It is a common saying among experienced gardeners that many plants are at their best just before frost cuts them down. This we know is due, at least in part, to the very helpful influence of the cooler nights.
In the greenhouse, we have this condition continued indefinitely without danger of frost. This, and the shortening daylight, help to give a fine show of bloom under cover. Later the sunshine becomes scanty, and growth and bloom slacken.
Of course, one has long since made certain that the heating system and automatic controls for temperature and humidity are in order. The evaporative cooler may be set to cool by day if necessary and to humidify by recirculation on nights when considerable heat is needed.
Now Is The Season
At this season, the virtues of clean glass, freed from all remains of shading, are evident. White greenhouse paint helps to brighten the greenhouse, and any rusted metal parts should be freshened with aluminum paint.
Plants sure to respond to this extended fall in the greenhouse include many that suffer from torrid summer outdoors. In this group are:
- Calendula
- Salpiglossis
- Carnation
- Pansy
- Stock
- Lowly Marigold
- Alyssum
Plants may be had from
- Seeds sown in the greenhouse in August
- Plants, in bud or bloom, brought in from the garden in late fall
- Self-sown seedlings found on mature plants
Tropical Beauties
Many tropical beauties:
- Crinum
- Nerine
- Cattleya orchids
Respond to this season with bloom.
Of course, chrysanthemums are in their glory, including all the fantastic and beautiful varieties that are so difficult to grow outdoors. Some clever (or fortunate) gardeners manage to clear away their chrysanthemums in time to make space for Camellias brought in from outdoors.
This is not difficult to do in regions where the damaging freezes come after the year’s end.
Begonias
Begonias belong to a vast family of interesting tropical plants. They vary considerably, but all bear the characteristic clamshell flowers. Some flowers, such as those of tuberous begonias, are glorified into saucer-sized; others are minute.
A homely, time-honored, but confused group of these begonias are hybrids of Begonia semperflorens, commonly referred to as wax begonias. Some are red of flower and foliage; others are green-leaved with white flowers. Many of these come true from seed and are grown in large quantities for garden borders.
The double-flowered forms should be better known and appreciated.
These gents of the family, of course, must be vegetatively propagated as they form no seed. In the best varieties, the flowers resemble a 1″-inch ball of crepe paper.
They handle a wide range of growing conditions both indoors and out, have amazing vitality, and can be propagated from the smallest cutting placed in water and bright sun or in perlite-vermiculite.
Also in this group, handsome and intriguing but capricious and challenging, are the variegated green-and-white-leaved varieties. They are attractive but require more sunshine to overcome the handicap of the albino leaves. They also occasionally die without notice or cause.
FGR-1158 by G Victor