Insect control measures 



The red spider mite was the only insect causing trouble to these 

 plants, this trouble being slight. If plants are clean of insects when re- 

 ceived, there will be little or no trouble from them. The two insects 

 likely to be present on cyclamen when they are purchased are actually 

 mites, not insects. The red spider mite is plainly visible to the naked 

 eye, though extremely small, and may be controlled by the regular syr- 

 inging or washing of the plant. Cyclamen mite is so small that it is vis- 

 ible only with the aid of a lens. However, the damage which it causes 

 is plainly visible. First signs of cyclamen mite injury are deformed 

 flowers and cupped or curled leaves. Extreme infestation from this mite 

 will render a plant useless. Unfortunately, there are no satisfactory 

 means of control of this mite under home conditions and a plant severely 

 infested should be destroyed. Extreme care should be used to avoid 

 spreading this mite to other house plants, especially African violets. 

 They are spread primarily by handling or by direct contact. 



Suggested summer care 



Some few people are successful in carrying cyclamen over from 

 year to year. When this is done the plant should be allowed to ripen and 

 dry off gradually following its blooming period. After the plant has 

 thoroughly dried and the leaves have dropped, the bulb may be shaken 

 out of the soil and repotted to a good house-plant soil mixture. Water- 

 ing once a week or less often will suffice until growth is resumed. It is 

 well to grow the cyclamen through the summer in a partially shaded 

 location, either in a window or on a porch; then in fall it should have a 

 cool, sunny window. Adequate and even moisture is essential at all 

 times. .Many growers prefer to purchase new and well-grown plants 

 each fall since the chances are against success in carrying the bulbs over. 



Dracaena Godseffiana 



Dracaena godseffiana is a slow-growing foliage plant that has been 

 found to stand much neglect and abuse and still remain decorative. 

 Since its light requirement is low. it is highly useful in many locations 

 in the home. 



Eighteen plants of this dracaena were under observation for three 

 and one-half to 12 months. Of this group only three plants were not 

 satisfactory and none were failures. Two unsatisfactory plants were 

 damaged by drying and neglect, and the third was unexplainable — 

 probably injured by kindness. 



Soil used 



A mixture of one part leaf mold and two parts good compost was 

 used. 



Window exposure 



This plant succeeded in all possible exposures. Plants grown on 

 tables in rooms with poor light conditions seem to thrive equally as well, 

 if not better, than plants grown in sunny windows. Slight drying of 

 plants in sunny windows in late spring caused the leaves to take on a 

 yellowish cast. Two plants promptly dropped their leaves when set 

 out-of-doors in pots in early June. 



Thirty -five 



