The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1914-12-17
MANY lovers of flowers who have
not the time to bother with an

not the time to bother with an
indoor window-box, enjoy keep
Ing a number of ported plants in
the living room during the Winter.
Some, In fact, have turned a bay
window into a small conservatory
or Winter garden merely by an at
tractive arrangement of plants in
separate pots.
When a window-box is filled, the
plants must be of the same general
character to be successful, but if
ones Winter garden is made up of
plants in separate pots a greater
variety may be kept, as each plant
may receive different 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 aspi-
distra, all good plants for indoor
culture, demand more or less the
same treatment. as was explained in
q previous article sent out by the
United States Department of Agri-
culture, describing the indoor win
dow-box.
Making Plotting Soil.
Those who do not have gardens
would do better to get potting soil
OF the nearest florist for their ported
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 1t by using one part
compost, one part good loan and one
part sand.
The compost should be COW ma
ure and good turf rotted together
for a year and turned two or three
times in the interim. Well decom-
posed leaf mould would answer as
q partial substitute for the compost.
One-twentieth part bone meal is a
good addition to the mixture. II
the loan Is very heavy, containing
much clay, its proportion should be
somewhat diminished. II the loan
Is light and sandy, reduce the amount
of sand. or in some localities omit It
altogether.
Examine Occasionally.
Potted plants should be examined
occasionally to see whether or not
the plant requires reporting. 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 1t, then lifting the
pot off. This cannot be done I'M
less the soil is moderately moist. II
the ball of earth is completely GOV.
cred with roots, the plant should be
put in a 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 a few
potted plants but does not possess
the regulation flower pots, may pre-
pare tin cans that will be quite sat
isfactory. A small hole should be
made in the bottom Of the can and a
piece of broken crockery or a few
stones put in the bottom OF the can
before the earth is added, in order to
give the proper drainage. The stones
or crockery should be also used in
the regular flower pot.
Hanging baskets may be used ad-
vantageously to make an indoor
Winter garden attractive. They
should be hung neal a light window.
Geraniums.
II geraniums are ported so that
the root growth is restricted, and If
they are kept fairly dry, they may
be forced to bloom during the Win
ter. Geraniums are attractive in the
ordinary window-box because Of
their foliage alone. They should not
be placed in a window-box with the
expectation that they will bear
flowers.
Ferns as they come from the flor
lists prepared for indoor culture
should be placed in a strong light,
though they grow we'll without sun
light. 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 over
water when the fern is in a jardiniere,
where drainage Is necessarily poor.