Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1884-02-14
Care of window Plants.
Eds. Country Gentleman.

EAN1S SOautI5 GSLllSIIaA.
New readers and fresh culturists ev-
cry year make necessary repetition of
advice which some forget and others
have never learned. Plants of different
kinds vary so much in their requirements
that the same room, or same exposure, or
treatment, will by no means answer for
all. Many which rest through the dead
of winter ask only protection from act
ual frost, from soaking wet, and from
parching dryneSS. a cool cellar is the
best for all these, including dahlias, Ma
deria vines, erythrinas, potatoes, &c,
among roots; oranges, tender roses,
ole2nderS. &c, among tender eVergreens,
which, as they retain their leaves, should
be near window. Hydrangeas, Grape
myrtle, poinCiana, bedding geraniums
&C, can stand anywhere. with their
roots in soil dry rather than wet
OF plants to be kept growing, one in
experienced can choose nothing better to
begin with than variety of geraniums,
which alone suffice for varied and rich
display, if kept in healthy condition.
without which there can be no beauty.
Some have leaves so snowy that one can
not ask for flowers. Others have flowers
of such fair surface and penetrating color,
set off by large round leaves of deepest
green, that one feels ready to take a good
deal of trouble, if needful, to keep up this
splendid life, shining with promise, in
the midst of the wintry desolation out of
doors. Very little trouble is required if
the needed care is given just when it is
needed. Such plants as have been started
from cuttings early in the preceding sum-
mer, and merely kept clear of weeds in
some retired part of the garden till the
heat of summer has passed, are carefully
lifted in September and pOtted in rich
soil, watered moderately at first, but
freely as they show new growth, when a
tinge of liquid manure should be given
once a week. They are best kept out of
doors in sunken pit covered by a sash,
to be turned off them in sunny weather.
This is preferable to a dry room, because
the leaves enjoy damp air and prefer g.
less degree of warmth than we require in
our sitting rooms-55o to 500 rather than
700. They must be housed in November,
when they will be showing glorious
blossoms, and will continue beautiful if
the pots stand on bed of damp moss, or
are occasionally believed with a fine
spray of water. Geraniums, like other
1eshy plants, require watering at the
roots only now and then, but when given
it should thoroughly soak the whole ball.
The Gala lilly is grand companion Of
these dwarfed plants, and requires much
t!1o SALle preparatory care, OuI DoinS
river plant it's roots should be in water
constantly after growing commences. A
basket or vase with trailing plants, sus-
pended from above, or set on brackets, on
each, and a pair of ivies, Madeira vines,
or other free climbers as the side, makes
the window picture of charming green.
Plants that grow to thick, round tufts of
some neutral color, like some of the Sc
dums or cactuses, look we'll on the brack-
cts, contrasting like buttons on dress,
and they are of the easiest possible Gull
ture, requiring very little of food or water,
and keeping of themselves in good shape
without need ofany training. w.G.W.
Tyrone, Pa.