The Washington times., 1908-04-14
Plotting of Plants;
Ways to Obtain
The Best Results
Foliage Should Be Kept
Clean and Plants Well
Watered.

knowledge OF how and when TO repot
plants is apt to be very vague. so a
few suggestions on this subject may
prove useful TO readers OF this column.
X YOU have quite small plants in very
large pots they will not flourish. as the
soil viii become sour and sogsy. Many
reason that small pots are a mistake;
that small plants in the open ground do
not have their roots confined in any
manner. The truth is plants need air
for their roots as well as their tops. In
the garden they procure it by having
their roots near the surface. by fire.
quent hocinE and by natures method
of opening the eartll and making il, TO
certain extent. porous
In pots Just a little larger than the
ball of roots plants grow the best. for
the roots seek the edge Of the pot at
once for air. The best plants are al
ways those that have been started in
small pots and then repotted as the
plants grow, each tine using one size
larger pot.
TO Pot Plants.
It is better 10 take such sickly plant
out of the large pot shake nearly all
the soil Off and repot It again in a pot
Of suitable size. You win find that ii
viii show signs of returning vigOr in n
very short time. Yet whenever s>piant
seems 20 be turning il should be ex-
amined to see If the pot is not too fun
Of roots. and if so it should be repotted
in a size larger pot TO ascertain the
condition Of the roots. Never take a
table knife and cut around the pot as
many do. but simply turn the pot up
side down. place your hand under the
soil and give the edge Of the pot a rap
on the table and the whole ball VIII
leave the pot.
IN UproOting never have The soil TOO
wet, as Il will pack too hard. Always
leave room for water by not filling the
rot level 10 the brim with soil. Leave
at least half an inch for water. In UNI
potting do not break the earth from the
plant at all. but put the whole bail
IN tho new and larger pot, and then MI
IN around # with the fresh soil. press
firmly and then follow with a good
soaking Of water to settle it well. BY
not disturbing the roots in reporting
the plant never willis and goes imme-
djately 10 making new roots and tops.
Cleanliness.
people call luck We often hear the
expression, 7 never have much luck
with plants in the house They all die "
Tho trouble is lack Of attention 10 de-
tails. One day they are too wet, an
other day they suffer from drought. and
with some the soil is not. suitable. If
one person succeeds why should not an
other?
You viii always find plants in the best
condition Of health that are frequently
washed The leaves act as a breathing
apparatus for the plant, and any one
can easily see that to neglect the clean
ing and allow the dust TO gather in the
foliage IS very detrimental. Wash all
your plants at least once a week with
terid water and n soft sponge. and be
tween times spray them with clean
water. Plants are greatly benefited b.
being frequently changed about. i exc
roses the different parts of the plants
TO the light. We do not mean simply
turning the plants around, but would
suggest a complete Encouragement of
the window at least once d week II Is
q great help 70 plants, a. they are as
much benefited by change as We are
ourselves.
Watering