Clivia

Clivia minima is a greenhouse evergreen which was first introduced to Great Britain in 1823 from South Africa. Formerly it was called Imantophyllum, but in around 1866, when a new classification was introduced, it was re-named Clivia, after Charlotte, Duchess of Northumberland, nee G i v e , who is said to have been the first to flower the plant in England. It has the common names Kaffir or Caffre lily and Natal lily, which no doubt were used when it bore its former name, but the use of these has died out now: that it has such a simple generic name.

It has very fleshy roots and strap-like leaves of which when it is growing well, it will produce four to six new ones during the growing season. It flowers in the spring.

Clivias are not difficult to raise from seed, and once you have a plant propagation of further plants can be carrried out by means of offshoots, which frequently form on flowering size plants. The only drawback to raising your plants from seed is that you will have to wait three or four years before you see it flower. On the other hand flowering-size plants are expensive. In my ignorance of the length of time it takes the plant to flower, I bought a packet of seeds in 1956 for three shillings. It contained three seeds which I sowed on 9 April 1956, and all three germinated. It was four years before the first plant flowered, but the tremendous pleasure it gave me was worth all the time I had waited. I still have three clivias which have been propagated from time to time from these original plants. It is necessary to discard plants after a number of years, because they would require very large pots or tubs and take up too much room in the greenhouse.

ZONAL PELARGONIUM SORGERANIUMS

P. hortorum

By 1860 hybridists were producing hybrids which could be said to be the forerunners of the modern geranium. A race of double flowers was produced in 1864 by the famous breeder Victor Lemoine, in his nursery at Nancy, which was the result of a sport. By 1869 Lemoine was listing 70 varieties of doubleflowered geraniums. In 1871 a considerable cash prize was offered for the first double white, which gives some idea of the interest and the demand for geranium varieties. The most famous of all was raised by Monsieur Crampel at his geranium nursery at Nancy. Realising he had raised a plant of considerable commercial value, he commenced propagating a large stock from cuttings, without allowing any of the plants to bloom, thus keeping secret the beauty of this new variety and reducing the possibility of theft. When he had filled several greenhouses and was ready to market the plant, it was allowed to bloom and introduced to the public in 1903. The plants were sold at over £1 each. At the time the red-flowered ' H e n r y Jacoby' was the most popular variety and Covent Garden was, as often, rather conservative, with the result that it was a few years before 'Paul СгатреГ took pride of place, but eventually by 1910 it was recognised as the finest geranium in the world and has remained popular even to this day, despite the many superior cultivars which have since been raised.

FUCHSIA - part 2

It would seem that James Lee was informed by one of his customers that they had seen a very pretty and unusual plant in the window of a cottage in Wapping. His curiosity aroused, he went to see for himself and when he saw the plant he quickly realised the commercial value, and was consequently keen to acquire it. The woman who owned it was, however, reluctant to part with it because it had a sentimental value for her, having been brought home to her from South America by her sailor son (some versions of this story say it was her husband). However, terms were agreed; here again versions vary, as some say James Lee gave her all the money in his pocket, about eight guineas, and others that he came back the next day and kept increasing his offer until she finally accepted a price of eighty guineas, but this latter version would appear less likely. One thing is certain and that is that she would not part with it until he agreed to let her have the first two cuttings. By 1790 James Lee had raised 300 plants from the original fuchsia, and these he sold for one guinea each. It is not recorded which species it was.

The first known record of a hybrid was in 1832, being a cross between F. coccinea and F. magellanica, after which many hybrids were raised. Towards the end of the nineteenth century there were 1,500 or so named varieties, but, like many plants, hundreds of these were lost during the two world wars, and nowadays it is doubtful if a third of these old varieties still exist, despite the fact that varieties have kept turning up, from many amateur growers, which have been passed on from one grower to another. As with all groups of popular plants, such as pelargoniums and chrysanthemums, many new varieties have been bred during the past thirty years, and the modern hybrids are usually superior to the old ones. There are two main groups of fuchsias: hardy fuchsias, which are grown as permanent bushes in the garden, and greenhouse fuchsias which are grown in pots and need protection in the colder months, as they are not frost-hardy. As we are only dealing with greenhouse and house plants, it is the cultivation of

the latter group which is described.

EPIPHYLLUMS

These are much larger plants than the foregoing and the flowers they produce are much larger and more showy. The plants offered for sale are hybrids between the various species, in particular Epiphyllum ackermannii, which comes from Mexico, Central America and South America. The natural flowering time of the epiphyllum is early summer; consequently you will probably purchase a plant at this time. After flowering the plant is best kept in a shady spot, in a good light. At the end of the summer bring the plant indoors or into the greenhouse. Water normally from the flowering period until the end of autumn, and then withhold water to give the plants a resting period, until the first signs of the flower buds, which should be some time in early spring. Do not allow the compost to dry out completely, but water very sparingly and keep it well on the dry side. During this resting period the plants should be kept in a cool atmosphere, at about 4 5 - 5 0 ° F ( 7 - 10°C). As soon as pot is full of roots. Use the smallest size of pot compatible with the root system and only transfer to a larger pot when necessary.

The propagation of epiphyllums is by cuttings, because like the Christmas cactus it takes four to eight years for plants to flower when grown from seed. Select a healthy terminal growth of the leaf-like stems and remove the top 5 - 6 in (13-15 cm), making a the flower buds are visible put the plants in a warmer temperature, minimum 6 0 ° F (15°C), and commence watering again. Feed every two weeks with a high potash fertiliser until the first flowers open. Repotting, if necessary, should be carried out shortly after the plants have finished flowering, using soilless compost of the type suitable for ericaceous plants, because epiphyllums require an acid compost free from lime. Do not repot plants before they are pot-bound, as an epiphyllum flowers best when its clean cut with a knife. Allow the cutting to dry off for two or three days and then push the cut end into moist peat, % in (13 mm) deep, and support it with a thin stake. Cover the pot with a plastic dome or enclose in a plastic bag for two or three weeks and keep in a minimum temperature of 6 0 ° F (15°C) until it is well rooted when it should be potted in the compost in a 2'/2-in (6-cm) or 3-in (9-cm) pot. The growth of epiphyllums is much more erect than the Christmas cactus and plants should be kept staked from the time of taking the cutting, to encourage the plant to remain erect; otherwise it tends to sprawl, owing to the weight of the young stems. Plants can be grown on for years. The flowers of epiphyllums are usually shades of red, but there are also hybrids with flowers in white, pink, cream and purple or mauve.

If you grow epiphyllums in the house, on a windowledge, it is advisable to avoid moving them once the flower buds have formed, because the buds are drawn towards the light. If a plant is turned the buds will obviously have to change direction and this weakens them to the extent that you get quite a number of buds dropping off the plant. This does not apply in the greenhouse because there is sufficient light all round the plant. Once all the buds have opened into flowers the plant can be moved without detriment. The same remarks apply to the Christmas cactus and the Easter cactus.

KURUME AZALEAS

The plants in this group are so named because they originated from the Kurume region in Japan. Kurume hybrid plants are usually bushy, and as they Kurume Azalea "Hino-Mayo' is a very slow growing evergreen Japanese azalea which will flower in the winter. Are slow-growing make excellent pot plants which can last for 20-30 years before they become too big. They are frost-hardy and are, in fact, usually offered for sale as garden plants, and are readily available as named varieties. The flowers, which on well-grown plants completely cover the plant, are single or hose-in-hose.

PELARGIUM

This sub-genus is the source of the regal pelargoniums. The main parent is thought to be the species Pelargonium cucullatum, with contributions from several other species including: P. angulosum, dark purple with darker streaks (introduced 1724); and P. grandi/lorum, white with red streaks (introduced 1794).

In addition to zonal and regal pelargoniums there are several other groups, the main ones being ivyleaved pelargoniums, scented-leaved, decorative foliage varieties, uniques and miniatures. You could easily fill a greenhouse with a small selection of the many varieties available, but if your purpose is to grow plants to furnish the house throughout the year it is necessary to show restraint and select the groups which will serve this purpose best. The two main groups, which are the zonals and regals, are therefore the obvious choice.

CICONIUM

It is from this sub-genus that the zonal pelargoniums, commonly called geraniums, are derived. As with many plants which have been raised from a number of different species by cross-breeding over a long period of time, it is impossible to be sure of the parents, w h i c h have been used to produce the many hybrids now in existence. Systematic breeding is a development of the twentieth century and few hybridists kept detailed records in earlier times; but it is traditionally thought that the main parent species used in developing the zonal hybrids were Pelargonium inquinans (introduced in 1714) and Pelargonium zonale (introduced in 1710), but it is more than likely that other species such as P. scandens, P. frutetorum and P. hybridum were also involved.

PELARGONIUMS

Family Geraniaceae

The order Geraniaceae is divided into five tribes, one of which is called Geraniae, which in turn also has five genera, two of which are Geranium and Pelargonium. It is at this point that the reader can become confused by virtue of the fact that gardeners still continue to refer to pelargoniums as geraniums despite botanists changing the name of the genus well over a hundred years ago. We therefore have two very different types of plants both being referred to by the same name, which can obviously create confusion. The true geranium is a herbaceous hardy plant widespread throughout the world, in temperate regions and on mountains in the tropics, a considerable number being native to Great Britain, Europe and North America. On the other hand the pelargonium erroneously, but by common usage, called geranium, is a half-hardy plant found in temperate or subtropical regions of the world.

SMITHIANTHA

Family Gesneriaceae

Smithianthas are very attractive plants with ornamental leaves, which have a velvety texture

mainly green in colour with brown markings along the veins, above which the flower spikes rise to a height of some 1 2 - 18 in ( 3 0 - 4 5 cm) The tubular bell-shaped flowers, which hang down

on short stalks all round the main stems, are bright shades of pink, orange, red and yellow. The inside of the (lower is a ditferent colour from the outside and is delicately patterned or mottled, so that you may have, say, a red flower with a speckled orange interior, and the overall effect is most attractive. It is the flowers which give the plant the common name of temple bells. The genus was named after a Matilda Smith, who was a botanical artist attached to Kew Gardens.

Smithianthas are closely related to gesnerias and their correct nomenclature has been somewhat confused. They used to be known as naegelias and some nurserymen still offer then under this name. Their native habitat is Mexico. Only the hybrids are grown nowadays, and these are usually offered as mixed colours, but at one time there were named varieties available.

AGAPANTHUS

FAMILY LILIACEAE

Agapanthus africanus, sometimes known as the African lily, is a cool greenhouse perennial with a fleshy tuberous root. It was introduced from Cape Province, South Africa, to Europe in the seventeenth century. It is of compact habit, with graceful strapshaped leaves similar to a hippeastrum. From these a stem grows to a height of some 18-30 in (45- 75 cm), bearing a large round flower head or umbel made up of pale blue tubular florets. There is also a white variety.

Pot the tuberous root about 6 in (15 cm) deep in a 7-in (17.5-cm) pot in compost E6 or JI No.2 in early spring. Water the pot and until growth appears water sparingly, after which put the pot on the automatic watering bench until the end of spring, then put the plant outside in a sunny position. If the plant is left in the greenhouse during the summer it is likely that the flowering stem will become elongated. Although these plants will stand full sunshine, they do not require a hot atmosphere. The blooming period is usually during summer. Cease watering at the end of the summer and keep the compost completely dry from autumn until the following spring when the plant can be started into growth merely by watering it. No artificial heat is required as the normal unheated greenhouse temperatures at this time of the year are quite high enough during the day to bring the plant into growth. Agapanthus are quite hardy and only require a frost-proof storage in the winter months when dormant. Repot plants every three or four years, at which time you can increase your stock by root division.