grow magnificently when tucked into the sides 
of the wire baskets in which you may be grow- 
ing your Orchid Cactus, fuchsias or even ferns. 
These decorative plants are marvelous hanging 
basket subjects and often proceed to grow right 
on over the edge of their pot, and on down its 
sides. They may even be grown like orchids on 
pieces of old bark or semi-decayed wood, if the 
air around them is humid enough, that is, such 
as would be found in a glasshouse or fuchsia 
garden. The Bromeliads are true air plants. 
One of the peculiarities of this group is their 
ability to hold water in the very heart of the 
plant itself. Each plant will actually hold 
enough water that a few cut flowers, placed in 
them, will keep even better than in a vase. This 
is due to the plant’s own chemical action, for 
this water storage is also the plant’s feeding 
place and you will find that if you keep this 
“storage tank’”’ filled, your plant will do best 
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with but little water at its roots. When grow- 
ing wild, these plants derive but little, if any, 
food through their root system, or from the 
host upon which they cling. They depend al- 
most entirely on the chemical action which 
takes place in their own leaf-cup of water. 
However, for greatest plant beauty, the leaves 
should be occasionally washed with a fine mist 
or spray of water. 
You will find this group of plants to be very 
satisfactory as house plants, either kept small by 
being confined to small pots, or as large speci- 
men plants when given more space in which to 
grow. Their gay flowers will intrigue your 
friends and the simple care of these extraordi- 
nary plants will give you unending pleasure 
and a feeling of pride in the possession of such 
unique but beautiful plants. 
RHIPSALIS 
Rhipsalis are found in the jungles and rain 
forests of tropical North and South America. 
Most of this family are true epiphytes, growing 
perched in trees and gaining their sustenance 
from the accumulated debris of leaves, etc., 
caught in the branches of the jungle giants. 
Rhipsalis have no leaves, in the sense that 
most of us visualize leaves, but they are com- 
posed of numerous small stems and branches. 
The plant forms are many and varied—no two 
alike, but each one just as beautiful as any of 
the others. The plants are graceful and airy 
looking. Many grow interesting showers of air 
roots on their stems. All are fine pot plants 
and many are lovely as basket plants or trained 
up on tiny wire trellises. 
The flowers are quite small, but more than 
make up for their size by their great abundance. 
Plants seem actually frosted with their small, 
fuzzy-looking flowers and the jewel-like fruits 
which follow are often shining white, sugges- 
tive of the Mistletoe berries, or even bright 
red, like tiny Christmas candies. 
Their requirements are simple—a loose, loamy 
soil, good drainage and a medium amount of 
water and sunshine. Their dainty forms are 
both unique and beautiful. They do well with 
even the very minimum of care, but, like most 
plants, they will repay all the love and attention 
given them. 
Several varieties of Rhipsalis combined to make 
an interesting hanging basket. 
