Belonging to the Madder family this genus includes about 200 evergreen shrubs and rarely small trees. Best known representatives are G. jasminoides, or cape jasmine, and G. Veitchii, the florists gardenia, with its waxy, fragrant white flowers and glossy foliage.
Goldenseal took its name from the golden stain its roots emit. American Indians used the plant to dye their clothing and skin, and as an insect repellent. The herbs generic name, Hydrastis, comes from two Greek words meaning water and to accomplish referring to its medicinal value, especially its past use in treating mucous membranes.
During its blooming season, G. jasminoides must be kept thoroughly wet and not allowed to dry out, but in winter it is kept fairly dry. G. Veitchii is an ever blooming gardenia, the most popular hothouse or house plant variety.
The culture of freesias is quite simple. The corms and plants are tender and must never be subjected to freezing temperatures. They are suited to house culture exclusively. Success depends primarily upon correct temperature. Prepare a special soil mixture composed of one-third each of leaf mold or shredded peat moss, good rich garden soil and fine clean sand. Moisten the mixture moderately and place it in pots or deep bulb pans, first covering the drainage hole with a few pieces of broke flowerpot. Five or six corms can be planted in a five-inch pot, from eight to ten in a six inch pot.
Gardenias do best indoors in a cool room. If this is not available, see that the temperature drops at night and keep the plants near a window where the temperature is normally lower than in the rest of the room.
At the end of the second season the seedlings are usually large enough to be transplanted to their permanent beds six to eight inches apart each way, with the root socks covered to a depth of about two inches. The soil should be kept free from weeds and the plants liberally watered throughout the growing season. For satisfactory growth the plant requires about 75 percent shade during summer.
Always keep the plants as close to the window as possible, but beware that they are not harmed by the frost during cold nights. The foliage must never be allowed to touch the glass of the window. A few thicknesses of paper placed between the plants and the glass during extra-cold nights will be an added protection. Water moderately, but never let the soil dry out. When the buds begin to open very weak liquid manure may be substituted for the water to encourage long flower spikes set with larger blooms, Support flower stem with four or five short, thin stakes stuck around the edge of the pot connected with thin twine. For cutting, remove each spray when the first two blooms have opened.
When the blooming season is over, gradually withhold water and dry off in a cool room. The process of ripening the corms required about a month or so. When perfectly dry, shake the soil from the corms and store in a dry place until next fall or early winter, when they may be replanted. Corms which started into growth during storage fail to bloom, in most cases. - 16492
Goldenseal took its name from the golden stain its roots emit. American Indians used the plant to dye their clothing and skin, and as an insect repellent. The herbs generic name, Hydrastis, comes from two Greek words meaning water and to accomplish referring to its medicinal value, especially its past use in treating mucous membranes.
During its blooming season, G. jasminoides must be kept thoroughly wet and not allowed to dry out, but in winter it is kept fairly dry. G. Veitchii is an ever blooming gardenia, the most popular hothouse or house plant variety.
The culture of freesias is quite simple. The corms and plants are tender and must never be subjected to freezing temperatures. They are suited to house culture exclusively. Success depends primarily upon correct temperature. Prepare a special soil mixture composed of one-third each of leaf mold or shredded peat moss, good rich garden soil and fine clean sand. Moisten the mixture moderately and place it in pots or deep bulb pans, first covering the drainage hole with a few pieces of broke flowerpot. Five or six corms can be planted in a five-inch pot, from eight to ten in a six inch pot.
Gardenias do best indoors in a cool room. If this is not available, see that the temperature drops at night and keep the plants near a window where the temperature is normally lower than in the rest of the room.
At the end of the second season the seedlings are usually large enough to be transplanted to their permanent beds six to eight inches apart each way, with the root socks covered to a depth of about two inches. The soil should be kept free from weeds and the plants liberally watered throughout the growing season. For satisfactory growth the plant requires about 75 percent shade during summer.
Always keep the plants as close to the window as possible, but beware that they are not harmed by the frost during cold nights. The foliage must never be allowed to touch the glass of the window. A few thicknesses of paper placed between the plants and the glass during extra-cold nights will be an added protection. Water moderately, but never let the soil dry out. When the buds begin to open very weak liquid manure may be substituted for the water to encourage long flower spikes set with larger blooms, Support flower stem with four or five short, thin stakes stuck around the edge of the pot connected with thin twine. For cutting, remove each spray when the first two blooms have opened.
When the blooming season is over, gradually withhold water and dry off in a cool room. The process of ripening the corms required about a month or so. When perfectly dry, shake the soil from the corms and store in a dry place until next fall or early winter, when they may be replanted. Corms which started into growth during storage fail to bloom, in most cases. - 16492
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