Re: poinsettias etcetera

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• To: i*@prairienet.org
• Subject: Re: poinsettias etcetera
• From: J* C* R* <j*@wam.umd.edu>
• Date: Thu, 8 Jan 1998 11:59:41 -0500 (EST)
• In-Reply-To: <3.0.5.32.19980107125034.0079ece0@cnnw.net>

CAMI-

1) yes, its actually easy to grow a pointsettia year round.  After most of
the leaves fall off, cut it back hard, to about 6 to 8 inches tall.  Make
sure to leave at least 2 nodes on the stem, so that it'll have growing
points (this usually isn't an issue, but I thought I'd let you know
anyway).  It will quickly leaf out & get bushy.  It needs, I'd say,
moderate light & water levels.  When fall rolls around & you decide you'd
like it to bloom, it'll need (I think) about 16 hours of total
darkness a night, a little cooler maybe, for several weeks.  It can be
done.  If nothing else, you'll have a lovely foliage plant.

2)  The most reliable low light orchids include all Phalaenopsis
(althought some hybrids/species can grow very large), Doritis & its
hybrids, _mottled_leaf_Paph.'s (plain green/strap leaf types need much
higher light), and the jewel orchids, which are also almost impossible to
kill (they're fantastic).  Phals & paphs are also pretty easy to deal
with, once you learn a few watering rules, but even so, never be afraid
you'll break your orchids.  Most of them will take lots of abuse & still
be happy.  
There are other types of low light orchids too, but they are a little more
difficult & require some "digging" to locate sometimes.  However, they are
very rewarding, & I'd deffinently recommend trying them.  These include
miltonias & some pleutheroids (spelling??) I believe, and some others too.
One of the most reliable bloomers of the low light orchids would be
_Cadetia_talorii_, a little plant about 3 inches tall at maturity that
forms clumps of growths.  It blooms sporatically year round, bearing tiny
white flowers.  It requires almost daily watering, though, as you can only
put it in a tiny pot & it likes to be a little damp too.
anyway, moving on...

3) (don't know)
 
4)  cut just below a node below the last leaf, maybe 4 to 6 inches below
the junction of the lowest leaf to the stem.  Then stick it in a glass of
water until it roots.  Sometimes you can even cut one of these stems in
half & get two plants.  If you look, you can see little nobs on the nodes
were the roots will form. 

5) Yes!  Keep them.  After they die, stop watering them, except maybe a
little now and then to keep them from drying out.  If I remember
correctly, paperwhites are pretty easy to force.  Keep them cold (maybe
about 50 degrees) for around 6 weeks with sparse watering. Then bring them
back to a warm sunny spot with better watering & they'll grow & bloom.
Its not a waste of time.
 
Good luck & happy growing.
Julia

Please Recycle.

• References:
  • poinsettias etcetera
    • From: "The Jeli's" <utaar@cnnw.net>

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