Jennifer Stackhouse

Horticulturist, garden writer, blogger & editor.

  1. Top indoor ferns and how to care for them

    Top indoor ferns and how to care for them
    There are many varieties of ferns on the market, but the top-performing outdoor ferns are often not the same as the top indoor ferns, due to their size and growing needs. Indoors, ferns thrive in bright light but in positions out of direct sun. Many also enjoy high humidity, which is why they are often to be found in well-lit...
  2. The best native hedging plants for Sydney gardens

    The best native hedging plants for Sydney gardens
    Hedges are important elements of many gardens as they provide screening and shelter and can be grown to divide up internal garden spaces. As well, they provide a vertical element in gardens and can offer a safe habitat for wildlife. They can also provide seasonal colour - for example, from flowers or fruit. Hedges are also a great way to...
  3. Autumn/winter annuals: Our favourite flowers to plant in autumn

    Autumn/winter annuals: Our favourite flowers to plant in autumn
    Annuals are plants that grow, flower and die within a year. They are popular in gardens for adding colour and seasonal interest. Annuals are planted each year as seed or seedling. Seeds are sown one to two seasons before flowering time. Growing from seedling shortens the length of time between planting and flowering, so seedlings for winter and early spring...
  4. Favourite Australian native flowering plants

    Favourite Australian native flowering plants
    Everyone’s talking about Australian native plants, and with good reason. Not only do these plants represent Australia’s often unique flora, they also have special attributes and benefits for gardens. Many are highly attractive to insects, birds and small mammals for both food and shelter, which means growing them in your garden helps improve the local environment. Some are even edible...
  5. Plant profile: umbrella tree

    Plant profile: umbrella tree
    If you want a lush green indoor tree, the dwarf umbrella tree (Schefflera arboricola) might be just what you need for your plant collection. Umbrella trees also grow outdoors in warm, frost-free climates and are native to tropical rainforests in northern Australia and New Guinea. In the ground they can become large plants, but size is restricted when grown indoors...
  6. How to promote hedge growth

    How to promote hedge growth
    You’ve planted the hedge and now you are waiting for it grow to block out those close neighbours and give you privacy. Most hedges take three to five years to form a dense screen several metres high, but there are some ways to speed up growth and also increase the density of the hedge. Want to know how to make...
  7. Plant Profile: Alocasia

    Plant Profile: Alocasia
    Alocasia is a family of foliage plants with huge appeal for both indoor and outdoor gardeners. These leafy plants wow gardeners with their large, often velvety leaves. Some are easy to find and grow while others are collector’s plants. They are plants to use for impact and drama as they form a dramatic, leafy clump. The plants have the common...
  8. New Zealand Christmas Bush: Metrosideros

    New Zealand Christmas Bush: Metrosideros
    Plants that flower with bold red blooms in early summer are often bestowed with the title of Christmas bush. As far as being red, bold and definitely summer flowering goes, Metrosideros excelsa ticks all the boxes and definitely earns the name of New Zealand Christmas bush. It is also known as pohutukawa. While this plant is native to New Zealand, species...
  9. Why you should use potting mix in your pots and containers

    Why you should use potting mix in your pots and containers
    Australia is a leader in the development and manufacture of good-quality potting mixes. Potting mixes have been developed to ensure that potted plants have the best environment to grow and develop. They are used in the production of nursery plants and by home gardeners. Potting mix is manufactured from composted bark ensuring that a by-product of the timber industry is...
  10. Why you shouldn’t keep an olive tree indoors

    Why you shouldn’t keep an olive tree indoors
    Ever wondered why it's recommended that you don't keep an olive tree indoors? Read on for the answer. Olive trees (Olea europea) have become popular garden trees, with many planting small olive groves or including an olive or two in a courtyard or in a large container. Olives are trees that love heat and sunshine – think the sun-baked hills...

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