Growing Goldenseal

Freesias are beautiful, fragrant South African herbs with yellow or white flowers that bloom in winter. Since the introduction of hybrid varieties with large flowers in many lovely and delicate shades, freesias have further gained in popularity. These hybrids are the results of crosses made between the white F. refracta varieties and the colored F. x hybrid. Flowers bloom in salmon orange, buff, lovely lavender pink, golden yellow with an orange blotch, rosy salmon with a golden yellow throat, light purple, and many other fine shades.

The old white freesia, F. alba, is still most desirable. It bears its snow white blooms on stems ten inches long; colored hybrids grow a few inches taller. Under proper conditions the plants remain in bloom for about two weeks, and through successive plantings made two weeks apart, a continuous supply of blooms may be obtained in the greenhouse or house.

During its blooming season, G. jasminoides must be kept thoroughly wet and not allowed to dry out, but in winter it is kept fairly dry. G. Veitchii is an ever blooming gardenia, the most popular hothouse or house plant variety.

It is also summered outside, in a shaded moist location, and kept wet summer and winter. It must be returned to its partly sunny window indoors before frost.

Gardenias do best indoors in a cool room. If this is not available, see that the temperature drops at night and keep the plants near a window where the temperature is normally lower than in the rest of the room.

Gardenias demand a very acid soil, with a pH of 4.5 to 5. This may be supplied by well-composted sawdust or oak leaves. Leaves that fall from the plant, as well as its own faded flowers, may be placed on top of the soil to form a self-mulch. If the foliage shows a tendency to turn yellow, a handful of rotted manure or cottonseed meal may be mixed with the top layer of soil.

Always keep the plants as close to the window as possible, but beware that they are not harmed by the frost during cold nights. The foliage must never be allowed to touch the glass of the window. A few thicknesses of paper placed between the plants and the glass during extra-cold nights will be an added protection. Water moderately, but never let the soil dry out. When the buds begin to open very weak liquid manure may be substituted for the water to encourage long flower spikes set with larger blooms, Support flower stem with four or five short, thin stakes stuck around the edge of the pot connected with thin twine. For cutting, remove each spray when the first two blooms have opened.

Insects which trouble gardenias are thrips, red spider mites and mealy bugs. Mites may be combated by a daily spraying of the foliage with clear water. Thrips and mealy bugs may be handpicked, but will trouble the plant little if it is in robust health.