Belonging to the Madder family this genus includes about 200 evergreen shrubs and rarely small trees. Best known representatives are G. jasminoides, or cape jasmine, and G. Veitchii, the florists gardenia, with its waxy, fragrant white flowers and glossy foliage.
The old white freesia, F. alba, is still most desirable. It bears its snow white blooms on stems ten inches long; colored hybrids grow a few inches taller. Under proper conditions the plants remain in bloom for about two weeks, and through successive plantings made two weeks apart, a continuous supply of blooms may be obtained in the greenhouse or house.
By the 1800s, goldenseal was included in medical lists of drug plants in America. The plant was used to treat dyspepsia, inflammations and other illnesses. It was an official drug plant until 1936, when it almost became extinct because of its great popularity,
It is also summered outside, in a shaded moist location, and kept wet summer and winter. It must be returned to its partly sunny window indoors before frost.
Some gardeners have found that freesia corms are surer to bloom if they are dried thoroughly for about two weeks on a sunny windowsill. When planting, space the corms about two inches apart and press them into the loose soil mixture so that the tips are covered with from " to one inch of soil. Next, place the pots or pans, without watering them, in the shaded window of a cool room where the temperature remains between 45 and 55 F. (7.22 to 12.78 C). Under such conditions root growth will commence promptly. When the sprouts break through, place in a south window. It seems that the colored varieties do better if the temperature is kept at 55 to 60 F(12.78 to 15.56 C)
Gardenias demand a very acid soil, with a pH of 4.5 to 5. This may be supplied by well-composted sawdust or oak leaves. Leaves that fall from the plant, as well as its own faded flowers, may be placed on top of the soil to form a self-mulch. If the foliage shows a tendency to turn yellow, a handful of rotted manure or cottonseed meal may be mixed with the top layer of soil.
Under favorable conditions, goldenseal roots achieve full size in about five years from seed, or in three or four years when grown from root buds or by division of the root socks. The roots are dug in fall after the tops have withered. They are washed clean of all soil and dried on screens in an airy, partly sunny place, or indoors on a clean dry floor. When dried in the open they should be protected from rain and dew.
Goldenseal still has many medicinal values. When combined with bicarbonate of soda, it can be used to treat sore throats and inflammation of the mouth. It is sometimes used in eyewash applications as well. Goldenseal is still a home remedy for upset stomachs and is used as a laxative. - 14915
The old white freesia, F. alba, is still most desirable. It bears its snow white blooms on stems ten inches long; colored hybrids grow a few inches taller. Under proper conditions the plants remain in bloom for about two weeks, and through successive plantings made two weeks apart, a continuous supply of blooms may be obtained in the greenhouse or house.
By the 1800s, goldenseal was included in medical lists of drug plants in America. The plant was used to treat dyspepsia, inflammations and other illnesses. It was an official drug plant until 1936, when it almost became extinct because of its great popularity,
It is also summered outside, in a shaded moist location, and kept wet summer and winter. It must be returned to its partly sunny window indoors before frost.
Some gardeners have found that freesia corms are surer to bloom if they are dried thoroughly for about two weeks on a sunny windowsill. When planting, space the corms about two inches apart and press them into the loose soil mixture so that the tips are covered with from " to one inch of soil. Next, place the pots or pans, without watering them, in the shaded window of a cool room where the temperature remains between 45 and 55 F. (7.22 to 12.78 C). Under such conditions root growth will commence promptly. When the sprouts break through, place in a south window. It seems that the colored varieties do better if the temperature is kept at 55 to 60 F(12.78 to 15.56 C)
Gardenias demand a very acid soil, with a pH of 4.5 to 5. This may be supplied by well-composted sawdust or oak leaves. Leaves that fall from the plant, as well as its own faded flowers, may be placed on top of the soil to form a self-mulch. If the foliage shows a tendency to turn yellow, a handful of rotted manure or cottonseed meal may be mixed with the top layer of soil.
Under favorable conditions, goldenseal roots achieve full size in about five years from seed, or in three or four years when grown from root buds or by division of the root socks. The roots are dug in fall after the tops have withered. They are washed clean of all soil and dried on screens in an airy, partly sunny place, or indoors on a clean dry floor. When dried in the open they should be protected from rain and dew.
Goldenseal still has many medicinal values. When combined with bicarbonate of soda, it can be used to treat sore throats and inflammation of the mouth. It is sometimes used in eyewash applications as well. Goldenseal is still a home remedy for upset stomachs and is used as a laxative. - 14915
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