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15. Growing for the House-Plant Market

Tropical foliage plants are enormously and deservedly popu­lar. Many new homes are being constructed with built-in planter bins and unusual planters or combination planter-room-dividers, some with artificial lighting units. This—combined with the long-standing market for potted and bare-root foliage plants for old-fashioned window gardens, water planters, etc. —spells "ready money" for almost any kind of foliage house plant you may grow.

Some of the large foliage plants are popular for use on totem poles in pots or to grow in large plastic or wooden pots or tubs. Most foliage plants propagate rapidly and are easy to grow— a real asset when you are considering them as profit-making plants.

Many indoor gardeners like flowering plants for their win­dow gardens. You have plenty of leeway in the plants you choose to grow for these customers—from miniature gloxinias and African violets to shrub like flowering maple.

This chapter is devoted to the better foliage and flowering plants—better for your customer because of their good performance and better for you because of their cultural reliability and built-in sales appeal.

Abutilon

The flowers of Abutilon, the flowering maple, look like paper bells and come in near-white, rose, and orange. You may have to purchase your first plant, and from this you can make fall and early winter cuttings. A soil of equal parts of loam, peatmoss, and sand seems to keep abutilon happy. During summer it can be grown under ordinary warm greenhouse conditions. In the winter the plants fare best in a cool greenhouse.

Fall cuttings will be salable 3-inch plants by April or May.

Acanthacea

Three members of the Acanthacea family make good material for small pots.

Beloperone guttata, the shrimp plant, is usually a popular novelty. It has showy spikes of salmon-colored bracts; the flow­ers are of lesser interest. The plant needs a steady supply of moisture and grows best with regular liquid feeding.

Hypoestis sanguinolenta, the pink polka-dot plant, has dark green leaves dotted and splashed with a vivid shade of pink. The flowers are small and purple, borne on long-stemmed bracts. I know of no plant that is a faster propagator. Terminal cuttings struck in any media are ready for 2-inch pots within 3 weeks. Few dealers offer this plant, and it should prove an instant success as a sales item for counters or roadside mar­kets.

Crossandra, another acanthacea relative, has waxy green leaves that are a perfect foil for the bracts of salmon-hued flowers. If you want to grow these plants in quantity, sow seeds in spring, in a flat of milled sphagnum. They germinate more speedily with bottom heat, but if you are unable to supply this place them in a 70-degree house and cover the planting with a pane of glass. Germination usually takes place in 2 to 3 weeks, although I have waited as long as 6 weeks for the last of a batch to show life. As the plants crowd, shift them to 2-inch pots. With twice-a-month feeding of liquid fertilizer, they will flower in these pots. It takes about 6 months from germination to flower, but the foliage is so attractive plants sell at 4 months without flowers.

All three should be pinched to prevent legginess. They can be propagated through cuttings at any time of year. Rooting is easily accomplished in sand, vermiculite, or sphagnum moss.

Aglaonema

The Chinese evergreen, Aglaonema, is easy to handle. It is extremely popular for dish gardens and for growing in water. The leaves are green and tapered. Cuttings will root in water, damp sand, or sphagnum moss. Or you can propagate by cutting the stem in sections, each having an "eye" or internode. Place the sections in damp sand. It requires about 5 months to get 2-inch plants from eye cuttings, but it is an effective way to obtain greater multiplication.

Allophyton

The diminutive Allophyton, Mexican foxglove, has slender leaves, to 3 inches long, and flower stalks with clusters of fragrant, violet-purple bells. Seed production is abundant. Sow in January; keep in a 70-degree temperature.

Germination is likely to be slow, from 3 to 6 weeks. Prick out individual seedlings as the flat becomes crowded and plant them into thumb pots of loam, leafmold, and sand. It requires about 6 months from seed germination to salable plant. Older plants can be divided and grown in any type of soil.

54, 55, 56. Three of the principal steps in hybridizing an African violet are: (top left) clipping the anthers of the flower to release pollen; (top right) applying pollen to the stigma of the selected female parent, and (bottom) attaching an identification label to the developing seed pod. (Photographs by Author)

Anthericum

The spider plant, Anthericum, sends out long stolons (run­ners ) with new plants on the tips. The little white blossoms are not showy. Anthericum grows from a tuberous root similar to an icicle radish. Propagate by plant division or by cutting off and rooting the runners. It will grow in almost any kind of soil, in a temperature range from 55 to 75 degrees, shade or sun, and needs little fertilizing.

Asarina

Flowering vines have a tremendous appeal. In Asarina (Mau-randia) we have a real treasure. This fast-growing vine with ivylike leaves bears pink or purple flowers like those of slipper gloxinias. If unable to purchase a plant or cuttings as a starter, order seeds from a specialty house. Plant the seeds any time of year in light loam, cover with glass, and place in 60- to 70-degree temperatures. Germination takes place in about 10 days. As your seedlings begin to crowd, thin them out and place them in 2-inch pots; here they will bloom in 4 to 5 months.

Cacti

If your time is limited (perhaps only week-ends), cacti may be just the ticket for you. Many cacti need only once-a-week wa­tering during November to April, with twice-a-week watering the rest of the year. Succulents are equally worth your consid­eration.

Propagate cacti through seed or cuttings. Unique forms can be produced by grafting one on another. Cacti thrive in a dry, sunny, 65-degree greenhouse. They grow well in sandy soil, low in nutrients. A good mixture for potting is equal parts of sand, loam, and broken brick, with a generous sprinkling of charcoal. Perhaps the worst enemy of cacti is overwatering, and yet for best growth, they need a lot more water than is popularly be­lieved.

Grow cacti from seed by filling the pot 1/3with drainage mate­rial and the balance with the soil mixture. Moisten the mixture, plant the seeds, and cover with a sprinkling of soil. Place a pane of glass over the planting and set it in a 65- to 75-degree house. Germination will vary, depending on variety, but from a mixed pack of seeds you should see sprouts within 10 days to 2 weeks. Germination may continue for 6 or 8 weeks.

Growth is slow; you won't have to prick out seedlings for 3 to 6 months. When you do, gradually remove the larger, stronger ones and pot into well-drained thumb pots of the same soil mixture.

Take cacti cuttings during the summer; be sure to use a sharp knife. Letting them dry in the air for a couple of days will re­move most of the excess moisture and speed the formation of a callus (a "growth" over the cut area essential to root forma­tion). Plant the cuttings in pots of sandy soil. Within 2 to 3 months, you will find them well rooted and ready for a shift to pots of soil. You will produce a really fine crop of cacti if you remember to (1) use the smallest pot that will comfortably hold the cactus; (2) stake tall plants; (3) water them twice a week when in active growth, once a week when resting and be sure of good drainage; (4) give good ventilation during warm weather.

Grafting for newer or more rapid-growing forms is fascinat­ing. It should be carried out during the growing season. Select for the stock plant a species such as opuntia, acanthocereus, or pereskia. (The stock is the bottom or rooted part of a grafted plant.) Intriguing forms result when the rattail cactus is cut and grafted on one of these stocks. The Christmas cactus is an­other excellent grafting subject. Use a sharp knife to cut the scion (the stem or bud that you graft to the stock). Make a slit in the top of the stock and place the scion in it; spines from cacti can be used as pins to fasten the two in place.

Succulents; many of which belong to the cactus family, are of easy culture and make good material for small pots.

Epiphyllums such as rhipsalis and schlumbergera are still another division of this large plant family. They are the plants with the fabulous flowers sometimes called Easter, Christmas, or Thanksgiving cactus. These require richer soil and more humid conditions and therefore require larger pots than the slow-growing cacti.

Ceropegia

A little vine of many names, Ceropegia is called rosary vine, lace vine, or hearts entwined; it is a good seller under any des­ignation. Grown from small tubers planted in pots, it sends out slender trailing stems early in life, and little aerial tubers form at regular intervals along the stems. These resemble small beads; hence the appellation, rosary vine. These tubers can be planted for new plants. Varieties are quite numerous. On C. woodi the nearly circular leaves are flecked with silver and the flowers are lavender with fuzzy black tips, resembling a candle and wick. On C. Sandersoni the leaves are thicker and larger and the flowers a greenish white, over an inch in length.

Ceropegia thrives in a porous soil of loam, leafmold, peat­moss, and sand. By no means temperamental, it seems to grow rapidly in any temperature above 60 degrees.

When propagating, you can save yourself work by planting two tubers and a length of stem and leaves to a 2-inch pot. Pot up in late February for 6- to 8-inch vines by May.

57.  The  full,  natural  light near the  glass  is best for  many  flowering plants, but African violets grow luxuriously with the aid of fluorescent light. (Photograph by Genereux)

Crossandra (see Acanthacea)

Fittonia

Especially valuable for the dish garden or terrarium, fittonia —another member of the Acanthacea—is easy to grow in a warm moist greenhouse. Fittonia argyroneuras green leaves are veined with white; those of F. verschaffelti with pink. Plant fittonia in terrariums and dish gardens, not only for the attrac­tiveness of its foliage but also because this plant acts as a guide to the watering of others. When the water supply is running low it wilts rapidly; once watered it soon regains its crisp starchy look. This, again, is a "sales point" for you to capitalize on when talking to customers.

Propagate from cuttings in a 70- to 75-degree house in shade or semishade. Cuttings root rapidly and will be ready for 2-inch pots in a month. Soil for fittonia should contain at least ⅓ peat­moss.

Hibiscus

Hibiscus, traditionally a favorite shrub in the South, is not too well known to Northern gardeners. The flowers make it well worth growing, and you can truthfully assure prospective buy­ers that some varieties make superb house plants. A prime favorite with me and with most visitors to my greenhouse is Hibiscus Cooperi. This has variegated silvery green, cream, and pink leaves and satiny red flowers.

It prefers a soil somewhat on the acid side, a warm green­house, and a semishaded position. You can propagate hibiscus by cuttings taken in the spring. They will root in almost any medium.

Ivy

One of the most popular of house plant vines (some climbers) is Hedera helix or English ivy. Varieties are many, as are leaf forms, sizes, and variegations.

Propagation is carried out by terminal or bud cuttings. Shade from bright sunshine and root in temperature of 60 degrees. Terminal cuttings will be ready for 2-inch pots in about 6 weeks. Good sturdy plants are produced by leaf-bud cuttings, but these generally take up to 5 months.

Joseph's Coat

A midget shrub of splashy hues, Amaranthus tricolor—com­monly called Joseph's coat—is an excellent seller in small pots. Window gardeners like it and it makes fine bedding plants.

I like to sow seeds in February in sandy loam. In 6 weeks, seedlings are ready for 2-inch pots of loam and leafmold. You can propagate more stock by rooting cuttings in any media. It thrives in a wide range of temperatures—from 50 to 70 degrees.

Kaempferia

Among the really unusual pot plants for your sales list is kaempferia, the resurrection lily; Kaempferia rotunda, some­times called ginger-lily, actually produces flowers before foliage. The flowers, resembling small orchids, are very fragrant—one potful will perfume a small greenhouse or a window garden. They appear daily or at 2-day intervals over a period of 4 to 6 weeks; K. rosceana sends forth foliage in early spring and flow­ers of rosy-orchid in midsummer. The satiny bronze foliage is so lovely that people want the plant even before seeing the bloom.

And when informed of the succession of flowers, they are more eager than ever to possess it.

There are few growers of these lovely plants in the United States; but those who do list them sell the tubers at about a dollar each. The tubers are usually shipped in their dormant season, early fall to winter. As soon as you receive them, plant them in rich porous soil. Keep them slightly watered until growth starts. They need a warm greenhouse and a slightly shaded position.

They increase through new tubers. To propagate, separate the tubers and plant in individual 3-inch pots of soil.

Oxalis

Oxalis, the little shamrock, is a novelty item to have on hand at any time but especially for St. Patrick's Day sales. Grow both the annual and perennial kinds from seed or bulbs started in a cool greenhouse. The bulbous sorts are potted up and grown on, also requiring a cool greenhouse. After flowering, they should be dried off and given a rest. Soil composed of equal parts of sand, peatmoss, and light loam is best.

If you plan to sell them from small pots, place two bulbs to a 3-inch pot—up to five for a 5-inch pot display. The annuals, Oxalis rosea with rosy flowers and O. alba with white flowers, are favorites. Perennial O. adenophylla shows lilac-pink flowers in late spring to midsummer; O. Bowiei, red flowers in autumn.

To propagate, remove the bulblets from the parent and repot them.

Pellonia

Suitable for baskets and pots, or in mixed foliage planting, is Pellonia. Green leaves sometimes marked with black, bronze, or dark red, are characteristic. Propagate as for ivy.

Philodendron and Pothos

It is truly hard to beat philodendron and pothos for planters or use as specimens. Philodendron cor datum is the one with the green heart-shaped leaves. Pothos' leaves are also heart-shaped but are  marbleized.  Southern  growers  can produce small plants in quantity for sale in markets, as well as florist shops, and at a price northern growers cannot hope to meet. But it may pay you to obtain stock and propagate your own small plants or grow them on and sell them as larger specimen plants.

58. You'll never be lacking in cus­tomers from the African violet world if you have a good novelty or two to spice up your offerings. This is Ruffled Triumph, an origina­tion of mine. (Photograph by Author)

59. Aluminum foil pots make bright, clean containers for plants or rooted cuttings intended for local selling. They are sturdy, yet lightweight, and thus ideal for shipping. (Courtesy, House Plant Corner)

Propagate both philodendron and pothos by tip cuttings or leaf-bud cuttings. They root rapidly in any soil in temperatures of 65 to 75 degrees, and grow best in somewhat shady areas.

Terminal cuttings taken in February will produce 2-inch potted plants in about 3 months.

Philodendron pertusum starts out with a complete heart-shaped leaf, and as the leaves mature they split into interesting designs. These plants are native to regions of torrential rains. Nature endows the leaves with these splits so the rain can pour through without injury to the leaf. The "adult" plants of this species are the ones we know as cut-leaf philodendron or Monstera deliciosa.

Because of the abundance of existing sources of supply, you would be wise to check carefully for potential business before you go heavily into production of pothos or philodendrons.

Pilea

Pilea is ideal for the 2-inch pot sales. Grown mainly for foli­age, it ranges from fernlike Pilea microphylla (or P. muscosa), the artillery plant, through P. involucaira (friendship plant) with crinkled bronze leaves, to P. cadieri, the so-called alumi­num plant.

Ordinary potting soil meets the requirements of these plants. They grow rapidly in 60 to 70 degrees if kept thoroughly wa­tered, and take medium light.

Propagate pilea through cuttings or basal shoots. Cuttings taken in late January will make salable plants by May.

From one mature plant of P. involucatra in a 4-inch pot, I was able to obtain fifty cuttings. This being a great favorite at plant counters, I sold my plants to the retailer for 25 cents each; the retail price was fixed at 49 cents each.

Plectranthus

From Australia and Africa comes plectranthus, the spur plant. This rapid grower, a relative of coleus, is a real find for the 2-inch pot. There are a number of species, but only the one named Plectranthus Oertendahli is obtainable in America. This plant has hairy, silver-veined green leaves and red petioles; sprays of dainty mauve flowers decorate it most of the year. In my collection is an unidentified one having smooth, waxy green leaves that on warm humid days give off a fragrance like rose talcum powder. I hope some day to have sufficient time to propagate this unusual plant and distribute it. I think it de­serves a place among the green trailers used in the indoor garden.

Plectranthus sets its own seeds. Sow these little spheres in any light soil mixture. Seed sown in January produces flowering plants by July, and you can prick them out of the flats and plant directly into 2-inch pots of porous soil. To insure a supe­rior floral display your plectranthus plants should be fed dilute fertilizer at 10-day intervals after they have been potted for 6 weeks.

Prayer Plant

Of interesting foliage and growth habit is Maranta kerchove-ana, the prayer plant. The leaves of soft green are blotched with dark brown. At night maranta folds its leaves upward as if in supplication—thus giving rise to the common name.

Grow this one in ½ peatmoss, ½ loam. Give it plenty of drain­age and a warm greenhouse. Propagation is by plant division.

Rivina Humilus

Among the prettier of the rapid-growing house plants is white-flowered, red-fruited Rivina humilus, the rouge berry plant. Successive plantings of seeds or cuttings will give you plants with flowers and fruit for easy sale through the year. It is an especially good seller for fall and winter holidays. Seeds germinate in about 10 days, and the plants will flower and fruit 4 months after seed sowing—in 2 to 3 months from cut­tings. A warm house of 70 degrees is to their liking; they grow in sun or slight shade. Symmetry can be produced by pinching out tips on older plants. Pot directly from the flat to 2-inch pots, a valuable time-saver.

Royal Poinciana

Although not strictly classed as a pot plant, the royal poinciana tree (Delonix regia or Poinciana regia) is so easily grown from seed into a ferny little shrub that it is a splendid subject for the dish garden. It will stay small enough for indoor use for some time.

60, 61. There's a cluster of ready money in this multiple-crowned African violet plant (top). With careful dividing and slicing, retaining all possible roots, you may get as many as a dozen small plants or a half-dozen sizable specimens from it, and most of these will be all ready to be potted and sold.  (Photographs by Author)

Seeds resemble large beans. Plant them in any good soil; they pop up in a week or less. Their chief requirement is water; if you forget this, the leaves will fall all over the place. These plants have the intriguing habit of folding their leaves toward evening.

Ruellia

Pretty leaves, pretty flowers, and easy to grow—that's Ruellia macrantha. With olive green leaves daintily marked in white and rosy-purple petunia-like blooms, it is a real eye-catcher. Propagate through cuttings inserted into light soil or other rooting media. Three or 4 months bring you plants ready for 2-inch pots. Flowers last several days; and ruellia becomes more beautiful if given monthly feedings of liquid fertilizer. Temperatures of 60 to 70 degrees, moderate light, and ordinary soil are the growth requirements.

Samevieria

Called sword plant or snake plant, this tough individual re­mains high on the popularity list with people who dislike the fuss and bother of caring for flowering plants. Sansevieria is also invaluable for poorly-lighted indoor areas. It grows in vir­tually any soil, in temperatures from 60 to 80 degrees. Improved forms of the old-fashioned snake plant are numerous. This, however, is another case of a plant in plentiful supply; so check your market first. One gardener made a considerable profit by selling these plants to residents of housing projects. Many of these folks have indoor planters and, while they like to see something growing in them, they cannot afford the more expen­sive green plants. For such planters a combination of sanse­vieria, anthericum (spider plant), and Chinese evergreen is hard to equal. All these plants can be offered at a price these householders—mainly young people—can afford to pay. Sanse­vieria propagates easily from 2-inch cuttings of the swordlike leaves.

Shrimp Plant (see Acanthacea)

Vines and Trailers

Potted vines and trailers, particularly those of easy culture, are among the best sellers. Several forms of cissus (treebine), closely related to the grape, are rapid growers and have good-looking foliage. The most familiar one is Cissus rhombifolia, the grape ivy. The peacock of the tribe is C. discolor—often confusingly called trailing begonia because leaves rival the col­oring of Rex begonias. Foliage is green and silver above, reddish purple beneath the leaves. C. antarcticais the popular kangaroo vine.

It requires some 8 months to produce salable plants from leaf bud cuttings, about 2 to 4 months from stem cuttings or basal shoots. A minimum temperature of 60 degrees, subdued light, and ordinary potting soil are the growth requirements.

Walking Iris

Another plant of most interesting growth is Marica northiana, the walking iris, whose leaf fans resemble garden iris. The flower, rather like a spuria iris, emerges from between the leaves. The "stem," an elongated irislike blade, continues to grow. After the flowers have completed their blooming, this blade will be bent toward the earth. If it touches a growing medium, roots will soon form and dig firmly into the soil.

This is an old-timer still loved by collectors. It grows in any kind of soil, in a cool to warm greenhouse, and needs little attention. Propagate through plant division.

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