Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1910-12-02
WHY HOUSE
PLANTS FAIL,

Many who try to keep plants won
der why they die and the following
from the Youths Campauion may
enlighten as to the best way to pre-
serve them
An attempt to grow plants in the
living-room Of the house frequently
results in their speedy death aud a
keen disappointment to the grower.
Success demands that a temperature
of sixty five to seventy degrees be
maintained during the daytime, with
drop of ten to fifteen degrees during
tho nighti fifty degzees is as low a
temperature as most plants can sue
cessfully stand. incidentally. these
temperatures are the best for the
health Of the family
Too often the temperature of the
living room reaches seventy five or
eighty degrees during the winter
months. Such temperatures are al
most invariably accompanied by a
low percentage Of humidity in the
atmosphere, and the soil in the pots
dries rapidly in consequence, for not
only are the plants transpiring much
water through the leaves, but water
also evaporates from the surface Of
the soil and through the porous clay
Of the pots. Rapid fluctuations Of
soil moisture are extremely bud for
the health Of plants. The worst re
suit of this condition is dry soil in
the bottom of the pot, for too FIRE
quently house-plant watering consists
merely in pouring a little water on
the surface of the soil, not enough to
reach down to the bottom.
Dryness Of the soil is best deter
mined by the gardeners method.
aIt the pot a sharp blow with the
knuokles of the first and second fin.
gers. If the sound is hollow, the
soil is dry; if dead, there is sufficient
moisture. When the soil is thorough
ly dry, the only sure way to water
che plant is to place it for several
minutes In pail containg enough
water 50 cover the pot. a..
Moisture can be supplied to the
atmosphere by keepings a dish of
water on or near the stove, where it
win evaporate readily. Most fur
.paces havesa splacesfor water in the
jacket which viii need filing daily.
Plants usually thrive in the kitchen
because of the moisture the atmos
phere derives from the steam of the
eakettle and the pots.
Gas is an enemy of house plants
either coal or Illuminating gas, and
aud it will retard growth and prevent
the opening of flower buds even when
present in such small quantities that
it cannot be smelled.
Fresh air is essential. Ventilate
the room by leaving a door or win.
dow open just little, but nessr al.
low draft to cross the .,.ants. LiRe
gas, drafts cause blasting" Of the
buds as we'll as browning of the
leaves.
The leaves are the plants lungs,
and they must be kept clean. The
surface of each leaf is filled with min
ute poles through which respiration
and Transportation take place. Spong-
ing the leaves frequently with clean
water will be sufficient with, perhaps
a weekly Swinging, which should be
done with the plants in a sink or
hath-tub. Rubbing the leaves with
any oily substance to make them
shine is unnecessary, for a clean,
healthy leaf will have abundant
gloss. The grease clogs the pores.
preventing the leaves from perform
ing their proper functions.
To obtain a well-halanced plant,
turn it halfway round each way, for
plants in a window grow toward the
light,