The Wilmington morning star., 1947-03-30

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MR.. AND MRS. MARVIN e.
place in Wilmington at the Free \
Mrs. Blanton is the former Elsie
GARDEN {
All questions pertaining to your
garden problems will be answered
through t e e columns if ad-
dressed to the garden calendar
editor in care of the Wilmington
News society editor.
CHRISTMAS CACTUS
Mrs. j. NJ. j., Jr., Of Whining
toa, writes: "Please tell me how
to take care of a Christmas
cactus. Does it need much or little
water? I have a small one in a
small pot and the sections of the
branches keep dropping Off"
This sounds like root trouble Or
too much water. Some people
seem never to get into the rythm
of this plant enough to have it
bloom, while others can have
plants covered with bloom every
winter. The secret seems to be in
the watering. Give plenty of water
to keep the soil fairly moist dur
ing the growing season and while
buds are forming-from April till
January, as a rule. Keep nearly
dry from the time the last bud
forms until new growth starts as
tiny brown leaf buds along the old
leaves.
Repot when the new growth
starts making sure of good drain
age which is SO necessary, by fill
ing the pot about a third full OF
broken crockery, small pebbles Or
small cinders. Use a soil mixture
of equal parts humus-filled garden
loan, clean fairly coarse saE<
and woodsearth or old well-rotteo
COW manure into which is mixed
a half cupful each of bone meal
end woodsearth. Water well, then
do not water again until soil
feels dry.
When warm weather comes sink
the pot in light shade in the gar
den until September. Rains will
Usually keep it moist enough, but
in a long drought, water it oftea
enough to keep the soil moist. Lift
and bring into the porch in Sep
tember and give full sun. Water
with weak liquid manure once a
month until buds show color. When
the last flower bud has formed,
give very little water, keeping it
nearly dry. Let it rest after bloom
ing for 6 to 9 weeks. When new
growth begins repot if needed or
give manure Or bonemeal by re-
moving some of the soil on top
and around the edge of the pot
and repacing with the plant food.
1t is not necessary to repot a
Christmas cactus oftener than 2 Or
3 years when the roots fill the pot
it is in. If it is not doing well,
it can be repotted at any time,
but a healthy plant should be re-
potted about April when it begins
t. grow after it's rest period
I would advise that the plant in
question be repotted at once in
fresh soil. See that the hole III the
bottom of the pot is open and the
pot is supplied with plenty OF
drainage material. Use a pot tina.
will just hold the mass of roots
comfortably. Take the plant from
the pot and carefully remove the
old soil from the roots. Plant in
the suggested soil mixture, firm
well and water. Follow the sug-
gested treatment, and it should
give bloom when old enough.
Always give full sunlight after
bringing it into the house and I'M
til it is repotted. Keep in halt
shade from May until September.
If the air in the room where the
plant is kept is dry and hot keep
an open container OF water near
the plant.
CENTIPEDE GRASS
FOR A LAWN
Mrs. R. B. Of Winneboro, S. c..
writes: 'fWe have recently bought
an old place where the lawn has
rot been kept up. 1t has Bermuda
grass over a part of it but one
section is bare where a car was
parked constantly and there is a
path across it. 1 am interested in
planting. centipede grass and
would appreciate any details YOU
could give as to procedure TO
follow and the best time OF year
to do this"
Centipede grass makes a very
attractive lawn with less attention
than other lawn grasses. It is one
of the best, probably the best,
grass for the light sandy soils OF
Florida, where it has become very
popular. 1t is more nearly adapted
to dry sandy solid than any of the
other grasses. 1t does wilt and dry
up in long droughts, but recuper-
ates quickly when moisture
comes.
1t will grow in full sun or in
shade and under trees. 1t is very
tenacious and once it gets a good
start. it chokes out weeds and
other grasses, even Bermuda. 1t
is not a winter grass, but. like
Bermuda, dies down when frost
comes. Italian rye grass can be
planted over it for a green winter
lawn just as in the case If Ber-
muda. Though it requires less
moving than other lawn grasses
4 and grows only 4 inches high, II