I am often asked to give an opinion on the health of a fern called Polypodium aureum, popularly known as Breadfruit fern (because the shape of the leaves is similar to those of the Breadfruit tree). It is enormously popular for growing in hanging baskets, on walls and as ground cover in shady areas. Gardeners are worried about the fact that the leaves get hundreds of light brown spots on the underside which have been mistaken for a severe attack of scale insects, and often sprayed regularly (and unnecessarily). The ‘scales’ on the underside are nothing more dangerous than the ‘seed’ produced by the fern which are more correctly known as spore cases. These carry millions of spores (seeds) which are released into the air when they are ripe. Gardeners will often take off these leaves and place them (spore case down) on an old log or a clay brick in a damp shady place so that when the spores are released they fall onto the damp surfaces rather than be allowed to blow away. It’s an interesting thing to try with children. It’ll probably take a bit of time before new plants start showing (perhaps not so much fun as growing mustard and cress), but worth a try.
Now from plants preferring shade like ferns to sunshine plants. Walking around you will notice many succulent plants, including cacti, growing in open sunlight. Succulents are plants which have generally fleshy stems used for storing water. Succulents are to be found throughout the world with the exception of cacti, which are confined to the United States, and they grow in areas of very low rainfall, some getting as little as an inch or two every two years. Some only ever get dew, and they have developed very thick skins to reduce water loss. The very last thing they need is some kind person giving them more water than they are used to having.
It’s difficult to lay down hard and fast rules, but I can tell you that the cactus I have get not much more than a teaspoonful of water every two or three weeks, and are perfectly happy. Just to confuse things the succulent Euphorbia called Crown of Thorns, which grows in exceptionally arid regions of Africa is unquestionably happy growing in Guyana with all our rainfall. Funny things, plants.
We are just almost at the middle of January and according to my thermometer, yesterday was one of the hottest days in this short year, and I saw butterflies in the garden for the first time. They always seem to be harbingers of the ‘dry.’ Just before Christmas a year or so ago a very dear friend of ours went home to the interior carrying plants and cuttings for her garden – a Norfolk pine (Christmas tree), some variegated cassava sticks, and some bougainvillea cuttings. They quickly received the attention of ants but some survived, and will probably enjoy the cool nights at higher altitude better than the coastal strip. Here in Georgetown we have our fair share of cold nights at this time of the year, and I think most of you will find that your plants respond to this by putting on growth. Warm nights just allow plants to burn off more of the food they’ve produced during the day instead of allowing them to convert it into new roots and shoots.
For the past few years I have been maddened by the behaviour of my Snow on the Mountain, which is supposed to start flowering before Christmas. I got this seedling from Barbados some years ago and for a time it flowered normally. For the past few years it hasn’t, and it only now comes into flower, about a month late. Flowering of this kind of poinsettia is of course determined by day length, but may be influenced by other factors. Just what these are is anyone’s guess. In the old days we would have blamed the Russians or the American nuclear programme, or even the city council, but for the life of me I can’t tie them into this. Take care.
