I had to have a greenhouse. I had wanted one ever since as a little fellow. It smelled good, and it felt good to be in a greenhouse. Ah, many were the reasons I wanted one. First, I wanted to propagate my azaleas, to raise all the plants and shrubs for my garden. I wanted … Read more
Research work and experimentation are developing a rapidly increasing amount of new knowledge and methods that may revolutionize the art of growing plants. There has been considerable publicity regarding liquid nutrients, like growing plants in water containing various chemicals or sand watered with nutrient solutions. These methods have produced remarkable crops — artificial light can … Read more
“How can I make my African violet bloom? It has beautiful foliage but no flowers.” One answer to this prevalent plea is to grow the saintpaulia in a plastic globe like the one shown above. The globe comes apart into two hemispheres, so a plant in a pot may easily be set inside. Once enveloped … Read more
It is now a well-established fact that cool storage of Easter lily bulbs before planting greatly reduces the time required to bring them into bloom. Here at the Plant Industry Station, United States Department of Agriculture in Beltsville, Maryland, a recently conducted experiment demonstrated that certain garden lilies could be made to flower more quickly … Read more
Saintpaulia, or African violet, is one of our widely grown house plants. Its popularity is based upon the beauty and wide variation of both flowers and foliage. The great adaptability to household conditions, and the comparatively little care required to have some show of blossoms over a long blooming season. Requirements For Good Plant Development … Read more
Our artificial sun rose about four years ago soon after my wife came home with a rather tired little African violet with one blossom and three buds. It was labeled Black Magic. A week passed, and we had four deep purple blossoms and more buds showing. Black Magic was no misnomer. Unfortunately, we are cliff … Read more
It is easy to understand why the African violet enjoys the reputation as the most popular house plant in the country. The answer is obvious—it simply possesses so many desirable characteristics. For one thing, give African violet what it needs; it will grow and (lower almost the entire year). Small enough to fit on the … Read more
African violets are one of America’s favorite houseplants. So what are the secrets of their continued popularity? They can be grown in a small apartment; they flourish in well-lighted window gardens, under artificial light, in a terrarium or greenhouse; they’re easily propagated and make wonderful hobby plants. There are thousands of varieties. African violets (saintpaulias) … Read more
There is much excitement among African violet fans in Atlanta. No, it is not the discovery of a yellow-flowered variety or a brand-new type. Rather, it’s news of a comparatively new method of culture that produces African violet plants of unusual character which far outshine similar plants grown conventionally. This system of culture consists of … Read more
You don’t have to be a specialist to grow many African violet blooms without coddling. You can still enjoy their cheerful bloom if you like African violets but shrink from the complicated care they seem to demand. Undoubtedly, you’ve read that these plants must be coddled. They often are by specialists. Nevertheless, it’s possible to … Read more