More frequent and longer dry periods are causing many hobby gardeners to rethink. In fact, there are many beneficial plants.
Apart from the temporary absence from your vacation home or property in Mallorca, it certainly makes sense to design the garden accordingly in view of the climate and water problems on site. It is therefore time to look for drought-tolerant plants for the outdoor area. These are plants that need very little water and are very easy to care for. But don't worry, it doesn't always have to be cacti or succulents that beautify the garden.
Regardless of the type of plant, young plants or plants planted in pots need more water and care than mature plants planted in soil, because their roots can grow until they find more water, or they can make optimum use of the water if we water them. So the first recommendation is to put plants in soil and stimulate root growth.
Here are some recommendations for plants and species that are less thirsty and therefore easier to care for.
Vines or climbing plants:
Bougainvillea species (Bougainvillea/Buganvilia)
Trees:
Arbutus unedo (strawberry tree/madroño)
Laurus nobilis (laurel)
Olea europaea 'Swan Hill Olive' (Swan Hill Olive/Olivo)
Flowering plants and perennials:
Species Lavandula (lavender)
Myrtus communis (common myrtle)
Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary)
Sage, selected species (sage)
Lantana montevidensis (trailing lantana / creeping lantana)
Substrates rich in perlite can also be used, or perlite or leaf clay can be added to the substrate itself, as these elements can bind water. The addition of animal manure or earthworm humus can contribute to the formation of a "sponge effect" in the substrate, which is helpful in optimizing the use of irrigation water. To prevent water from evaporating from the soil surface, decorative elements such as pine bark, natural stones, volcanic pozzolan or decorative coconut shells are recommended; they store water.
Grouping plants according to their water requirements also helps to avoid wasting water.
And one last tip: did you know that plants die more often from overwatering than from too little water?Can Juanito offers a large exhibition area with a variety of plants and trees.
Son Ferriol, Palma Open daily www.canjuanito.com
