The fundamental fascination of owning a greenhouse is the knowledge that now you can grow rare, odd, and unusual plants.
It is impossible to grow and flower many of these specimens in the garden or house, but in your home greenhouse, they will flourish.
Also, seeking them out from far-off nurseries and growers can be just as fun as growing them.
Rare Staghorn Ferns
No collection of rare and unusual plants would be complete without a specimen or two of the Staghorn ferns Platycerium.
They come in many forms and varieties and grow from nests of leaves attached to trees in their native homes in tropical Africa, Australia, and South America.
They make ideal, easy-to-care-for greenhouse plants when not given too much sun but in warm conditions and lots of spraying with water in the summer.
I find them excellent for banging out of doors in the summer under trees along the garden paths – they always attract – a great deal of attention.
The name staghorn fits well, for the plants look like the antlers of a stag or deer. Once a year, the older leaves drop off, and new ones appear—plants like rich leaf mold and moss to grow in.
Attach them to a piece of bark or a basket of wire, and they will be firmly grown in a few months. I find they can stand quite a cool greenhouse, but they prefer a warm one.
A well-grown staghorn fern is a sight worth seeing. Small plants should not be too hard to locate.
Fenestraria Rhopalophylla “Baby Toes”
A real gem among succulents. And one that wilt test your skill in making it grow is Fenestraria rhopalophylla, or baby toes.
This dainty little plant is also well-named as it looks like little toes. It is also a culled window plant, as each short end has a window.
It requires warm conditions, not too much water, and lots of sun and light. It is native to the hot sands of Africa and is a natural collection plant worth having.
Split Rocks
In this same group are the split rocks, Pleiospilos bolus, and Pleiospilos nelii. They have thick gray leaves and should not be kept too wet and given all the sun possible.
A shelf under the roof of a greenhouse is an ideal location, as is a good sunny window.
Bromeliads
The bromeliads, dozens and dozens of varieties are many tropical plants for a warm greenhouse.
The living vase is the common name of these colorful plants, coming from the fact that they collect and hold water in the center of the plant.
They are ideal for a vase on the table or for some acceptable arrangement in driftwood, now so popular. They flower once a year and are very colorful, and the bloom is long-lasting.
The family is large and goes on into many other closely related plants. These “pineapple” family members do well in peat-moss, sail, orchid fiber (osmunda) and can be grown on hark or in dish gardens.
Wide varieties can withstand cool temperatures, but the more highly colored types, which are exceptionally beautiful, need more heat.
Always remember the more color in a plant, the more care, and warmth it requires.
Pleroma Elegans “Tibouchina”
A worthwhile greenhouse plant or small shrub is tibouchina (sometimes called Pleroma elegans).
The common name, royal purple flower, describes the beautiful color of this plant. It makes a fine tub plant for greenhouses in the North and is grown outdoors in Florida all year round.
In Hawaii, it is found in abundance all along the roadsides. It is quickly grown and can be cut back severely to keep it in shape, constantly sending out new growth that soon comes into flower.
The cut blooms on short stems (so cut to leave the other buds) can be floated in bowls of water, where they look adorable on a table for a centerpiece.
Exciting Mesembryanthemum Pseudotruncatellum
Mesembryanthemum pseudotruncatellum (Lithops pseudotruncatella) and many other living stones are perhaps the most exciting plants.
These mimic plants, as they are known, are worthwhile subjects for a test of your skill and patience to keep them growing and flowering.
They like light sandy soil, full brilliant sun (the hotter, the better), and some water but perfect drainage.
You can have loads of fun picking stones to match them. A dish of them on display always creates interest.
But visitors’ bad habit is seeing the plants and the stones by pricking them with their fingernails. This is fatal as the water gets into the cut and rots the plant away.
The beautiful yellow flowers, some white, open only in the full sun. Each year the plants split in two and form new plants.
During this period, one should be extra careful with water. I find they do best right under the glass in the greenhouse on a high shelf.
Keep them on the dry side at all times, but during the winter months, they are extra dry.
Streptocarpus “Cape Primroses”
The cape primroses, Streptocarpus, an excellent winter flowering greenhouse plant, is not too large if you are short of space. They are quickly grown from seed and flower in two years or less.
A warm greenhouse, Rich soil with lea mold, and plenty of water are the requirements for this native of South Africa. T. A. Weston, Sr., will long be remembered for the beautiful plants he grew and exhibited years ago.
Strelitzia Reginae “Bird Of Paradise”
I could not help but urge you to grow a plant of bird of paradise, Strelitzia reginae. It is closely allied to the banana plant or a member of that large group of tropical plants.
It is of easy culture in a large pot or tub when given rich soil, plenty of water, and an excellent high temperature, for it comes from tropical Africa.
If the plants are put outdoors during the summer, they will become good and strong for flowering indoors toward spring. The flowers are unusual and beautiful, strongly resembling a bird.
The banana plant is one to try if you have plenty of room – especially the headroom. They increase when supplied with warmth – vibrant soil, and lots of water.
They are grown in all tropical countries where it rains nearly every day, and a plant can be developed and fruited in two years.
After the fruit is ripe, the old plant dies away, but many new plants sprout around the old one to continue the species.
The past summer, with continued high temperatures for weeks, was ideal for growing them in New Jersey.
44659 by Otto H. Roller