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GQT at Home: Horticultural Healing and January Dreaming

Kathy Clugston hosts the horticultural programme featuring a group of gardening experts.

Kathy Clugston hosts the horticultural programme featuring a group of gardening experts. This week's panellists are the ever-knowledgeable Matt Biggs, Humaira Ikram, and James Wong.

Firmly embedded in the new year, the panellists share some motivating thoughts to get you back out into the cold with your secateurs in-hand, tips on looking after a young avacado tree, and design ideas for a high-rise garden.

Beyond the questions, Ashley Edwards, Head Gardener at Horatio’s Garden, London, chats to the Royal Horticultural Society’s first Therapeutic Gardener, Ozichi Brewster, and Chris Beardshaw shares his contribution to the GQT tree adventure - his favourite, the Hawthorn.

Producer - Jemima Rathbone
Assistant Producer - Bethany Hocken

A Somethin' Else production for Â鶹Éç Radio 4

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42 minutes

Plant List

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

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Q – My orchid plants are about 5 years old and continue to flower well, with odd spells of dormancy. When buds do reappear, and grow to full size, they sometimes take months before the flowers open. Can the panellists explain why this is?

(1 minutes 25 seconds)Ìý

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Matt –

Moth orchid

Phalaenopsis orchid

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Q – What should I be looking for in the ideal house plant compost? Should I be buying a specialist indoor compost from my local garden centre, or can I just use my usual multi-purpose compost?

(3 minutes 49 seconds)Ìý

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Q – I’m hoping that the panellists can give me some garden design ideas for my new house. The garden is about 4 metres by 3 metres and has a raised bed around the edges. I love colour, I love butterflies, and I love plants with strange stories behind them.

(5 minutes 48 seconds)Ìý

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Humaira –

Sea buckthorn, Hippophae

Chilean guava

Zanthoxylum, Sichuan pepper

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Matt –

Honeysuckle, ‘Scentsation’

Wild valerian

Red valerian

Farfugium japonicum, 'Wavy Gravy'

Ruscus hypoglossum

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Q – I have a young avocado tree planted into open soil, in a south face position, and sheltered by a stone wall. The mild temperatures over winter have allowed the tree to survive quite happily. What advice would you give to caring for a young tree?

(8 minutes 38 second)

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Feature – Ashley Edwards, Head Gardener at Horatio’s Garden, London, chats to the Royal Horticultural Society’s first Therapeutic Gardener, Ozichi Brewster.

(12 minutes 23 seconds)

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Panicum, ‘Northwind’

Deschampsia

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Q – How do the panellists motivate themselves to get outside during the winter season?

(18 minutes 40 seconds)

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Matt –

Sarcococca, confusa

Iris reticulata

Iris danfordiae

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James –

Mahonia

Viburnum

Daphne

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Q – My son who lives in London has a south-west facing balcony and would like to be engulfed by climbing plants and flowers. He has entrusted me with making the choices, but I’ve had no experience of high-rise gardening. What would the panel recommend?

(20 minutes 55 seconds)

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Boston ivy

Star jasmine

Ivy

Fatsia

Nasturtium

Bamboo

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Humaira –

Salvia

Erigeron, 'Lavender Lady’

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Q – My alocasia plant weeps moisture all over my floor. What can I do?

(23 minutes 58 seconds)

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Alocasia, Elephant’s ear

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Q – What has gone wrong with my leaks?

(25 minutes 55 seconds)Ìý

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Feature – Chris Beardshaw shares his contribution to the GQT tree adventure – his favourite, the Hawthorn.

(28 minutes 27 seconds)

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Q – I would like to grow a copse with trees that my children can climb on. Can the panel recommend some fast-growing trees?

(32 minutes 32 seconds)Ìý

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Humaira –

Hawthorn

Cherry

Alder

Apple

Pear

English oak, Quercus robur

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Matt –

Carpinus, ‘Rockhampton Red’

Imperialis

Crataegus monogyna, 'Biflora', Glastonbury thorn

Hawthorn

Holly, ‘J.C. van Tol’

Hazel

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Q – My lawn has been overtaken by moss. Is there something I can do to help tip the balance to more grass than moss?

(36 minutes 26 seconds)Ìý

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Q – Have the panellists had any gardening fiascos?

(39 minutes 36 seconds)Ìý

Broadcasts

  • Fri 14 Jan 2022 15:00
  • Sun 16 Jan 2022 14:00

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