should be added to the soil mixture to make it gritty. This addition of 

 sand and the use of a porous pot will provide aeration of the soil which 

 is necessary for germinating and growing small seedlings. No covering 

 of the seed is necessary, provided a pane of glass is used to cover the top 

 of the container. As soon as seed have germinated, the glass mav be re- 

 moved gradually to increase aeration and to prevent "damping off" of 

 the seedlings. If seedlings begin to "damp off" or rot off at the soil sur- 

 face, moving the seed pan to a cooler location will often check this 

 trouble. To give the soil an initial soaking the large pot may be set in 

 water until the soil is thoroughly wet. x\fter this first watering, keep- 

 ing the small pot in the center filled will supply adequate water. Seed- 

 lings may be left in this container until they become crowded. Begonia 

 and African violet seedlings may be grown three or more months be- 

 fore they are ready for transplanting. Although this container is use- 

 ful for starting most seeds, it is especially valuable for germinating tiny 

 seeds, such as those of begonia, African violet, gloxinia, Streptocarpus, 

 Gesneria, Exacum, and double petunias. Many of the larger seed are 

 easily started in pans or flats of soil, using ordinary methods. 



The most common vegetative means of propagation are the rooting 

 of cuttings or "slips" and by division of the parent plant. Slips of many 

 plants may be merely detached from the parent plant and placed in a 

 container of water until roots have formed. A suitable container for 

 rooting cuttings, using sand as a medium, is shown in Fig. 4 A. A uni- 

 form moisture content is maintained by keeping the small pot in the 

 center filled with water. Cuttings usually produce a better root system 

 in a well-aerated medium, like clean, sharp sand, than in water. 



The selection of cuttings for propagation is important. Those 

 stocky side growths or basal branches on plants like begonias are most 

 satisfactory. On other plants it is necessary to take healthy growing 

 tips. African violets, gloxinias and certain pepperomias may be rooted 

 from leaves with a petiole attached. Rex begonias, bryophvllums, and 

 the sword plant, or Sansieveria, may be started from pieces of leaves. 



All cuttings should be potted in a good soil mixture as soon as roots 

 are well formed. Since plants dry out more rapidly in small pots this 

 should be taken into consideration when selecting a container for a new- 

 ly-rooted cutting. A small vegetable plant box is especially satisfactory 

 for growing cuttings until they are large enough for their final pots. 



Fig. 4a (left) — Suitable container for 



rooting cuttings. Fig. 4b (above) — 



Various types of cuttings used in 



propagating house plants 



Seven 



