Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-11-24
FOLLiGE PLANTS.



House Plants in Winter.
W. II. Taplin Of lTolmcsburE, Pa,
writes to GdrtieR and Forest in regard to
the keeping Of foliage plants in houses
during winter
In the case of warehouse plants at
this season more attention is needed to
secure the proper conditions of tempera-
ture and moisture than during the sum
mer; as the days shorten the growth of
such plants will be slower, and they
are thus less able to withstand extremes
of treatment. Comparatively little pot
ting will be needed among this class of
plants during the next TWO or three
months, except it may be in the case OF
some small specimens that would be
likely to suffer before the time Of the
general reporting in the spring. Even
in such instances it is advisable 10 give
only small shift, for overpotting is
doubly dangerous to tender-rooted sub
Jects during the early part of the winter.
Watering and Swinging should be done
early in the day, for too much moisture
on the foliage will soon injure it, though
when strong heat is applied after the
nights become colder, it is good prac-
tiCe to damp down the walks and under
the atmosphere from becoming too dry.
The attacks of insects must be
watched for with strict attention also
during the winter months, for with the
partial cessation of Swinging such pests
as red spiders and thrps are very likely
to appear on Dracenas, Cordylines,
| Crotons and Dietfenbachias, and, if
unchecked, will soon ruin the foliage.
l lAl, ta,. ID ~,
remedy for these troubles, and in
| conservatory is less Objectionable than
| fumigating, besides being more effective,
with red spiders at least. If this pest
becomes plentiful on any particular
plant, it may be removed by giving
dip in tobacco-water to which has been
added some sulphur, the strength of the
wash being proportioned to the kind of
plant, for the tobacco-water will injure
tender foliage when used too strong.
Several Of the prepared insecticides
are also useful preparations for this pur-
pose, especially for small establishments
where the limited quantity of such mix
lures required makes their cost appear
less formidable. But if any considers.
BILE quantity of insecticide is needed it
is more economical to use the home
made remedies, and among these the
tobacco water and solution of whale
| oil soap are among the most satisfactory.
For some extreme cases the kerosene
emulsion is very effective, but this must
always be used with Judgment, or the
result will be disastrous.
The propagation of various foliage
plants can be carried on during the
winter, provided sufficient heat can be
had for the purpose. Among these
| Crotons and Ficus may be included, the
tirst-named roofing readily at any time
in warm house. With generous treat
ment there will be nice-sized plants for
bedding out in June. There is also lit
tie difficulty in roofing Ficus cuttings,
especially about January. The safest
method is that of topping, by means of
an incision in shoot, some three or
four leaves from the tip, and binding
some damp moss around the cut Under
favorable conditions these tops will
send out roots in two or three weeks,
and can then be removed from the
parent plant and potted. Such cuttings
naturally make more shapely plants
than those struck from single eye, and
the tops can be rooted at any season of
the year without difficulty.
| pullle VI INC SleHuer ArollaS, ike A.
Veitchii, A. elegantissima, and A. lepto-
phylla, can also be worked during the
winter and spring. using for a stock
either A. reticulata or A. Guilfoylei, as
the tirst-named species are very slow
roofing from cuttings, and will grow
away more freely when grated. The
stocks for this purpose may be supplied
either from root or top cuttings, cleft
grating, if neatly done, being the most
satisfactory method for this operation.
The tops of Cordylincs and Dracanas
may also be rooted in the manner recon-
mended for Ficus, making by far the
finest specimens, as they have large
leaves, extending to the pot, if properly
grown, besides showing more color than
those that have been potted on from
small plants.