Calla Lily
The Calla Lily is the only plant in this genus worthy of cultivation. A rather familiar plant, it blooms well, but will need a season to rest. If you have several, you should be able to regulate the plants, so you have blooms in all seasons. After each plant blooms, it will naturally take a season to rest.
As they begin to regrow, it is best to repot them. If you only need a plant with a single stem, remove the suckers. If a single plant is not required, it will not cause any harm. This will, however, need frequent repotting, as it will become large and unmanageable. The foliage is so stunning and fine that this alone makes it worth growing.
If the bloom is what you want, the best way to plant for this is to take six to eight roots and place them in half of an oil cask. Paint it green, and put two iron handles on. This creates a cheap and durable tub for your plants. This will need to be filled with the richest possible loam, and then set the plants, with the largest in the middle, and the smaller around the sides, and put the tub in a favorite place. These plants should bloom freely during the summer; this way, they can be wintered in a light cellar rather easily.
Your soil mixture needs to consist of rich loam and peat, very well mixed. During the growing season, it is best not to give the plants too much water. Place the plants in a saucer in the window and keep the saucer filled with water. During the summer, the plants will grow and flower often out of doors in a tank.
Cuphea
Of the species of this plant, the only one suitable for a window plant is the Mexican C. ignea or placenta. This stunning little gem is always in bloom and adds beautiful character. This plant makes a great border plant during the summer. It should be repotted in the autumn. Do that all winter long, and it will create beautiful and bright scarlet tubes tipped with a ring of black and white!
This plant will not grow over a foot in height, and is perfect for a window. The soil needs to be a mixture of three parts loam, one part sand, and one part manure. It should be watered freely, but do not allow the soil to become sodden.
Cactus
The Cacti family has seven groups, each containing several species. The best for parlor growth include the Cereus and Epiphyllum. The former is native to dry, tropical regions of the western continent. The soil should be a mixture of two parts peat, one part broken potsherds or broken coarse, one part loam or old mortar rubbish, and one part manure. Mix these all well together, and make sure there is good drainage.
During the summer, place the plants outdoors in a sheltered location. This needs to be done from the time they stop flowering until September. Then, bring them back indoors and cut back all of the shoots that have no bloom buds to just beyond the bud. The plant needs to be confined to a six—or eight-stemmed plant. During good health, the shoots from the roots are discouraged from growing.
The plants should not be given any water from September to February. While they are in the growing season, it is best only to water moderately. The plants will bloom from May to August. Here are some varieties to choose from:
C. Speciosissimus: Crimson and purple flowers.
C. Flagelliformis: Rose flowers. This variety should be allowed to droop and not be pruned.
C. Grandiflorus: the night-blooming Cereus; flowers yellowish white. This variety will not bloom until it is old.
C. Maynardi: Deep orange-red flowers.
C. Triangularis: Cream color; immense flower.
The first option is best for general culture, but all will work well as window plants.