CANBERRA GERANIUM & FUCHSIA SOCIETY INC. 2017 Newsletter: January – April 2017

www.cgfs.org.au

PRESIDENT Bonnie Laros 6286 5185 VICE-PRESIDENT Maria Geppert 6288 2267 SECRETARY Mary Jo Shawcross 6231 6206 TREASURER Judy Kilpatrick 6231 5032 JOURNAL EDITOR Janelle Peel 6238 2381 COMMITTEE PUBLIC OFFICER Rex Daley 6281 3213 SHOW ADVISOR Renate Marcks 6288 3367 PUBLICITY Janet Johnson 6247 0937 COMMITTEE MEMBERS Beth Gibbs 6251 1916 Fay-Marg Shaw 6251 8296 SOCIETY ADDRESS PO Box 425, Curtin, ACT 2605 EDITORIAL E-MAIL hans.mohr2@bigpond.com MEMBERSHIP FEES: The membership fees for 2017 (January – December) are Single $20.00, Family $30.00 and International memberships $30.00. Members who join after 1st November will be credited for the following year. All financial members of the Society receive a copy of the Journal, which is currently published twice a year. Whilst every effort is made to ensure that the information therein is correct, it is the individual authors who accept the responsibility for the contents of their articles. Unless otherwise stated, with the exception of January and July and possibly December, all meetings are held on the first Saturday of each month at 2.00 p.m. in St. James Uniting Church Hall, 21 Gillies Street, Curtin. Please remember to wear your name tag so that we can all get to know each other, and you must sign the Attendance Book when you arrive, this will ensure that you are covered by the Public Liability Insurance that the Society pays each year.

PRESIDENTS REPORT

It is with a heavy heart that this will be my last report. It has been my absolute pleasure to have held the President position over the last few years. I have to say that the role was made easy by the hard work of a very conscientious and enthusiastic committee. Whilst I want to thank all members for their contributions, a particular thanks to our Treasurer Judy who has done a wonderful job getting our finances back on track, organising our bus trips, as well as Janelle, who works tirelessly to ensure our journal is full of interesting articles, and published on time. I am confident that the new committee will come up with new and exciting ideas to ensure the longevity of the Society. Thank you again for the honour of being your President and I hope to catch up at future meetings. Best regards Sue

Sue, our happy and special President chairing her last meeting. We all wish you and your family the very best for the future.

PUBLICATION OF SOCIETY JOURNAL Prior to, and following the AGM, the Committee met and considered a number of issues one of which is the rising cost of printing and distributing the Society's Journal. The Committee agreed that the journal was an important means for communication with members and other societies and it was decided that the journal would now by published twice a year in April and October and, where possible, the journal is to be received electronically. Guest speakers are always difficult to find so if you have any suggestions that would enrich our meetings, or can nominate a guest speaker please let one of the Committee members know.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS: MAY - SEPTEMBER 2017

6 May – Monthly Meeting Potting on and pinching your cuttings grown from the February and March workshops. Please bring along your plants from these workshops and any plants that you may have for “Show and Tell” and Q & A Time. There is a well-stocked Library available to members, and afternoon tea is provided at the end of the meeting. 3 June – Monthly Meeting Judy Kilpatrick will show some photos of the Melbourne International Flower Show, “Show and Tell”, Q & A Time, Library, afternoon tea. Friday 7 July – Xmas in July Luncheon NOTE: The monthly meeting for July is a Social Luncheon. This will be held at the Star Buffet, Burns Club, 8 Kett Street Kambah on Friday (not Saturday) 7th July from 12.00 noon till 2.00 p.m. A buffet luncheon is provided with a huge range of food ranging from Australian, Asian and European cuisine. Cost is $16.10 for adults and $14.10 for Senior Card holders. 5 August – Monthly Meeting Joan Powell is going to give a talk about pests and diseases in Pelargoniums and Fuchsias, followed by “Show and Tell”, Q & A Time, afternoon tea. 2 September – Monthly Meeting Preparation for October Plant Sale, Diana O’Brien or Janelle Peel will show some photos from their trip to the UK, “Show and Tell”, Q & A Time, afternoon tea. 7 October – Plant Sale Instead of a Display and a normal monthly meeting it has been proposed to have a plant sale for members and the public. Admission is a gold coin donation and a raffle will also be offered. 21 October – Proposed Bus Trip to the Bundanoon Garden Ramble. See page 6 for additional information

28 October - Open Pelargonium Garden and afternoon tea at Renate Marcks home, 12 Burrinjuck Crescent Duffy 2.00 p.m. Please bring along your hat and a chair.

NEW MEMBERS The Society welcomes new members Sue Faulkner and Vira Jayamanne who joined at our first meeting of the year in February. It was lovely to see both Sue and Vira at our March AGM and pelargonium cutting workshop and we encourage them to return with their cuttings in May where they will be shown how to pot them on and continue their care.

SOCIETY WEBSITE MANAGER NEEDED With the retirement of Sue O'Brien the Society is also losing its web master in Sue's son Ben. We thank Ben for his work over recent years in setting up and maintaining our website but understand that he has now moved on, to Hong Kong in fact. The Society is now in need of a tech savvy person like Ben to maintain our website www.cgfs.org.au. Do you know someone that could help us out or teach one of us the process? The website is a valuable resource tool and information source for members and other pelargonium and fuchsia lovers. It needs to be up to date or it becomes obsolete very quickly. Please contact Judy Kilpatrick on 02 62315032 if you can help out.

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BUNDANOON GARDEN RAMBLE 21 OCTOBER 2017 A bus trip is being organised to the Bundanoon Garden Ramble on Saturday 21 October 2017. Pick up points are Queanbeyan at 6.45am, Mawson 7.15am and Southwell Park 7.45 am. Unfortunately we cannot wait for people who are late, so please be on time. Cost of the trip is approximately $45 members, $65 new members and non-financial members. (Approximate expenses are $20 entry to gardens, $25 bus, $20 membership fee for new and non-financial members). We ask that you make cash/cheque payments prior to the trip and please call me if you would prefer to deposit direct into the society's operating account. We will be travelling with Bensleys Buses. Morning tea will be provided. First stop will be at the Soldier's Memorial Hall at Bundanoon. We will have morning tea here and those inclined can visit the hall market for a tempting array of garden related products and plants. For the last two years Robyn Bible (member of Sydney Pelargonium Society) has sold a large range of pelargoniums so members should be able to find a plant or two. Toilet facilities are available. There are usually 8 gardens open and it will depend on time as to how many we will see, so if you know of any of the gardens or have any preferences which gardens we visit please let me know. A more detailed itinerary will be advised on the day. We hope that the bus will be able to reach most garden entries so as to minimise walking between gardens. Bring along your lunch, hat, chair and water. I would expect that we would get back to Canberra at approximately 6.30 - 7.00pm or maybe earlier. The bus will carry up to 48. If you have any friends who may be interested please ask them as a full bus means a great day out. The web site is www.bundanoongardenramble.org.au but has yet to be updated with the 2017 details, so keep checking for details. Call Judy Kilpatrick on 62315032 to register your interest at this stage. Our next journal in October will have full details but we will need to know well before October the level of interest to ensure that the bus trip is viable. We will also send out a member email/flyer with details in July. If you need any further information please call Judy.

ORGANIC ROSE GERANIUM SOAP SOCIETY FUND RAISER Sanctum Sustainable Organics has kindly allowed the Society to purchase some lovely soap, at cost price, to use as a fundraiser. The soap is certified organic and scented with Rose Geranium and Calendula. Each bar weighs 100g and at $5 each would make a lovely gift. The Society also has items for sale such as the soap, society spoons and badges. Due to postage costs we cannot mail out purchases. Soap will remain on sale until sold out (only 9 bars left). Items can be purchased at our monthly meetings. The Society also has items for sale such as the soap, Society spoons, and prepared cutting propagation mix which will be available for purchase our meetings. Due to postage costs we cannot mail out purchases. Soap will remain on sale until sold out. (Only 9 bars left).

AGM REPORT AND PELARGONIUM PROPOGATION WORKSHOP

The Society's Annual General Meeting was held on Saturday 4 March 2017. Approximately 25 (of 82) members were in attendance. Minutes from the previous AGM were read and accepted. Audited 2016 Financial Reports were tabled and a copy of the Society's Income/Expenditure report is included in this journal for members' information. After much hard work by committee members and our growers, the Society was able to post a profit ($271.41) for the first time in 5 years. As at 31 December 2016 the Society has $7043.06 in the bank. Rex Daley, as Returning Officer, conducted the election of office holders. We thank those who accepted nominations to key positions; a full list of office holders is at the front of this journal. The role of President will be shared during 2017 by Janelle Peel, Bonnie Laros, Judy Kilpatrick and Janet Johnson. However the Society's committee is in need of some new members to help share the workload and maintain the minimum number of 7 committee members to keep the society functioning. You don't need to have a specific key role or skills but can participate as a general committee member. Contact Rex Daley 02 62813213 or Judy Kilpatrick 02 62315032 if you are interested in joining the committee, all offers warmly welcomed. The Society acknowledged the retiring President Sue O'Brien and thanked her for her leadership over the last three years. Over this time Sue has brought much enthusiasm and wide plant knowledge to the society and has been one of our prolific growers raising much needed funds. Sue will be remembered for her good humour, energy, leadership, green thumb, unusual pots and her long standing interest in the growing of the more rare and unusual pelargoniums and fuchsias. We wish Sue and her husband Phil, good fortune, happiness and success in tropical northern NSW. Following the AGM, members participated in a pelargonium cutting workshop. Many thanks to those who brought in plants and/or cuttings include Janelle Peel, Renate

Marcks, Peter Threlfall, Joan Powell, Mary Jo Shawcross, Judy Kilpatrick and Sue Faulkner. Special thanks to Joan Powell for demonstrating pruning of plants and preparation of cuttings. Darryl Powell also demonstrated his practical technique for potting up fuchsias. Members should bring their potted cuttings (pelargonium and fuchsia) to the May meeting for potting on demonstration and care advice. Please don't throw away the small black pots but return them to the society for future propagation workshops. Following photos show some of the members preparing to pot up their cuttings.

OPEN GARDENS AND GARDEN FESTIVALS Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show 29 March - 2 April Bowral Autumn Open Gardens & Plant Fair 22 & 23 April 3 gardens in town (2 x Bowral, 1 x Burradoo) 3 gardens in the country (2 x Wildes Meadow, 1 x Avoca) Private Gardens Tour of the Monaro 6 and 27 April Mayfield Garden Oberon 15-30 April 15-30 May Horticultural Society Shows Spring Bulb Show 16 and 17 September Iris/Rhododendron Show 28 and 29 October Spring Rose Show 11 and 12 November Crookwell Garden Festival 11 and 12 November Berry Camellia and Floral Show 5-6 August Bowral Tulip Time Festival 12-24 September Floriade 16 Sept - 15 October Tulip Top Gardens 16 Sept - 15 October Bundanoon Garden Ramble 21 and 22 October Berry Gardens Festival 12-15 Oct (8 gardens) Burra Open Gardens Usually October

SUBSCRIPTION RENEWAL The Society's financial year runs from January to December so 2017 subscriptions became due on 1 January 2017. Please fill in the form at the back of the journal and post it to the Society's postal address, PO Box 425 Curtin, ACT 2605 or alternatively pay the Treasurer at the April or May meetings. If you would prefer to pay via direct debit to the Society's account please contact the Treasurer, Judy Kilpatrick on 02 62315032 to obtain the necessary bank details. Our constitution states that members whose subscriptions remain unpaid by 31 March each year shall be deemed to have resigned. Don't let this happen to YOU! For those who joined at the time of the 2016 Crookwell bus trip, membership is not due until 2018.

Maria and Rainer Geppert were lucky enough to get in a balloon ride at the Canberra Balloon festival held in March. Although the day was cloudy the views were spectacular. They found it amazing skimming over the rooftops and trees.

PELARGONIUM AND FUCHSIA SUPPLIERS

Some suppliers of pelargoniums and fuchsias that can be purchased on line or visited when in the area. Fuchsias: www.brenlissaonlinenursery.com.au Brenlissa Online Nursery, 862 Midland Highway, Mt Rowan Vic. Will give a 5% discount to members who mention their membership. Ph 0438 393578 www.rosefarm.com.au Rose and Fuchsia Far, 33 Rankins Road, Trafalgar Vic. No online sales. Ph 03 5633 1354 www.fuchsiafantasy.com.au Fuchsia Fantasy Tea Room and Nursery, 75 Lillico Road Lillico TAS. Ph 03 64282348 www.wealdviewgardens.com.au Weald View Gardens, 258 Lobethal Road, Ashton SA. Ph 08 83901244. Weald View Gardens with be at the Melbourne Flower Show. Pelargoniums: www.geraniumcottage.com Geranium Cottage Nursery, 66 Armidale Road, Riverdale WA. Ph 0894702345. Roger and Gabi Broinowski. Cuttings (30 assorted $15 but unnamed) mailed interstate and can be visited with advance phone call. Will also provide cheap cuttings for fundraisers. www.ozgeraniums.com.au

On line orders only. Ph 07 54832562 Please let Judy Kilpatrick (02 62315032) if you have successfully purchased from these suppliers or know of any other good nursery suppliers of pelargoniums and fuchsias that can be added to the list.

BEES AND PESTICIDES

Maria Geppert

I recently picked up a pamphlet produced by ACT for Bees, and some notes on the world-wide bee crisis and the effect of certain insecticides/pesticides on bee health and populations. These insecticides belong to a group known as Neonicotinoids (neonics). Did you know that one of the most effective means of controlling white fly is also a systemic insecticide which remains in the tissue of plants, including pollen and nectar, and can linger in the soil for months or even years? That insecticide is Confidor. According to the ACT for Bees pamphlet, scientific research has shown that non-lethal doses of these poisons are part of the reason for bees dying in alarming numbers around the world. At lethal levels they can kill and sub-lethal levels they affect the immune system and navigation of the bees so they can’t find their way back to their hive. In 2013 The European Union banned the use of some neonicotinoids for 2 years due to their effect on bees and other pollinators. Most of the scientific studies have looked at agricultural neonic usage, however amounts used in horticulture may be 120 times higher and in some home use, higher still. If you care about pollinators, be alert to neonics. They are packaged under many names in lawn treatments, sprays for aphids and other pests, soil drenches and trunk injections for trees and pet flea and tick treatments. I haven’t listed all of the products which fall under this category of insecticides, but it does include all of the Confidor range, Sharp Shooter Complete Bug and Insect Spray, the Amgrow Conquer for Lawn and Garden, and Amgrow Rose Spray Advanced, Defender Residual Insecticide and Intruder Insecticide, and Advantage flea/tick treatments for Cats/Dogs etc. You can find out more at: www.xerces.org, www.beyondpesticides.org, www.beyondpesticides.org/pollinators/documents/pesticide list final.pdf, www.abcbirds.org/abcprograms/policy/toxins/Neonic_FINAL.pdf, www.pollinator.org, www.ted.com/talks/marla_spivak_why_bees_are_disappearing, www.panna.org

WEEDS, WEEDS, SO MANY WEEDS

Diana O’Brien Unwanted plants, often termed weeds, can be found in many ornamental or edible gardens. Most of us are familiar with soft green weeds such as couch grass; nut grass; oxalis, sticky weed (cleavers) and petty spurge- with the white sap- to which many are allergic. Less familiar for those who have them, are plants now deemed noxious weeds in the ACT and no longer sold in nurseries - for example English Ivy, pampas grass and Hawthorn. Privet, Pyracantha, Cotoneaster and Honeysuckle –were all once given out by Yarralumla Nursery as part of their free tree and shrub selection for new gardens. Even less familiar to many is the knowledge that so many berried plants and others with copious seed are relished by the birds and found growing beneath overhead lines or randomly in the bush where they eventually take over patches of native flora. Unfortunately volunteers and professionals who are familiar with and attempt to remove as many ‘aliens’ as they can are also aware of the encroach of ‘sleeper weeds’ or once benign species of garden plants that are reaching the bush in the same way as other seeds. These days the majority of nurseries are also aware of future problems and sell many ‘bush friendly’ plant species which produce sterile seed. However, all established plants with berries or seeds should be regarded with suspicion by those who are concerned for the environment, unless you know otherwise. It doesn’t mean you can’t grow them if you are prepared to remove dead flower heads from say Agapanthus which incidentally have been declared environmental weeds in Victoria and the Blue mountains. ‘ Sleeper weeds’ are formerly benign plants that have changed their weed status slowly where they have been free from natural controls caused by climate, temperature and rainfall; soil chemistry, quality and vacant areas; grazing by herbivores; insect attack and diseases. Without natural controls weed species begin to produce larger numbers of berries that become a problem. Some names may surprise…olive; Chinese pistachio; Cherry laurel; sacred bamboo; mahonia; gazania; Osteospermum; gaura; and Chinese Elm. All spent flowers and potential seeds should be collected into bags and taken to green waste sites for mulching with garden material that is composted at high temperatures.

FUCHSIA CARE – APRIL – SEPTEMBER

Irene Brewer APRIL: – Tidy plants by removing fallen leaves etc. so that rot does not occur and cause Botrytis. Stop fertilising so that the plants harden off for winter. Take cuttings as fuchsias can produce quite a lot of growth at this time of the year after flowering. The tip plus two sets of leaves makes the ideal cutting. Trim off the lower two sets of leaves and put the cutting in a light mixture of perlite and peatmoss or sand and perlite. Don’t let the cuttings get too wet, especially over winter as they can rot. When you see the roots coming through the bottom of the pot, the cutting is ready to be repotted to the next size. Cuttings can be put into a 1” pot or group cuttings in a 4” pot. Watering should be carried out in the mornings as the nights are becoming colder. MAY: If you have restrictions regarding space to overwinter your fuchsias in baskets and pots, you can remove about one-third of the foliage. Watering is cut down as the temperatures continue to drop, keeping the plants moist – do not let them dry out. Roots that become too dry shrivel and the plant dies. It is preferable to water plants in the morning, as watering in the evenings could cause the roots to freeze, especially when temperatures drop to the minus degrees.Cover the soil of baskets and pots with newspaper, coconut fibre or a mulch to keep the roots warm during the winter months. This also applies to fuchsia plants in the garden and helps keep the moisture in and the roots warm. JUNE/JULY: Your fuchsias should now show signs of “winter rest”. They would have shed their foliage, so remove all leaves that have dropped. This will help to get rid of all the pests, eggs and fungus spores that may be hibernating on them. If pot plants or baskets are in an exposed area prone to frosts, move plants to a more sheltered area against walls and under cover. It this is not possible, drape marix cloth over the plants to prevent frost from settling on the plants. Keep plants barely moist but do not let them completely dry out. AUGUST – Keep the surface of the plants free from debris. Lightly water plants to keep them moist but not overly wet. As the temperatures rise some plants can produce early shoots. Do not be tempted to prune until you are sure that the plants cannot be damaged from late frosts. Overhead spraying of plants will soften old wood and encourage sprouting of new shoots. When pruning, make sure the plants are given a good shaping, especially in pots and baskets. If plants shoot from the base of the plant, the old wood can be cut back quite hard. SEPTEMBER – As the plants continue to produce new growth it is time to introduce a light fertilizer, with higher nitrogen content to encourage new growth. It is important to start pinching out the plant early to encourage a bushy growth. When two to three sets of leaves form, pinch out the growing tip. Even if the plants start to produce flowers early, cut these off and continue to pinch out growing tips until the plant has a desired shape. Then it can be left to produce the flowers for summer. Once flowers form you then introduce a fertilizer that is higher in potassium to increase the flowering. For an instant bushy pot plant or basket, plant out three to four small plants in the one container, placing the plants more into the centre of the container, as the roots will grow out to the sides of the container.

PELARGONIUM CARE: AUTUMN & EARLY WINTER

Joan Powell & Rex Daley April is an excellent time to take cuttings and grow them on in preparation of garden plantings in spring. Many old favourite plants are often lost because we have failed to take cuttings for new plants. In cold regions like Canberra, it would pay to treat our Pelargonium garden plantings as annuals and take cuttings for new plants in early autumn each year. This practice is successfully carried out in many parts of England and Europe. Having said that, the following tips are offered for the care or our plants during April, May, June and July. 1. Pruning can be done as an annual task in early autumn. Regals have usually finished flowering by February and pruning should then commence. Prune to shape and only do a third of the plant at a time. As soon as new growth appears, prune a further third and so on. This process will lessen the shock to the plant. You can prune back to two-thirds of the plant. The plant (given care) will produce good overall growth prior to winter. Remember to seal all cut stems with Methylated Spirits or a dab of Sulphur to prevent entry of disease. Once the plant has a good overall growth, pinch out all new growth tips. Continue pinching until the end of July. This gives a very compact growth pattern and will produce an abundance of flowers in mid to late spring. 2. Remember that Fancy-leaved Zonal Pelargoniums are pruned in late spring and not at this time. 3. Zonal Pelargoniums can be pruned in early or late autumn, depending on your choice. Carry out in a similar manner to that for pruning the Regals described herein. Some Pelargonium enthusiasts grow for flower display and therefore prune in late autumn. In cold regions such as Canberra the growing season is short enough without resorting to early pruning. Late autumn pruning will mean that plants will take a little longer to flower in Spring. 4. Ivy- leaved Pelargoniums are best left to late Autumn to carry out heavy pruning, bearing in mind that many Pelargonium growers progressively tip prune this plant through the growing season. With Ivies that have been given protection from frost I have pruned as late as May to early June and still have the plants flowering in late October to mid November. This method will give you from five to six months of flowering. 5. Continue feeding half strength weekly or full strength fortnightly with a fertilizer high in Potassium. Phostrogen is one however there are many other brands available from your Garden Centre. 6. Pests are very prevalent at this time of the year. Plants that are under stress from lack of moisture or nutrient are usually the first plants to be attacked. Inspect plants regularly for evidence of caterpillars and other sap sucking insects.

7. Avoid overhead watering wherever possible as this will quickly damage blooms. Also regularly remove all dead flowers and leaves as they can form a breeding ground for disease. 8. Make sure you place a name tag in with each cutting at the time of planting. 9. When pruning or taking cuttings remember to have a small container of Methylated Spirits handy to dip the cutting implement into between each cut made. This will halt the spread of disease. 10. Make sure you are using the right fertiliser for the particular season. i.e., in spring plants not fully grown will need a fertiliser high in Nitrogen, late Spring through Summer and autumn, high in Potassium, Winter a fertiliser that has a concentration on maintaining healthy root development. Seasol and Nitrosol are but two which are satisfactory. Read the NPK label on the container and if in doubt seek the advice of a member of the Society or your Garden Nursery. August through September is when Pelargoniums put on their best growth and the ideal time to prepare them for the coming growing season. Check the shape of your plants, if they need to be cut back and there is sufficient growth; you may still be able to take cuttings to grow on for sale at the November Show. At the same time check for any sign of disease or pests and spray if necessary. Many plants will need potting on, those that don’t will benefit from a top dressing. Carefully remove a few centimetres of soil from the top of the pot, taking care not to damage any surface roots and top dress with new soil. For the top dressing I add blood and bone, a little dolomite and some crushed shell grit to my regular potting mix and then water it in with a weak solution of seasol and some molasses. In early September commence feeding with a good balanced fertilizer. I use Debco All Purpose Plant Food at ½ strength fortnightly until the end of September and then full strength through to flowering. You should always water plants before adding fertilizers to reduce the risk of burning the roots. Late August or early September is a good time to give your Regal and Angel Pelargoniums a top dressing of Sulphate of Potash to improve flower colour. Apply at the rate of ¼ teaspoon for 125ml pots, ½ teaspoon for 150ml pots and about a teaspoon for 200-220ml pots. Angels make a lovely display when mixed with other plants in a large pot or hanging basket. Team them up with some trailing petunias, lobelia, fuchsias or some cranesbill geraniums.

OVERWINTERING OF PELARGONIUMS

Rex Daley Pelargonium growers unfortunately do not have the luxury of Fuchsia growers, in that there is virtually no dormant growth period during Winter. In fact to keep Pelargoniums healthy during this period requires a lot of care. They, the plants must be; 1. Placed in a frost free situation. 2. Kept on the dry side – watering? If in doubt don’t. 3. Keep the soil surface free of dead leaves and flower heads as these will attract

mould/fungus, which will be threatening to the health of your plant.

4. Restrict the use of fertilizers to one which is appropriate to the season of winter, Bloom Booster (N. 6.19 – P 14.64 – K 16.8) is but one, which has the very low nitrogen level and the required level of Phosphorus, which enhances good root and cell multiplication. In winter months one application every three weeks is ample. Alternately Seasol can be used.

5. Give the pot plant a quarter turn each week to get an even growth all round on the

plant. 6. May is really too late to consider pruning and shaping your plant. The best one should

attempt at this time, particularly with Zonals, is to push out the growing tip at the end of each stem; this will ensure any slow growth that will occur during the almost dormant winter period is reflected in bushing up the plant by having new growth appear lower down the branch. Shaping will thus be much easier to achieve once frosts have finished. The canes of well-established Ivy Leaved Pelargoniums are an exception to the above, provided they are protected from frost, however you will need to seal each cut with a spray of methylated spirits at the time of cutting to ensure you have sealed the wound from disease.

7. The month of August is always a difficult time for survival of potted plants. Winds

quickly dry the soil out, and future watering may just run down the sides of the soil in the pot. An unhealthy dry look of the plant and leaves will indicate this. Remedy, completely submerge the pot in a bucket of water and leave until air bubbles cease to appear. Take the pot out and let it drain. At this point mix up some “Weta Soil” in a watering can and slowly water into the soil in the pot; this will open up the soil around the roots which often packs tight with some soils mixes, preventing water penetration.

8. In mid to late August the plant will start to show signs of new growth. At this point a

weak weekly application of soluble fertilizer such as “Thrive All Purpose” (which 9. is high in nitrogen, N 27, P 5.5, K 9) will give the plant a good push along in growth.

Continue this for 3 to 4 weeks and then switch to a fertilizer high in Potassium,

”Phostrogen” (N 14, P 4.4, K 22.5) is but one, and continue this on a fortnightly basis throughout the rest of the growing season.

10. Mid-April is not too late to take cuttings; they should strike before the onset of real

cold weather.

11. Now is the time to pick out the plants you feel you would like to grow on and nurture for display at our November show. To produce a quality plant a good lead-time is always required.

I have always believed that if you do the hard work with your plants in the late autumn and winter, they will reward you with a beautiful display of blooms throughout the growing season.

CANBERRAGERANIUM&FUCHSIASOCIETYINCIncome&ExpenditureStatement20162015

INCOME

$ $

AdvertisementsinJournal 30.00 30.00 BookSales

1.00 17.00

BusTrip

1845.00 1,485.00 CommissiononPlantSales 331.88 18.50 Cuttings

- -

DonatedPlants

270.52 - Donations

75.70 -

Float

400.00 - Interest

156.61 199.06

Insecticidesales

108.60 62.00 Membership

880.00 695.00

Posterrefund

36.00 - Raffle

242.90 413.00

SoapSales

345.00 - SoilSales

30.00 -

SpoonSales

16.00 -

TOTALINCOME$4,769.21

$2,919.56

EXPENDITURE

AnnDalgarnoPrize

30.00 -

Auditor'sgift

100.00 100.00 ChristmasPartysupplies 46.75 75.77 Donations

100.00 -

EntrytoCrookwellgardens 780.00 620.00 Float

400.00 -

GiftforR&NDaleyClareHolland-100.00

Hallrental

578.00 640.00

HireofBus

900.00 800.00 Cutting/Propagationmix 51.95 - InsecticidePurchase - 275.65 GardenClubsAustmembership60.0060.00

GardenClubsAustInsurance 159.89 159.89

GardenClubsAustMagazine - 12.00 Maintenanceofwebsite 304.90 75.00 POBoxrental

121.00 115.00

Postage

137.40 161.14 PosterPrinting

36.00 -

PrintingofJournal

220.55 378.31 Raffles

23.74 137.98

Refreshments

30.35 -

RefundBustrip

90.00 90.00 SoapPurchase

222.64 -

Speakers'Gifts

25.99 - Stationery

78.64 57.04

TOTALEXPENDITURE $4,497.80 $3,857.78

NETPROFIT/LOSSFORYEAR$271.41$938.22

CANBERRA GERANIUM & FUCHSIA SOCIETY INC.

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