Unusual house plants, especially those which require rather exacting treatments, are a challenge to the veteran grower of indoor plants. Perhaps you are one of those who have become a bit bored by the humdrum of routine watering, potting and puttering around with the rather commonplace ivies, cacti, rubber plants, Sanserierias, ferns and african violets. Not that these old favorites have no merit, but “distant pastures may be greener”.
Let’s explore the possibilities of the unconventional plant world, for here we can expect the curious, the quaint and, perhaps, even the bizarre. Without doubt, the best source of oddities and freaks is to be found in the cactus and succulent families where names like stone face, baby toes, old man, plover eggs, panda plant, arab’s turban, starfish, burro tail, jelly beans and powder puff describe the subjects in picturesque language. These plants are collectors’ items and fanciers of cacti and succulents are definitely working with unusual plant life.
However, there are other intriguing forms of plant life, both unusual and beautiful, but to grow them one must be willing to provide the conditions prescribed by each plant’s native environment. That is what the professional growers do in the large public conservatories and commercial greenhouses. For practical purposes let us group our potential subjects into convenient categories having common cultural practices. It is unlikely that all of these plants will be desirable in any one house collection, but the species selected for special consideration are, for the most part, readily obtainable.
Spring-flowering Bulbs
The forcing of potted tulips, daffodils and hyacinths is a standard procedure with many amateur window gardeners. A little exploring in bulb catalogs will show how easy it is to expand the potted bulb collection to include some out-of-the-ordinary types. The use of tulip species as kaufmanniana, praestans, forsteriana lied Emperor and others will relieve the monotony of the hybrid garden types. Try Narcissus bulbocodium , Iriandrus and juncifollus for charming effects in small containers. The summer snowflake Leucojum reminds one of a robust edition of the garden snowdrop. This interesting bulb is an excellent pot subject and large enough to have cut flower value. Puschkinia, Scilla hispanica and Fritillaria meleagris may also be flowered indoors in late Winter by providing the same culture prescribed for tulips. Pot them in early Fall and store the potted bulbs in a cool dark cellar at a temperature of 40 to 50° F. If suitable cellar storage is not available, a deep cold-frame or a pit in an out-of-the-way part of the garden will answer the purpose. To protect the pots, cover with four or five inches of soil and a mulch of leaves or straw to prevent heavy freezing. After three months’ storage there should be sufficient root formation to permit forcing in a sunny window.
Hardy Spring-flowering Perennials
The preview of the Spring flower parade ushered in with bulbs may be enhanced by Winter forcing of wild flowers. If one has access to established plants of Trillium, blue bells, Mertensia, Hepatica, jack-in-the-pulpit, and trout lilies, Erythronium, they may be dug in the Fall, potted and plunged in a cold frame. Although freezing will not harm them, a heavy mulch of straw, leaves or salt hay will prevent cracked pots and make it easier to remove the bulbs in February for Spring forcing. Many nurseries carry plants of these wild flowers for Fall planting so that it is not necessary to “borrow” them from their native habitat.
The Use of Tender Bulbs
For a change from amaryllis, gloxinia and tuberous begonia, we can suggest itchi mews, fancy-leaved Caladium, Gloriosa, Cliria and l’eltheimia. The Aehimenes, a relative of the gloxinia and african violet, is best started by planting the tubers inch deep in shallow boxes of sand and leaf mold in late February or March. When the shoots have progressed to a length of two inches, pot several in shallow bulb pans in a soil mixture of loam, sand and leaf mold. Grow Achimenes in good light but not in full sun. In late Fall, remove the tubers from the soil and store them in dry sand or peat moss at 50 degrees F. until February when they may be started again for the following season. Fancy-leaved Caladiums respond to similar treatment and will reward the grower with a gorgeous color display from Spring until Fall. The Glorious or climbing lily is another showy plant that fits into this cultural calendar. Since the tubers are fairly large, they are potted singly in any available potting soil. Gloriosas arc sitting in habit and will appreciate support.
Two bulbous plants that have evergreen foliage are the elude and Veltheimia. Established plants may be kept going for several years without special attention. However, the Clicia will appreciate a -dry rest” in November and December and the Veltheimia should be kept on the dry side during July and August.
Miscellaneous
A careful search among conservatory plant material reveals a few uncommon species of pot plants, possessing the dual advantage of continuous growth and long season of attractive bloom. The Chinese hibiscus, Hibiscus rose sinensis, will bloom all Summer and Fall at room temperature. It is good practice to rest it from December to March in good light at 50° F. Before the new Spring growth begins, prune the plants severely, as they do not resent such treatment. The shrimp plant, Beloperone guttata is blessed with the same everblooming characteristic common to geraniums and some begonias. New plants are easily produced by cuttings in May and old, misshapen plants should be discarded. Lovers of coleus will react favorably to the Velvet Leaf or Gynura aurantiaca. Like coleus, this plant with the striking velvety foliage is a rapid grower and it pays to renew them at intervals by rooting cuttings taken from the old plant. Certain foliage begonias are noted for their adaptability to well-lighted windows and notable in this group are the star begonia, B. heracleifolia, and the species with leaves resembling the castor oil plant, B. ricinifolia. Both species respond to ordinary care and possess attractive foliage and flowers.
In closing, mention should be made of a comparatively new group of plants that can be highly recommended for window culture, namely the various members of the Bro. meliad family. They are relatives of the pineapple and grow well in dry air and poor light. They are famous for case of culture, exotic flowers, interesting foliage and startling names such as Billhergia, Cryptanthus, Vriesia, itechmia and Tillandsia. Bromeliads, like the cacti and succulents, are well adapted to hobby gardening and plant collecting.
These suggestions on ways and means of holstering a house plant collection with new and interesting material carry no guarantee that every plant will be a success. All of these plants have been grown successfully by amateur window gardeners and should be capable of repeating this performance in the hands of others.
