Thompson & Morgan Christmas Gifts - Growing Information for all Plants and Bulbs

Please read these instructions carefully. Our plants and bulbs are raised in a perfect growing environment and carefully packed to ensure they are received in tip-top condition. However, sometimes the postal carrier is not as gentle with our products as we would like, and you may find that a small amount of compost has become dislodged in transit. This is nothing to worry about and will not affect the performance of your plant.

Often when plants are contained within a dark box, even for a short period, the foliage and shoots become discoloured. If this is your experience, please be assured that this is nothing to worry about as they will revert to their usual colour within a few days.

We can’t guarantee that all wraps, baskets and pots are watertight and therefore we recommend that you place your gift on a mat and not directly on top of furniture to safeguard against water damage, sweating and scratching. If your plant has been supplied in a silk wrap, please remove the wrap before watering to avoid leakage.

Generic Growing Information:

African Violet (Saintpaulia)
Place in good, natural light although preferably away from direct sunlight. To water, stand the plants in a saucer and allow the water to soak into the pot. If your plants are supplied in a gold bar, add a small amount of water to the reservoir. Allow the compost to dry out slightly between waterings. Feed every 2 weeks during the flowering season with a high potash fertiliser. Remove fading flowers to encourage new buds.

Amaryllis
Bulbs supplied loose should be planted as soon as possible. Plant individually into a pot or box (if supplied) using a good multi-purpose compost. Moisten the compost before planting so that it is damp but not soggy. Fill the container three-quarters full with compost and place the bulb on top. Fill around the bulb leaving the top half of the bulb exposed. The compost should end up at least 2.5cm (1") below the rim of the pot to allow for watering.

Place the pot or basket on a bright windowsill or shelf above a radiator where the temperature does not exceed 10ºC (50ºF). Keep below this temperature to ensure strong, stout flowering plants. Water regularly while in growth. When the flower stems start to show, give an occasional feed with weak liquid fertiliser and move to the final flowering position. When the buds form, rotate the pot a little each day to keep the stems straight. When in flower, the cooler the surroundings the longer the flowering period.

Remove spent flowers but leave the bulb in its pot on a windowsill where it will receive plenty of light during spring and summer. Water when the compost surface dries out and add liquid fertiliser once a month. In early autumn, move to a cooler location and stop watering. The leaves will turn brown and can be removed with sharp secateurs. After a few weeks of dormancy, bring into warmer conditions and commence watering. Soak the compost and let the surface start to dry before watering again. A bud should start to appear. Re-pot every two years following the instructions above, either when the plant is in full growth or just before coaxing the dormant bulb back into growth.

Anthurium (Flamingo Flower)
Place in an area with good, bright, diffused light, but not full sun. Too much sun will bleach the centres of the leaves and may produce brown leaf tips. Keep away from radiators, draughts and avoid heat sources which will dry it out too much. Maintain a temperature of 12-23ºC (55- 76ºF). Keep the soil evenly moist (but not soggy) and water with room temperature water when necessary. Frequently spray a mist of clean, warm water over your plant to keep up the humidity. Severe drying will cause leaf yellowing and loss, and will delay flower production. In the winter it should be watered only moderately and exposed to weaker direct sunlight. Feed with a liquid plant food every second time you water. Keep the leaves clean of dust by gently wiping with a damp cloth.

Azalea
Provide a warm position in a well-lit room away from full sun. Initially keep the plant well watered using tepid rainwater if possible. Use a saucer deep enough to hold 2-3cm (1") of water at all times. If you have received small azaleas in a gold bar, simply add water to the reservoir. When the plants come into flower reduce watering but do not let the compost dry out completely. Move to a cooler position to prolong the flowering period. Plants may flower for 10 weeks and can be re-potted.

Cactus (Christmas - Schlumbergera / Easter - Rhipsalidopsis)
Choose a position in bright, indirect light and avoid moving the plant as this can cause bud drop. Water only moderately and maintain moderate humidity; buds may also drop if conditions are too dry. To boost performance feed with a high-potash liquid fertiliser every 4 weeks when plants are in growth. Keep plants only just moist after flowering. Plants will flower every year; you will only need to re-pot every 3 or 4 years.

Campanula
Place in a well-lit position but not in direct sunlight. Keep the compost moist but not wet. Remove wilted flowers then plant out in the garden in partial to full sun where it will flower from spring through summer.

Chrysanthemum
Place in bright, indirect light and in a well-ventilated position. Water carefully and always allow the compost to dry out between waterings. Overwatering is the most common cause of early failure.

Cyclamen
Your plant will have arrived with buds just poking through the foliage. Place in a position of bright, indirect light in a consistently moderate temperature and try to avoid placing near radiators and draughts. A common failure with cyclamen is that the compost is either too dry or too wet. Water from the base if possible and always allow the compost to dry out between waterings. Flagging foliage is usually a sign of overwatering. To check if your cyclamen needs water, lift the plant. If it feels very light in its pot then it needs water. Feed with low-nitrogen liquid fertiliser every two weeks. As the flowers begin to fade, gently pull the stem from the base of the plant and remove the whole stalk from the corm. This will encourage new flowers. A few small stones in the bottom of the pot will ensure that the cyclamen does not stand in water. If your plant is supplied with a silk pot cover, please remove this before watering.

Gardenia
Place in bright, indirect light with moderate humidity. You can increase the humidity by mist spraying daily or by standing the pot in a tray of moist pebbles. It is essential to water only with soft water or rainwater. For best results apply a balanced liquid fertiliser every 4 weeks while in growth. Your plant will grow for several years.

Hibiscus
Performs best in bright, filtered light. Ensure good ventilation and moderate humidity, and mist spray regularly.Water freely and apply a balanced liquid fertiliser every 4 weeks. If your plant is allowed to dry out, bud drop will become a problem.We recommend you remove the plant from the silk pot cover before watering to avoid leakage. Plants may be grown outdoors in pots on a sheltered patio.

Jasmine
When your plant outgrows the support, wait until it has finished flowering then loosen from the frame. Prune back the stems that have flowered, cutting almost all the stem away but leaving a short spurt bearing a couple of leaves. There should be some new shoots as well, but leave these alone. This is a good time to re-pot the plant into a larger container if necessary. After potting, insert the new support then wind the stems around it, tying them into the base first so there is plenty of room for more growth. Throughout spring and summer the plant will produce stems on which the next buds will form. Tie these in too. After flowering, loosen the flowered stems and prune again.

More Flowers 'Paris' (Kalanchoe)
Easy to grow in a well-lit position away from direct sunlight. Plants will also tolerate light shade. Water moderately when in growth and allow the compost to dry out slightly between waterings. Apply a balanced liquid fertiliser every 3 weeks to extend the flowering season. Keep the plants only just moist during the winter and when not in growth.

Orchids
General information - all orchids
They thrive in bright indirect light but do not tolerate direct sunlight as this causes scorching. They require a steady temperature of approx 18-25ºC (64-77ºF). Please note that if you place your orchid on the windowsill behind closed curtains at night, this may result in a drop in temperature which could harm the development of the plant. Water regularly but keep a little on the dry side rather than over-moist. Do not let your plant stand in excess water or be allowed to fully dry out. Immersing the whole pot in water for 10 minutes every 1-2 weeks is the best method. An occasional watering with rainwater will also help to avoid any build up of salts in the roots. Mist spray your plants daily and feed every 2-3 weeks with a weak, balanced liquid fertiliser. Flush with clean water monthly to leach excess fertiliser. Orchids prefer to have their roots contained within small pots.

Specific Growing Information:

Cymbidium
Prefers cooler growing conditions with an ideal temperature of 7-10ºC (45-50ºF) during the winter and a maximum of 24ºC (75ºF) in summer. Keep out of draughts and sharp variations in temperature. In winter water every 10-14 days by flushing the pot with tepid water. In summer water 2-3 times a week if the weather is warm, or less often if the temperature is cooler. Fertiliser: apply a high nitrogen feed once a month in winter, and every 2-3 watering from spring to mid summer. When all the flowers have died, cut the stem right down leaving a 1-2" stalk. Re-pot every second year in spring. Large plants can be divided.

Dendrobium
Ideal temperature is 10-20ºC (50-68ºF). These orchids resent disturbance and are best kept in small containers to boost their flowering performance. Water twice a week, adding a little water to the top of the pot. Never allow the roots to stand in water as this will cause them to rot. If the atmosphere is very dry, eg in a centrally-heated home, mist your plants once a month to avoid over-drying them. From late March to September water with a half strength high nitrogen feed to boost growth, and from September to November change to half strength high potash feed to ripen the stems (canes). After flowering, simply remove the blooms - DO NOT CUT THE STEMS. Re-pot every 2 years, or as necessary, using special loose orchid compost.

Miscellaneous eg ‘Morning Joy’, ‘Orange Delight’, Oncidium
From March to September the compost should never be allowed to dry out completely. Water twice weekly and fertilise every 2nd or 3rd watering with a high nitrogen fertiliser. From October to February, water the plants when the compost appears dried out and fertilise once a month with a high potash fertiliser. It is better to underwater as the plants can stand neglect more than over watering! Re-pot every 2-3 years using an orchid compost. The best time to repot is when the new roots are just beginning to appear at the new shoot's base.

Miltonia (Pansy Orchid)
Enjoys high humidity. As each flower fades and turns brown remove it gently from the flower spike.When all the flowers are over, cut off the whole spike cleanly about 3cm above the base. The orchid will then concentrate on leaf growth and should flower again the following year. Re-pot each year using orchid compost.

Paphiopedilum (Lady’s Slipper)
Enjoys moderate humidity. Mist spray daily in the summer but be careful not to leave water in the centre of the plant overnight as this could cause rot. As each flower fades and turns brown remove it gently from the flower spike.When all the flowers are over, cut off the whole spike cleanly about 3cm (1") above the base. The orchid will concentrate on leaf growth and should flower again the following year. Re-pot every year using special loose orchid compost.

Phalaenopsis (Moth)
When the last flower fades, cut off the stem leaving 2 nodes (those little brown lines on the stem below where the flowers were) on the stem. One of these nodes will then initiate and generally produce flowers within 8-12 weeks. Re-pot every 2 years.

'Princettia®'
The 'Princettia®' needs bright light but away from strong, direct sunlight. Ideally, they should be kept at a minimum temperature of 13-15°C. 'Princettias®' dislike sitting in wet, stagnant soil. Water the plant sparingly to avoid overwatering as this can cause poor performance and grey mould. As a rule of thumb, only water when the surface of the compost has begun to dry out. However misting can be done regularly to increase the humidity and extend the flowering life of your Princettia. We recommend feeding monthly with a low nitrogen, high potassium fertiliser for the best performance and blooms. If you wish to pot up your 'Princettia®', use three parts John Innes No 3 and one part grit.

Zygopetalum
Water once a week by placing in a container of tepid water until the water comes to the top of the pot. Leave for several hours. Mist spray the leaves weekly.

After flowering - all orchids
Place the plant in a cool, light spot for about two months to allow it to rest. Water sparingly and do not feed during this time. After this period, return to normal growing conditions and steadily increase watering, adding feed to every third watering to encourage flowering. Some roots (known as aerial roots) will naturally appear outside the pot as the plant grows.

Roses (indoor)
Water regularly from the bottom and provide bright, indirect light. Try to avoid the drying effects of central heating. Keep in a cool room for best results. Scented varieties may also be affected by room temperature. Regular removal of spent blooms will encourage further flowering. Although these miniature varieties are bred essentially to be grown indoors, they may be transferred to a sheltered garden or patio pot after flowering.

Silk Flowers and Everlasting Bouquets
Your silk arrangement may have been condensed to ease transit. Simply unfold the silk stems and other decorative parts before displaying. Clean using a feather duster. In extreme cases where flowers become marked, we recommend Silk Flower Revitalising Spray. Dried bouquets should not be placed directly on top of furniture to avoid scratching. Use a feather duster to clean.

Solanum (Jerusalem Cherry)
Warning: the fruits are poisonous and should not be eaten.
Requires full sun to thrive but it will survive with moderate to bright light. Mist the plant often and keep moist to dry during the growing cycle. Feed with liquid fertiliser every 2 weeks while the plant is growing vigorously, but discontinue feeding after flowering. After the fruits have dropped, cut back drastically. In spring, when ALL danger of frost has passed, grow outside or in a cool greenhouse. Pinch back regularly to produce a well-branched plant for next winter.

Stephanotis
When your plant outgrows the trellis, wait until it has finished flowering then loosen from the frame. Prune back the stems that have flowered, cutting almost all the stem away but leaving a short spurt bearing a couple of leaves. There should be some new shoots as well, but leave these alone. This is a good time to re-pot the plant into a larger container if necessary. After potting, insert the new support then wind the stems around it, tying them into the base first so there is plenty of room for more growth. Tie in new shoots.

Topiary Animals (Buxus)
These small-leaved evergreen buxus are ideal for topiary. Plant up your 9cm potted buxus into its final pot, large enough to hold the frame. Position one side of the frame over the plant and gently push the pins into the pot. Match up the other frame section, push into the pot, then clip together. Trim any growth that appears outside the frame. Grow in either sun or partial shade, but avoid constant direct sunlight. After two growing seasons the framework will be filled. After this, you can trim any growth just outside the frame, or remove the frame and trim the plant to the original shape. After a few years your buxus can be planted into the garden. Prepare the ground well before planting and incorporate lots of organic matter. Grows well in any good garden soil.

Planted Bulb Pots & Baskets
Crocus, Hyacinth, Lily of the Valley, Muscari, Narcissus and Tulip
All pre-planted bulb arrangements are supplied with the shoots just visible through the green carpet moss. In some instances, the shoots may appear slightly discoloured as a result of being contained inside a dark box during transit. Within a few days they will revert to their normal colour.

Keep your arrangement in a cool room for the first 7-10 days. Putting it in the warmth straight away causes the bulbs to stretch and become ‘leggy’. Should this occur you can support the plants with twigs and string. Narcissi will benefit from being placed outside and brought indoors at the flowering stage. (Please note: Narcissus ‘Erlicheer’ may not flower until late December.) Move the container into a warmer room once the buds start to open, approximately 2-3 weeks after receipt. Water regularly but sparingly. Flowering periods vary by variety and temperature, but generally the cooler the temperature, the longer the flowering period.

After flowering do not cut the foliage. Remove the bulbs and compost as a cluster from your re-usable container and plant into the garden or pot. Dig a hole deep enough to cover a quarter of the foliage above the bulbs. Carefully replace the soil around the bulbs and foliage. Do not remove the foliage until it is quite yellow as this allows the goodness to go back into the bulbs.

Indoor Helleborus niger 'Jacob' (Christmas Rose)
Your Christmas Rose makes a perfect houseplant. Provide bright, indirect light and a consistently cool temperature. Avoid radiators and draughts. Water carefully, avoiding the blooms, and always allow the compost to dry out before watering again.

After flowering, plant your hellebore in a shady spot in the garden in deep, well-drained, moist soil. Prepare the planting hole, remove carefully from the pot, then plant firmly but avoid damaging the roots. Each spring apply a thick layer of mulch around the plant. Hellebores can be slow to establish in the border and may take two seasons until they bloom again. Also, plants do not like to be moved. The leaves and flowers can sometimes be attacked by Black Spot, a disease that causes black marks. Badly affected leaves and flowers should be cut off and disposed of and the plant sprayed with a fungicide. Flowers winter to spring. Height 30cm (12"), spread 45cm (18").

Outdoor Hellebore 'Snow Frills' and 'Pink Frost'
Your mature hellebore needs to be placed outdoors on receipt but can be kept in its pot until you are able to plant it into the garden. It will flower from late February and throughout March. Choose a shady spot in the garden with deep, well-drained, moist soil. Prepare the planting hole, remove carefully from the pot, then plant firmly but avoid damaging the roots. Each spring apply a thick layer of mulch around the plant. Hellebores can be slow to establish in the border and may take two seasons until they bloom again. Also, plants do not like to be moved. The leaves and flowers can sometimes be attacked by Black Spot, a disease that causes black marks. Badly affected leaves and flowers should be cut off and disposed of and the plant sprayed with a fungicide. Flowers from late February-March. Height 50-80cm (20-32”).

'Snow Frills' is a brand new variety with exquisite double blooms that start off apple green then fade to yellow before turning pure white. 'Pink Frost' produces single flowers in soft pink.

Cut Flowers
Simply follow these basic care suggestions and you will be rewarded with beautiful blooms.

Fill a clean vase or container two-thirds full with lukewarm water and dissolve the cut flower food. Top up with cold water. Flowers do not readily absorb cold water and hot water can shock them, so it is preferable to maintain a warm water temperature.
Remove any lower leaves that would be immersed in the water.
Using a sharp knife or secateurs trim a minimum of half an inch off the stems. Always cut diagonally and under water, as this allows water to flow more readily through the stem. If a rose starts to droop, wrap the head in paper, re-cut the stem and plunge the bottom 2" into boiling water for approx 30 seconds. Cut the stem again and place in deep cold water for approx 2 hours.
Arrange your flowers in the vase. Keep out of direct sunlight and away from hot or cold draughts. A cool room temperature will increase their longevity.
Be patient. Buds will gradually open from the base of the stem. Certain flowers bloom quicker than others. A few upper buds may not open. Trimming blooms and leaves encourages other blooms to open and your bouquet will last longer.
IMPORTANT! Top up regularly with fresh tepid water and remove any fading flowers. Trim the stems as necessary.