraising event. “We were running a local fundraiser and looking for a project to fund. Papatoetoe West Primary School approached me and said they wanted to put in the Garden to Table programme, but they needed a garden,” explains Paul. “I pulled together a working bee and procured all the materials and we built it in just one day. The principal suggested that lots of schools needed the same kind of support as they don’t tend to have those skills in-house.”

More than a garden

A digital tool for little hands

“I envisaged a garden as a tool to teach children about food, but it turned into a classroom. I thought it was just going to be a one-off – it just grew organically from doing that first one. As we’ve done more, we’ve realised that these spaces can be used for so much more than just producing food,” he says.

To help schools get the most out their Oke garden, last year, the charity developed an app, which is designed to make learning how to grow veggies fun and easy.

“It quickly changed from being about growing food to being an outdoor classroom, a place for teachers to take their tamariki to learn about science, maths or any other area of the curriculum,” says Paul. “Not all children thrive in the regular classroom. In a school garden, you don’t have to be the smartest or the sportiest – you can just be you. Any kid can grow things and have the same outcomes and learn along the way. “Kids with learning difficulties or short attention spans learn much better in a hands-on, natural environment. Unfortunately, most of the schools in these urban areas are more of a concrete jungle, and our gardens have provided a much-needed outdoor education space for teaching and learning” he says.

“The app contains a digital garden, which helps you grow three different vegetables a season and there’s also a STEM element. Kids can see their digital veggies grow in real time, and journal and track their real life garden along the way. When the app is used together with planting a real seed, kids can see what’s happening underground during germination, and then get weekly tips to ensure their little seedling thrives. Plus, Kings have provided Oke with 52 weekend gardening activities that the whole family can enjoy together. Together with the other foundation partners – Dole & 5+ A Day, Kings are incredibly proud to support Oke and we can’t wait to see what next year has in store for this amazing charity.

CHOOSING THE PERFECT

HYDRANGEA

Hydrangeas come in a remarkable variety of shapes and sizes. If you are a fan of the classic mopheads, lacecaps and compact snowballs, or the more unusual oakleafs or paniculata, there is something stunning for every garden setting.

Our Top Varieties

Snowball

Renate Steiniger

Raspberry Crush

Growing only 1m high, this is one of the smallest hydrangeas, which makes it perfect for small gardens. The deep green foliage is beautifully offset by huge white blooms.

With large blue mophead flowers, Renate Steiniger is one of the most sought-after varieties and grows to around 1.5m tall.

Growing to 60cm x 60cm, this small variety produces brilliant raspberry-coloured blooms against compact, green foliage.

Bridal Bouquet

Ayesha

Nightingale

Bridal Bouquet has large creamy white flowers that bloom from spring until late summer. These are one of the best hydrangeas to use as cut flowers, and they can grow to 1.2m high.

This striking bush can grow to 1.8m tall. It has unusual globular flowers with a mild fragrance, which range from cream to pink and blue depending on the pH of the soil.

Growing to 1.5m tall, this variety has deep blue-purple lacecaps with soft green foliage on a bush with upright growth habit. Tolerant to sun and coastal conditions, Nightingale is known to have the best blue lacecap blooms.

Hydrangea Essentials

Tips to Help You Grow Well Most hydrangeas need part sun to full shade and like to be in free-draining soil that is rich in organic matter. Choose a spot where you want colour in the summer, but are fine with it being a little bare in winter.

Planting

Care

Hydrangeas (much like roses) are best planted in the ground. If you have clay soil, dig the hole twice as deep and wide as the pot it comes in, put a handful of Claybreaker Gypsum in the bottom, and backfill halfway with a mix of compost and the clay soil. Sprinkle a handful of Kings 24 + fertiliser, and then fill the remaining hole with the compost/clay mix. Mulch with Living Earth More Than Mulch, then water deeply to finish.

Once established, your hydrangeas won’t need a lot of maintenance. Feed from early spring to early autumn with Kings Fast Food Liquid Fertiliser, or Kings Rose Food. If you have an older hydrangea, you can strengthen the colour with Yates pinking or blueing agents. Water once or twice every two weeks, and when the hydrangea shrubs lose their leaves for a well-earned rest in winter, cut back two-thirds of the new growth to improve growth and blooms for the following year.

Living Earth More Than Mulch Mulch around the bottom of the hydrangeas, as well as other shrubs and trees, to help suppress weeds and improve water retention. 40L $13.99

Yates Hydrangea Agents Aluminium Sulfate makes your soil more acidic, intensifying blue flowers. Lime & Dolomite makes the soil more alkaline, improving pinks. 500mL $14.99

Expert Tip: Add aluminium sulfate to your soil for intense blue shades. Kings 24+ Sprinkle into the bottom of the hole you have dug before planting your hydrangea bush. Kings 24 + will slowly release nutrients and feed your plant for up to 24 months. 700g $17.99

FLOWERING GUIDE

FOR BEES

In addition to adding summer flowers to your garden, don’t forget to provide the local bees and pollinating insects with a feast. They will, in turn, help pollinate nearby veggies, fruit and ornamental plants.

Borage

Echinacea

Beebalm

Very easy to grow from seed, borage has beautiful dainty blue flowers that are highly attractive to bees. Plant near fruit trees in spring to encourage better pollination. Borage will selfseed, so you will never run out, and you can give unwanted plants away to neighbours and friends. Borage flowers are also edible, but don’t use too many, so bees can enjoy them too.

Echinacea, also known as ‘cone flowers’, are a well sought-after flower in the garden for not only bees, but butterflies as well. They have large landing pads which are great for flying insects, and the flowers have a large amount of both pollen and nectar, making the trip worthwhile for them.

It’s in the name! A type of mint, beebalm (or bergamot) is a perennial plant that comes back year after year, making it quite hardy. It flowers over the summer period and is easy to grow. This will attract bees as well as pollinating insects and butterflies.

Lavender

Aster

A favourite for honey, and bumble bees! This fragrant, dry-tolerant shrub is great for garden edging or in pots and will flower in spring and summer. Trim back dead flowers once finished to encourage bushier growth.

A type of daisy that not only looks great in the garden, but will be visited by pollinating insects, as well as creating shelter for predatory insects like ladybugs and praying mantis.

Keep your beefriendly flowers well fed with liquid Aquaticus Organic Garden Booster once every three to four weeks.

FLOWERING GUIDE FOR BEES SUMMER

HEBES

ALYSSUM

ECHINACEA

THE

C HA

NG E

CORNFLOWER

AN BEE

LAVENDER

ROSE

BERGAMOT (BEE BALM)

SALVIA

MORE FLOWERS

MORE BEES

Chillies

Spice things up a bit by growing your own chillies this season. To help ensure that you can stand the heat, here are some quick tips on growing chillies, and a guide to what’s hot (and incredibly hot and merely mild!).

Choosing Your Chillies

Care

The hotness of any given chilli can vary wildly. The growing conditions, and how ripe the chilli is when picked, can have a big impact on hotness. Their hotness is usually measured in ‘scovilles’; the higher the scoville rating of a chilli, the hotter it is.

Approximate Scoville Rating of some popular chillies

Water the plant regularly, keeping the soil moist but not damp. Where possible, avoid wetting the foliage. Feed regularly with Kings Tomato Food, or for a natural option use Aquaticus Organic Garden Booster.

Bell Pepper/Sweet Capsicum

Banana Pepper

100-1,000

Jalapeño

3,500-10,000

Hungarian Wax Pepper

3,500-10,000

Manzano

12,000-50,000

Tabasco

30,000-50,000

Cayenne

30,000-50,000

Rocoto

30,000-100,000

Habanero

100,000-350,000

Choose fruit that are very ripe and free of cuts or blemishes. Cut lengthwise and discard seeds. If you live in a dry, warm environment, hang them from a string outside or in a sunny spot inside (if the air is humid, they may go mouldy instead of drying). Alternatively, place chillies on an oven tray and cook for six to eight hours at 80°C. Store in an airtight jar.

Bhut Jolokia

855,000-1,105,000

Other Things To Consider

Trinidad Scorpion

1.2 million

Carolina Reaper

1.7 million!

Most chillies in New Zealand are grown as an annual. If you want to try growing one that is more likely to last through winter, try Rocoto or Manzano. These two varieties are members of the Capsicum pubescens family, and they can withstand much colder temperatures than other members of the capsicum family (though they won’t survive frost). They also taste great and can grow to an impressive height.

Drying Chillies

As the scoville rating isn’t available for many of the chillies we sell at Kings, the table below may also help when you are deciding what to plant.

Medium

Medium-Hot

Hot

Very Hot

Banana Pepper

Mazano

Tabasco

Carolina Reaper

Hungarian Wax

Rocoto

Cayenne

Trinidad Scorpion

Anaheim

Apache

Serrano

Bhut Jolokia

Jalapeño

Black Olive

Habanero

Chilli Fire

Growing Chillies Position and Planting Chillies are best grown in full sun in a spot with free-draining soil. Plant Rocoto- and Manzano-type chilli plants in a frost-free spot to maximise the chance of them lasting more than one season. Where possible avoid planting them where you planted tomatoes, potatoes or eggplants last year; by rotating where you plant members of the solanum family you help reduce the risk of diseases. (This is more important when planting tomatoes and potatoes, however.) To plant in the ground, prepare the soil by weeding, forking and then mixing in compost and sheep pellets. Most varieties will need at least 30cm between each plant (and some will require even more space). When planting in a pot, use Kings Container Mix. For best results use a pot no smaller than 20L.

Kings Tomato Food will help your chillies, eggplants and capsicum grow well.

Kings Liquid Tomato Food from $11.99

ING

SA TER V

HE RO

PREPARE YOUR GARDEN FOR THE

HEAT OF SUMMER Summer in Auckland usually means dry spells with little rain and water shortages. To keep your garden looking lush along with cutting your water usage, follow these easy tips to help you grow well. During the heat of summer, it can be difficult to make sure plants get the water they need to survive, let alone thrive. The first thing to remember is that plants absorb moisture through their roots. A well-developed root system with lots of little sponge-like root hairs is a plant's best insurance for survival during summer. To help plants develop good root systems, it's all about the soil! You can help create good conditions for root growth by 20

breaking up hard-packed soil with a fork and most all - by adding rich organic matter. Mixing organic matter, such as compost, peat moss and shredded leaves into your garden beds will make the soil more porous, so water that's applied to the soil surface will be easily absorbed and drain down to your plant's root zone. Plus, soil that is rich in organic matter can also retain much more moisture - so it's a win win! It's also

important to remember that when moisture levels alternate radically between wet and dry conditions, a plant's roots get stressed and damaged. Maintaining a consistent moisture level will help keep your plant's roots healthy. Here are some tips to help reduce your water usage, while protecting your plants from drying out.

Dry-tolerant plants are ideal for New Zealand summers with little rainfall or water shoratages (See page 22 for more)

Water saving Essentials

Yates Soil Wetter

Add mulch and seal in the moisture

Helps water penetrate dry, compact and clay soils. Use around established trees, shrubs, on the lawn or even in pots that dry out easily. Being a soil conditioner, it will help improve the soil structure and fertility.

Adding mulch increases water penetration, improves soil fertility, and protects soil against evaporation and erosion.

1L $23.99

Don’t water during the heat of the day Deep morning watering helps your plants better withstand heat. Avoid watering in the heat of the day from mid morning till 5pm.

Learn the watering needs of your plants Talk to our garden experts about how much water your plants need and group plants with similar needs together.

Add a soil wetting agent Wetting agents assist in retaining as much water in your soil as possible, reducing wasted water.

Water-Control Systems Help reduce your garden water usage by using a Gardena Water Control System. Connect directly to the tap or water tank. Gardena Flex Timer $99.99

Living Earth More Than Mulch Keep moisture in your soil for longer with Living Earth More Than Mulch. Containing both bark and compost, it adds nutrients, suppresses weeds and keeps the soil wet for longer. Apply around the base of plants, including shrubs or dwarf trees in pots. 40L $13.99

CREATING A

DRY-TOLERANT GARDEN With dry weather on the way, try planting a low-maintenance, dry-tolerant garden. From vibrant colour to statement structure, an easy-care garden can be functional and beautiful.

Rosemary

Protea

Starting With the Soil Planting is a bit like building, you need a good foundation to build your garden, and the foundation is the soil. Most of Auckland’s soil is clay and needs a little work before planting, so introduce organic matter such as Kings Organic Compost, sheep pellets, leaf

mould or well-rotted manure as well as ClayBreaker Gypsum. Condition the soil by mixing it in with the clay instead of just putting it on top. This will help retain moisture for longer, and encourage worms back into the area. Healthy soil means healthy plants!

Dry-tolerant Plants

Kings Liquid Tomato Food 500mL $11.99 Tui Tomato Mix 30L $17.99 Tui Vegetable Mix $16.99 | 2 for $32 Kings Organic Compost $6.99 or 4 for $25 ClayBreaker Gypsum from $18.99

Here are some suggestions of dry-tolerant plants to plant this summer.

Herbs and Edibles

Grasses and Native Plants

Trees and Shrubs

Dry herbs enjoy full sun and can withstand heat: sage, rosemary, thyme and oregano. Tough edibles include natal plum, dragon fruit, grapes, chilean guava and artichoke.

Native plants tend to do well in New Zealand’s climate: try astelia, carex, cordyline (cabbage trees), phormium (flax), pseudopanax, corokia, coprosma and hebe.

Certain trees and shrubs can survive without being given water once they have become established (after around 2 years). Try olive trees, banksia, laurus nobilis (bay), albizzia and jacaranda. Proteas, manuka, leucadendrons, grevilleas and leptospermums are also fantastic dry-tolerant shrubs, however they are primarily available in winter. Ask to get your name in our order book for next winter.

Pots and Hanging Baskets

Lasting Colour for the Garden

Try ice plants, chrysanthemum daisies, calendula, gazania, salvia, nasturtium, silver falls dichondra and livingstone daisies.

Try planting petunia, lavender, euphorbias, echium, sedum, paper daisies, portulaca, convolvulous, and statice.

CREATE AN OASIS WITH

TROPICAL PLANTS While we can’t jet off to an exotic location, you can enjoy lounging around under palm trees in your own backyard. Teamed with hibiscus, tropical impatiens and cannas, you can create your own tropical oasis this summer. 24

FLOWERING TROPICAL PLANTS Hibiscus

Gardenia

Star Jasmine

One of the most iconic tropical flowering plants, hibiscus come in a huge range of colours, as well as sizes and types, including Fijian, Hawaiian, hybrids and even our own native hibiscus!

Prized for their glossy, green, tropical leaves and highly scented flowers of white and gold, gardenia is best for those shaded parts of the garden. The variety ‘radicans’ is a groundcover and is best for gaps in the garden or smaller pots.

Looking for a hardy evergreen climber that produces a flush of desirable scented white flowers? Star jasmine can be trained up most structures, as well as pinned to the ground as a groundcover, just make sure they get full sun.

Tropical Vireya

Mandevilla

Bird of Paradise

Dubbed the ‘tropical rhododendron’, vireyas do well in Auckland’s subtropical climate and provide bursts of colourful flowers multiple times a year. As compact growers, they are also well suited for medium to smaller suburban gardens. Plant in welldraining soil loaded with Kings Organic Compost in a partly shaded area.

A tropical vining plant with evergreen leaves, the mandevilla is best suited to part shade and produces a mass of colourful blooms of either yellow, white, red, or pink.

A plant popular for its tropical leaves and sometimes kept indoors, the bird of paradise is best in full sun in the garden and will produce brilliant yellow/gold and deep purple flowers.

SUBTROPICAL FRUIT Here are our top picks to plant this season. Living in Auckland has its perks when gardening, one of which being that many of us can grow subtropical fruit in our own backyards.

Passionfruit

Cherimoya

Banana

Great eaten fresh off the vine or added to baking and desserts. Plant passionfruit in a position that gets full sun and has free-draining soil combined with Kings Organic Compost. Positioned up against a structure is best as it will need support as it grows.

A highly underrated fruit that is possibly one of the sweetest tasting fruits you can grow in Auckland. Not usually found in supermarkets due to its short shelf life, cherimoyas are similar tasting to vanilla, custard and fruit salad. Plant in free-draining soil with full sun and protect from frosts, and strong winds in its first two years.

Have a spot in the garden that gets a bit boggy in winter with clay soil and struggling to find something that will survive there? Bananas are incredibly hardy to soil types, provided they have shelter from harsh winds. Our Misi Luki variety has tight bunches of lady finger bananas that are harvestable in spring.

King palm

NZ Nikau

Kentia palm

A graceful, tall palm that forms a pale grey trunk, with 2.5–3m arching fronds. Does best when grown in full sun. Grows to 10–12m.

New Zealand’s only native palm. The fruit is a favourite of the kereru. Best grown in part shade, though it will tolerate full sun. Best planted in freedraining, moist soil. Slow growing, eventually reaching 10m.

With graceful arching fronds and a delicate slender stem, kentia palms can be grown both indoors and outdoors. Full sun to shade, suitable for coastal areas. Slow growing, they eventually reach 15m high.

PALMS

Greener Gift Give a

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Buy Kings gift cards online at www.kings.co.nz, or at the checkout instore. Terms and Conditions: The value of a gift card is valid for 36 months from issue. The card may not be exchanged for cash, gift vouchers or used to pay an account. Kings Plant Barn is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged cards. Gift cards cannot be redeemed at Kings Garden Cafes or any other garden centre in NZ.

A BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO

COMPANION PLANTING

Companion planting is where plants are beneficial to each other when planted together. This can include driving away pests, improving flavours and encouraging insects for better pollination. Here are some of the different types of companion plants and what they do.

Pest deterrent

Attracting pollinators

Improved growing conditions

Certain plants contain chemical properties that deter specific pests and can be planted throughout the garden. Some may seem a little random, but this is a great spray alternative. Plant garlic around rose bushes to help deter aphids, marigolds will also deter aphids. Basil will deter carrot flies and mosquitoes. Dill deters spider mites. Lavender for moths, fleas and mosquitoes, and catnip deters aphids and cockroaches (but may attract cats).

Companion planting includes planting bee-friendly plants, which encourages more insects to the area for better general pollination. For example, if you have planted fruit trees, plant other spring-flowering plants such as borage, strawberries, hellebores and bluebells around the base of the trees to encourage more bees to the area. This will help increase cross-pollination, which will increase your fruit yield.

Some plants can help the growing conditions of others around them. Plants from the legume family (beans, lupin, clover etc.) are nitrogen-fixing and, unlike other plants, will release nitrogen back into the soil, which will, in turn, feed their neighbours. This happens only when their roots die, which is why lupins are used as compost crops, grown in garden beds over winter, cut back and dug back into the soil before spring. When your peas and beans have finished, cut them down to ground level and leave the roots in the soil.

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Make sure that your bee-friendly plants bloom at the same time as your fruit and veggie plants for this to work successfully. For more info on beefriendly plants, check out our flower garden article.

Chicory and dandelions are examples of plants that have long taproots. These plants collect nutrients from deep in the soil. As they bring them up to the surface, this is shared with surrounding plants that have more shallow roots.

Sacrificial crops

Other beneficial insect plants

Unfriendly neighbours

The purpose of sacrificial crops (aka ‘trap crops’) is to attract insects away from the main crop that is being grown. For example, plant nasturtiums to attract aphids (this can also help attract ants away from other plants too) as well as attracting butterflies away from brassicas. Another example is chervil, which is attractive to slugs and snails. ‘Same crop’ plants planted earlier before your desired crop will be the first plants to be attracted by pests, which can then be dealt with earlier before your main crop matures.

Instead of attracting pollinators such as bees, these plants will attract prey insects, and can be added in with a *spray-free sacrificial crop (*sprayfree ensures the insects are not killed off). Prey insects will attack and eat smaller pest insects in the garden. For example: plant marigolds to encourage nectar-feeding hoverflies that also eat aphids; mustard attracts ladybirds; borage, yarrow and fennel attract parasitic wasps that eat caterpillars. Many of these plants will also be homes for praying mantis.

Incompatible plants are less likely to thrive next to each other. This can be as simple as a tall plant like a tomato plant growing too large and blocking out much-needed light for its neighbour, which could be a dwarf bean plant. Other reasons can be competing for nutrients, space, or attracting unwanted pests.

Incompatible plant partners Pepper, beans and kale do not grow well together, squash and broccoli don’t work, cabbages and tomatoes don’t see eye to eye, beans with onion and garlic are not mates, and turnip and eggplant are not on speaking terms.

TIPS FROM SIMON

(ST LUKES MANAGER/PLANT DOCTOR) There is nothing quite like sacrificial planting when it comes to protecting your crops. Here are a few things I tell people who want to avoid spraying. Make sure your main crop is covered with bug netting. When you first notice an invasion of a pest, make a note of the time for next year and make sure

you have well established sacrificial plants ready for the next year. The neat thing about sacrificial crops is that because they are planted specifically for pests, the crop can then be thinned or treated for the insects, killing them off without getting chemicals near your desired crop.

HERB

GARDENING There is nothing quite like having a well-stocked, healthy herb garden, and it's easy to start your own, even if you’re a beginner gardener.

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TRADITIONAL HERBS

Basil

Chives

Coriander

A delicious wet herb that is best in moist soil, both in pots and in the garden. Grow in full sun for large leaves. Basil is an annual, so you can grow a new plant from seed the following spring.

A relative of onion, garlic and shallots, chives are happiest in moist soil which is rich in organic matter and are best planted with other wet herbs.

Also known as cilantro, coriander is a wet herb and can be grown in full sun, however, they can bolt to flower and seed quickly in summer, so plant in a pot and move to part shade in the hotter months.

Use: in vinaigrettes, salads and with meat, including fish and chicken.

Use: in curries, spice rubs, sauces and soups and with fresh veggies and salads.

Use: in pesto, sauces, salads, soups, pasta, as a pizza topping, and to make flavoured oil.

Mint

Parsley

Bay leaf

As a wet herb, mint likes to be in moist soil, though it can to a certain extent withstand dry areas as well. If you don’t want it to spread, plant it in a large pot to help contain its vigorous growth.

A wet herb biennial that will grow for two years, parsley comes in curly and flat-leaf varieties. To avoid mid-summer bolting, pick off any flowers that appear; this will help extend its life.

Bay trees are best grown in the ground as they grow large over time. They can also be used for screening. Unlike other herbs, they are neither ‘wet’ nor ‘dry’, but need to be maintained in a similar way to other trees.

Use: in sauces, drinks, salads, tea and as an extract.

Use: in pesto, sauces, soups, stews, with grilled veggies, grains, egg and fish dishes.

Use: in roasts, rubs, stews, soups and sauces.

Rosemary

Thyme

Sage

This extremely tough dry herb is available in both upright varieties (which can be used as a hedge) and prostrate varieties (which can be used as a dry groundcover).

An easy-care dry herb that needs full sun and free-draining soil. It can be grown as a groundcover or gap filler, and the flowers are bee-friendly.

Once established, sage is a vigorous grower that is best planted along with other ‘dry’ herbs.

Use: in tea, soups, salads, stews, with roasted meats and veggies.

Use: in sauces (burnt butter and sage is a favourite), with meat and veggies.

Use: in teas, soups, pasta, sauces, sprinkled over roasted meat and veggies and on top of pizzas.

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TIPS FROM DAVID

(GARDENING EXPERT / TAKANINI ASSISTANT MANAGER) When starting a herb garden, make sure that it gets full sun, or at least six hours of sunlight a day. If you are starting from scratch, we recommend you use Living Earth Organic Veggie Mix or Tui Herb Mix to fill a raised garden bed. Otherwise, top up your existing bed with Kings Organic Compost, making sure that it is at a ratio of 2 parts of your original soil and 1 part compost.

If you are growing in pots, make sure that it is a medium to large size and don’t plant too many together as they will compete for light and space. Use Kings Container Mix when planting. Consider what type of herbs you are going to plant – and plant dry varieties together, and the same with wet varieties. Fertilise a couple of weeks after planting with Aquaticus Organic Garden Booster, and repeat once a month.

CREATING YOUR OWN

COCKTAIL GARDEN A cocktail garden is exactly what it sounds like: planting out a special edible garden with fruit, veggies and herbs that can be used in fancy cocktails, to impress your friends and family!

WHAT DO I NEED? Half the fun is figuring out what you will put in your cocktail garden. Think of your favourite cocktails, along with similar drinks, to narrow down what you will plant in your cocktail garden. Go on – be a little bit adventurous and try something new. You will need a spot that gets full sun, and either a garden with well-draining soil, or a large deck or sheltered balcony with large containers for your plants.

Citrus

Fruit and Veggies

Herbs

Not just for baking, there is nothing like a tangy, refreshing citrus cocktail on a summer evening. Plant citrus in free-draining soil in full sunlight in the ground, or plant dwarf citrus in pots of at least 50 litres. Potted citrus need consistent watering over summer

Don’t forget delicious fruit and veg for your cocktails!

Easy to grow, herbs need full sun and well-draining soil. Pinching out growth tips will encourage bushing. Basil and mint need a generous amount of water and a little more shade in the hot summer sun, whereas established rosemary and sage are happy in hotter, drier areas.

Lemons Use lemons in cocktails such as Lemon Drop, Bootleg, Whisky Smash, SouthSide, Lemon Mojito and Kentucky Lemonade.

Oranges Plant for cocktails including Orange Crush, Mimosa, Screwdriver, Orange Blossom, Blood Orange French 75 and Orange Martini.

Limes Use in cocktails such as Bootleg, G&Ts, Daiquiri, Gimlet, Lime Sour, Moscow Mule, Cosmopolitan, Gin Rickey, Mai Thai and Margarita.

Tomatoes As well as being amazing fresh in salads and fantastic in sauces, soups and grilled, tomatoes are perfect for Bloody Marys! Grow green or yellow tomatoes for something a little more interesting.

Blackberries & Raspberries Compliment any of the citrus drinks with fresh or frozen berries, as well as creating The Bramble, Blackberry Malt, The Floradora, Muddled Rebuttal and Raspberry Snakebite.

Strawberries Super easy to grow, strawberries can be added to most sweet cocktails including Daiquiris, Strawberry Berryoska, Kentucky Kiss and Cherub’s Cup.

Mint Essential in G&Ts, Whisky Smash, Southside, Mojito, Kentucky Lemonade, Orange Crush, Mint Collins and Mint Julep.

Rosemary Use in Lemon and Rosemary Bourbon Sour, Rosemary Bee’s Knees and Rosemary Old Fashioned.

Basil Great in Cucumber, Basil and Lime Gimlet, Gin Basil Smash, Green Gin Giant & Lime and Basil Margaritas.

LIFT YOUR SPIRITS WITH

SUMMER COCKTAILS

Try our delicious, thirst-quenching cocktails, made using fresh in-season produce from your garden!

Red Snapper Ingredients 60ml Flor de Cana 4 Rum 100ml Homemade Spiced Tomato Juice

Method Pour the rum into a tall glass. Fill the glass completely with ice. Top with your homemade spiced tomato juice. This is along the same vein as the Bloody Mary and the perfect way to utilise those tomatoes, capsicums, chillies, celery and herbs you have in your garden. Go ahead and purée your chosen veggies and herbs, adding a little Worcester, soy or even fish sauce if required.

Peach & Rose Summer Cup Ingredients 45ml Hayman’s Peach & Rose Gin Ginger Ale or Lemonade

Method Pour the gin into a tall or short glass. Fill the glass completely with ice. Top with your choice of mixer. Add your garnishes from your garden, stir well, serve and enjoy! This is a delicious summer sipper and it is all about getting creative and using your garden for the garnish. A ‘cup’ cocktail can be packed full of delicious summer fruits like berries, mint or cucumber. The great thing about this cocktail is that you can prebatch it in a punch bowl with all of your wonderful chosen garnishes. 34

Zesty Citrus Spritz Ingredients 45ml Pallini Limoncello 20ml Lemon or Lime Juice 10ml Sugar Syrup Mionetto Prosecco

Method Pour the limoncello, lemon or lime juice and sugar syrup into a mixing vessel. Add ice and stir for 5-10 seconds to get the drink cold. Strain the cocktail into a champagne flute. Top with prosecco. Garnish with a citrus twist. This cocktail is one for the citrus lovers among us. Delicious limoncello, which isn’t used often enough in cocktails, combines beautifully with freshly squeezed lemon or lime juice. The fresh orchard fruits of the prosecco add a tantalising layer of flavour and provide wonderful balance.

Strawberry Pina Colada Ingredients 60ml Spirited Union Organic Coconut Rum 90ml Pineapple Juice 50ml Coconut Cream 4 Large Strawberries (cut into quarters)

Method Pour all of the ingredients into a cocktail shaker (a mason jar or protein shaker will suffice too). Add ice and shake vigorously for 10 seconds. Strain the contents of the shaker into your serving glass. Fill the glass completely with ice. A summery twist on a classic crowd pleaser. The amazing combination of juicy strawberries with the velvety texture of coconut is a match made in heaven. Other twists on this recipe could include mango, passionfruit and of course other berries. 35

GARDEN

TO PLATE

Harvesting your crops in summer is both rewarding and satisfying. Grew a bit too much this season? Here are some recipes to use some of your surplus.

WARM SUMMER SALAD This roasted veggie salad can be eaten on its own or as a side dish with a BBQ.

Ingredients 1 medium capsicum, sliced into strips 250g kumara, skinned and chopped 250g new potatoes 500g brussel sprouts, halved 2 spring onions, diced 1 red onion, sliced, 1 tsp fresh oregano 1 tsp salt and pepper 2 tsp chilli powder 3 Tbsp olive oil 1 cup spinach 3 Tbsp feta cheese 5 tsp sesame seeds

Dressing 3 Tbsp olive oil 2 Tbsp balsamic vinaigrette 1 tsp maple syrup

Method Preheat the oven to 200°C Combine all veggies (except new potatoes, spring onion and spinach) in a large bowl. Add salt, pepper, chilli powder, oregano and olive oil and stir. Spread out veggies on a baking tray and bake for 40 mins.

Put whole new potatoes into a saucepan with enough water to just cover them. Boil and then simmer until soft (5-8 minutes). Cool and halve gently. Set aside. Combine dressing ingredients in a small bowl and stir until well combined. In another bowl, combine spinach and spring onion. Sprinkle feta cheese and sesame seeds over roasted veggies and new potatoes. To finish, drizzle salad dressing over the top!

COURGETTE BREAD This is a special recipe handed down through generations of gardeners. Best made with fresh seasonal courgette.

Ingredients 3 eggs, beaten 1 cup vegetable oil 3 cup grated courgette 1/2 tsp baking powder 1 Tbsp vanilla essence 2 cup white sugar 3 cup white all-purpose flour 1 tsp salt 2 tsp baking soda 1 Tbsp cinnamon 1 cup chopped walnuts (or a mix of nuts)

Courgette flowers are edible. They are best deep fried – just make sure you leave some flowers to fruit too.

Method Preheat the oven to 180˚C bake. Mix oil and eggs. Add the sugar and beat well. In a separate bowl, mix all remaining dry ingredients before adding to the current wet mixture. Add courgettes and nuts and stir in well. Set aside. Prepare two loaf pans by greasing them thoroughly and divide mixture evenly between them. Put into heated oven and bake for 1 hour or until cooked, check texture with a toothpick. Do not leave in the oven as this will make the loaves become dry. Let cool for 10 mins in pans before gently wedging out with a spatula. You can also freeze your second loaf to enjoy later!

SIMPLE TOMATO SAUCE By the end of summer many of us have tomatoes coming out of our ears! Here is a super-easy tomato sauce recipe for both beginner and seasoned gardeners:

Ingredients 80g allspice 6kg ripe tomatoes 1.5kg brown sugar 70ml malt vinegar

Method Rinse tomatoes well and chop into pieces. Add all ingredients into a large saucepan, and slowly bring to the boil. Once boiling, turn down to a simmer and stir frequently over three hours. If desired, push through a sieve to catch skins before putting into hot sterilised jars. The sauce can also be frozen.

CAPE GOOSEBERRY JAM Cape gooseberries are super-easy to grow, provided they get enough water over summer. Harvest them once their lantern coverings go brown, they are a deep yellow colour and taste sweet. Many are still good even after they drop.

Ingredients 500g cape gooseberries 500g white sugar

Method Take off all the lantern shells, rinse and weigh your cape gooseberries. Add gooseberries to a medium-sized saucepan with a dash of water, over low heat. Stir berries until soft. Add sugar and stir until dissolved. Bring slowly to the boil, continuously stirring. After 13-15 minutes, test for setting (this is when a skin forms on the jam when taken out with a teaspoon). Pour into hot sterilised jars and seal. Jam can also be frozen. Tip: This jam is perfect with vanilla or hokey-pokey icecream, or even drizzled onto a pavlova.

Little Growe rs DIY SEED FLOWER BALLS This is a fun way to get the kids interested in growing from seed, while making gifts for friends and family. Try thyme, cosmos, chamomile or red clover, or go for a beefriendly seed.

What you will need: • 1 large mixing bowl • 1/2 to 1 cup flower seeds • 3 cups potters’ clay OR clay soil from the garden • 5 cups compost (peat-free) • water

step 1

Put seeds, clay and compost in the bowl and mix together.

step 2

When finished, either give as gifts Slowly mix to in friends and family, water, bit-by-bit or ‘bomb’ your own with bare hands, garden by throwing until everything them up in the air. sticks Plants together. will grow wherever they land!

Dont add too much water! 40

Roll mixture into small, firm balls.

step 3

Get an adult to help you!

Put the balls in a sunny spot to dry.

When finished, either give as gifts to friends and family, or use in your own garden by throwing them up in the air. Plants will grow wherever they land!

step 4

Tip:

If you are using fine seeds, mix in some sand to top up your half cup.

step 5

BRING NATURE IN WITH

INDOOR PLANTS Summer is an exciting time for plant parents, as you will still be experiencing a flush of new growth. Here are some styling tips and our top varieties for beginners through to experts.

Ask our staff for more indoor plant summer tips!

How to style your indoor plants When it comes to the question of how many is too many, we think you can’t have enough! The key is making sure they all look great together. Below are a few tips on how to make the most of your indoor jungle paradise.

Group them together

Add texture

Gather a posse of plants of varying heights in different pots to create a display with real impact—pair plants with vibrant furnishings and timber for a dynamic look.

Play with texture, combinations such as sanseveria with its long smooth leaves and the hundreds of tiny leaves on a callisia bubbles are something to behold!

Hang them

Accessorise

Create a sculptural display up above with kokedama and trailing plants such as the succulent string of pearls and the carefree chain of hearts – perfect choices for hanging pots.

Choose pot colours and textures to match other colours that appear within the room's setting.

TOP VARIETIES Before you fill your home with our stunning range indoor plants, we suggest reading ahead to find the perfect match for your home.

Peace Lilies

Anthurium

Sansevieria

Incredibly easy-care, provided you keep them out of direct sunlight.

Easy-care, tough, and gorgeous. Keep in an area out of direct sunlight. Great for removing toxins and oxygenating the air.

This carefree succulent tolerates neglect extremely well. If you’ve had no success with houseplants (other than plastic ones) give the snake plant a try. It also removes toxins from the air.

Peace lilies look great and help remove toxins and oxygenate the air. Conditions: Grows best in bright indirect light, though will tolerate darker conditions. Keep soil moist and feed monthly with Kings Houseplant Food to keep them happy and healthy.

Unlike most plants they do best when pot bound. Keep soil moist and feed monthly to improve flowering.

Conditions: Prefers bright light, though it will tolerate low light conditions too. Allow the soil to dry between watering.

ZZ Plant

Maidenhair Fern

Dracaena

Sometimes known as ‘Eternity Plant’ due to it’s long life, this succulent tolerates low light and neglect.

This delightful fern produces a mass of delicate, soft foliage on slightly trailing stems.

It is slow-growing, so get a large plant if you want it to get big quickly.

Conditions: Medium to bright indirect light. Water regularly and don’t let them dry out.

An easy-care plant with graceful foliage. Various varieties are available, including several with elegant, slightly arching stems.

Conditions: Low to bright light. Allow the soil to dry between watering.

Conditions: Prefers bright, indirect light. Rarely needs repotting.

Feed monthly with a half strength mix of Kings Houseplant Food.

Conditions: Medium to bright light. Allow soil surface to dry between waterings.

Watering Summer means regular watering. Unlike winter, you can be a bit more structured with your watering days. However this can change depending on if it’s wet or cold for a few days in a row. Regardless, always check the soil's moisture with your finger before topping them up. Watering is essential for ferns and carnivorous plants. Never let them dry out completely. Instead put a saucer under each pot and make sure they are filled with water everyday. Light Light requirements will differ between plants, and some may need to be moved away from windows as the sun’s position moves for summer. Most indoor plants don’t enjoy the direct sun and instead, like to be just out of the sun's rays. Imagine a rainforest and where these plants would be naturally situated. Cacti and most succulents, however, do enjoy the direct sun. If they haven’t been exposed to hot summer sun yet, slowly move them into more desirable areas instead of doing it suddenly – as even these can get sunburn! Feeding Fertilise your larger plants such as monsteras, ficus, and dracaenas with Kings Slow Release House Plant Food at the start of summer and again at the beginning of autumn. Water in well. With medium to smaller plants, feed them with a liquid fertiliser such as Kings Liquid House Plant Food. Spray indoor air plants with water. Rainwater is best as it usually has more minerals than filtered or tap water. 45

ASK THE

PLANT DOCTOR Giving you expert advice for your seasonal gardening woes

Hi Plant Doctor, I have courgettes and every year they have these white scales completely covering the underside of the leaves, accompanied by a swarm of tiny white moths. Please help me get rid of them! -Chi, Albany

Hi Chi, It sounds like you have a white fly infestation. White flies are small, sap-sucking insects that lay their eggs in large clusters under leaves of certain trees and edible plants. Both the adult flies and nymphs (or juveniles) suck the sap that harms the vigor of the plant and spreads plant diseases – so both need to be treated. Yate’s Nature’s Way Citrus, Vegie and Ornamental Spray 750mL $18.99 Kings Fast Food 500mL $11.99

Prevent bad infestations by watering your plant regularly and feeding with a liquid fertiliser such as Kings Fast Food. To treat, spray them with Yate’s Nature’s Way Citrus, Vegie and Ornamental spray. Do this in the evenings when the flies are hidden away under the leaves.

Hi Plant Doctor, I have terrible mealybug on my indoor plants. I have tried EVERYTHING but I can’t seem to get rid of them. Can you recommend anything that might help? -Laura, Papakura

Hi Laura, Mealybug (small, white ‘fluffy’ insects that suck sap on plants that are in drier conditions) have been increasingly hard to get rid of in the last few years. Thankfully this spring, we have finally received GroVentive, a two-way systemic spray that can kill off any sapsucking insects.

GroVentive 200mL $35.99

Make sure only to use it on ornamentals (non-edibles). Repeat applications may be needed depending on the volume of insects you have on your plants. You can help by first squashing the ones you see with a paper towel, and then spraying the plant afterwards.

Hi Doctor, I have small black beetles on my hibiscus, gardenia and frangipani flowers. They only seem to eat light coloured flowers… please help. -William, Henderson

Hi William, It sounds like you have hibiscus beetles, also known as sap beetles. They are known to eat the petals of flowers in late spring through to late autumn, and usually target white to lightly coloured flowers! These insects are hard to treat as they live and cocoon themselves in mostly closed flower buds. Remove the flower buds when they drop and dispose of them in your green waste bins instead of composting. Fill a white or yellow container full of soapy water and put them under the plant. The insects will be attracted to these instead.

Ask the Kings Plant Doctor Got a plant problem you need help with? Visit www.plantdoctor.co.nz for free expert advice or look out for the red shirts instore.

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