The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1914-11-27
CAN TURN BAY WINDOW into
MINIATURE CONSERVATORY
II Potted Plants Are Used They Can
Be Kept In a Much Larger Variety
Than by Using the Customary
Window-Box

Washington, D. c., Nov. a7.-Mauy
, lovers of flowers who have not tho time
to bother with an indoor windowbox,
enjoy keeping number of potted
plants in the living room during the
winter. Some, in fact, have turned a
bay window into small conservatory
or winter garden merely by an attrac-
tive arrangement of plants in separate
pots. When window-box is filled, the
plants must he of the same general
character TO be successful, but if one S
winter garden is made up of plants in
separate pots a greater variety may be
kept, as each plant may receive diff
ferent treatment in the matter of light,
watering, soil, etc, and palms, rubber
| plants, and cacti, which call for special
handling, may be added Begonias, ivy,
smilax and aspidistra, all good plants
for indoor culture, demand more or less
the same treatment, rs was explained
in previous article sent out by the
United States Department of Agricul-
ture, describing the indoor window box.
Those who do not have gardens would
do better to get potting soil of the
nearest florist for their potted plants.
Good potting soil may be prepared at
home but it usually takes considerable
care and forethought. Those willing to
take the trouble may prepare it by us
ing one part compost, one part good
loan and one part sand. The compost
should be cow manure and good turf
rotted together for year and turned
two or three times in the interim. Well
decomposed leaf mould would answer
as partial substitute for the compost.
One-twentieth part bone meal is good
addition to the mixture. If the loan
is very heavy, containing much clay,
its proportion should be somewhat di-
minished. If the loan is light and
sandy, reduce the amount of sand, or in
some localities omit it altogether.
Potted plants should be examined
occasionally to see whether or not the
plant requires repotting. This is done
by holding the hands over the top of
the pot, inverting plant and all, tapping
the edge of the pot so as to loosen it,
then lifting the pot OFF. This cannot
be done unless the soil is moderately
moist. If the ball of earth is com
pletely covered with roots, the plant
should be put in slightly larger pot
with new potting soil ''firmed'' about
the old ball of earth by 'firming" with
the fingers. Then wet thoroughly.
a housewife who desires few pot
ted plants but does not possess the reg
ulation flower pots, may prepare tin
cans that will be quite satisfactory. A
small hole should be made in the bot
tom of the can and piece of broken
erockery or few stones put in the bot
tom of the can before the earth is
added, in order to give the proper
drainage. The stones of crockery
should be also used in the regular flow
er pot.
Hanging baskets may be used ad.
vantageously to make an indoor winter
garden attractive. They should be
hung near light window.
If geraniums are potted so that the
! root growth is restricted, and if they
are kept fairly dry, they may be forced
to bloom during the winter. Geraniums
are attractive in the ordinary window
box because of their foliage alone.
They should not be placed in window
box with the expectation that they will
bear flowers.
Ferns as they come from the florists
prepared for indoor culture should be
placed in strong light, though they
grow well without sunlight. They
should be watered sparingly but should
be kept moist at all times. Improper
watering, especially keeping the plant
soaked or permitting it to get dry, is
the foundation of most fern difficulties.
1t is especially difficult not to overwater
when the fern is in jardiniere, there
drainage is necessarily poor. In spring
and summer they will require three
times the water necessary in fall and
winter.
1t is well occasionally to put them
in the bath tub and give them bath
with weak soap suds made from a good
grade of soap. The soap must be thor
oughly rinsed off Immediately. Great
care must be exercised not to iniure
the fronds as they are very tender.
Mealy bug is one of the worst enemies
in house culture. This is a white woody
insect that works close to the bottom
of the fronds. If found, the plant
should be examined every day and all
insects removed by a splint or tooth
pick. If the pest is very bad, cut off
all the top of the fern within an inch
of the ground, treat thoroughly each
day till all insects are exterminated
when new top can be grown.
Red spider is minute sucking in
sect that thrives in dry atmosphere.
1t can be kept in check by spraying
the top with clear water. In living
rooms this is frequently impracticable.
The next best thing is repeated baths
The aphis or green fly is also eradicat-
ed by washing.
Ferns should be fed once in two to
four weeks in the place of ordinary wa
tering with dilute nitrate of soda, Ga
heaping teaspoonful to quart of wa
teri ammonia water Ga teaspoonful of
ammonia to quartz or manure leach
ings. Prepared plant food or little
sprinkling of ground bone and wood
ashes also gives satisfaction.
(No. of this series entitled "Trop-
t. L.,