GARDENS 23 
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CULTURAL DONT’S 
DON’T sift potting soil for Epiphyllums—leave it so coarse it 
can never pack. 
DON’T wet an Epiphyllum with water until one week has 
elapsed after transplanting. 
DON’T allow your Epiphyllums to remain bone dry for weeks 
at a time. At least spray the foliage. 
DON’T allow them to stay soaking wet for weeks at a time. 
DON’T neglect to use rain water when available. 
DON’T force your plants with fertilizers too high in nitrogen. 
It tends to produce growth instead of flowers. Let the 
growth come naturally. 
DON’T imagine that a rank-growing luscious plant must pro- 
duce superior flowers. 
DON’T use too large a container—Epiphyllums do not have 
as heavy a root system as most plants. 
DON’T try to discourage new growth in the fall—it is their 
normal growing season. 
DON’T worry about frost damage if temperature stays above 
30 degrees except on species such as E. oxypetalum and 
E, strictum. 
DON’T disbud—the benefits obtained are not worth it. 
DON’T worry when some of the quarter-grown buds drop 
off—nature will permit only those buds to mature that the 
plant can support. 
DON’T believe that allowing the fruit to develop, in moderate 
quantity, will kill or damage your plant. 
DON’T think that soaking a plant which is shrivelling is 
correct—it may need rest in the cool with only slightest 
spraying for a few months. Soaking might cause root-rot 
and then more drastic treatment would be needed. 
DON’T allow aphis, scale or mealybug to sap the vitality of 
your buds and plants. 
DON’T forget to read the labels when using insecticides and 
fertilizers. 
DON’T neglect your Epiphyllums when not in bloom. 
DON’T forget to see that hanging baskets get sufficient water. 
DON’T remove more than 1/5 of the growth of an Epiphyl- 
lum plant at one time or 14 of the growth during the year. 
DON’T experiment until after you have raised Epiphyllums 
awhile. 
MISS SANTA MONICA 
