2. Gaura (Gaura lindheimeiri)
Hauteur : 50 cm à 70 cm.
Sol : ordinaire, bien drainé.
Étalement : de 50 cm à 60 cm par plante environ.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                A savoir : les fleurs des gauras, qui évoquent de petits papillons, s’épanouissent de juin aux gelées. Normalement blanches, elles se déclinent aussi en rose, ou blanc bordé de rose.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       3. Sauge arbustive (Salvia x microphylla)
Hauteur : 60 cm à 80 cm.
Sol : ordinaire mais bien drainé.
Étalement : 1 m environ.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     A savoir : la floraison de mai aux gelées est continue en pot lorsque les arrosages restent réguliers. En pleine terre, elle s’arrête avec les
sécheresses les plus fortes.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   2. Géranium ‘Rozanne’® (Geranium ‘Rozanne’®)
Hauteur : 30 cm environ.
Sol : ordinaire, frais en été.
Étalement : un pied peut couvrir ½ m² dans la saison.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   A savoir : la floraison débute fin mai et se prolonge vraiment tout l’été. Le pied grossit lentement mais reste très localisé (il couvre mais ne colonise pas le sol). Pousse également bien en pot.

Splendides orchidées épiphytes, les Vanda sont originaires des forêts tropicales humides où ils vivent fixés aux arbres.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Ces orchidées développent de longues racines aériennes pour se nourrir des pluies chargées de nutriments qui ruissellent le long des branches.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Les Vanda sont difficiles à cultiver à l’intérieur car ils nécessitent une forte luminosité et une humidité atmosphérique élevée mais il existe des hybrides, les Ascocenda, plus faciles à garder.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Découvrez trois modes de culture :                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       la culture racines nues, la culture en vase et la culture en panier de fibres de coco, leurs avantages et leurs inconvénients, pour soigner au mieux et faire refleurir à la maison Vanda et Ascocenda.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Quel que soit le mode de culture choisi, les Vanda et leurs hybrides nécessitent  une forte luminosité tout au long de l’année pour pouvoir refleurir. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Il faut les placer à proximité d’une fenêtre orientée plein sud, en les protégeant des rayons du soleil par un léger voilage.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Un séjour au jardin en été leur sera très profitable.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               L’idéal est de les suspendre sous un arbre à la frondaison légère ou de les placer sous un voile d’ombrage.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Des températures  comprises entre  18  et 30°C le jour et entre 13 et 20°C la nuit conviennent bien aux Vanda et Ascocenda.  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             A noter que le Vanda coerulea et ses hybrides à floraison bleue supportent des températures plus basses (10 à 12°C la nuit).

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    De juin à septembre, sortez-les en journée quand les températures dépassent les 20°C.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Vanda et Ascocenda peuvent rester dehors en été, lorsque les nuits ne sont pas trop fraiches.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Souvent, la différence de température jour / nuit provoque la floraison tant attendue.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Arrosage : par trempage une fois par semaine, voire 3 ou 4 fois par semaine en période chaude.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Immergez les racines dans un seau d’eau à température ambiante durant 20 minutes, en évitant de mouiller les feuilles.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Brumisez quotidiennement les racines entre les arrosages.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Fertilisation : Faites des apports d’engrais par pulvérisation sur les racines toutes les 2 semaines du printemps à l’automne, une fois par mois en hiver.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Utilisez un engrais « plantes fleuries », mais à la moitié de la dose préconisée.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Avantages de la culture « racines nues » : Pas de risque de pourriture des racines.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Un intérêt esthétique indéniable, rien n’est plus beau qu’un Vanda fleuri avec une belle masse racinaire.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Inconvénients : Trempages et brumisations des racines à renouveler fréquemment si on ne possède pas de serre. Risque de desséchement rapide des racines dans un environnement trop sec.