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<p>If you’re looking for a <strong>houseplant</strong> with sensational foliage, a <strong>Calathea</strong> is just what you’re after.&nbsp;Calatheas are prized for their beautiful leaves, marked with colourful geometric patterns that look as though they have been painted on by an artist.&nbsp;</p>

<p>If you’re looking for a <strong>houseplant</strong> with sensational foliage, a <strong>Calathea</strong> is just what you’re after. Calatheas belong to a genus of plants that come from the tropics, mainly in Brazil. They have many common names, including zebra plants and peacock plants, but are most often called prayer-plants. This name comes from the way some species move their leaves, closing them up at night like praying hands and opening them wider during the day.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Calatheas are prized for their beautiful leaves, marked with colourful geometric patterns that look as though they have been painted on by an artist.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Where to grow calathea</h2>
<p>In their natural environment, calatheas grow in the dappled shade cast by tall trees in tropical forests. When grown as houseplants, they do best in bright but indirect light and will cope quite well with low light conditions. In fact, too much direct bright light is likely to burn their leaves and affect the colourful leaf markings.</p>
<p>Calatheas prefer soil that is moist but not sodden. When planting them in pots, use a pot with good drainage holes and a good potting compost that retains moisture. Water regularly to keep the compost moist but don’t allow them to stand in water for long periods, as this can cause root rot. Ideally, use rainwater or filtered water.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Being tropical plants, calatheas like high humidity and a warm environment. To raise the humidity around your plant, stand the pot on a drip tray filled with pebbles and topped up with water. Mist occasionally, spraying the leaves from below to avoid water collecting around new leaf buds.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Aim for a reasonably constant temperature, anywhere between 18-30°C (65-86°F), away from cold draughts, and don’t let the temperature around the plant drop below 15°C (59°F). Drooping leaves are a sign that the plant is too cold – if this happens, move the plant to a warmer place as soon as possible.</p>
<h2>Caring for calathea</h2>
<p>Feed your calathea plant once a month from spring to autumn, using a liquid houseplant fertilizer&nbsp;diluted to half strength.&nbsp;</p>
<p>There is no need to prune a calathea, simply cut off any dead leaves as they appear. If your plant loses all its leaves as a result of stress, such as underwatering, don’t give up hope straight away - calathea are surprisingly resilient plants and it may well put out new leaves once the problem has been resolved.</p>
<h2>Calathea problems</h2>
<p>Once you have found the right location for your calathea plant, the most likely problems are likely to be caused by either over-or under-watering. Here are the signs to watch out for:</p>
<p><strong>Under-watering:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Wilting</li>
<li>Curling leaves</li>
<li>Leaf edges browning</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Over-watering</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Yellowing leaves</li>
<li>Rotting stems&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<p>If you’re looking for a houseplant to brighten up your home, come and see the exciting range available in our centres. We’ve got the perfect plant for you!</p>

Calathea houseplant

<p>Find out our t<strong>op 10 scented plants</strong> and&nbsp;enjoy the spread of natural scent in your garden. We have a wonderful range of plants with a nice fragrance. Fill your garden with scented plants and your garden will not only look fantastic but also smell fantastic!&nbsp;</p>

<p>Find out our t<strong>op 10 scented plants</strong> and&nbsp;enjoy the spread of natural scent in your garden. We have a wonderful range of plants with a nice fragrance. Fill your garden with scented plants and your garden will not only look fantastic but also smell fantastic!&nbsp;</p>
<h2>1. Honeysuckle</h2>
<p>The sweet fragrance of Honeysuckle brings a heady scent to the garden. Not just beautiful with flowers varying from white to cream and salmon pink but also a wonderful climber, ideal for pergolas and archways. It’s especially good where you might be able to sit near or walk by to fully appreciate it, along with the many beneficial insects that it will attract.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>2. Lemon Balm</h2>
<p>One of the most fragrant of herbs and great in a cooling glass of water to refresh you on a hot day in the garden. Lemon Balm is very easy to grow and ideally in pots or contained well, as it is similar to Mint with respect to taking over. Lemon Balm can be used to calm and ease anxiety as well.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>3. Nicotiana</h2>
<p>A wonderful annual for beds and borders and highly fragrant in the evening time. Protect seedlings and young growth from slugs and snails, otherwise, they are really easy to grow. A variety of colours from lime green to white, pink and red. You will even find some moths are attracted and will put on quite a display at night.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>4. Lilac Bush&nbsp;</h2>
<p>The stunning Lilac gives out an incredible late spring fragrance with pretty flowers, perfect for using in baking or sprinkled on flowers. Often used for hedging, they just need pruning after flowering and watering when first planting.</p>
<h2>5. Daphne</h2>
<p>The sight and smell of Daphne is a staple late winter/early spring plant for the garden. The clusters of pinkish flowers can be smelt quite far away so they are great for entrances, driveways and anywhere you walk by to breathe in the beauty.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>6. Eucalyptus</h2>
<p>Not just for bouquets of flowers! Eucalyptus looks great in the garden, especially in pots. Trim the stems and hang up in your home. Not only smells great but even helps medicinally as well.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>7. Gardenia</h2>
<p>The pretty white flowers of Gardenia are unmistakable not just for their beauty but for their gorgeous fragrance. They grow well in containers when planted in ericaceous compost and if you stand your container by the front door, it will be an entrance full of perfume.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>8. Sweet Box</h2>
<p>A welcome sign in late winter, as the flowers dangle from long stems with glossy foliage. But it is the fragrance that will really hit you. The wonderful sweet fragrance that is a sign of the garden coming alive again for the seasons ahead, is most welcome.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>9. Rose</h2>
<p>The classic fragrant garden plant! With the many many varieties available there is a rose for everyone. From the intoxicating ‘Etoile de Hollande’ to the delicate and well-known fragrance of ‘Gertrude Jeykll’.</p>
<h2>10. Stocks</h2>
<p>The cottage garden favourite, Stocks are incredibly fragrant with pretty flowers and full of colour. Equally, they look perfect in a bunch of flowers as they do in pots.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Get sowing your seeds, nurturing plug plants and fill your garden with fragrance from our range of seeds and plants in store.&nbsp;</p>

Top 10 scented plants

<p><strong>Garden decorations</strong> such as sculpture and ornaments add interest to the garden all year, complementing the planting in summer and acting as a focal point in winter when plants have died back. Here are our top tips on using garden decorations to add your own personal touch to your garden.</p>

<p><strong>Garden decorations</strong> such as sculpture and ornaments add interest to the garden all year, complementing the planting in summer and acting as a focal point in winter when plants have died back. Here are our top tips on using garden decorations to add your own personal touch to your garden.</p>
<h2>Choosing and placing garden decorations</h2>
<p>Sculptures, decorative pots and other artwork can add an extra dimension to your garden. There are so many different types of garden decorations. We have something for any type of garden. From modern to Bohemian gardens, and from Ibiza to Japanese styled gardens. Here are a few tips on placing sculpture and other garden decorations for the best effect.</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>Place sculpture or other garden decorations at the end of a pathway or in the centre of a courtyard to create a focal point.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Use them to add interest to a dull area of the garden.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Remember to consider the object's view from all sides when placing it.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Avoid large solid sculptures for a small garden. Instead, choose something open that you can see through, which won’t dominate the space in the way a solid piece would.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>To get an idea of the size of the piece that you want, use a cardboard box or something similar in the spot where you plan to put your artwork, to get an idea of scale.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<h2>Winter garden decorations</h2>
<p>Garden decorations have a vital role in winter. When the borders are bare, garden decorations take over the role of creating structure, colour and interest. Artworks, pieces of sculpture or even just large decorative pots can act as focal points, giving you something to look at even on cold, grey days. Because you’ll mainly be looking at them from inside the house in winter, check the view from your windows when placing garden decorations before deciding on their final positioning.</p>
<p>Some of the best winter garden decorations may already be in your garden. Bare trees have wonderful structures, which can be enhanced by wrapping the branches in strings of fairy lights so that you can appreciate their shape at night. Glass jars filled with fairy light strings also make beautiful winter garden ornaments, dotted around borders or along paths.</p>
<p>Decorative plant supports and being useful in summer, often make beautiful winter garden decorations, adding structure and interest to otherwise bare borders.</p>
<h2>Combining plants and garden decorations</h2>
<p>Plants make a beautiful backdrop for artwork.&nbsp; Soft planting contrasts very effectively with bold, solid pieces and looks perfect with a traditional garden statue or an old-fashioned sundial. Bold-leaved plants like hostas or Fatsia japonica create a tropical effect that suits oriental garden decorations like stone lanterns or Buddha statues.</p>
<p>When planning the planting around your garden decorations, consider how the plants' colours will complement the artwork as the seasons change. You could choose artworks to highlight the beauty of autumn or to harmonise with summer planting. Provided your garden decorations look good to you, they’re in the right place!</p>
<p>We have a fantastic range of garden decorations in our centres, so contact us for the best garden decoration products.</p>

How to choose and use garden decorations

<p><strong>Houseplants</strong> add beauty to our homes, and they’re good for us too, helping to reduce stress and boost our moods. To help you keep your houseplants looking their best, we’ve put together some <strong>tips on basic houseplant care</strong>.</p>

<p><strong>Houseplants</strong> add beauty to our homes, and they’re good for us too, helping to reduce stress and boost our moods. To help you keep your houseplants looking their best, we’ve put together some <strong>tips on basic houseplant care</strong>.</p>
<h2>The right temperature for houseplants</h2>
<p>Many of our favourite indoor plants come from tropical or subtropical areas of the world, so they prefer a warm environment. However, there are a few things to remember when trying to find a warm spot for your plant.</p>
<p>Don’t put plants near radiators, as the heat will dry them out and burn their leaves. Sunny windowsills are a good option, but be aware that direct, hot sunlight through glass can scorch even tropical plants' leaves.&nbsp; Windowsills can also get very cold on winter nights. Place your houseplant somewhere with a reasonably steady temperature, typically between 18-22°C (64-71°F).</p>
<h2>Light levels for houseplants</h2>
<p>All plants need light, but too much bright light can damage houseplants. Most houseplants do best in bright but indirect light, shaded by blinds or placed on an east- or west-facing windowsill. A south-facing windowsill that gets full sun is best suited to desert plants such as cacti and other succulents.</p>
<p>Flowering plants need more light than foliage plants and may need to be moved to a brighter spot in winter when light levels are lower.</p>
<p>Yellowing and dropping leaves, elongated stems and small leaves are all signs that your plant is not getting enough light. On the other hand, too much light can cause brown leaf tips or brown scorched patches on leaves. Keep an eye on your plants and move them if you see signs of too much or too little light.</p>
<h2>Houseplants and humidity</h2>
<p>Houseplants that originate from the tropics like humidity. Central heating can dry out the atmosphere in our homes, so to increase the humidity around your plant, follow these tips:</p>
<ul>
<li>Stand pots on trays of pebbles covered with water.</li>
<li>Mist plants regularly.</li>
<li>Group plants together to create a microclimate.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Watering houseplants</h2>
<p>Watering houseplants can be tricky – in fact, overwatering is probably the most common cause of death for houseplants.&nbsp; Here’s how to spot the signs of over-and under-watering.</p>
<p><strong>Signs that your plant needs watering:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Wilting leaves</li>
<li>Brown leaf edges</li>
<li>Dropping leaves</li>
<li>Pot feels light when picked up</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Signs that your plant is being overwatered:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Dropping leaves</li>
<li>Brown, mushy roots</li>
<li>Standing water in the drip tray</li>
</ul>
<p>Test the moisture level in your plants’ pots by pushing your finger into the compost to feel whether it is damp below the surface. Most houseplants do best in slightly moist compost, but not wet. For large, deep pots, you may find it easier to use a soil moisture meter with a probe that can be pushed into the compost without damaging plant roots.</p>
<p>With a bit of care and attention, you can have a home filled with beautiful, healthy houseplants. Why not visit our centre and choose yourself a new houseplant today?</p>

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