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GQT from the Archives: Houseplant Special

The team look back through the archives for a houseplant edition of the show.

The team look back through the archives for a houseplant edition of the show.

A variety of panellists, old and new, discuss showering with your plants and orchid maintenance, and one lucky listener finally receives an answer to a 60 year-old question.

Away from the questions, Peter Gibbs visits RHS Wisley’s Giant Houseplant Takeover exhibit.

Producer - Daniel Cocker
Assistant Producer - Millie Chu

A Somethin' Else production for Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 4

Available now

42 minutes

Plant List

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

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Q – My Christmas Cacti will not flower until the New Year. Could the team suggest how to treat it in order to make it flower earlier next year? Ìý

(9 seconds)

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Q – I was given a small Christmas Cactus cutting 20 years ago. It’s continued to grow and flower. Should I just leave it or pot it up into a larger pot with new compost?

(2 minutes 54 seconds)

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Q – I’ve successfully grown some cactus from seed and I now want to pot them on. Can the panel give me any advice? Ìý

(5 minutes 44 seconds)

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Q – My Streptocarpus are struggling. What am I doing wrong?Ìý

(8 minutes 23 seconds)

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Q – Is giving plants a shower a good thing?

(11 minutes 56 seconds)

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Feature – Peter Gibbs visits RHS Wisley’s Giant Houseplant Takeover exhibit

(14 minutes, 23 seconds)

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Chamaedorea elegans (Parlour Palm)

Howea

Bromeliad

Nepenthes (Pitcher Plants)

Zamioculcas zamiifolia

Ficus pumila

Sansevieria cylindrica

DracaenaÌý

Euphorbia ingens

Macrozamia

Vanda Orchid

Staghorn fern

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Q – I have an orchid and all the aerial roots are untidy. Can they be cut off or trimmed or should I leave them?

(22 minutes 53 seconds)

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Pippa –

Phalaenopsis (Moth orchid)

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Q – Would there be any plants in [Kew] that are climbing plants that would be suitable for a very sunny windowsill?

(26 minutes, 3 seconds)

Scott –

Lapageria (Chillean bellflower)

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Anne –

Cestrum

African Lime

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James –

Cissus rotundifolia

Jasminum sambac

Passiflora ‘Lady Margaret’

Tetrastigma

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Q – Do you have any tips to keep a tropical houseplant alive for a period of about two weeks whilst I’m away?Ìý

(31 minutes, 16 seconds)

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Ficus alii

Calatheas

Alocasia

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Q – It is okay to plant something in a container without a hole?

(35 minutes, 26 seconds)

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Q – I have a love of wind up gramophones, but trying to find the steel needles can be difficult. I’ve heard the needles of cacti can be used as substitute. Can I give this a go, and what species would be the most successful?

(39 minutes, 10 seconds)

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Toothpick cactus

Saguaro cactus

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