Jhb West - Nov 24
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Indoor plant of the month<br />
Venus flytrap is a carnivorous little<br />
plant that sounds creepy enough for<br />
Halloween hi-jinks but is actually quite<br />
practical and beautiful in a bizarre<br />
kind of way. The leaves act as fly traps,<br />
with the inner part of the leaf looking<br />
like a pink mouth surrounded by<br />
spiny, sharp teeth. Along comes a fly<br />
and the leaf snaps shut.<br />
When grown indoors the Venus<br />
flytrap needs at least six hours of sun,<br />
so it will thrive in a sunny room, on a<br />
windowsill or on the patio. Place the<br />
plant in a 2 to 4cm deep saucer filled<br />
with water. To prevent it from rotting,<br />
let the tray dry out for a short period<br />
every week but never let the plant<br />
dry out completely as this will kill it.<br />
There is no need to fertilise because<br />
the flies provide all the nutrients the<br />
plant needs.<br />
In Winter the plant goes dormant<br />
and dies down. Move it to a cool area<br />
so that it stays dormant. Water less,<br />
keeping the soil lightly moist. Come<br />
Summer, move it back into the sun.<br />
Details: lvgplant.co.za<br />
Text: ALICE COETZEE<br />
Veggie of the month<br />
Squash Bennings Green is a quick and easy<br />
to grow heirloom patty pan squash, that is regarded as<br />
one of the tastiest of the Summer squash varieties -<br />
with a nutty, slightly sweet flavour. The saucer shaped<br />
fruit has scalloped edges and is pale green<br />
when young, maturing to a creamy white. The<br />
medium sized bushy plant is a prolific producer<br />
throughout Summer, with the first fruit ready to<br />
harvest within 50 days of germination. Sow seed<br />
directly into the soil in a sunny position, in fertile, well<br />
composted soil. Water around the base of the plant<br />
and don’t allow it to completely dry out. The fruit is at<br />
its tastiest when eaten young and green.<br />
Older fruit can be added to slow cooked stews,<br />
casseroles and potjies. Details: kirchhoffs.co.za<br />
28 Get It Magazine <strong>Nov</strong>ember 20<strong>24</strong>