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Home My WebLink AboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1970-12-17, Page 102B GODERJO},SICNAL.STAR, T1 URSDAY, DECSM 3I 117,1970 ftARDEN1NG. NOTES BY A. R. BUCKLEY One of the mysteries of plant life 'is how the unpretentious branches of some cactuses can •.suddenly. form; huge buds that burst .open into special blooms at twilight. Many of these night blooming plants together with even more spectacular day • blooms ,belong t;b .a group of hybrids and spbcies collectiyely known asepiphyllums. The hybrid epiphyllums are greenhouse .and window garden • succulents popularly known as 'Orchid cactuses because of the shape and beauty .of their flowers, although this is not their only claim to distinction. The parents of modern ,hybrids are from Brazil, Mexico and Central America and from altitudes , from 3,000 to 5,000 feet, not from the steamy tropical regions. as might be expected. In these habitats they grow in the ' crotches of trees, where debris has collected, like epiphytic orchids. Epiphyllums have short woody stems and long flat strap shaped fleshy, usually pendulous branches that look and serve as leaves. The name epiphyllum is derived from epi— upon, and phyllon-- a leaf, and refers to the apparent location of • the flowers. Some have triangular branches while others are both flat and triangular on the same plant. The species are larger plants and not too easy to bring into flower. Many have been . interbred to give todays free flowering brightly olored hybrids.: The culture f the hybrids - is fairly sirpl . They should be placed in a room where the minimum temper, ature is 50 degrees. This temperature may be allowed to rise 10-20 degrees F. during the day. Higher temperatures may be harmful. . During the winter they should be placed in a sunny exposure, but if placed outside in summer they should be shaded. The plants are usually obtained,from nurseries as small specimens growing in,. two and one-half inch pots. Upon arrival they are best planted in five inch Bots in a porous yet fairlyY-rich organic soil. A :formula tested here that seems to be adequ to is one . containing a four parts decayed leaves, two parts peat moss, three parts dried cow or sheep manure, two parts gravel • and two ,parts sharp sand with a _. few lumps of charcoal added. The plants will not thrive in a compacted soil so when potting do not pack -the soil as you would fair some house plants. Repotting old plants should be dobe in late winter, just when the new growth begins, or three Or four weeks after ,flowering. The soil should be the same as for potting new plants. Most hybrids flower and thrive well in five -inch pots and if already in • Orchid Cactuses - a IwI1I:ht mystery. such a pot are best left until the plants are potbound and then repotted into the same pot for a few years by shaking out the old soil and replacing wi Once the plants they must be wat sparingly and t increasing the summer when growth is more rapid. Afier` the buds have set the plants require plenty of water so that the flowers -mature properly. After flowering which is normally during ,April, May, and June do not force by excessive watering. At this time rest for a few weeks until the main growth begins. While the plants are growing, a twice weekly misting with lukewarm water is extremely beneficial. During period, ew. are : owing red at first en gradually nts until this too, some fertilizer should be applied. A complete fertilizer such as that -usually sold for African violets should be given once every two weeks until the plants have flowered. • The propagation of epiphyllums from cuttings- may be carried out at any time of the year, but is best done in spring" when the growth is more vigorous. Take cuttings preferably from non -flowering shoots and dip the ends in Flowers of Sulphur. Then store them on a dry shelf for a week or two before inserting in a pot of sand. They will usually take four to six weeks ,;to produce roots but may be left in the sand for a very long period with no harmful results. Temperature affects many plants in the epiphyllum group in extraordinary ways. The Christmas cactus (Zygocactusa truncatus) for example wily flower regardless of daylight at 55 degrees F. but if given 65 degrees F. it will respond in the same way as a short day plant. This means that if you grow a• Christmas Cactus in the house at normal temperatures of 65-70 degrees F., you should cover with a dark cloth to reduce daylight hours. If you grow at temperatures higher than 70 the plants will not bloom at any time. Many people that grow these Christmas cactus successfully either put them in a dark corner for six to eight weeks during August. .end September to produce buds or .cover plants frbm five p.m. until seven a. m• with a black cloth each night for the same period. There are many striking epiphyllum hybrids, a few of which havb been grown successfully at the Plant Research Institute and flower extremely well. These fare Conway's Giant, a very vigorous large flowered red; Empress of -Deutsche Kaiserin, a smaller flowered pink with abundant blooms; Professor Ebert, a strong magenta; Flor del Sol, with scarlet or brownish vermilion flowers; Sun Goddess, with eleven -inch flowers of orange to nasturtium red; Nimbus, an outstanding pink and Eden with white flowers. Deutsche Kaiserin is a epiphyllum that produces small pink and white flowers in abundance. W Ws W. ATTENTION w w 15. w .SKIERS w w If you would Tike the ski tow to operate this year please get your application for membership at once from Geor9e Ross, People's Stores, so that we can make preparation for the approaching season and pay up last year's outstanding .1 bills We need your support now. MINUTES OF YOUR LIFE... *WILM OW A UMW THIS CHRISTMAS GIVE A LASTING GIFT A GIFT OF QUALITY FROM Hutchinson • Radio - TV — Appliances 308 Hu�)n Rd. 524-7831. There are over 3,000 hybrids available of this colorful group of plants and a society -- The Epiphyllum Society, of America, devoted to theL_ study of cultivation and breeding of new cultivars, • ° For Your INSURANCE see oar call 11/43CIEWairi Maciweiva 44 North St. -- 524-9531 Donald G. MacEwan Peter S. Maoewanry Highlights from our Annual _Report Company Funds Guaranteed Funds Estates, Trusts and Agencies Total Assets under Administration • • 1970 $ 27,806,008 415,950,304 58,276,428 502,032,740 • Trust Deposits 1969 $ 27,147,138 365,660,206 52,618,993 445,426, 337 319,864,709 275, 302,084 96,085,595 90,358,122 Net profit for the year A Earnings per common share - VG 2,473,400 2,157,481 1.59 - 1.36 V!' JRJAandGREY' TRUST COMPANY SINCE 1889 Belleville • Brampton-. Cannington • Exeter • Goderich • Hanover • Kingston • Lindsay • Listowel • Meaford • Newmarket • Orangeville • Orillia • Owen Sound • Peterborough .Port Credit • Renfrew • Richmond Hill • St. Marys • Stratford • Toronto (5) • Whitby . LeMand., Hill, Manager 9:00 to_ 5:00 Monday to Thursday 9:00 to- 6:00 Friday Elgin and Kingston Streets, Goderich 524-7381 •N MOM 011111111 O !11♦..Y11WI▪ . J•011/10 1t�1! MON r 1111•1110 0•141•011M.1.1 MOO Xle."1= 41INION, NMI 41.10, MO. 11IM. •mow ... ."OM OM •Nnah MOS �• IMPS •.• 4111.0 .1111♦ IMO ._ SNIP =Or MO MO ONO Ole 0.0 OOP IMO SIM 41 1.1• 11111. •INIIS MP WWII 1.1. w ASV NMI Imois OM •11111116 III �-ter 011111. , NIP IOW Mel ter .w .n r OM ISA =pa OW I010....ft aloft OMNI Ideul for Christmas SHOP EARLY FOR BEST SELECTION Or May We Suggest. .. . Area Rugs. . . 9"x12" in several colours Circular Fringed Oval Fringed and Rectangular Unfringed in various patterns and colour combinations. A perfect gift for bedrooms. Priced from as low as $8.95 • dr DOOR MATS Ltd: YOUR COMPLETE IOME 08CORATING CENTRE • • 361 W S" ►"; GOOERICH .4 (Fearing In Mind,,A Picture ,Tells 1,000 Words) OPEN EVERY WEDNESDAY IN DECEMBER Open 'Wilt 9:00 p.m. Evenings Starting December 14th Except Saturday