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GQT At Home: Episode Fifteen

Kathy Clugston hosts this week's horticultural panel show.

Kathy Clugston hosts this week's horticultural panel show. James Wong, Matthew Wilson and Christine Walkden answer the questions from green-fingered listeners.

This week, the panel discusses the best plants for a bonsai, share tips on caring for a Money Tree, and give recommendations for planting an upright piano and a moon garden.

Aside from the questions, Humaira Ikram from KLC School of Design shares tips for planting in acid and alkaline soils, and Chris Thorogood tells the history of botanicals used in gin.

Producer - Rosie Merotra
Assistant Producer - Jemima Rathbone

A Somethin' Else production for ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 4

Available now

42 minutes

Last on

Sun 12 Jul 2020 14:00

Plant List

Questions and timecodes are below. Where applicable, plant names have been provided.

Ìý

Q – Why does my cactus look like this? Will it do it again?

(1 minute 11 seconds)

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Christine – Notocactus

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James – Barrel Cactus

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Q – My garden is slowly being overrun by horsetail. I’ve tried to dig it out but it’s relentless. Do you have any advice on how to deal with it?

(4 minutes)

Ìý

Matthew – Japanese Anemone

Hosta

Rodgersia

Ligularia

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Q – We recently started growing a Money Tree and it has developed, what appears to be, a beanstalk which looks like it’s going to flower. The problem is the stalk is long and thin; we don’t want to nip it too early but don’t know how to proceed... Do we need to use a support?

(6 minutes 50 seconds)

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Christine – Crassula

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Q – I want to turn my old upright piano into a plant bed with plants growing up and also hanging over. Do you have any suggestions?

(9 minutes 28 seconds)

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James – Clerodendrum incisum ‘Musical note’ plant

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Christine – ‘Drumstick’ Primula denticulata

Daylilies

Aquilegia Songbird

Roses (ad nauseum)

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Matthew – Trailing Fuchsia

Artemisia

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Feature –The importance of soil pH with Humaira Ikram

(13 minutes 31 seconds)

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Acer palmatum

Japonicum Multi-stem

Elaeagnus angustifolia

Enkianthus campanulatus

Ilex Crenata

Cercis ‘Judas Tree’

Cercidiphyllum ‘Katsura Tree’

Philadelphus

Euonymus microphyllus

Nepeta ‘Junior Walker’

Salvia caradonna

Stipa Tenuissima

Forsythia

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Q – I have grown three acer trees, each 2 inches tall, using a bonsai kit. Instructions tell me to keep potting on into larger pots, but I want to keep them indoors. How do I prune them? Any advice?

(18 minutes)

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James – Japanese Maples

Ficus Natasja

Ficus Schefflera Arboricola

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Q – I’ve just started a moon garden and I’m looking for inspiration for foliage plants that will look interesting under moonlight.

(21 minutes 10 seconds)

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Matthew – Brunnera ‘Jack Frost’

Pulmonaria Lungwort

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James – CynaraÌýcardunculus Cardoon

Silverbush

Silver Holly ‘Silver Ghost’

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Christine – Rodgersia

Heucherella

Tiarella

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Q – My young daughter loves eating cucamelons. I’ve been trying to grow them with limited success but this year they are thriving in the greenhouse. Can I save the tubers and replant them next year, cut back instead or store them in compost? Do I cut back all foliage leaving just the tubers? Please help.

(24 minutes 53 seconds)

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James – Cucumbers

Watermelon

Lime

Tomato

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Feature – Gin Botanicals with Chris Thorogood

(28 minutes 39 seconds)

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Juniper berries

Lime

Orange

Grapefruit

Star Anise

Rosemary

Thyme

Mint

Sage

Bay Leaves

Rose Petals

Honeysuckle flowers

Pansies

Geranium flowers

Ìý

What garnishes do you use in drinks, panel?

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Christine – Mint

Chives

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James – Begonias

Pineapple Guava Feijoa acca sellowiana

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Q – I am looking for a nice plant as a diplomatic gift to the in-laws, who are keen gardeners like me. Ideally, I’m looking for something resilient and also a symbol of love and fraternity – perhaps a Passiflora. What do you think?

(36 minutes 18 seconds)

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Christine – Love-Lies-Bleeding

Love-in-a-Mist

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James – ‘Friendship plant’ Pilea peperomioides

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Q – Do you have any good gardening jokes?

(39 minutes 45 seconds)

Broadcasts

  • Fri 10 Jul 2020 15:00
  • Sun 12 Jul 2020 14:00

Six of GQT’s naughtiest gardening innuendos

When Gardeners' Question Time got mucky.

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