The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-01-26
choice
And Care Of Decorative
House Plants

decorative mouse plants are tnat tney
are not expected to blossom and that
they are always in company dress"
For these reasons they are among the
most satisfactory subjects for indoor
use in winter, especially in places
where the sunlight is lacking or indi-
rect, because in such situations flower
ing plants are not always reliable even
under the best of attention. No collec-
tion of house plants is nowadays con-
sidered complete without some of
these subjects, and even the best as
sortment of Towering plants, bulbs,
ETC., can be enhanced by including
them. While 1t is fact that they will
thrive in poorly lighted situations, it
must nevertheless be borne in mind
that they will usually do much better
where the light Is better. In the list
which follows with brief cultural notes
are included only those plants which
have proved their worth in both light
and shade.
The Ficus or rubber plant is one of
the most popular of all foliage plants
because of its large, glossy, thick
leathery leaves. 1t is no unusual thing
for well-grown specimens to have
leaves eight to twelve inches long and
four or five wide. Because of the con-
struction of the leaves the plant has
remarkable ability to Withstand the
effects of the dust and dry air-better
than almost any other house plant.
The rubber plant needs loamy soil of
no special richness. Indeed, richness
should be almost avoided. because it
will induce too rank growth. It will be
found best as 4 rule to buy small
plants and move the n to new quarters
from time to tie as ti.a old pots be-
come filled with massel IF roots
around the balls of earth. At best
fertilizer solution applied not oftener
than once in two weeks will keep the
plants in Vigorous condition. Each
week the leaves should be washed off
to remove dust.
Among the palms the following are
the most satisfactory: Latania, bor-
bonica, the well-known fan palm;
Phoenix reclinata, species with long
slender leaves which spread widely
and curve very gracefully outward;
Areca lutescens, yellow stemmed
species, upright grower of smaller,
less robust growth than the preced-
ing, but particularly desirable for a
window position on that account;
Chamaerops humilis, vigorous, low
growing species, specially useful for
a jardiniere or a tabouret--leaves fan
shaped, deeply cleft and produced pro-
fusely.
To grow these plans we'll, select
deep pots because they send their
roots down rather than laterally. The
soil should be loan. never light or
spongy such az that in which leafmold
Is mixed. When watering, always
soak the soil preferably by setting the
pot almost rim deep in water until the
surface soil becomes dark from the
water taken up, then let stand until
the pot will give metallic ring when
flicked with the finger. If the sound is
dull thud, no water is needed. Keep
the plants In partial shade, shower
them daily and once month wash
the leaves with fir tree OIL When the
plants are used for DECORATION in a
dark hall or parlor do not leave them
there any longer than is necessary
two days to week will not injure--
but take them back to the light as soon
as the event Is over. No plant, not
even palm can be expected to do
we'll without reasonable amount of
light, Don't bother to grow palms from
seed. The process Is too slew. Better
buy plants little smaller than the de-
sired size and thus gain year or
more.
The dracaenas, especially indivisa
and terminals, the former dark green,
the latter bronze and maroon. are very
ornamental when well grown. They
do best in mixture of leafmold and
garden loan about equal parts. At all
times they must have their roots kept
moist and be In a warm atmosphere,
Furthermore, they need more light
than the other plants In this list 50 as
to develop and show of their brilliant
colors.
The aspidistra, especially the varie-
/, ty known as variegata. is widely and
deservedly popular foliage plant be-
cause 1t will grow and do well under
conditions that would surely mean fail,
ure to many others. It requires abun'
dant water but otherwise will do ap.
parently equally we'll In shade and sun
shine. Dust and dry air do not seem TO