The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-11-09
Preparing House Plants for Winter.


The season is approaching when arrange
ments for plants for decorating the parlor and
conservatory in winter are taken into considera-
ton This, as rule, is too long delayed par
ticularly if the plants have to be purchased
from the florists for not only can plants of me-
dunn size be bought now at about half the rates
of month hence, but if transplanted into larg-
er pots they would attain nearly double the size
by the time they come into bloom in the winter.
For example, rose, bouvarda, chrysanthemum.
earnation, primrose, which has been growing
in five inch flower pot, that is five inches deep
and five inches wide at brim, may be shifted
into a seven-inch pot, always provided
there is sufficient drainage placed in the
T TPs0@ dranageP '' may carry be OH BROKEN oa
charcoal, broken hower-pots, coai-cinders, or
anything through which water will pass freely.
The drainage should be not less than two inches
deep in a seven-inch pot, and, what is very i'm
portant, it should be covered with some material
that will allow the water to pass freely through,
and at the same time prevent the soil from mix
ing with and stopping the drainage. Florists
use moss sod, and occasionally refuse cocoa fibre,
but an excellent suggestion was lately made by
a lady who, reporting plants, placed over the
drainage two layers of old mosquito netting
This, of course, permitted the water to pass
through freely, and at the same time prevented
the soil from washing through into the drainage
This is an original and common-sense idea.
Porous cloth of any kind will answer the pur-
pose
After this drainage the soil is placed about an
inch over it, the bali of the plant to be shifted
is put in the center of the pot and the soil
worked around it moderately firm. The soil to
be used is that composed of three parts turfy
loan and one of rotted stable manure; it is gen
orally cheaper, when it can be got to buy it
from the nearest florist rather than to prepare
it, unless large quantity is wanted. After the
plants are potted they should be given a
thorough soaking of water with a rose watering
pot and placed in a position where they can get
as much light as possible. Subsequent water
ing must depend upon the weather and the con-
dition of the plant. The rule can only be re
peated: Never water plant unless it
is dry, and then water thoroughly;
this dryness is indicated always by the
soil on the top showing of lighter color and
by being friable when rubbed through the fingers.
Few insects will trouble the plants if they are
healthy and vigorous except it be the green fly
OF Aphis, which quickly succumbs to tobacco in any
form, either by smoking, in solution, or in snuff
busted on. For amateurs the solution is easiest
to use. Take the refuse tobacco stems left by
cigar makers, steep them in water until tattains
the color of strong tea; syringe this over tho
plants once or twice, which will soon Danish the
green insect. Let us caution against all kinds
of "plant food" so called if plants kept duly
shifted into larger pots as they require it, which
is indicated by the white roots mating the sides
of the pots, there will be need of plant food,
destroys the plants. If a stimulus
is ever necessary, the safest is the
water from the constable, which is never in
furious, used when the plants are in good
health once aweek. If plants from any cause
get sickly, which, however, they should never
do if proper care is TAKEN the indications will be
that the under leaves become yellow and drop
off; this is in consequence of the feeding roots
or spongioles, as they are scientifically called
being killed. which is the result of the plant get
ting too wet or too dry; either cause will destroy
the tiny thread-like roots. If the injury is done
by too much water, which is generally the case,
the remedy is to withhold water until the plant
almost begins to wilt The surface of the soil in
T 1Ts ei great temptation with amateur cult
vators to stimulate an unhealthy plant with such
medicines" as guano soapsuds, "plant foods"
etc This should never be done. The
sickly plant is in no condition to digest
such stimulating food. The true remedy is
partial starvation by Withholding water until
the plant assumes again an appearance of re-
turning health.