Spring Like Flower Show In The Home Greenhouse

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Bloom in the greenhouse this month is comparable to the spring show. 

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Three classes of plants put on a spectacular performance: 

  • Bulbs that are dormant or static (Summercrinum, Nerine, Lycoris, and Veltheimia) 
  • Plants that require short days (or rather, long nights) to bloom (including the magnificent show chrysanthemums and many orchids)
  • A host of plants that enjoy the cool night temperatures that prevail this month 

These latter include many annuals: 

  • Those started late from seed in the greenhouse
  • Self-sown seedlings from the garden
  • Established plants from the garden cut back and moved in several weeks ago

Annual Seeds

Some seed annuals do particularly well under glasscalendula, annual chrysanthemum, salpiglossis, stock, blue lace-flower, carnation, and giant pansy.

These plants suffer from our hot, dry summer weather and enjoy life in the cool fall greenhouse.

In some countries, the fall outdoors is called the “little spring.” The greenhouse stretches this delightful season into the short days of the next few months.

Shedding Of Deciduous Trees

Daylight is waning in intensity and duration. This is partially offset by deciduous trees that have shed their foliage. 

Any traces of shading on the glass or dirt inside the glass should be squeegeed away.

Every attempt should be made to make the inside of the greenhouse just as light as it is outdoors.

Queen Of The Greenhouse

Queen of the greenhouse now is the show chrysanthemum grown in benched pots or as single-stalk plants in a ground bed.

The endless varieties available seem to be the work of an Oriental artist, and many are of mammoth size. 

For good plants, rooted tip cuttings should have been started in rich soil a month or two ago.

Growth should be maintained rapidly with frequent high-nitrogen feedings (ammonium sulfate or phosphate) in solution, ample water, and vigilant pest control. 

Supporting Giant Stems

When the plants are about 10” inches high, supporting them with wires and string is a good idea. 

The giant stems, when in flower, are amazingly heavy, and unless strongly supported, the plants will fall over. 

No Artificial Shade For Flowers

For flowers this month, no artificial shade is required; the naturally short day is sufficient to bring on the bloom traditionally associated with Thanksgiving and football games.

A visit to a friend’s greenhouse will be a potent influence toward owning a greenhouse if you do not already have one. 

It would certainly make a fine Christmas present for the entire family or serve as an interesting project for the New Year.

Limited Space Of A Beautiful Greenhouse

If space is limited, a beautiful greenhouse can be made on a terrace or the roof of a hillside garage adjacent to a house. In fact, a south hillside invites a greenhouse.

Access from living quarters is the final joy; the cellar has advantages of workroom convenience, location of heating plant, and storage space.

Glamorous architectural pictures show the greenhouse merged into the living room. 

Humidity And Temperature Requirements

While easily managed in mild climates. the difference in humidity and temperature requirements between greenhouse and living quarters may be difficult to maintain. Some partitions may be necessary.

A lean-to may be erected to cover the south side of the house partly. Such arrangement, especially if it is of a curved-eave, metal-frame construction, can be very beautiful.

Conserving Sun’s Heat

By conserving the sun’s heat against the house wall, this design saves at least part of its fuel cost.

Conversely, the shelter of a building to the north is a decision aid in heating the greenhouse on blustery winter nights.

So dream over possible arrangements, study catalogs for standard dimensions, and remember—no greenhouse is ever large enough!

44659 by Victor Greiff