One of the most effective means of storing plant life is
through the use of an orangery. Ever since these structures were introduced
into UK homes during the 17th century, they have been a staple of British
homes, becoming more prominent during the 20th century to the point where there
now several hundred-thousand UK homes with one.
Despite becoming an extra room added to British homes for a
variety of reasons, such as being used as home offices and children’s play
areas, the most prolific use of an orangery remains their original intended use
of cultivating exotic plants that the climate of good old blightly will not
allow for, such as citrus plants.
But what are the correct methods and means of storing plants
in an orangery?
Getting the lighting right!
For a plant to truly prosper in an orangery environment, the
lighting inside needs to be kept at a level higher than others rooms of the
house. This is because the material used for both standard and bespoke orangeries is different to that used for ordinary houses and offices.
These materials causing sunlight to pore onto the plants in a way that a
household plant will not experience, therefore, considerable shading is needed
for the plant’s health. This is particularly true of conservatories and
orangeries that are built facing in Southern or Western direction.
The use of window blinds is ideal for achieving the right
light as their tilting effect prevents excessive light from entering. Alternatively,
painted-on shading can be used. This is a practical water diluted colouring
product that is either painted or sprayed onto the outside of an orangery to
effectively filter sunlight with no damage to plant life inside.
Watering the plants
The water needed to keep a plant healthy is usually dictated
by its size, its number of leaves and the weather conditions surrounding it.
A leafy plant stored inside a small pot will need watering
every day during the summer months, and should ideally be watered at least
every two days throughout the rest of the year. However, a plant with less
leaves and growing within a larger pot is not as likely to require such
frequent attention.
As a general rule, watering once or twice a week will be
sufficient for plants in such a position, but this is not to say that such an
approach should be observed without giving consideration to the appearance of
each plant individually because checking plants separately is vital in
establishing the level of water it requires.
This check assessment can be made by looking to see if the
plant’s compost is drying out. If it is, be sure to add enough water to the
plant so that you are sure it is reaching the bottom of the pot.
Don’t be afraid to let a little water pour out the bottom as
this indicates that the plant has received enough water to maintain its health
for a while. But don’t go crazy with the water either, after all, you don’t
want to drown the roots. It’s also worth remembering that cactus plants require
less water than others.
Repotting plants in an orangery
If maintained correctly, a plant can prosper fantastically
inside an orangery, and this can even mean that the plant becomes so healthy
and large that it needs a larger pot to maintain it. When a plant becomes too
big for its pot the roots begin to dry out. If you are unsure of whether the
roots are suffering behind the disguise of a plant pot, gently remove the plant
from its pot and observe the rootball. If it appears tight or you can see the
roots protruding, be sure to pot it again as soon as possible. If you make this
discovery during the spring or summer months, get the plant in a new pot
immediately as the growth of a root is strongest and quickest during these
months.
To decide what size pot you should use, the best method is
to judge accordingly; but if you are struggling to make a decision, it is
advisable to just use a tub that has a circumference of 2-3 cm bigger than the
last one you used. Also be sure to feed and maintain the plant in this new pot in
as similar a manner as before. After all, the reason you’re repotting the plant
is because it’s grown so well under your previous nurture methods. Be sure to
keep it well watered after repotting to make sure the roots are comfortable in
their new soil.
But what plants should I cultivate?
The original intention of orangeries was to use citrus trees
to manufacture fruit such as Oranges, Lemons and Grapefruits. This is still
practiced extensively today by orangery owners using a home temperature of 4°C
and upwards.
In order to achieve the best effects from their growth, it’s
best to keep citrus trees in the lightest area of a conservatory and feed them
regularly with citrus fertiliser. Before long you’ll be enjoying a variety of
beautiful flowers and delicious exotic fruits in the comfort of your British
home. It’s not often you can say that!
If you want to reap the many benefits of adding an orangery
to your home, be sure to contact Auburn Hill where bespoke models are custom made to cater for the usage of
all customers.
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