Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1844-04-26
(COneluded nezt ,Oeek. }
From the Lowell Journal
HOUSE PLANTS-THEIR MANAGE
MENT.
CONCORD. March Q. Is4

CONCORD, March 9, 1874.
Friend Schouler: The bright sun and
fine weather we are now having, will tempt
the lovers of flowers to bring their pots out
of their winter quarters, and every sunny
window will soon be filled with them, and re-
ally do not know what better use sunny
window can he applied to by those fortunate
enough TO possess one, than the cultivation
of flowers, which are, in the words Of lover
of flowers and philosopher, "the smiles of
the CREATOR" to aid in dispensing these
smiles, TO help TO make the cultivation of
flowers more easy and certain, is the object
ofths communication.
When the chilling frosts of winter render
II no longer safe TO keep the plants in the
sittlng-room, they are reluctantly con-
signed 10 the cellar; but this, unless by too
much watering. they sodden and perish, is
the best thing that could happen to them,
for they require q season ofrest. and if they
get II in the fore part of winter, will blossom
finely in the spring. When they are brought
out of the cellar they should be turned out
of the pot to see if the roots are decayed, or
too thickIy matted together. If they are
decayed, the dirt should be shaken off. the
top cut back to the strong wood, and the
plant repoited in light soil and watered ve-
ry sparingly until it begins to grow place il
where it will he surrounded by warm at
mosphere, and be sure not TO water il too
much. After it begins TO grow, the sup
plies of water may be gradually increased
until the plant shows blossom buds, when
you may water freely. This treatment is
absolutely necessary to recover such plants
as have lost their roots. If the roots are d.
live and matted in the pot, break off few
of the tangled fbres from the outside of the
ball of earth and repot in one size larger
pots but in this case also, cut back the
shoots 10 a strong bud, if you wish to have
thrifty, vigorous, free blooming plant if
the soil is old and exhausted, shake il oifthe
roots and repot in fresh soil Be careful
not to overpot, which will be likely TO rot
the roots, or produce wood instead of bios
SONS. Few plants require more than quart
of earth to grow in.
The plants commonly cultivated in rooms,
may for the present, be divided into the
hard aud soft wooded. Hard wooded plants,
such as roses, camelias, oranges, fuchsias,
&c, do not perish so easily from over sup
plies of water, when at rest, as the soft wood
ed ones; and when in flower, or making their
new wood, require very liberal supplies of it,
So indeed do most of the evergreens but
when at rest, especially in dark cellar, the
geranlnm aud other succulent evergreens,
would perish if watered like the hard wood
ed plants. They should be watered very
sparinely when brought into the room, until
they have made good supply of new leaves;
hen at TraalU IL thor bava ha
they are out of blossom, when it is necessa-
ny to water gradually less. in order to ripen
the new wood, that it may bloom well when
its season arrives again. A good rule for
watering is, TO let the earth on the top of
the pot get dry before you water again. /
forgot to say in the proper place, the pots
should have good drainage of broken
bricks or potsherds, one or tw o inches deep
if the hole in the bottom of the pot be small
break it out to the diameter of one or two
inches. This is important More plants
perish from water retained round the roots
soldering and rotting them, than from all
other causes.
Surprising the plants to be repotted and
pruned they are now to be kept in as even
a temperature as possible, and should be ex-
posed to the sunlight and air as much as the
aspect of your windows and the season will
permit but it is especially necessary TO sue
cess to keep them from very sudden chan
ges of emperaiure-ihis is the usual cause
ofthe camellia dropping its buds syringe
over the top, or sponge the leaves accession
ally. and water in the early part ofthe day
plants resist frost better whea the earth is