A good assortment of tools arranged for convenient use can be recommended to every greenhouse gardener. Those tools actually needed are inexpensive, and many of the most useful are homemade. The big thing: have them ready for handy use. In a small greenhouse without a potting shed like mine, spring clips and hooks can be … Read more
From rockets that zoom thousands of miles an hour to African violets that grow a few inches a month is quite a jump, but taken in stride by the technical editors at Reaction Motors, a rocket research firm in Denville, New Jersey. Although pressured daily by the problems of this complex science, the editors find … Read more
It’s potting time in the greenhouse. Large plants, particularly those which have flowered and will be grown on for several years, need either top dressing with fresh soil or shifting to larger pots. Roots of smaller plants may be crowding their quarters, in which case the plants should be moved to larger containers. Rooted cuttings … Read more
Why not center your outdoor living around your greenhouse? It offers a source of water for refreshments, electricity for lights and cooking, and provides space for storage cabinets and a sink for washing dishes. But, more important than these conveniences, a greenhouse offers a cozy shelter for outdoor living in rainy weather. The Robert L. … Read more
The spring is the time of year when most garden interest centers are outdoors. But it is also the time you should check over your African violets. Perhaps your plants are no longer the handsome, eager-to-bloom specimens they were all winter. If so, it may be the result of neglect or overpampering. Unfortunately, time also … Read more
You can grow your orchids for corsages and flower arrangements right in your living room window! Sounds impossible? Well, it isn’t. I find a small homemade glass case as a foolproof aid in getting orchids to flower on my window sill. Making The Homemade Glass Case I made the case out of a window sash … Read more
Ardisia crenata (ar-DIS-ee-ah kre-NAY-tah) is a compact evergreen shrub belonging to the genus Ardisia and from the primrose family, Primulaceae. The genus name Ardisia is derived from the Greek word Ardis, which means “point” or “arrowhead”, referencing the pointed or spear-tipped anthers of the shrub’s flowers. The species name (epithet), Crenata, comes from Crenatus, a … Read more
African Violets are very much in the limelight these days. One flower lover writes, “Many of my garden club friends have gone quietly mad about the plant.” This sums up the situation in a few words. There is no doubt that saintpaulias are one of our most popular house plants. Yet some people have become … Read more
House plants are innovative features in interior decorating now, so you are not old-fashioned if you like to have lovely plants in your home. While small plants on a window sill or small tables bring freshness and charm to a room, it takes a large, exotic plant to add a dramatic touch. Such a plant … Read more
Eucharis x Grandiflora (YOO-kuh-riss gran-dih-FLOR-uh) is an evergreen bulbous perennial belonging to the genus Eucharis and from the amaryllis family, Amaryllidaceae. The genus name Eucharis originated from the Greek word, which means pleasing or charming. The name perfectly describes the flowering plant because of its lovely narcissus-like blooms. The genus Eucharis comprises 15 to 20 … Read more