Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-06-06
Readers Clearing House
-CHRIsTMAs CACTUS.

From Mrs. r. G.. Washington
This In In answer TO query
recently about q Christmas cactus.
II am quoting from the book En-
JOY Your House Plants" by Doro-
thy II. Jenkins and Helen Van
Pelt Wilson, chapter 8: The
Christmas Cactus for Christmas
Cheer"
The cactus plant we have long
treasured comes not from the
desert, but from the mountains Of
Brazil where. like the orchid. it
grows on the branches Of trees.
This is the Christmas or crab
cactus Epiphyllum truncatuu)
a constant beauty which blooms
almost before its slip days are over
and continues each year to grow
in grace, dignity and Aoriferous-
ness. In December or January it
regularly puts on show TO chal-
lenge every other deniZen Of the
window garden with some two
dozen fuchsia-like flowers drip
ping from all the leaf tips which
cover the 5-inch pot. We are
told that a really ancient plant
may produce hundreds of blooms
and our own experience makes
this seem quite believable hearsay.
This Is a plant which. like a
weary child. never wants to rest so
you must be the one to determine
bedtime and yourself draw the
shade. We get the best of blooms
on ours by arranging an absolute
sleeping period through the entire
month Of October when the plant
is set in a dim. cool place and
watered not a single drop. In
November then we water 1t a little
and by the end of the month
move 1t to the window garden, at
first back a little from the sun but
fully in it.
When fresh new-tip growth indi-
Gates the Christmas cactus is again
fully awake, we water it at first
weekly. then as growth increases,
about every other day, never more
and sometimes rather less. depend
ing on the brightness of the
weather. AS the buds form,
watering is always checked little
because a too-wet conditio n
loosens them. About a half a cup
of weak liquid manure is given
every 10 days from the time
growth Is well started after the
rest period until the buds show
color. This means from about
December / until near Christmas
or maybe January If budding is
late. After Towering is over.
watering is again decreased. Of
by chance you should overwater 1t
and so cause limp growth and dis
colored tips, you can rejuvenate
your plant by cutting back to firm
GROWTH
Repulling Is q rare necessity
since close compacting Of soil and
roots stimulates blooming and
extra food needs are tended to
yearly by the manure doses. When
a larger pot is required, however,
the shift is made in late spring
just before the cactus is placed on
another bracket, out of the wind
on the shaded porch.
New plants can be readily
started then. too, from old arms
of growth containing new tips.
Cuts are made at the joints where
small aerial roots are already In
evidence. The new plants soon
take hold in small pots Of the
regular soil. These youngsters
have often bloomed for us their
first Christmas.
GLASS FROSTING.
From Miss II. E. L., Washington.)
One Of the large paint manu-
factorers makes q glass frosting
that Is inexpensive. easy to apply,
and I am sure will be much more
satisfactory than anything you
can mix yourself. I bought mine
at paint store on Wisconsin ave-
nue. near M stree but I think
you could buy it at any large paint
store.
y Il y
CROCHETING BED CANOPY?
From Mrs. f. R.. Balttntore.)
I would appreciate it very much
If some one could tell me where ]
might obtain instructions for cro-
cheting a bed canopy. have seen
them in pictures but never in
structions as to how they can be
made.
n
nYrTT TT DhTwTEp MOO