Evening star., 1948-12-19


cause they prepare for the holiday
season either with a gorgeous display
of flowers or with attractive fruits.
They offer a lasting gift for the
receiver and carry a cheerful mes
sage from the giver Most of them
glisten with the red and green of
the holiday season.
Whether you are the giver or
receiver a certain amount of under
standing of these plants is desirable.
Several of the so-called Christmas
season plants are strictly cool
weather habitants. Again 1t may
be wiser to send a plant better
adapted to a hot, dry, apartment
or house. There are such plants
and while they are not often thought
of as belonging to the select group
they will no doubt be much more
acceptable gifts, or at least they will
last through the holiday season in
good condition. I will discuss both
groups.
Poinsettia Is Ranked First.
The poinsettia Is looked upon as
jhe No. l Christmas season plant
1t does well near a light window
where the day temperature seldom
exceeds IS degrees and the night
temperature does not go below go
A rather narrow range for tropical
plant. And, worst of all, it cannot
withstand draughts, especially chill
ing breezes every time the door Is
opened. Place in a sheltered corner
They should remain in good condi-
ton for two or three months before
taking a rest period.
Humidity is created by placing
the pot on gravel-hlled saucer
Evaporation from the gravel keeps
an aura-like cloud Of humidity
around the foliage, but it does moi
supply moisture to the root ball
which will need to be molsteneo
once or twice week. Watering
from above, if the soil in the pot L
sufficiently porus, will be satisfac-
tory, care being taken to keep il
from becoming soggy wet. The
poinsettia will not thrive with "we1
feet"
Cooler Still for Cyclamen.
The cyclamen Is another of the
Christmas season plants for the
cool house, requiring a lower tenn
perature than the poinsettia. II
thrives in a temperature of so de-
rrees. in time can become acclimat-
ed to go, but this is just about the
top for good growth. However, the
cyclamen has one advantage
draughts do not defoliate it as they
do the poinsettia. Kept in COO
room, where it receives few hours
of sunlight each day, it should re-
main in bloom for two or three
months.
The gravel-fllled saucer is OF
value In keeping the cyclamen in
good condition, and If the pot rests
on a wood block much of the water
ing problem is solved. The wooden
block acts as a wick. Wet foliage
is apt to result in disease Of the
foliage or at the crown, hence
watering from below is safest. Some
successful growers keep the pot
resting in water but most flower
lovers prefer to dip the pots in a
pan of water every two or three
days. The cyclamen needs much
more moisture than most other
Christmas plants.
The Christmas cherry and the
Christmas pepper plants, with
brightly colored fruits, are also
lovers OF cool situations. Washing
or Swinging the foliage is needed
to keep it bright and fresh in ap-
pearance. Outside of the shape of
the fruit, these two are similar in
every way.
Azaleas on the Cool Side.
The fifth cool weather plant is not
often thought of as member OF
the Christmas group. The azalea
however, is forced for bloom at this
season of the year. Because OF its
shape and abundance of bloom, II
makes a most acceptable addition
While 1t prefers a temperature OF
so to go degrees, it will stand IS
However, the flowers will not last
as long at the higher temperature
Moreover. the azalea needs more
sunlight than the others and an
east or southern window is pre-
ferred.
Azaleas require abundant moisture