August Houseplant and Greenhouse Checklist

Make cuttings of geraniums. Root in peat moss and sand. Pot in a good well draining potting soil or make your own soil composed of equal parts compost, good garden loam and clean, sharp sand. Add a tablespoon of steamed bone meal to each five-inch pot.

Cineraria and snapdragon seeds started now will give winter greenhouse color.

Gloxinia seeds planted now will begin to bloom by Christmas time, and they will come into full bloom during February. March and April. Try a packet of hybrid seeds from a gloxinia specialist. Directions for their care will be on the packet.

Plant freesias this month.

Winter flowering marigolds should be started now for bloom in November and later. They can also be flowered in a sunny window garden.

Sow forget-me-not (myosotis) seeds for January blooms in the cool greenhouse.

Now is a good time to search online for African violets and to order the newest introductions.

The blue lace flower, Didiscus caerulea, should be planted now and grown cool. It produces beautiful blue flowers during the winter. They are fine for cutting.

Alyssum maritimum makes a useful plant in the cool greenhouse. Use as a sweet-scented border, or plant in a hanging basket.

Stocks make a beautiful flower in the cool greenhouse. Sow seeds now for a January-February flower crop.

Start sweet peas and calendulas in the greenhouse this month.

Schizanthus (poor man’s orchids) seeds started now will begin to bloom in February.

Nemesia seeds planted now will begin to bloom in October and continue through February.

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• Greenhouse Checklist for November - Avoid overwatering Christmas cactus this month; toward the end of November put in sunny window and give more water and start regular feeding with a well-balanced plant food. On the 1st and 15th give a feeding of fertilizer to budding cyclamen. Plant some geranium seeds. Germination is rapid, the seedling are varied and they bloom in a