The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1890-10-23
Keeping House.Plants In Winter.

As to the plants that have been kept
through the Winter, is 1t best to Keep
them for another Winter, or to set them
in the ground and let them bloom all
they will and not take them up again :?
If they are strong, healthy plants, they
will be good for another year; but II not,
don't keep them. IF geranium, with
long lank branches with a few leaves on
the ends, turn it out of the pot, shake otf
the soil, and repot in fresh soil. Wash
the pots inside and outside with soap
suds and rinse of. To insure nice
healthy plants, either use new pots every
year or thoroughly wash the old ones IN
soap.suds and rinse at every repottlng..
Il pays. Why? Because the pores of
the old pot get filled up and the water
cannot e7aporate as quickly as in new
pot. When q new pot is used, be sure
and soak it several hours before using.
so that it will soak up all the water it
needs. If plants are put into new pots,
all the moisture of the earth and plant
will be absorbed by the pots and leave
the plants dry. The more porous the
pot, the better the plant will grow, pro
vided just enough water is used to Keep
the plant moist, not wet or muddy-an5d
that is where judgment has>to be used.
Consideration must be had as to whether
the plant is growing fast or slowly. Is it
a soft wooded plant, like 9 geranium or
heliotrope, Or hard wooded, like an
sbutilon? The former grow fastest and,
therefore need the most water. ts the
weather cold or hot? Evaporation goes
on more rapidly in the hot weather, so
plants need more water.
After repotting the geranium, take a
sharpe knife and prune it, cutting every
branch off within three or four inches OF
the main stem. Kill it? Not at all !!
After watering, set in the shade few
DAYS, then sink the pot in the ground in
a sunny spot. Properly grown, that old
geraninm will give more flowers another
Winter than two young plants-if the
plant was good one to start with. The
tips of the branches will make good cut.
tings, if they look green and hard, but II
they look soft and watery throw them
away. A fine plant cannot be grown
from poor cutting.
If q heliotrope, it can be served in the
same way, and they may be kept several
wears By this repotting, not allowing
them to bloom in Summer, and giving
then plenty Of room when repottlng,
with fine rich earth. One such large
plant is worth half dozen small ones.
both in looks and in the quantity OF
bloom it will have. If hsrd.wooded
plants, like abutilons or cytisus, do not
hesitate to cut in the branches so as to
make them good shaped plants, as they
will "break.o or send out new shoots,
even from the hard brown wood. In the
Fall, if the pots seem crowded with roots,
repot again into one size larger pot, or
take off the top soil, as far as possible
without disturbing the roots, and put on
fresh soil.
Chinese primroses should be thrown
away, unless they are choice double ones:
They are easily grown from seed, and
young plants bloom best. TO get Va
riety of colors, buy the mixed seed.
Plant in June. 1t is sometimes difficult
to get the seed up in the hot weather.
Primroses like to be kept cool. Take
box about three inches deep put in some
moss or fine drainage, then fill with soil
that has been sifted until fine and soft.
Press down with bit of board or the
hand and scatter the seed. Do not cover,
but press the seed down with the finger,
then lay over pane Of glass to keep in
the moisture. IF the soil gets dry, water
with fine sprinkler. Keep in q good
light, but not in the direct sun. DO not
keep too, wet, as the tiny plants may
"damp off" AS soon as they have two
pairs of leaves, transplant to other boxes,
and later on to three iuch pots: In re-.
pottiug, keep the crown of the plant well
above lhe soil, and do not let the sol. get
into it, as it may cause rot. Its best not
10 water the leaves, for the same reason.
If the pot gets full of roots, repot into
four or Eve inch POTS. They should begin
to bloom in September and continue un-
til Spring.
Cyclamen can be left in the pots, and
sunk in the ground or cold frame. The
first of September they should be repotted
in rich sandy soil, with the bulb or CORN
nearly all above ground. Water but little
until they commence to grow. Amaryllis
can be treated in the same manner
Good Housekeeping.