The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1916-04-27
HOUSE PLANTS.
An Expert Gives Sound Advice
About Their Care.
EXCESS OF WATER IS BAD.
Amateurs Who Like Foliage IN Their
Homes viii Enjoy These helpful
Hints About Whist Green Things In
door Need and What They Abhor.

VoWee WIN envoy tNess Ve'pvut
Hints About Whist Green Things In
door Need and What They Abhor.
A leading writer on plant lore tells
Us there are three ways Of watering a
plant-two wrong ways and one right
way The hrst he speaks OF as the
little and often" plan, which suits
the unmethodical. who water plants
whenever they think about II. usually
giving a small quantity each time. The
result Of following such a method IL
that the water does not really pene-
trate the soil 20 any extent The line
Of moisture IL near the top OF the soil.
and the roots that lie below this line
and main roots are always deep roots
rarely receive any water. Thus the
terminal ends OF all long roots die gen
orally and the plant has a more or less
sickly appearance. Watering may keep
the plant alive. but II does not keep It
In n state OF health. And, as has been
said so often. half healthy plants are
always unsightly.
The second method. which In just the
opposite OF the first. Ii TO overwater
| the plants. Irrespective Of tempera-
ture. they continue to receive each day
large amounts OF water. Thus the soil
which Ia kept saturated ceases to be
soil and becomes mere mud. and the
only plants that win thrive In mud are
aquatic.
But there IL another way to water,
which is the right one. and the sooner
the amateur learns this rule the better.
The appearance OF the surface Of the
soil In the ordinary terra Gotta flower
pot Is a sure indication Of the condition
Of the soil below the surface. if the
top Of the soil IL moist you can be per.
fectly sure the rest OF II IL moist
when by evaporation this moisture
has passed Oh 10 such an extent that
the soil takes on a dry look II In safe
to conclude that more water 10 needed.
and then more should be applied. There
are other methods that indicate q
plants need Of water. but the appear.
ance Of the soil Is the safest for the
amateur TO follow While the sol Is
moist you are safe In Withholding wa.
ter.
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 crockcry or
oyster shells make admirable drainage.
Each four or i've inch pot requires
from one inch 20 an inch and q half OF
drainage larger pots more
This idea OF drainage II based on SCI
entidc principles and cannot be ignor.
ed II you would have healthy plants.
II does away with all danger OF over
watering. since water enough TO injure
the roots cannot collect In q web
Trained pot
The temperature OF the water doesn't
make any difference. The water Us II
comes from the faucet In used by the
biggest growers.
The best exposure for plants IL q
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 Ii not
so good is because OF the intense heat
of the afternoon sun.
The choice Of plants that do well In
q northern exposure Is very limited
Lack Of sunshine causes lack OF dow.
ers. OF course many OF our most
beautiful foliage plants do well In such
n location. Evaporation takes place
slowly where there In a dearth of sun
shine; therefore plants In northern
windows require less water. II In well
each week to stir up with a knife the
soil OF all plants having only a north
ern light This keeps the soil loose.
II you would have 6ne. healthy
plants never keep them In a window
that is shaded by a curtain