Cymbidiums are cool-growing orchids which will not flower if grown too warm, or under too much shade, and they do better under controlled greenhouse culture than as indoor plants. Their size is also a drawback as a house plant. If no greenhouse is available, or if the greenhouse overheats in summer, making it unsuitable, the cymbidiums can be summered out of doors for as long as there is no danger of frost.

They are mainly pink and white, with yellow less frequently seen. The flowers will last for several weeks, and old flower spikes will produce more flowers if cut back to a ‘node’ along the stem.

The plants are evergreen, and do not produce pseudobulbs. New growths are made each year from the base of the previous growth. The flower stem comes from the centre of a mature growth.

The species can be found all over the old world in the Far East to Thailand and the Philippines, New Guinea and Malaysia. The green- leaved types are cool-growing, whereas those with mottled foliage are the intermediate varieties. They are partly epiphytic and partly terrestrial, but in cultivation they like shady, moist conditions. Good house plants, they do even better grown in an indoor case. Paphiopedilums should be kept watered all year. They have varying flowering times and can bloom at any time. The blooms are extremely long-lasting from eight to ten weeks.

Re-pot when necessary immediately after flowering. Remove the flowers by cutting through the stem about 2.5 cm from the base after the last flower has been open for about two weeks. Potting can then be done earlier and the plant will have a better spring start. Remove the spike if repotting is not required; it will lessen the strain on the plant at a time when the new growth is getting started.

The sub-tribe Oncidiinae, which contains odontoglossums and many other natural genera, will interbreed with great ease to produce robust plants which seem to have a tremendous vigour. Whether in a greenhouse or on a windowsill, they will thrive given the very basic requirements. Many of them are ‘heat tolerant’ and appear equally at home in temperatures much too high for their true Odontoglossum ancestors.

The dorsal sepal, petals and lip are very much smaller and this would be an unassuming flower if it were not for the sepals which extend for over 7 in (15 cm). The cirrhopetalums are related to a much larger genus, the bulipphyllurns, and are widely distributed throughout the tropical world.

The genus Cirrhopetalum was first described in 1830; there are about 3o species, and not as many hybrids. Elizabeth Anne `Bucklebury’ AM/RHS is one of the most successful hybrids in the genus and was raised by a famous old firm, Stuart Low Co., in 1969. Its parents are Cirrhopetalum longissima and C. rothschildianum.

Originally it was the wild species which were cultivated, but within the last 130 years the raising of man-made hybrids has taken priority. Many of the species are in a sorry state, being almost extinct in the wild, as their habitat is being rapidly destroyed, but at the same time greatly sought after in collections, where they have become rare items indeed.

Not all species will readily breed in cultivation and the raising of seedlings is often difficult under artificial conditions. Hybrids often have a wider tolerance of artificial conditions and are a much better proposition for the beginner.

It is well known that orchids belong to one of the largest families of plants on earth and that their variety is unsurpassed in the plant kingdom. Their method of growth is a fascinating study in itself: the plants have become so well adapted that they are completely at home in even arctic and temperate regions where they live conventionally in the ground as terrestrials. In warmer tropical and subtropical areas they have developed a completely different method and grow by attaching themselves to trees as epiphytes.

The plants can be found growing at sea level, on the shore line, often subjected to daily salt sprays; others grow very high in mountainous regions, up to 2,000 ft (3,65o m) or more, where snow and frost occur. The orchids are protected from freezing at this altitude by the rarefied atmosphere.

Far and away the most important member of this family where house plants are concerned is Sansevieria trilasciata laurentii, which has the amusing common name of mother-in-law’s tongue. Numerous reasons are put forward for the plant having acquired such a name, one of them being that, like mothers-in-law, once you have got one of these plants you never seem to he able to get rid of it!

Hygiene plays a very important part in the care of saintpaulias; any dead matter in the way of flowers, leaves or leaf stalks should he removed as soon as it is seen. Incidentally, all these newer saintpaulias arc protected by licence and royalties have to be paid for all cuttings that may be propagated in any quantity.

I was once informed by a lady plant grower that when she purchased her sansevieria the advice given by the supplier was that she should water it once each year in August. On asking her, somewhat incredulously, how long it had lasted under such harsh treatment she replied that it was in its fourth year and doing very well!

Though the average saintpaulia grower usually hesitates to expose his plants to full sunlight, he may take comfort, as I did. It makes very good strong plants, but wants to he in the house, on a sunny window-sill, with as much light and sun as possible, even the scorching Portuguese summer sun.

Full light is essential, feeding not particularly important, but reasonable warmth should be provided. A combination of cold and wet conditions can be particularly harmful. Pale green, sweetly scented flowers are sometimes hailed as something of a phenomenon, but older plants will flower quite regularly during the summer months, and even relatively piling plants will sometimes oblige.

A rule-of-thumb tip for watering is that the leaves should be just perceptibly allowed to droop, or become slightly limp to the touch, between each application of water. There are a number of other sanscvicrias that one is likely to come across, all of ‘which require similar treatment: However, S. t,Izahnii and S. t. Golden Hahnii make compact rosettes of overlapping leaves, the one green and the other with yellow-gold colouring. These are extremely slow growing and must be the ideal sort of plant for a bottle garden as there is little chance of them ever becoming overgrown.

Plants have a strict watering schedule that should be observed if they are going to grow correctly, or even live long enough to see another season of Spring. Watering a plant too much and watering it too little is the quickest way to cause plant damage if you aren’t careful.

Although you would think that a plant could use all the water you have given it, it actually is a poor idea to over water a plant due to disease. Soil that is constantly wet is a breeding ground for bacteria and diseases that can hurt the plant that is rooting in the soil. The direct result of such a disease would mean certain death for the plant. Avoid over watering by letting water drain and the soil to dry somewhat.

Of course, the exact opposite of over watering can be just as detrimental. It’s easier to find an error in not watering a plant enough, as you’ll likely see it turn a different color, wilt, or otherwise look shabby in appearance. Soil will also appeared cracked and dry. If you have reached this point, you should reconsider your watering routine because it is obvious there is an extreme lack of water in this case.

Even though there are some devices out on the gardening market that claim to self-water plants, don’t put your trust into such devices. Self-watering devices can be tricky in buying, since some may water a plant too much and cost you the loss of your plant. Gardeners agree that watering plants yourself is not only recommended, but more enjoyable.

You should obtain a plant container that has a method of draining soil. This is why using odds and ends around the house for a plant container is a poor choice- since it might not be draining the water properly. Even in indoor situations there are workarounds to the drainage to ensure it doesn’t spill on the floor- often times a simple “catch” plate will make sure all water seeped out does so safely.

If you buy the plant from a local gardener, you should ask about how often you need to water it for best results. Internet and department stores will often have an accompanying tag that tells gardeners how to pot and water the plant, as well as additional information on the ability of the plant to withstand certain temperatures. Review this tag carefully to keep its lifespan running lung.

Final Thoughts

Water is a significant part of taking part of a plant. Knowing the methods in which to do so and at what intervals essentially determines how well the plant will grow, and for how long it will do so. Read more on your plant specifically for more information.

The nutmeg tree, Myristica fragrans, is unique among the spice plants as it produces two separate and distinct products - the nutmeg which is the kernel of the seed and the mace which is the dried aril that surrounds the single seed within the fruit. It is a spreading evergreen tree, usually dioecious, which is native to the Moluccas in the East Indian Archipelago, belonging to the small primitive family Myristicaceae. Nutmegs reached Europe after cloves.

By 1650 the order had become fairly effective. Most writers comment that the scheme was thwarted by fruit pigeons which swallowed the seeds and voided them on neighbouring islands. The original source of this statement, which has been faithfully copied, is hard to identify, but the story, like the seeds, is rather hard to swallow. It is possible that the spice occurred in regions of the islands unknown to the Dutch, and there was a brisk trade in spices by the natives with Mindanao and Kedah.

In the East, nutmeg is said to have stimulative, carminative, astringent and aphrodisiac properties. The husk or pericarp is made into sweetmeats and jellies in Malaysia. Oil of nutmeg is used for flavouring food products and liqueurs, in perfumery, and for scenting soaps, etc. Nutmeg butter is used as a mild external stimulant. The volatile oil present in both spices contains small amounts of myristicin and elemicin, which are narcotic and poisonous, so that nutmegs and mace should be used sparingly. In recent times powdered nutmeg has been occasionally used as a hallucinogenic drug for ‘kicks’, but such use is dangerous.

The nutmeg is a native of the eastern islands of the Moluccas, notably in Amboina and Ternate, but it is seldom, if ever, found truly wild. Its nearest relative occur in New Guinea. Neither nutmeg nor mace appear to have been known to the ancient Greeks and Romans. There is a record of the spice in Constantinople about A.D. 540 by Aetius and it must have reached India before this time. The Arab traders must have got the spice via entrepots in Java and India. As with other spices, they tried to hide the true source of the spice.

Nutmegs have been introduced into almost every tropical country where climatic conditions are in any way suitable, including India, the Philippines, most West Indian islands, tropical America, and Pacific islands. Today the bulk of the world’s supply comes from Indonesia and Grenada, with a small quantity from Sri Lanka.

Mace is more expensive than nutmegs and this, together with possible scarcity, has led to well-preserved anecdotes, both in British and Dutch colonial circles, of those in power in Europe, unaware that both spices come from the same tree, requesting growers in Indonesia and Grenada to reduce the amount of nutmegs and to increase mace production.