Time to get planting

Two weeks today!

Prices are in for the solar water heater, photo voltaic panels for electricity generation, widening the kitchen window to let more light in, a new kitchen, a new kitchen door, wall repairs and painting the outside of the windmill including the sails. Softening the blow a little was news that grants are available from the Canary Islands Government (Cabildo) which could cover two thirds of the cost. 

On my way to work this morning :

Lots of clearing of rubbish still to do. It seems a shame to burn valuable fuelwood but it is quicker than cutting and storing everything. There are loads of pallets lying around, some of which I will keep for fuel in case we decide to install a wood burning stove. I could also possibly use them placed in line on concrete block supports and covered with waterproof plastic as a base for the hydroponic beds. A low cost option!

Back in Caleta where we are renting a house I have been busy taking cuttings and sowing seeds from what I can scavenge from the roadside and gardens. Bougainvillea is one of the most colourful of plants and these scrambling, climbing and thorny shrubs do extremely well here in the hot dry climate. In the Maldives we used to strike cuttings in water and I am trying that here. These cuttings (from our neighbour's hedge) have lovely deep red flower bracts. They have been sitting in water for two to three weeks and are now showing some nice root initials and new top growth.

One of the most drought tolerant trees is the Casaurina, found growing in coastal areas of Australia. It has thin wispy leaves like a conifer which helps it to conserve water. I collected some seed from the roadside and here they are just germinating. Considering a mature tree will grow to 35 metres tall (here perhaps 10-15 metres), the seedlings are tiny.

A very easy one to raise from seed is Thevetia peruviana which is a roadside tree, again nice and drought tolerant, with tubular yellow flowers. Below right are Oleander cuttings. I have taken lots of these. There are deep red, deep pink, soft pink and white flowered varieties. After standing in water for two weeks you can just see new roots appearing from the bottom of the stems.

When there is not so much planting material available it is often necessary to use softwood cuttings. These need more care to stop them drying out before they have formed decent roots. For my Hibiscus softwood cuttings I have cut the top off a large water bottle and put this over the pot to make a mini greenhouse which helps maintain a humid atmosphere around the leaves.