Umbrella Plant
We have a large, old-fashioned bay window that faces south, and it presents a somewhat tropical appearance during the Autumn, Winter and early Spring months.
Large pots containing plants of Curculigo capitulate, giant maranta, Hoya carnosa, Aspidistra elatior variegate and Cyperus altermfolius furnish a foliage setting. Begonias, geraniums, Impatiens sulkini, primulas, coleus and other plants as they come into bloom are added to supply color. From February to May bulbs of hyacinth, narcissus, tulip, scilla, ornithogalum and other kinds that have been potted during the Fall months, and left out under the back steps to grow strong roots, supply not only color but delightful perfume.
An Aquatic Sedge
However, the plants that cause the most comments from many of the callers and visitors are the two clumps of Cyperus alternifolius, sometimes called umbrella plant or umbrella palm. This aquatic sedge, or bog plant, makes a most satisfactory and interesting house plant where its simple requirements are met, the most important of which is plenty of moisture. It prefers sunshine, but will thrive well in semi-shade.
This is one plant that you cannot overwater.
Large Container Needed
We grow them in a large jardiniere and a three gallon stone crock. In the bottoms of the containers we place several pieces of charcoal and about two inches of broken clay pots. The soil used is a rich mixture of well-rotted cow manure, loam, sand and humus, equal parts. We cover the roots well, but leave a space of at least two inches from the top of the containers, and keep the soil covered with an inch of water. The jardiniere and crock are generally placed on low dollies in the corners of the bay window on both sides of the center window.
A Bountiful Grower
By Christmas, each year, many of the canes attain a height of six or more feet, and the ends begin to blossom. Some of the verticils of leaves, 18 inches in diameter and spread out like an umbrella, seem to dominate the window picture.
We leave the plants in semi-shade out-of-doors from early May to late September. Then they are thinned out, and repotted in new soil before being brought into the house. When we are to be away from home during July and August, the plants are removed from their containers, and planted near a water spout where the ground is moist from the extra rain water from the leaders. The plants in the ground during dry Summers sometimes suffer, but generally they do well, and after repotting hasten to send up new leaves.
Cyperus alternifolius can be grown from seeds sown in soil kept constantly moist, and propagated by clump division, or by cutting off a leafy top with an inch of stem and placing it in a shallow dish of water. When roots form, pot in very moist soil.
A dwarf variety, Cyperua a. gracilis, grows about 12 inches high, with verticils three to four inches in diameter. This dwarf kind is especially useful for indoor aquariums, and the larger species for the shallow water of outdoor lily pools and fish ponds.
C Valentine, Flushing, New York
