Evening star., 1940-09-21

with the Towering varieties that are
now taking a tonic TO give them a
boost for their winter activities. The
Towering plants will have to "perk-
up" and do their best, for the color
ing in the foliage plants is richer
and more beautiful than usual and
makes them appear as large full
blown blossoms, or as a mass OF
smaller blooms in many shades OF
pink. red. yellow, orange, and purple
blended with green. To develop and
retain these vivid shades. the plants
should be placed where they will
get plenty Of sun.
Aspidistra and sansevieria are,
however, two that will thrive and
produce lovely foliage when not in
direct sunlight. Also they are not
so cranky as are most other house
plants about gas fumes, dry air and
dry soil. They will even tolerate
dust on their leaves, but they do in
sist upon good rich soil.
Sansevieria is also known as bow
string-hemp, snake plant and in
New England, lucky plant.
A special favorite among the foil
age plants-easy to raise too-1s
the Pandanus. Malayan plant with
handsome green and white striped
leaves and palm-like stems. Do not
insult Pandanus by putting 1t under
ground too deep-its crown should
be above the soil.
An old-time favorite, seldom seen
now, is the interesting umbrella
plant, which loves to wade in water.
An excellent way to please this plant
is to place its container in shallow
dish or pan of water-then 1t can
wade and drink as much and as
often as it likes. A Cherry newcomer
is syngonium, or Cinderella plant
with luxuriant foliage in various
shades of green.
For real treasure get a Dracaena
palm. 1t makes an ideal house
plant because it likes dry atmos-
phere, which Is always such prob
lem in furnace heated houses. This
plant must have plenty of sunlight
to bring out its brilliant tones, as
we'll as rich, we'll drained soil A
bath now and then benefits its at
tractive foliage-but is must dry
quickly to prevent rot from starting
For dainty foliage select a small
delicately tinted leafed coleus Place
it in or near sunny window so its
lovely colors vii keep bright ano
shoWy-otherwise it will become sick
and pale looking New plants may
be started at any time from slips
and they may be made to grow in
any desired shape by pinching of
the new tips.
Rex begonia, another popular
item which behaves nicely along
with Towering plants. will not en-
dure warm dry atmosphere. 1t in
sistS upon temperature even lower
than that of the average living room
A gorgeous spotted-leaf plant is
dumbcane, Dieffenbachia, with sinu-
GUS stems. 1t will grow nicely ir
water, but requires more sunlight
when grown this way. Dumbcant
will stand hard treatment and neg
lect without complaining. New
plants may be started now by cut
ting an old plant in 3-inch length.
and roofing in moist sand, or BY
roofing cuttings in glass of water
But of all the nom n-blooming house
plants, the fern takes first place
Since there are several hundred
varieties all tastes may be satisfied
From this large number few stand
out as particular favorites. This
group includes the Boston fern, oi
which. it is said, there are about
200 varieties, all descendants of the
graceful plant first noticed near
Boston-hence its name. Others ir
this special group are the holly ant
the asparagus fern. BY the way