Lots of people want a greenhouse, for one reason or another. Once the idea enters the mind, the home scene is not complete without the desired greenhouse. That is the way it happened to us! Our greenhouse was delivered mid-summer two years ago. It was an odd-looking shipment that consisted of a minimum of crates. … Read more
Some 40 years ago, when the material was difficult to obtain, I wanted a greenhouse. By scrounging around, my husband and I finally built one. It is 18′ by 30′ feet and 14′ feet high. To the west, I have added a 12′ by 15′ potting room which has windows all around. The south half … Read more
Have you seen the exciting and fashionable green and gold-edged African violets? Did you ever visualize that such interesting color combinations might be produced by the American hybridized? African violet hybrids of good single and double forms edged in chartreuse, lavender, green, and gold do exist and are available in many saintpaulia lists and catalogs … Read more
Vriesea splendens are native to Brazil and part of the bromeliad family. It is closely related to pineapples and Spanish moss. The plant leaves are long and thin, green with red or yellow stripes running down the middle. Its flowers are small and white, yellow, or red, growing in clusters at the end of the … Read more
If you like to have a bit of nature in your home, then Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri is a great plant to consider. The gaertneri is a hybrid plant created by crossing two different species of cacti. The natural habitat for the Rhipsalidopsis plant is the rainforests of Brazil. These plants are epiphytes, which means they grow … Read more
After talking to many people, I have little doubt that the easiest plant to grow is African violets under fluorescent lights. Simplest Light Set-Up The simplest light set-up is one using a reflector type of fixture having two 40-watt fluorescent bulbs which can be bought as a complete unit for less than $15. Such light … Read more
If you have a greenhouse or a cool enclosed porch and would like to grow something unusual, a true conversation piece, you should buy a staghorn fern. Platycerium: Native in Tropical Countries This genus, Platycerium, is native to tropical Africa, Asia, and temperate Australia. These ferns have leaves (called fronds) of two kinds: sterile clasping … Read more
More plants than window space! That’s the problem that confronts many indoor gardeners today. But it’s a problem which can be solved by using electric lights. Electric Lights for House Plants With properly installed and maintained fluorescent or incandescent light fixtures you can grow house plants in places you never thought possible—poorly lighted windows, and porches. … Read more
Our living room is bright with plants all winter because we bring summer indoors with push-button sunshine. It all started a year ago when we needed a winter home for the goldfish that lived in our small garden pool. My handy spouse fitted a frame (made from two-by-fours salvaged when our neighbors rebuilt their attic) … Read more
At the end of the growing season, tender plants are often too large to pot and bring inside. To have them for winter windows or to keep a start for next year’s outdoor garden, many of them can be “slipped.” How To Slip Plants Here’s what you need to do: Plants grown from slips (cuttings) … Read more