I learned where to obtain information I need so badly for my miniature rose. I have tended it from bare twigs (stems) as I received it through mail order. It is so full of leaves and fresh stems but when the buds get as far as showing color they just dry off.

After waiting so long and eventually seeing it bud and then the disappointment of losing them is quite discouraging. If you would at your earliest convenience send me the much needed care advice, I would so appreciate your kindness.

H. Ringel Long Island, N. Y.

Trying to decide what could be wrong with miniature rose plants and their growth via mail can be a great deal like prescribing for a human beings illness at long range. Nevertheless, your description “it is so full of leaves and fresh stems, but when the buds get as far as showing color, they just dry off,” graphically describes and fits a very common trouble found in growing miniature roses in the home.

On most varieties stems will, quite naturally, become leafless and woody in time. When this happens and the plant is no longer attractive the stems should be cut to within a few inches from their base. Keep the potful of stumps as they usually grow again from the base. The stems can then be cut up into sections some 2 to 3 in. in length.

Often enough, with hederas for example, three or four leaves with a longer piece of stem will be used. In these instances it is usually advisable to remove the lower leaf or two and not to bury the remaining leaves in the compost. Plants resulting from this type of cutting are often fuller and of better quality. In the case of cuttings with smaller leaves (hederas, tradescantias and Ficus pinate) it is advisable to insert as many as six cuttings in a pot. Plants so produced are of much better appearance than those from only one or two cuttings in each pot. Hedcras, being easy to propagate, should be inserted directly into the compost in which they are expected to grow - transferring them from peat to compost is not necessary with the easier plants, and causes unnecessary disturbance of the new root system. However, when rooting cuttings of the larger leaved hederas such as H. canariensis they should first be encouraged to root in peat.

Excessive heat should be guarded against as this will also frequently result in poor, weedy growth - rubber plant leaves droop miserably in very hot conditions. Keep plants away from radiators and out of the stream of hot air rising from them. If plants must be placed on heating appliances the shelf width should be increased to ensure that rising hot air is deflected away from plants and not through their leaves.

There are many varieties of adiantum to choose from, all of them delicately beautiful, reasonably easy to care for and supremely adaptable. Plant them in dish or bowl gardens, as individuals to stand on top of a pedestal, Or in hanging baskets. To see them at their best the latter method cannot be bettered.

For plants other than those one is advised to keep permanently wet, complete saturation of the compost for long periods will prove harmful. Plants should dry out a little between each watering, but excessive drying out of the compost should also he guarded against as this condition can be equally damaging.

The majority of plants will do better if watered with rain water, which for preference should he applied at room temperature. Very cold water can prove fatal to such plants as saintpaulia.

North January

The troublesome animals are deer, rabbits and pine mice. Woodchucks, fortunately, spend the winter in their burrows. The deer seem to go for the trees and shrubs which I value the most. Though all kinds of remedies are suggested to protect plants from deer, the only one that is successful here at the “Buttonwoods” is covering the plants with chicken wire. A recommended remedy for rhododendrons, yews and other evergreens is a repellent spray; it may need to be applied several times during the winter.

Two other remedies are leaving a dog in the garden or hanging small mirrors near susceptible trees and shrubs. Similar protective measures can be taken against rabbits, which are particularly fond of girdling young fruit trees. To prevent damage of this kind, encircle the base of the tree with wire mesh.

If you feel that it is cruel to deprive the bunnies of part of their winter food, you can satisfy their hunger by leaving apple prunings lying around on the ground for them.

Aglaonema is widely distributed in South East Asia. 16 to 2eC. (6o to 70F.). The suitable temperature for Aglaonema is less than 16C. (60F.); for a short period this may do little harm, but it is essential to provide adequate warmth if these plants are to do well.

Aglaonemas are mostly of compact habit and deserve to be more popular than they are at present. Specialist nurseries list several varieties, but on the whole they tend to be neglected. A few, such as the species Aglaonema commutatum, have rather dull foliage, so the hick of interest may be quite understandable.

When buying plants in flower it is best to select those that arc more backward in order to get the longest life possible from them. The ideal stage is when the pink bract is a little above the water level in the urn. Plants that have developed to the stage where the blue flowers in the otherwise pink bract are fully open should be avoided.

Though expensive, if purchased at the proper stage of development, A. rhodocyanea will give anything from eight to ten months of pleasure before the bract eventually deteriorates. The high cost merely reflects the time taken by the nurseryman to bring the plant to maturity, at least five years from seed under normal conditions.

Blinds are a great way to not only provide shade but also to decorate a window space. They come in a variety of different styles, shapes and materials. Factors that influence what blind you will purchase can vary but often include your home’s decor, the type of window and what function you are looking for in a window covering.

Bamboo blinds are a type of blind which are made from bamboo. Because of the material that they are constructed from they inexpensive, easy to clean and can look great. They are not however, a type of blind that you would buy for an expensive looking redesign of a house - that is for more costly blinds.

They can be used both inside or outside your home. As they are made from bamboo they are lightweight and can come in varying range of styles and types. They can suit differing decor but do exceptionally well in tropical or Eastern settings. Bamboo blinds are exceptionally easy to clean.

When used outside they are a fantastic shade covering for patios or decks. If you are going to use bamboo blinds outside it is a good idea to rotate what side of the blind faces the sun so that one side doesn’t fade more than the other.

Poisonous plants and flowers are everywhere and they are often difficult to recognize. This can be bad for our kids who are the usual victims of plant poisoning.

To help readers in this matter, the third part of my series contains a small list of poisonous plants and flowers that you should be wary of. If you have any of these plants at home or in your garden, fence them off or get rid of them fast. Teach children not to eat plants or flowers. These simple measures could save your child’s life.

The name Parietaria judaica may not sound familiar to you but it’s time you know what it does. This plant causes asthma and skin allergies. The plant has pink or red hairy stems, green leaves and small white or pink flowers.

This weed is often found in the coastal areas of Australia, the United Kingdom and North America. It’s common on roadsides and in cracks of buildings. Because of its bad effects, the plant is called sticky weed or asthma weed.

Consider yourself lucky if your home has a garden or backyard. This gives you better chances of making it even more elegant and fun. Having a backyard can allow you to add a pool with a pool deck. This would be a surefire way of having fun as you spend your quality time with your friends and family. But if you already have a swimming pool in your home, then you can opt to install a pool deck in order to uplift the beauty and functionality of the pool. Having a pool deck can give you so many benefits as you can just lounge around and bask in the sun. This gives you all the more reason to relax by the pool and is also an ideal place to host parties and entertain guests.

Pool decks are actually grouped into various types. This deck is the direct area located around the pool depending if your pool is above the ground or below the ground, you can have the freedom to install a pool deck around the pool to be more stylish and functional. A homeowner can choose between the different types of pool decks in order to bring greater appearance to your pool. However, a homeowner must properly consider the type that would best fit in their home’s style and design.

If you are at the starting stage of planting and growing a fruit tree, you must firstly understand that you must take good care to grow the tree. Many of the fruit trees die at the early stages of their life, not because of diseases or pestilence, but because of lack of due care. That is why, it is absolutely important to take proper care of the fruit tree from the start.

In the early stage of its life, the fruit tree is as vulnerable as an infant. The roots, the branches and the trunks are not developed totally. Hence, if the tree starts growing fruits at this stage, it is very important to provide an external support to its branches. In this phase, the tree’s branches are not strong enough to carry the weight of fruits, so they might break. You can offer an external support to the tree through propping the branch up slightly using a board or plank, or tying it to another, higher branch. However such a support is needed only at the younger stage of the tree since later on tree should learn to grow independently.

In spite of the vast number of plants which are much more attractive in appearance a surprising number of green-leaved ivies still retain their popularity. The fact that there are so many other colourful plants on the market is in all probability a very good reason for the continued appeal of the green varieties, as they are useful for toning down the colouring when planted arrangements are being prepared. H. Chicago has simple-shaped green leaves with no frills whatsoever. Green Ripple has slightly larger green leaves with prominent veins which are the main attraction.

As the name suggests, II. Mini Green has smaller, more congested leaves that are crinkled at the edges. Of the variegated plants for outdoor use, and as durable indoor plants, the best small-leaved ivies are those with basically grey colouring.

On the floor of the damp greenhouse helxine can become a rampant weed, but is not unattractive and has the capacity for smothering any other weeds that may consider setting up home under the greenhouse staging.

Grown in this way they should be treated as all individual plants used for basket work: a number of young plants are put in the basket at the outset to ensure a full appearance when plants mature.