Florists' Smilax
| Origin: | ✈ | ? |
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| Exposure: | ☼ | ?"?" is not in the list (sun, part-sun, shade, unknown) of allowed values for the "Exposure" property. |
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| Water: | ◍ | ?"?" is not in the list (wet, moist, moderate, dry, less when dormant) of allowed values for the "Water" property. |
Read about Florists' Smilax in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture
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Florists' Smilax. The smilax of florists is an Asparagus (A. asparagoides, page 409). It is one of the most popular of all greenhouse vines for use in decoration. Commercially, smilax is grown in deep solid beds under glass, and the tall growth is tied to strings. These strings are cut for sale. Some growers do not renew their beds of smilax for three or four years. It is doubtless most profitable to replant every year with young stock, grown from seed. It is a heavy feeder. A strong loam with one-fifth half-rotted cow-manure is the best compost for the bed. A light house is not essential. The middle of an equal-span house running north and south is an ideal place for it, if there is height sufficient to run up the strings 7 or 8 feet. Plant as early as possible in July. Many florists who grow a few hundred strings of smilax make the mistake of putting them in a cool- house. It will grow in a temperature of 50°, but not profitably; 60° at night, and even 65°, is the better temperature. The plants should be 8 inches apart in the row and 10 inches between rows. Red-spider attacks the smilax, but daily syringing is a sure preventive. When cutting the strings, avoid picking out one here and there. Begin to cut at one end of the bed, and as much as possible clear off all the strings, because when denuded of so much growth the fleshy roots are liable to rot if over-watered; little water is needed till young growth starts. Care should also be taken in cutting, for many times there will be several young growths a foot or so high that can be saved for a future string, and they may be useless if cut. Good drainage should always be provided. Smilax for planting in July should be raised from seed sown in February. When 2 or 3 inches high, and showing its character-leaves, it should be potted in 2-inch pots. In May, the plants should go into 3-inch pots. It is very important that the first growth, which is always weak, should be made in these 3-inch pots; then, when planted out, the first growth in the beds is strong enough to make salable strings. Never neglect tying up smilax as soon as the preceding crop is cut. For this purpose use silkaline or similar green twine. Contrary to what is the case with many plants, the hotter smilax is grown the hardier and more durable the leaves, providing it is not cut prematurely. CH
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References
- Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture, by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963
External links
- w:Florists' Smilax. Some of the material on this page may be from Wikipedia, under the Creative Commons license.
- Florists' Smilax QR Code (Size 50, 100, 200, 500)
