The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1896-12-11
Winter Care or Ho,,se Plants.

1t is sm,ill wonder some ladies have no
luck with house plants. Who has not
seen tiny bits Of plants each III Il big pot, .
aud then heard their owner complain that
Whose has not seen the careless house
mistress. going the plant rounds with
bucket aud dinper, giving each plant
whether thirsty or not. 4 SWAsh of water
very much as Mrs. sqneers poured briml-
stone and treacle down the unwilling
STEERS? Who has not seen the super-neat
housewife dusting and redusting the fur.
niture after. each sweeping, yet blind to
the mute pleading of heI. poor window
plants, on the leaves of which one could
write ones name~in the coating of dust?
This IS all wrong. No one ought to at
tempt the culture Of indoor plants unless
she IS willing to give them at least ra-
tional care, Use common sense in house
Horticulture. Don't try to bring in all
outdoors to the window. or to sample
everything the professional florist has i'll
his big greenhouse. Crowded stands are
too cluttered up to look their best. and
where the pots are wedged i'll so closely
it is good deal of bother to turn, or
take out and shower bushy plants that
from close proximity have 'interlocked
their branches with others. The upshot
it. it is not done. The plants get dirty.
Then come the avengers Of neglect-piant
lice, rel spider, scale and mites. ~
1t is all a mistake that one must have
insects to contend with, The ounce:sOf
prevention i'll this case is worth many
pounds of cure Take time enough in
bringing your plants into the house in
the fall to examine every plant thorough
~ and sec that, no insects are brought
pin. Wash and shower your plants often,
so as to keep them clean and if the i'm
scots appear, carry every affected plant
RIO ont f,F Tho
roic going over for the troublesome pests.
and do not let the plant out Of uuarali-S
tine until You know that it is free from
Them Cleanliness will keen them Mt bay
without much trouble. ...,'
Use Judgment about watering. Some
plants absorb more: water than others;
some pots are larger, than others, and
dry out more slowly. In some kinds of
weather. plants dry out much faster
than at other times. Water no plant
until the soil begins to look dry. then
give, enough to wet every particle of
earth in the pot. \ little water that
Only moistens the top crust is an aggra-.
vation to any plant 4 continual del
uge. that never gives the roots time to
drink up one supply before another is
given, causes the earth to sour. and the
fine roots to rot. There is another eau
tion to be observed by those whose
! rooms come dangerously near the freez-
ing point on cold nights. That is to
keep their plants rather dry during Sc
| we're weather. Only a little moisture is
needed to. sustain plant life in such
weather. so that it Will not hurt them to
miss watering Or two. All plants are
much easier frosted just after a copious
watering.
| If one wants flowers, pots small
enough for the plants to fill them full of
roots must be used. The next time you
visit u greenhouse, notice how many Of
that they are actually root-bound. Ger
aniums, heliotropes and such sun-loving
things, should be placed so that they can
get every possible ray of sunshine Treat
your plants in this manner, and they
will bloom steadily for you all winter
Flora S. La Mauce in The Housekeeper.