Collection Plants & Horticulture Notes

The permanent collection has more than 170 species, divided into 142 genera and 84 families.

The unique perennial plants in the collection come from all over the world and many require special care. The following includes information on the general types of plants in the collection. When we take care of these plants, it is useful to think about their native habitat and try to mimic the conditions – for temperature (including temperature swings seasonally or from day to night), humidity (and changes in humidity), light, water (frequency, pH, nutrition), etc.

Biological Control

The greenhouse has been successfully using biological control for a long time to manage most of the common pests. The most common pests in the greenhouse are scale, mealybugs, thrips, aphids, and spider mites. Mealybugs, thrips, and aphids can be kept under control with Cryptolaemus montrouzieri lady beetles, Aphidius parasitic wasps, Amblyseius cucumeris predatory mites, and Hypoaspis predatory mites. The scale and spider mites are best controlled with insecticidal soaps.