January in your Tropical garden

Bromeliads are easily grown as container plants because they are not too demanding of water. A mid-summer feed with Phostrogen Plant Food can help to keep them in best condition.

Azaleas need to be kept moist and with cool roots in a soil rich in humus. Application of SaturAid will help water penetration into the soil and a surface dressing of Debco Mulch'n'Feed will keep the roots cool and encourage ongoing growth. By keeping your plants in good vigour you will reduce their susceptibility to disease.

Hanging baskets can dry out very quickly given their exposure to sun and drying winds. An application of Debco SaturAid will assist in water penetration.

January is not a suitable time to plant out seedlings because it can be so hot but seeds can be sown in Debco Seed Raising Mix for planting out in March. Sow seeds of beetroot, capsicum, eggplant, lettuce and tomato for the vegetable garden and candytuft, calendulas, petunias and salvias for the flower garden.

Cuttings of azaleas, camellias and many native plants are best taken this month. Grow them in Debco Propagation Mix, using a rooting hormone to encourage root formation.

Lawns may repel water because of thatch - a build up of dead leaves and other material, which is very often hydrophobic. If you note that your lawns are showing signs of moisture stress, a heavy rake to remove thatch and the application of SaturAid to the surface of the lawn will assist in moisture take-up.