LOS ANGELES 
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ton Cactus Society, treats his plants a little dif- 
ferently from the average gardener. He sinks 
the pots in a flower border in summer, and 
brings them inside in the early fall. The plants 
are then kept in the basement, where the average 
temperature is about 50°, until they are about 
ready to bloom. When the buds show color, 
the pots are placed in a sunny window in his 
living room. When questioned about bud-drop 
and other difficulties with Epiphyllums, Mr. 
Williams stated that he considered over-water- 
ing and poor drainage the main reasons for 
failure in growing them. 
CORSAGES 
Few gardeners seem to realize that Epiphyl- 
lums are excellent for flower arrangements, and 
even fewer know that they make good corsage 
flowers. Florists’ shops have used them to make 
exotic corsages. 
The favorite variety for corsages is the 
Deutsche Kaiserin (or Empress), a basket type 
with delicate apple-blossom-pink flowers that 
are very long-lasting. From three to ten blos- 
soms are used in a single corsage, and are often 
combined with gypsophila or a bit of fern. 
Poinsettia, a brilliant red basket variety is 
also a favorite for corsages, especially in winter. 

Large orchid cactus are used in the same way 
as true orchids, with one or two perfect blooms 
for a corsage. 
Only freshly opened flowers should be used 
for cutting, in order that they may last as long 
as possible. When you wish to cut flowers for 
corsages or arrangements, go over the plants in 
the late afternoon, noting the buds that have 
begun to swell and are about to open. If a piece 
of thread is hung over the buds you wish to use, 
you can be sure which flowers opened last. 
It is very important, when cutting flowers, to 
leave a small part of the flower attached to the 
mother plant. This section soon dries and falls 
off, leaving the plant undamaged. When blooms 
are constantly and carelessly removed from 
plants, the flower-bearing eyes become bruised 
and cannot produce new growth. If a section is 
left, the remaining eye (or bud) produces 
flowers year after year. As many as three blooms 
may come from the same eye at one time. 
EPIPHYLLUM CUTTINGS 
Hybrids must be grown from cuttings if you 
wish them to be true to color and type. If a 
large, fast-growing plant is desired, it is best 
to start cuttings in gallon cans, thus assuring 
ample space for expansion of the root system. 
If quick blooming is desired, a crowd- 
ed root-system is necessary, as root- 
bound plants bloom more profusely. 
It usually takes two years before 
blooms are produced, although cuttings 
12 or 18 inches long placed in quart 
cans will often give blooms the first 
season. However, it 1s best not to allow 
plants to flower until they are more 
mature. 
Lovely corsage in pastel colors produced by 
combining two coral-pink flowers of Deliciosa 
and three pink and white flowers of the 
Giant Empress. 
