The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1903-02-13
PALMS AND FERNS.
Hints for the Promotion of Their Well.
Being-A Cure for "the
Sulks."

Palms, ferns, fcuses and similar decor
alive plants should receive a great deal
of attention at this season of the year.
Perhaps the plants have a dry, withercd
look, and maybe the fresh deep green
of the foliage has turned to a sickly
yellow: Perhaps the tips Of the leaves
have turned brown; perhaps some Of
them have died altogether. Perhaps the
plants were growing thrifty when
brought in, but have since refused to do
anything but sulk. If so, they have. not
seen to at once, for no plant will deport
itself improperly unless willfully neglect
ed or constitutionally weak.
With but few exceptions, the plants
herewith considered-ferns, palms and
rubber plants-require about the same
care, and we will first examine the soil.
has it Deer in the pot for over a year,
and have no fertilizers been applied to
enrich it? If sc. it is time it was re-
moved. No plant can do justice to itself
IN poor, WORKOUT soil, and this fact
should be, but is not, remembered by all
Hover growers: OF course, when a plant
about the soil-in fact, the sDecimen
should be left more or less alone; but a
Nesting plant and a diseased plant are
fniferent things, and require different
treatment. The one should be allowed to
rest, the other should be doctored. If a
plant is thrifty and healthy, but stops
sending forth new leaves for a few
months at a time, it is resting; if it
I?ught to be growing, it is sick and should
be attended to. Many plants are at a
standstill from fall until February. 50
Judgment should be used about disturb
Ing them, and no fertilizers should be
gwen untll growth begins.
Palms 0N10v q ~1tfo A:--a -..1 = 49,
there is a little clay; but if this element
is not to be had, provide the next best
thing: A light. spongy soil, like leaf
mould, is not admissible: but fine, clean
stable manure may be mixed with other
soil with good results; no fresh compost
should ever be used. Ferns, however,
are found of leaf-mould and sand, and
Whenever possible should be provided
with the same. With these facts in
mind remove the old soil from around
the base of the plant and replace it with
new, rich earth. Use a common table
fork with care, and do not disturb the
roots any more than can be helped. Aft
er all the soil has been removed that can
pc got at, fill in the new dirt, pressing it
down rather firmly. Have it a little low
er than the rim of the pot and, where
directly around the base of the plant
than anywhere else in the dish.
When the tips of the leaves turn
brown it is generally a sure sign that
something is wrong with the drainage.
Good drainage is one Of the secrets of
raising fine pot plants. AS a rule, I do
pot believe in reporting palms, etc., dur
ing the winter, because they have such
unfavorable conditions to contend with
in getting over the shock; but if it seems
the only thing to do for a plant, I would
rather kill it by reporting than have it
remember never to pot or repot a palm,
icus, or fern without putting an inch
and otter more-of charcoal, coarst peb-
bles, or broken crockery in the bottom Of
the pot. and cover this with sphagnum
moss, or something of like nature, to hold
the soil up where it belongs. This is All
old story. but n that flower growers
should listen to.-The Household.