You might have seen me asking you to vote for mrplantgeek.com in the UK Blog Awards 2019 – well, I’m pleased to say that I’m a finalist! Thanks to the fabulous readers of this blog, I’m one of the top 8 in the Nature & Wildlife category. This means that I’ll go through to the…
It’s Michael
I think I’m comfortable with referring to myself as the ultimate plant geek- as my obsession with plants has been persisting for over 30 years now, and shows no sign of letting up! I have been responsible for introducing hundreds of new plants into the UK, most notably novelties such as the Egg and Chips plant and the Fuchsia Berry! Despite…
Coffee-quenched mushrooms on your kitchen counter
Did you know that you can grow your own mushrooms? Yes, these tasty funghi are a satisfying addition to your homegrown produce list. They require only a little bit of maintenance and reach full growth after four to six weeks. Great for those with waning patience! However, if you still find that you can’t wait…
Horti Mile High Club
We can find plants wherever we go. Whether it’s underwater, in a forest or even while trekking across a dessert, there’s a likelihood that you’ll spot some form of plant life along the way. But what about up a mountain, where the air is thinner, the temperatures colder, and it seems almost impossible for any…
Answering your lawn care questions
While there are those that prefer a garden without a lawn, there are many who take pride in a lawn, and see them as an important part of the garden. Neither are wrong or right, but for those of you who have lawns and want to learn how to get the best out of them,…
QVC March 2019 highlights
It has been another very busy month for me at QVC, we’ve had some blockbusting shows full of innovative new plants and products. We are starting to come into the spring now, and have some interesting new shows to launch too, with themes such as “urban jungle” and “grow, eat, love”. Stay tuned for more…
5 family-friendly public gardens to visit in 2019
If you’re a plant parent, it may seem like a struggle to get your kids excited about your interests. After all, neat, manicured gardens that sprawl on for acres is probably the last thing a child wants to traipse around. However, there are actually plenty of fun public gardens for families around the UK. Some…
Plant-based pancake alternatives
It’s Pancake Day! Although these starchy round cakes are loved by many, pancakes can seem a little problematic for those with allergies or dietary requirements. However, there are many plant-based pancake alternatives which are sure to suit a special diet! Traditionally, pancakes are made with eggs, milk, flour and sometimes butter, depending on your recipe….
Everything you need to know about growing strawberries
These little red fruits are a summer favourite. With their sweet flavour and bright colouring, strawberries can bring joy to any garden. But is there a secret to getting the perfect fruit? In this post I take a look at how to grow strawberries – and even unearth a weirdly cool variety. The history of…
Low-maintenance houseplants for beginners
Quite often, houseplants are the first route many people take to looking after plants – and you either end up loving it or hating it. Lee Cross guest posts about his experience being a first time plant owner, after a friend introduced him to Jade plants. “Being cabin crew, I spend a lot of time…
The secret of ground cover plants
Ground cover plants do exactly as they say – they cover the ground. The main reason you would want these types of plants in your garden is to make it really hard for weeds to grow. Ground cover plants help to prevent weed germination, meaning one less job on your garden to-do list. Ground…
How to up your kerb appeal in just 1 hour
We all know the drill when it comes to tidying up the inside of a house: a little vacuuming here, a little dusting there, and top it all off with a scented candle. But what about outside? Thanks to the many different types of weather we sustain in the UK, the exterior of our houses…
A garden in close up
So often we take a step back to enjoy our gardens, viewing them from the distant point of a patio chair or even from inside. But how often do we take a closer look to appreciate the beauty of nature? Macro plant photography changes our perspective, and takes us into the fine details of a…
20 ways to make your house and garden look new
Whether you’ve lived in your home for a year or twenty years, unless you’ve applied a strict cleaning regimen, it’s unlikely you’re going to be able to maintain that brand new look and feel in your home and garden. Although many of us would love to have that new-home feel, we don’t have the time…