The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1916-04-08
HOUSE PLANTS

A leading writer on plant lore tells
US there are three ways of watering
plant-two wrong ways and one right
way. The first he speaks of as the
"little and often" plan, which suits
the unmethodical, who water plants
whenever they think about it, usually
giving a small quantity each time. The
result of following such method is
that the water does not really pene-
trate the soil to any extent. The line
of moisture is near the top of the soil,
and the roots that lie below this line
land main roots are always deep
roots) rarely receive any water. Thus
the terminal ends of all long roots die
generally and the plant has more
or less sickly appearance. Watering
may keep the plant alive, but it does
not keep it in a state of health. And,
as has been said so often, half healthy
plants are always unsightly.
The second method, which is just
the opposite of the first, is to over
water the plants. Irrespective of tenn
perature, they continue to receive
each day large amounts of water.
Thus the soil which is kept saturated
ceases to be soil and becomes mere
mud, and the only plants that will
thrive in mud are aquatic.
But there is another way TO water,
which is the right one, and the sooner
the amateur learns this rule the bet
ter. The appearance of the surface of
the soil in the ordinary terra Gotta
fower-pot is sure indication of the
condition of the soil below the surface.
If the top of the soil is moist you can
be perfectly sure the rest of it is
moist. When by evaporation this
moisture has passed off to such an
extent that the soil takes on a dry look
il is safe to conclude that more water
is needed, and then more should be
applied. There are other methods
that indicate plants need of water,
hut the appearance of the sol! is the
safest for the amateur to follow.
While the soil is moist you are safe in
withholding water.
Each potted plant requires drainage.
This must be provided to keep the soil
from washing down and clogging up
the hole in the bottom of the pot. A
few small pieces of broken crockery
or oyster shells make admirable drain
age. Each four or five inch pot re-
quires from one inch to an inch and
half of drainage-larger pots more.
The idea of drainage is based on
scientific principl and cannot be ig-
nored if you would have healthy
plants. 1t does away with all danger
of overwhelming, since water enough
to injure the roots cannot collect in
we'll drained pot.
The temperature of the water
doesn't make any difference. The
water as it comes from the faucet is
used by the biggest growers.
The best exposure for plants is a
southern one; next choice is an east
ern one; the third western, and, last
and least. is the northern exposure.
The reason a western exposure is
not so good is because of the intense
heat of the afternoon sun.
The choice of plants that do we'll in
a northern exposure is very limited.
Lack of sunshine causes lack of flow
ers. Of course many of our most
beautiful foliage plants do well in such
a location. Evaporation takes place
slowly where there is a dearth of sun
shine; therefore plants in northern
windows require less water. 1t is well
each week to stir up with a knife the
soil of all plants having only north
ern light. This keeps the soil loose.
If you would have fine, healthy
plants never keep them in a window
that ic 1p1 Inv a c1rt a