Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1915-08-20
THE WINDOW GARDEN
By EREN z. RExFORD.

BY EBEN z. RExFoRD.
It may not seem reasonable to the
reader to treat of winter window gar.
dens in midsummer, but careful con-
sideration Of the subject from my
point of view will convince the flower
loving person, I feel quite sure, that
this article Is timely"
Look over the window gardens OF
your neighbors, in winter, when they
ought to be at their best to give the
fullest degree of satisfaction, and l
think you will find the majority Of
them far from satisfactory.
The plants will be small, much too
small to be ornamental; and If you
keep an eye on them throughout the
season you will find that few Of them
reach the Towering stage before
March, which is to say that most
specimens in the ordinary house col.
lection of plants give few or no fow-
ers at the period when a window gar
den should afford us the greatest
amount Of pleasure.
What We aim at is flowers in winter
not In the spring, when the blossoms
of the outdoor garden are at hand.
Said woman to me. not long since:
Il don't see why it is that can't have
flowers In the winter. Some of my
friends have, and they don't take half
rs good care Of their plants as do.
Why, some OF them don't repot their
plants at ALL, still I notice they have
flowers from them; and / go over all
my plants Just before winter sets in,
and repot them and cut them back Of
start new ones and take pains to give
them the best soil and am so careful
about watering. and fertilizing, and
airing, but most Of them will not blos-
som for me. They look healthy and
they grow we'll, but one doesn't care
for Just leaves.
Now, this woman's failure to obtain
flowers from her plants was explained
by three words she made use of-"just
before winter" The attention she
gave the plants at that period came
several luOuJuS tOO ldto.
The fact is, as anyone will readily
see when they come to think the mat
ter over, a plant cannot be satisfac-
torily developed in two or three
months. Not much can be expected
from a plant that is not made ready
for winter until that season ia about
upon US.
In order to secure a good collection
of good-sized plants for the winter.
ono must begin to get ready during the
summer. BY the term "good-sized," l
do not mean large plants in the usual
sense of the word, but rather plants
of sufficient development to justify one
in expecting flowers from them for the
holidays.
Age is often a more important factor
in plant culture than mere size. Young
plants seldom bloom while develop
ment is taking place most rapidly.
They must get their growth" so to
speak, before we can expect them to
bend their energies to the production
of flowers.
Therefore, advise the owner Of a
collection of house plants from which
she wishes to secure flowers all
through the winter season to get the
plants under way now. . II some Of
them are large, cut them back and al
low them to renew themselves wholly,
- to branches, during the months be-
tween now and winter.
Report now, If necessary, and shift
such as seem to need larger pots. II
young plants are to be used. procure
them at once and keep them going
ahead steadily.
Do not be so anxious to secure rapid
development that you fall into the
error of overlooking. Simply aim to
bring about a strong, healthy growth,
and as long as a plant seems to be