June, 1 910 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



Opening the holes in the sponge so as to insert the bulbs 

 in a proper position 



The sponges should be suspended in a dark cupboard until a certain 

 amount of growth has been made 



Bulb Growing on Sponges 



By S. Leonard Bastin 



[N RECENT years the culture of bulbs for 

 use in house decoration has become such 

 an important feature that any new sys- 

 tem is sure of receiving attention from all 

 indoor gardeners. A very novel method 

 which has been recently introduced with 

 great effect is that in which the bulbs are 

 cultivated in sponges, soil of any kind being entirely ab- 

 sent. It is, of course, well known that all bulbs are really 

 little packets, each one containing so many flowers and 

 leaves; and for the development of bloom and foliage only 

 water is absolutely necessary, so that there is no element 

 of magic about the latest manner of growth. At the same 

 time, to obtain a complete success there are a number of 

 points which it is quite essential to observe, the neglect of 

 any of these leading to failure, as the writer has personally 

 discovered. 



First of all, one can hardly insist too much upon the 

 importance ot securing good bulbs. If you are dealing 

 with a reliable florist, it always pays to buy the highest- 

 priced bulbs on his list. The extra money over the cheaper 

 sorts means more and larger flowers. Low-quality bulbs 

 which any dealer can sell at "bargain rates" are dear at 

 any figure, and should be avoided, especially when develop- 

 ing an idea like the present, when every bulb ought to 

 throw plenty of bloom. It is wise to remember that the 

 earlier the bulbs are planted, the sooner will they be in 

 blossom, and this is important if the culture is to be carried 

 through without more heat than is found in an ordinary 

 dwelling-room. 



Almost any kinds of the spring flowering bulbs are suited 

 to the purpose, although the lighter and more graceful 

 sorts give the most attractive effects. Thus the elegant 

 Roman Hyacinths are certainly to be preferred above the 

 ordinary lot which with their massive spikes would make 

 for a somewhat heavy appearance. Crocuses, Scillas and 

 Snowdrops look particularly charming, as also do Lilies of 

 the Valley. Perhaps the various sorts of Narcissus are 

 least useful on account of the exceedingly long stems which 

 these plants produce. This difficulty may be surmounted in 

 a measure, as will be pointed out in a succeeding para- 

 graph. 



It is, of course, a waste of money to buy expensive 



sponges for this purpose, although a careful selection ought 

 to be made. The presence of rather large holes in the 

 sponges is a recommendation, and a fair shape in the 

 article is important. The more each sponge appears to 

 resemble a rough ball in pattern, the better. Size, of 

 course, varies according to the kind of bulbs which it is 

 desired to grow. It is quite out of the question, for in- 

 stance, to attempt to grow Hyacinth bulbs on a small 

 sponge. 



Having secured the sponges and the bulbs, we may now 

 proceed with the planting. It has been mentioned that it 

 is an advantage to have a sponge with plenty of holes, but 

 it is rather doubtful whether it is possible to secure one in 

 which these are large enough, or sufl^iciently numerous, for 

 the present purpose. It is a simple matter to cut fresh 

 holes and widen existing ones in the places where it seems 

 advisable to pop a bulb. In imagination it is well to pic- 

 ture which way the sponge will hang when it is suspended, 

 as it is naturally worthless putting bulbs in right under- 

 neath. Apart from this, the bulbs should be well distri- 

 buted over the sponge, so as to provide a good show when 

 the flowers and foliage appear. It is more convenient to 

 place the bulbs in a dry sponge, and it will be found that the 

 natural "pinching" of the substance is quite sufficient to 

 keep them in position. As soon as all the bulbs are in 

 place, the supports for the suspending of the sponge must 

 be provided. These should be fixed in the manner illus- 

 trated in the photograph, and the material may be string, 

 or, better still, copper wire, which will neither rot nor rust. 

 After this has been fixed, the sponges, with, of course, the 

 bulbs in position, should be soaked in bowls of water until 

 they are thoroughly saturated. This process must not be 

 carried on longer than is absolutely necessary, as it is not 

 good for the bulbs to be submerged for any length of 

 time. 



It is now necessary to secure a thorough rooting of the 

 bulbs before they are placed in a light situation. To this 

 end a perfectly dark cupboard should be called into requi- 

 sition, in which the sponges may be suspended from the 

 shelves. The cupboard should be in the house, where it 

 will be quite frost free, and if it is in connection with a 

 room which is regularly heated, so much the better. Here 

 we must leave our bulbs for at least two months, during 



