A cooler location and occasional watering is all that is necessary to 

 carry the tubers through the rest period. They may be left in the same 

 pot and soil until new growth begins, then repotted with a good soil 

 mixture and placed back in the window. If thrips have been trouble- 

 some, it is well to use naphthalene flakes liberally while the tubers are 

 dormant. A thin covering of these flakes used several times will greatly 

 decrease, if not eliminate, thrips. 



It is possible to have gloxinias flower twice yearly and some in- 

 stances have been known when they flowered almost a year without 

 resting. The spring and summer crop of flowers is usually the most 

 satisf actor}". 



Manettia Bicolor 



Manettia bicolor, or the firecracker vine, is a too little known mem- 

 ber of the madder family. This plant has been grown as a house plant 

 for many years but few people have seen it or know of its possibilities. 

 It is a vine, so for best results it should be wound around some sort of 

 small trellis to keep it in bounds. The common name comes from the 

 flowers, which are tube-like, red tipped with yellow, and produced 

 abundantly under proper conditions. 



Twenty-seven plants left in homes for periods of from two to eight 

 months performed as follows: nine excellent, nine good, and nine not 

 satisfactory. 



Rating was based on condition of plant and production of flowers. 

 Most of the group rated not satisfactory were not free in flowering and 

 all were injured by insects in varying degrees. 



Window exposure 



All plants, except one, in the good and excellent groups were kept 

 in sunny windows with the majority of these either in south or southwest 

 exposures. One plant was grown successfully, though much more 

 slowly, in a northeast window with cool night temperatures. Of those 

 plants considered not satisfactory, seven were grown in sunny windows, 

 one in a northeast window, and one had no direct sun. The amount of 

 sun received by these plants had a decided effect upon the number of 

 flowers produced. 



Watering 



The majority of the growers reported watering these plants daily, 

 especially after their plants had made considerable growth. Some who 

 watered every other day grew their plants somewhat cooler or had them 

 in glazed pots. A lack of water, especially when the manettia vine is 

 growing in bright sunlight, will cause a reddening of the older leaves. 



Temperatures 



Night temperatures ranging from 50° - 70° F were not directly re- 

 sponsible for any of the failures, but high temperatures contributed to 

 the failure of some in causing a much more rapid multiplication of thrips. 

 A majority of the plants rating good and excellent were grown at 60° - 

 65° F night temperatures though cooler temperatures were not detri- 

 mental. 



Forty-one 



