Garden Notes - Statice to Villota

Statice or Sea Lavender

In cultivating these interesting plants great care must be exercised especially in watering. Take cuttings in March from old plants set in warm greenhouse ( 50 to 60 degrees) to make shoots. Cuttings must be taken off with a sharp knife close to stem, and rooted quickly in pots of fibrous loam and peat mixed with leaf-mould and silver sand. Set in bottom heat of 75 degrees, and wipe glass of frame occasionally. Re-pot as growth requires, and keep in warm house until established, then move to airy sunny greenhouse. Temperature October to April 45 to 50 degrees.  

Streptocarpus or Cape Primrose

Showy herbaceous perennials admirably adapted for greenhouse cultivation; mixed hybrids raised annually from seed yielding the best results. Seeds should be sown in February ( temperature of 55 to 65 degrees), in well-drained 6 inch pots filled with compost of equal parts sifted loam, peat, leaf-mould, and silver sand. Keep moist and shade from sun. Transplant first one inch apart, and later singly in 2 inch pots, and finally to 5 or 6 inch pots with richer soil. Give liquid manure when flower-buds appear about July. Seeds sown in April should flower in August and on through autumn and winter.

Trachelium or Blue Throat-Wort

T. caruleum, a perennial producing beautiful heads of blue flowers from 4 to 8 inches across, is easily cultivated in greenhouse or conservatory. Sow seed in September in light sandy soil, water carefully and cover with glass, shading until seedlings come up. Transplant about 2 inches apart, and keep near glass in greenhouse protected from frost. Pot firmly in February, single plants in 3 inch pots, in compost of loam three parts, manure and sand one part each. Pinch out points when established, re-pot as required into 5 or 6 inch pots, and apply liquid manure until flowers appear.  

Tulip

These popular hardy bulbous-rooted plants are especially suitable for growing in pots, and a similar method of cultivation may be applied to almost all varieties. Compost: loam two parts, leaf-mould or decayed manure one part, and one part road-grit. Three bulbs should be placed in a 5 inch, or four in a 6 inch pot, planted firmly just below the surface. Cover with fiber and set in cold frame, removing to greenhouse when growth begins, and watering freely. Liquid manure or soot-water should be applied as soon as the buds are visible.

Vallota or Scarborough Lily

Evergreen bulbous plant suitable for greenhouse or window cultivation, and growing 12 to 18 inches in height. Pot dry bulbs in October or March, in compost consisting of fibrous loam two parts, leaf-mould and sand one part. Bulbs should be firmly potted, and provided with ample drainage. From March to June water freely, and apply liquid manure, giving the plants a light sunny position. Give little water from June to August so as to allow the bulbs partial rest before flowering in August and September.