CINERARIA, cultivated ornamental plants originated from species of Senecio. There are two distinct types, the garden species of which one of the most common is the so-called Dusty Miller, S. cineraria and the greenhouse varieties of S. cruentus, commonly referred to as Cinerarias.
Greenhouse cinerarias are of two types ; one a dwarf, compact growing plant with large flowers in dense clusters ; the other a taller growing variety with larger, more spreading clusters of small star-shaped flowers. These are known horticulturally as stel late varieties of Cineraria cruenta. Both are easily grown from seed and are sold commercially as potted plants. The very free flowering stellate varieties are now more popular than are the large-flowered types and through a careful selection and crossing of varieties many beautiful colours are available.
For a succession of blooming plants during the late winter and spring months seeds are first sown early in August and a second sowing is made about two weeks later. As soon as the seedlings can be handled conveniently they are put in 2 4" pots. Later they are shifted to 3" pots as the root system develops. The final shift into 6" flowering pots is made early in January. Soil for cine rarias should be of a light, porous character and a mixture of one half fibrous loam, one-half leaf-mould with a liberal sprinkling of sharp sand suits them admirably. They grow best in a night tem perature of from to F with an increase of about Io° during the day. The soft succulent character of foliage and stems make cinerarias especially liable to be attacked by green fly. The plants should be frequently fumigated with nicotine preparations or sprayed with nicotine solutions.