The house plant grower with an experimental turn of mind may well he able to grow on aphelandra plants from one vear to the next if he has at his disposal some simple propagating equipment with which to raise new cuttings. To do this allow the bract to die back and lose its colour before cutting the plant back to a firm pair of leaves.
We hear many glowing accounts of how one should be able to flower plants regularly over the years, but this is really just so much eye-wash. It is not an easy task to flower second- and third-year plants even in ideal greenhouse conditions.
From this second pot the plant will have to he potted on into at least one more pot size during that season provided the cuttings were struck early enough in the year. Then, who knows, with a little luck you may have your very own aphelandra plants in flower by the end of the year.
Well-grown plants that have retained most of their foliage can he very attractive, the principal interest being the freely borne red berries. Being so lamentably slow in growth few mature plants are ever offered for sale, if time is on your side, they are not difficult to raise from seed. Keep fairly warm and in good light; otherwise apply standard treatment in respect of water and fertiliser. Avoid the temptation of transferring small plants to too-large pots.before they are ready, as this will only prove detrimental.
Asparagus sprengeri is a supremely adaptable plant which can' be planted in the garden-room border for the growth to climb wall or trellis or to provide graceful foliage spilling out of hanging baskets, or it can he used more conventionally as a pot plant. In any case, it will be little bother if given some sun protection and adequate moisture during the spring and summer months. It will also appreciate during the summer regular application of weak liquid fertiliser. New plants may be raised from seed sown in a reasonably high temperature, about 21C. (70F.), in the spring or, if only a few plants are needed, older clumps can be split up and the pieces planted individually. Do this in spring, using a standard house plant compost.
In the past there have been several aphelandras offered by the commercial grower as potentially good house plants, but A. squarrosa louisae and the improved variety A. S. Brockfeld have had few really serious competitors. In the popularity stakes the latter of these two appears to be winning the day, mainly on account of its much brighter and more attractive foliage. There is little to choose between the quality of flowers produced.