THE COLD GLASSHOUSE PLANTS

Evening Star, Issue 23113, 12 November 1938, Page 23

THE COLD GLASSHOUSE PLANTS

There is no need to have cold glasshouses bare of flowering plants throughout the winter months, as we find some-, times. There are several varieties of plants which enjoy cool temperatures that we experience here. One of the most beautiful, and a splendid companion to the American perpetual flowering carnation, is Clibran’s hybrid winter flowering begonia. These begonias must not be confused with the winter flowering begonia Glorie de Lorraine, as the latter to be a success must have a warm and moist atmosphere. Some readers of these notes may have noticed a few small plants of these pink flowered begonias in the public gardens a few years ago. The The Clibran’s hybrid begonias must have a cold half-shaded position in the glasshouse to be a success. They are tuberous plants, with beautiful dark green foliage, and are very vigorous in growth. The flower spikes are thrown up well above the foliage, and have a wide range of colours, including scarlet, salmon, crimson, pink', orange, yellow, coppery orange, and cerise, \The flowers are formed in bunches, and about 2in to 3in in width, some single, semi-double, and double. The cultivation is very easy. The mixture which they seem to enjoy is -good fibrous loam—the more fibre in it the better—well-rotted leaf mould or well-decayed cow manure, and sharp sand with a good sprinkling of oyster shell. The tubers must be started in boxes or pots in the shady side of a cold glasshouse, and from the very commencement of growth the direct rays of the sun must be kept from them. As the plants develop they must be shifted into larger sized pots, 6in being an ideal size for their flowering. Immediately flowers appear a little feeding with liquid manure should be done, but care must be exercised not to, give it too strong. Weak but often will be found to be more beneficial than overfeeding. At all stages of the plant growth plenty of ventilation must be given.

The advice given for cineraria growing except that more shading must < be given, is ideal for these beautiful coloured winter flowering plants. These varieties of begonias are being grown in the Dominion, and will be placed on the market at a future date, when I feel sure they will be a great success for those who have a cold glasshouse and for home decoration they will make a delightful change to the cinerarias, cyclamen, etc. These plants carry their "bloom over a considerable period. It is .claimed by horticultural experts that these plants, owing to their easy cultivation and hardy constitution, are the most useful family of winter flowering plants ever railed and offered to the flower-loving pub.ic.