Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-03
Flowers in the House.

1t is time to plan for the flowers that
are to bloom in your house throughout
the winter. And, remember, that few
pots of blooming flowers will cost far
less than their equivalent in cut flow
ers. So, if you have time to tend to
them. and a place to put them. by all
means have Towering plants in your
windows.
Geraniums are deservedly a stand
by. They bloom and bloom and bloom
and grow and grow and grow. all in
payment for little care. The gera
NUNS in the garden that are to be
kept in the house in the winter should
have been nipped back all summer.
sorthat by now they are rounded. full
plants that have not been allowed to
blossom out-of-doors. If they have
blossomed, the best thing to do is to
slip them for plants to take INTO the
house. 1t is best to sink the house
geraniums in the ground in the spring
in their pots, for geraniums should
not be allowed to have too much root
room. If this was done, and II the
buds were nipped off, just dig up the
pots, repot the plants into fresh earth.
and take them into the house. so that
they will get used to indoor air before
the fires are lighted. Never give a
geranium a very big pot, for it is likely
to run to roots" and SO sicken and
die. Geraniums like sunshine.
Oxalis.i is an effective house bloomer.
and needs little care. 1t should be
potted in sandy soil, and it likes a
warm corner of the plant shelf, with
plenty Of sunshine.
Ferns. on the other hand. like the
shady corners. Never let the ground
about them get sOdden, although 1t
keep ferns in a fairly cool room most
of the time. Heat or too much sun
makes them turn yellow and die. They
should be planted in a good leaf mold
from the woods. mixed with sand. And
they should be well drained.
Begonias, like geraniums, should be
left in pots when they are sunk in
the ground in the spring. Before TAX
ing them into the house water them
lavishly, for the watering makes them
thrive. Bring them in before the first
frost-it is good time now, in fact. to
bring them in. After they are brought
in they should not be given SO much
water and they should not be given
too much sun. Put them outdoors on
all mild days. to get little breath of
fresh air. If the leaves begin to drip.
ii is probably because you are giving
the plants too much water. so give
them less. without letting the soil get
actually dry, until they seem strong
and normal again.
Fuchsas. like begonias. drop their
leaves If they are too moist. Never
theless. they like a moist soil, and they
like shade, with rich soil and good
drainage. Their roots grow rapidly,
and they sometimes. therefore, get pot
bound and need a larger pot dose
Of manure water occasionally also helps
them.
This is the time. too, to plan for the
bulbs that will bloom at Christmas and
, Easter Hyacinths should be planted
half dozen in each pot or box. The
soil should be made up Of sand. well
,, rotted manure and loan lightly mixed.
with a preponderance of sand. Plant
the bulbs at a depth of about four
times their own size, and sink them in
the ground. covering them well so that
| they will not freeze. In this state they
grow roots. AS they are wanted, dig
out the pots and take them into a cold,
dark room and leave them there until
the foliage begins to show. Then
bring them into the light, gradually
will bring the flowers. Be careful not
| to make the transition from cold dark
ness to warm light too quickly, as the
flowers will be forced and blighted.
Crocuses can be grown in about the
same way as hyacinths, and SO can
tulips and daffodils. They can all be
grown. too, in water, in a glass dish.
| with a bit Of charcoal put in to keep
the water sweet. AS it evaporates. add
more. Place the bulbs in water first
| in a cold. dark room until the roots are
| well grown and then gradually move
them to the light and heat.
The professional florist understands
that although house plants must be
kept moist they must never be allowed
| to become soggy. To begin with. they
should be well drained. Broken pots
or cinders should be placed below the
earth they grow in. The soil should
be mixed with sand. too. to tighten it..
Never water a plant until the soil on
top is almost dry. Then water it
ACKNOWLEDGMENT it. but lie. the
water drain out through the bottom Of
| the pot and never let it stand in the
l saucer under the pot, for 1t becomes
stagnant and Injuries the plant.