Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-14
Palms and Rubber Plants.

In transplanting palms and rubber plants
FOR the fall season when they will be kept
indoors. the question Of what kind of a ves-
sci to place them in always has to be de-
cided. and 1t is difficult thing for the in
experienced woman to work out, for she
wants to get bowl or jar in which the
plants will thrive. and at the same time one
that will be an ornament to a room.
According to prominent florist, the best
kind OF vessel for a palm or rubber plant
Is made OF terra Gotta. 1t Is porous and
holds the moisture longer than a wooden,
glazed porcelain or metal bowl or tub, and
for this reason the plants thrive as they do
not In any other kind Of pot.
While not as artistic as porcelain lar.
d1niere or metal tub he says IF paint.
ed dark green or any shade that matches
the surroundings, these terra Gotta vessels
may be made quite attractive, and now that
many of them are covered with quaint JAP
anese dragons, or bold designs of flowers
they are more effective than plain Delft
DoWl, or even some of the antique brass
jars
Tubs of this earthenware have another
advantage besides being porous, for there
are holes In the bottom through which
the water may drain and run into a saucer
IKE vessel on which the jars rest. This
simple drainage keeps the water from back
Ing UP in the bottom of the vessel and rot
ting the roots, a condition that is almost
bound to occur when the palms and rubber
plants are put in a metal, porcelain or even
wooden tub, in which there are no holes
to carry the surplus water off. Though few
women realize 1t, the lack of drainage In
vessels Is what ruins SO many otherwise
hardy plants.
Next to the terra Gotta tubs I believe
that wooden ones are best for these foreign
plants, provided there are holes through
which the water may run out after it has
worked itself through the dirt surrounding
the roots and given the nourishment they
require.
LAS to the actual potting, the greatest
care should be taken in changing a palm
Or rubber plant from one vessel to another.
Be sure not to disturb the roots and the
earth around them any more than is abso-
lutely necessary, for the transplanting al
ways retards the growth for a few weeks
even when done by experts. The loose
dirt, such as drops off easily, may be re-
| moved before putting the roots into the
newly prepared pot.
"A tub made to receive a palm or rub
Der plant, for the winter should have
plenty OF rich black loam to surround the
roots and well-made drain in the bottom.
This irrigation must be put in first and can
be easily managed once a woman knows
how. 1t Is built Of broken pieces Of flower
pots, or glass bottles. or mugs. arranged
| around the holes in the bottom so that the
| round portions cover the holes. forming a
sort Of tent, and keep the dirt from clog
ging them and preventing the water from
running off.
with the drainage complete the moist
dirt may be filled In for the plants. Be
sure luoT0 II plcuIy O1 TOOLN LOT the rOOtS
to expand and grow, and have enough dirt
In the vessel to hold them securely and
give nourishment for 1t is essential that a
palm or rubber plant be kept in a good
position in a tub. and also that the earth
around 1t be in such condition that the
| roots will be properly nourished.
las. to watering these plants. I might
say that too much water cannot be given
them. for they drink enormous quantities,
and occasionally If in a warm room two or
three drinks in twenty-four hours ID not
| too much to promote healthy growth.
Most Of the water should be poured
around the roots, but occasionally the
leaves must be sprayed or wiped on with
q damp cloth, for they have pores that col
lect the dust and these need to be washed
out SO the plants can breathe, and Incl
dentally to keep them from looking yellow
and getting in q bad condition. The tenn
perature of the water used on these plants
should always be about the same, neither
lukewarm nor excessively cold. for icy
water is not good.
"As most rubber plants and palms are
kept in living rooms the temperature varies
from sixty to eighty or eighty-f1ve degrees,
though 1 think anything below seventy is
best for them. The regular temperature
even II over eighty degrees Fahrenheit,
does not do the plants much harm as
putting them in draught where they are
struck by blasts of frigid air. for then
they are chilled and that u harmful to
fhoir