Horticultural magazines provide instructions for growing almost every type of plant known. But seldom is there any information about the disposal of plants once they have reached the peak of perfection. One can watch blooms wither away, or the plant, at its peak, can be replaced by one just starting to open its buds. But … Read more
With all the modern aids for growing plants under glass, there is little excuse for failure in the winter garden, especially if good housekeeping principles are applied. For the owner of a small home greenhouse, these principles govern not only the greenhouse itself but also, if a potting shed is not available, the cellar, tool … Read more
Every fall, before the frost came, KJ Blanche Scarlett Phelps, Jenkintown, Pa., used to spend days digging up and carrying into the house her begonias, echeverias, geraniums, and other plants that needed winter protection. “If only I had a little greenhouse, or some space that could be converted into a hothouse . . .” she … Read more
Clean up and paint up is the slogan for the owner of the home greenhouse this month. This means hard work, akin to struggle unless one can remember the colorful plants and flowers for which we are preparing a home. It is much easier to prevent an influx of insects and spores of fungus diseases … Read more
A greenhouse is like a jewel case. It houses, protects, and on occasion, displays its choice of items. Both its size and design, like the jewel box, are determined according to the use and pleasure of the owner. Perhaps the resemblance is most obvious in the small greenhouse, for there, as in the tiny case, … Read more
Freesia flowers have the sweetest fragrance of any plant grown indoors—and the basic requirement for success with freesias is a sunny window in a cool room. Freesias grow from bulbs which should be planted during August or earliest September. They have graceful iris-like foliage, are members of the iris family, and are native to South … Read more
Here is August, with sizzling sunshine and buzzing cicadas. While some greenhouse fans are fumigating and painting to make ready for the next season, some maintain a jungle atmosphere all summer for their tropical exotics. With some shade and high humidity, many plants grow well even with high temperatures. These include anthurium, crinum, hibiscus, fuchsia, … 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
Cut flowers in the home greenhouse provide a welcome profusion of winter bloom and a ready source of flowers for indoor bouquets. The initial outlay for a packet or two of seed is small indeed for the bountiful supply of flowers that can be produced. Even if bench space is limited, succession plantings in pots … Read more
The size of the lights you choose will be regulated by the space you need to light. If it is small, use 48-inch, 40-watt lights in single strips or pairs. Use 6- or 8-foot, 74-watt rapid-start slim lines to light larger areas. These should be equipped with standard utility reflectors. Peggie Schulz, in the under-bench … Read more