Evening star., 1948-08-30
PHILODENDRONS

From Mrs. H. T. M, Arltngton.)
For R. K. o. and others interested
in growing philodendron plants. l
am not an expert nor an authority
on the proper care or method OF
raising any plant, the philodendron
included. I think that magic word
luck" usually does the trick.
However, what little I know about
it, 1 am only too glad to pass on to
others less fortunate. The phllo-
dendron plant that I had growing
in a five-inch pot on a small trellis
for years, until the runners were
yards long, I dismantled last month.
I pulled the plant and trellis from
the pot, then released the plant
from the trellis by carefully un-
winding and breaking at various
intervals, which was necessary since
the plant was so interviewer
through the trellis, and the run
ners were so long, there was no
other way.
j had quite a stack of runners
when finished. I took the old roots
and planted them where I was
working on the other side of the
house, in soil that had never been
cultivated since we moved here. l
couldn't stand the thought OF
destroying them after they had
served such good purpose.
took a few medium-length run
ners and started a new plant, using
the same pot and trellis of the orig
inal plant. 1t is now as pretty as
the old one, but not as full and
thick. ! like it better. I took two
of the long runners over a yard
long and put them in a small tin
can of water, placing them by the
house on the north side, allowing
the runners to trail on the ground.
They rooted in the water and have
taken root along the runners where
they touch the ground.
I put several pieces in a glass
bowl to put on the shelf under the
table that holds our television set
and other pieces in various places in
! the house. The remainder of the
runners, from three inches to more
than a foot long, l put in a large
wicker flower stand with a metal
dirt container with about two inches
of dirt in the bottom, that had
three potted begonias sitting in it,
located in the breezeway between
the house and garage on north side
1 pushed the plants, regardless OF
position, down between the pots OF
begonias, put some good dirt over
them and forgot them. All plants
lived and rooted I don't think In
the whole procedure that I lost a
leaf by dying. Don't you think it
was luck?
1 think that philodendrons would
thrive on good light, rich soil as any
other house plant would. From my
experience they would live in any
soil. Since they live so easily In
water it seems that they would like
a moist soil, but will withstand a
good drying out" if forgotten for
week or so, as do mine some
time.
l have no set rules for the soil
that l use. I like a mixture OF
woods earth (decayed leaves, we'll
rotted COW manure and good garden
soil, sifted and thoroughly mixed
Occasionally I add small amount
/, of cotton seed meal, bonemeal OF
other commercial fertilizer. The
original philodendron plant had nc
fertilizer to boost its growth.
I put my plants any place that ]
want them, regardless of light, sun
or shade, but 1 think they do better
} in the shade in summer. They have
never refused to grow for me. Nc
matter where I put them, for which
!; 1 am thankful.
;. I sincerely hope you will have
better luck next time. In my next
letter to RICH I want to tell you
about my African violets if I may.
CREAM PIE?
From Mrs. E. C. F., Washington
Can any of you readers give me
a recipe for cream pie which will
become firm enough to cut? have
tried both -four and cornstarch as
thickening several times for cream
pie, coconut cream, banana cream,
etc, none Of which I've been able
to serve.
In the case of -four as thickening
have used - of a cup; with corn
starch, I used 21a tablespoons. These
, recipes call for 3 egg yolks and 2
cups of milk. Can any one help me
with this problem?