Evening star., 1947-11-02
House
Possible at Anv
SeasOnOf Year
by W. H. Younamon

in relation to the season. For in
stance we grow house plants that
will bloom in the winter months
when there is little outside to in
terest us. But 1t is possible to have
house plants in bloom at any time
during the year and at all times II
the grower has space enough to &C
commodate a rather large number
and can provide the proper treat
ment for them. Since different
plans require such different treat
ment it is no small task to grow a
large variety.
Some plants are almost ever
blooming, such as the faithful old
wax begonia and the increasingly
popular African violet. Some can
be made to bloom by giving the
proper treatment. For instance the
Peruvian daffodil Qsmene hly) and
the Gala lily will both bloom in few
weeks If they have had rest Pc
riods and have then been given
plenty of water and warm sunny
window. A temperature OF 10 de-
grees suits them fine.
Lily-of-the-valley pips may be
held in cold storage for about four
months and then forced into bloom
in three or four weeks.
Cold Frames Help Materially.
Tulips and narcissus may be made
to bloom by potting up the bulbs in
the fall. Put the pots in the ground
for six to eight weeks, preferably in
q cold-fran1e, where they may be
easily gotten at, then keep them be-
tween SO. to so degrees for five to
six weeks longer.
Potted azaleas may be kept in q
cold-frame at from 40 to SO degrees
until January, when they should be
put where q temperature Of so de-
grees can be maintained for good
Towering.
Cuttings may be taken from snap
dragons and Marguerites in June or
July. Keep in fairly cool and par
TALLY shaded place until the new
roots are formed, then grow along
until time to bring indoors. They
prefer a winter temperature Of As
to so degrees.
Sow in February, March.
BY changing the time of seed
sowing from early spring, for in
stance, to May or June we can have
flowers from fall to spring. The
same flowers would bloom outside
If sown in February or March.
Some plants have their regular
time to bloom and nothing seems
to change them. Amaryllis seem al
ways to bloom after Christmas
from January to March. The beau-
tiful poinsettias of Christmastime
seem only to bloom at Christmas
time, and perhaps that is just as
we'll
There are some unusual plants
that do well in the house which may
be suggested to you who are tired
Of the ones ordinarily grown. These
plants are not 50 easy to find. for
not every nurseryman will have
them. Like many other things
which you try to find in the stores
today, much time and patience will
bring their reward.
The leopard plant is not common
1t is grown for its foliage. It has
heart-shaped leaves. often 10 inches
in diameter. One variety has leaves
which are spotted white, yellow or
sort of pinkish. 1t requires a fairly |
rich moist soil and temperature of
less than 80 degrees t.
un~ TS~ro 4. -
The Staghorn fern is so interest
ing that it should be more widely
grown. Ordinary room temperature
is acceptable to 1t If enough moisture
is in the air. One very satisfactory
way to provide moisture is by spray
ing the plant with water every day
1t is unusual in having two kinds of
fronds, one of which is used to at
tach the plant to the trunk of tree
when 1t grows wild.
Flowering naples (Abutilon) were
in favor in grandmother day be-
cause she lived in a much cooler
house. However, it requires only
ordinary soil and the usual care so,
perhaps, a cool spot can be found
for it. The leaves are maplehke in
shape. The hoop-skirt flowers of
paperlike texture are much like
those Of the hollyhocks.
The one easiest to grow has yellow
flowers and variegated leaves with
white margins (Abutilon savitzD.
Stapelias, Kaffir lilies (Clivia min
iata), the redbird-cactus and the
shrimp plant are all interesting ad-
ditions to the list of unusual house
plants.