In its native habitat a coniferous tree which will attain a height of too ft. or more, the Norfolk Island pine is, nevertheless, a plant that is superbly well equipped for cultivation as a house plant. Like the aralia mentioned previously it is a supremely elegant plant, producing tiers of well-spaced leaves of soft green colouring. It is capable of adjusting to a variety of temperatures but is really best suited to the cooler situation where the temperature ranges between 50 and 55F. Good light is also important; other than that it simply requires the standard treatment for easier indoor plants.
New plants can be raised by taking cuttings of the ends of young shoots raised in the usual way at a temperature of about 18C. (65F.). However, better balanced, more symmetrical plants are obtained from seed, a long, slow business, but plants so produced are usually worth the extra effort involved. Pot on into J.I.P.2 compost and grow on in good light, but avoid the possibility of leaf scorch to young leaves by protecting the plants from strong sunlight.
For the plantsman desirous of obtaining a slow- growing house plant Ardisia could possibly be the ultimate choice. The nurseryman may well sow the seed in the traditional manner in a reasonably high temperature in the spring of one year and find that he is on the board of directors by the time the plant has attained its maximum height of some 4 ft. and is ready to he marketed. Highly improbable, you may feel, but this has actually happened to my knowledge.
Well-grown plants that have retained most of their foliage can he very attractive, the principal interest being the freely borne red berries. Being so lamentably slow in growth few mature plants are ever offered for sale, if time is on your side, they are not difficult to raise from seed. Keep fairly warm and in good light; otherwise apply standard treatment in respect of water and fertiliser. Avoid the temptation of transferring small plants to too-large pots.before they are ready, as this will only prove detrimental.
On account of the densely matted roots a thin, weak fertiliser will do very little for this particular plant. Feed them more frequently, or increase the maker's recommended dosage, and the results will be much improved. Provision of a little humidity around the plant will improve its performance, as will a situation that is light and protected from the direct rays of the sun.
In the past there have been several aphelandras offered by the commercial grower as potentially good house plants, but A. squarrosa louisae and the improved variety A. S. Brockfeld have had few really serious competitors. In the popularity stakes the latter of these two appears to be winning the day, mainly on account of its much brighter and more attractive foliage. There is little to choose between the quality of flowers produced.
New plants can be raised by taking cuttings of the ends of young shoots raised in the usual way at a temperature of about 18C. (65F.). However, better balanced, more symmetrical plants are obtained from seed, a long, slow business, but plants so produced are usually worth the extra effort involved. Pot on into J.I.P.2 compost and grow on in good light, but avoid the possibility of leaf scorch to young leaves by protecting the plants from strong sunlight.
For the plantsman desirous of obtaining a slow- growing house plant Ardisia could possibly be the ultimate choice. The nurseryman may well sow the seed in the traditional manner in a reasonably high temperature in the spring of one year and find that he is on the board of directors by the time the plant has attained its maximum height of some 4 ft. and is ready to he marketed. Highly improbable, you may feel, but this has actually happened to my knowledge.
Well-grown plants that have retained most of their foliage can he very attractive, the principal interest being the freely borne red berries. Being so lamentably slow in growth few mature plants are ever offered for sale, if time is on your side, they are not difficult to raise from seed. Keep fairly warm and in good light; otherwise apply standard treatment in respect of water and fertiliser. Avoid the temptation of transferring small plants to too-large pots.before they are ready, as this will only prove detrimental.
On account of the densely matted roots a thin, weak fertiliser will do very little for this particular plant. Feed them more frequently, or increase the maker's recommended dosage, and the results will be much improved. Provision of a little humidity around the plant will improve its performance, as will a situation that is light and protected from the direct rays of the sun.
In the past there have been several aphelandras offered by the commercial grower as potentially good house plants, but A. squarrosa louisae and the improved variety A. S. Brockfeld have had few really serious competitors. In the popularity stakes the latter of these two appears to be winning the day, mainly on account of its much brighter and more attractive foliage. There is little to choose between the quality of flowers produced.
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Indoor gardener can find out more about caring for your houseplant by doing research on the internet.
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