Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-11-03

Best Plants for Growing Indoors
SeasOnable Suggestions Concerning
their Care.

seasonable Suggestions Concerning
their Care.
| From the New York Evening Post
As scarcely any family of pretension to refine
| ment is without a collection of plants for cult
| walton indoors, during the months when the
garden is dormant. both florists and plantsmen
are just now actively engaged in supplying the
best growth that will flourish in and beaut fy the
house. Few there are who can dispute the
charm of growing plants when the contrast of
rough weather outside makes every sprig OF
| green and every blossom born in the window in
| teresting and dear. There are many persons.
| however, who plead ill-luck in growing plants
| thriftily. declaring there must be some witchery
| or knack requisite to make them flourish. AS
foolish as the prevalent fancy Of those who state
| that all blossoms wither as soon as worn by
| them is the complaint of the unsuccessful win
doW-gardener Both are careless. The flower
worn clumsy Will be bruised and droop; the
plants poorly tended will suffer and probably
die. Plants are like people in almost every re-
| spect To be healthy they must have light,
| moisture air cleanliness. nOurshment and be
protected from any draughts. If they are in
trusted to the care OF ignorant servants-left
dusty. s0used with water. exposed to cur
rents OF air-they will suffer, but if tended jul
diciOusly they will repay those who care for
them with vigorous and beautiful growth.
PLANTS FOR THE HOUSE
should be of the kinds to bear tropical heat,
otherwise the dried air produced by furnace or
stove will RAPIDLY destroy them. They should
always be placed below the gas-jets, for the
|. fume of sulphur from gas as made in cities is
destructive to growth. Boxes and brackets for
the windows and all designs filed with orna-
mental plants. should be placed low. The at
mosphere In any apartment is better the nearer
| to the floor; besides, to get the tull beauty of
plants. they must be looked into. The Obec-
ton to suspended designs is that the roots and
earth are more conspicuous than the leaves and
bloom.
All plants for the house must have light if
not sunshine. temperature of from $50 to 100
is better than warmer for varieties cultivated in
doors. Ii the vases in a room where plants are
grown are tlrdW with water it does much toward
making the growth thrifty. Judicious watering
is positively necessary. 1t is mistake to warm
the water used. 1t should be drawn aud left to
stand until it is of the temperature of the room.
There are plants that will be seriously damaged
by too warm water Too much water is also
harmful The earth about a plant indicates
when it is thirsty; then it should be thoroughly
watered. None OF the ornamental pottery
vases for holding plants have hole for drain
age; it is net required when the plant is cared
for 1nteliigentl,; the earth needs only sufficient
water to supply whatever is growing in it.
little Judgment exercised and It becomes an
in the vase will absorb. An excellent plan is to
try the soil with slender stick as cooks try
bread or cake. To keep plants bright and
healthy, the foliage should. occasionally be
gently spOnged on both sides. This is particu-
larry necessary for large leaved plants All
withered leaves and twigs should be picked off,
and blossoms should not be left on too long, or
others will not form in perfection. Newspapers
pinned about plants will protect them when
sweeping is done.
A no I'm a,nil v ri in
are no plants more ornamental. The large fans
of the coarser kinds contrast exquistely with
the lace-like frOnds of the costly Cocas Weolh-
anna The Royal palm and the Phoenix are
among the most beautiful. Rubber plants
(Ficus el0sticd), members of the fig family are
very interesting and thrifty; there are none
of the tropical plants that are 80 tough and that
Will so well bear neglect. Pdnd0nus ,tilis or
screw pine. IS very graceful and ornamental.
Drac:rna. or dragons blood plant, the wood of
which is cane. are exceedingly handsome if
specimens" The d. terminals is gorgeous in
tint ID. fragrance has very long waving leaves
OF rich green. Many Of the varieties of this
plant are very poor, and even in the greenhouse
are seldom seen IN good condition. Aspidistra
that takes its name from purple sheld-shaped
flower which blooms on it's root under ground,
Is excellent for indoor growth. This flower is
seldom seen. even by florists The variety
streaked with white is the handsOmest and most
costly. AcOrns. a stiff yaregated grass. is one
OF the prettest plants used in window boxes.
ferns. excepting ddiontumS will grow indoors
lux,lriantly. There are half dozen varieties
particularly well adapted for house cultivation
The Piers h'enatla. p. critical Aba lirseata, Pal
nedto. Setigeneild. DdUdlid and AspLenunt will be
found satisfactory.
In blooming plants for window gardening few
are recommended. PrimrOses and cyciamen
that bloom about holiday time will do we'll in
doors. 1t is only the cook. who has the moist
ure from tca-kettie and boiler, who brings forth
roses and carnations in the window. There is
no difficulty in obtaining from our intelligent
pantsmen trustworthy information as to the
1t is well to suggest to those filling jardinieres
that bulbs may be buried among the plants
which later in the season will peep out-a truss
OF hyacinth. fragile crOcus or fair snowdrop-
delightful and unexpected.
THE BULB CACHE,
which can be made in any backyard, should
claim immediate attention. Dig hole three
feet deep, and in this place the pots, planted
with bulbs, namely, tulips. snowdrops, jonquils,
narcissus, crocus and hyacinths, the trusses of
flowers Of which are bouquets in themselves
Cover the pots with SOIL and heap up mound
over them. mat laid on this will better pro-
tect from the frost. About January take out
the pots carefully. 1t will be seen that the
bulbs have sprouted. Place in the window and
give plenty OF water, when in a day or two the
flower will break forth. This work of bulb
growing is an interesting and instructive one
for children, to whom window gardening is one
of the most refining diversions
Hanging baskets have declined in favor The
unpleasant and untdy drip, and unsatisfactory
feature of high-hanging plants has almost shut
them from the house. Boxes Ornamented with
costly tiles the most elegant Dlant-holders in
use. These untitled sell tor from $25 to $50
Hand-painted tin boxes those OF terra Gotta,
and few of black walnut. are in demand Low
standing jardinieres, filled tastefully. are we'll
liked: for to look into plant is the only way to
really appreciate it's entire loneliness. English
ferneries are gaining in favor. and may be made
with little expense These are built out some
eighteen inches from the window, and are of
straight or beveed glass They catch all the
light, which, during the short days of winter is