Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1902-01-11
Tae Winter Window Garden.

So many persons receive pots Of heath
or, boxes of ferns or violets and other
growing greenery as New Years gifts
that a few springtime suggestions (sup-
piled by person who has years of prac-
teal experience for caring intelligently
for potted plans should not come amiss
at this time. That the number of anna
teur oWer-growerS is not larger than il
is probably is due to the lack OF knowl-
edge en- the subject. Luck" as n factor
in successful Horticulture is becoming
more and more discredited. and common
sense combined with a little labor and q
growing experience, are making yeritable
bowers of beauty OF what would other
wise be cherries rooms.
T'he immense pleasure derived from the
wealth of bloom of some choice plant or
plants. perhaps received as n gift, gener-
ally gives rise to a desire to keep it or
blooming periods. How to do this is real
Is very simple matter. if certain rules
ana conditions are observed
The first and most important conSidera-
ton is the temperature Of the rooms
where plants are kept. The extremely
dry heat of the average living room dur
ing the daytime and the chilly draughts
entering around the windows on cold
nights are more often RESPONSE Bile for the
quick death of our floral pets than the
florists from whom they were secured.
Dry heat causes two serious Difficult
ties, namely. a forced and consequent
weak and spiudling growth, and the rapid
increase Of plant insects and parasites.
This can be overcome in a great meas
ure by occasionally spraying the plants
on bright days, and by constantly keep
ing a pan or other fiat vessel filled with
water on the register or heater. The
moisture resulting from the evaporation
viii make the air of the room more
agreeable for human beings as well as
for the plants. The best plan however,
is to keep the plants in a room where
the warmth comes in from some other
part Of the house through a connecting
doorway.
Cold draughts coming directly in con-
tact with the plants. particularly at
night. generally result in q bad attack
of mildew if not in the prompt loss Of
the plants If fro any reason it is i'm
possible 10 remove the plants from the
window every night during extremely
cold weather, they may be protected by
placing seYeral thiCknesses Of old news
papers between the pots and the glass at
nightfall with one or two sheets directly
over and on top os the plants.
The next item Of importance il the VA
tering. Al plants require less water dur
ing severe weather than at other times
in fact. some Of them. Ike Cacti, and 9TH
or Succulents. need practically none at
ali during winter. DO not water by set
rules every day or even every other
day. Give water only when it is neces-
sary to keep the soil from drying ont
have it lukewarm and apply il only in
the morning, never at night.
Place your plants where they can get
all the sunshine possible during the short
winter days. Give them fresh mir by
lowering the upper sash Of a nearby win
dow an inch or two, or by opening a
distant door for a few minutes on bright.
warm days The leaves Of plant are
it's lungs. and an occasional spongng off
not only brightens the color but opens
the pores and imparts added vigOr. Last.
but not least, give them an occasional
dose Of plant food. There are many
good kinds on the market, clean. free
from odor and easily applied according
10 directions on the box or package.
Have You ever noticed a plant grow
Ing crooked. or with lis leaves all on one
side! If so. it perhaps also struck you
that that particular side toward which
L grew. or toward which the leaves were
turned. was the side nearest the window.
Plants want the light and will seek it
persistoutly. Therefore make it a rule