Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-23

Window boxes are devised to give
an architectural relation between a
window and the plants used in deco
ration, A window box IS usually the
same width as the window. 1t shoulC
be made to resemble the treatment ol
the window frame and should bs
placed level with the sill. Whatever
the external appearance of a window
box may be. ii should he of size to
provide soil about u inches deep. The
same as with pots there are drainage
holes in the bottom and broken
crooks or stones must be laid over
these to provide drainage layer. 10
care for surplus water which drains
away drip pan or tray of galvanized
sheet iron should he under the entire
box, or the earth Contalncr should ne
inside Of a water.tight. decorative box,
Just as a pot fits into a jardiniere
The same as with jardiniere, ex'
cesSeS OF water must be avoided.
Foliage plants are more successful
than blooming plants for house cul'
ture. whether in pots or window
boxes. As all plants in a single box
are obliged 10 endure the same con
ditions. il IS best In use few kinds OF
plants in the same box. Boxes en-
tirely filed with bcconlaS. with ferns
or with aspidistraS. especially large.
formal windows. give much better re-
suits than mixed arrangements. Vines
planted at either end can he trained
up over trellises. il there is room. but
vines to hang down over the front of
window box DO not always thrive
indoors, as they would he growing
away from the light. The reverse. OF
course, would be t-3e il the boxes
were outside the window.
In addition 10 ferns. there are be-
gonias, aspidistraS, already men.
toned, asparagus sprengeri. smi!aX,
impatiens sultani. marguerites, gera-
NUNS. wandering jew. primula OBJ
conica and many of the Dutch bulbs
that can be raised successfully in win
dow boxes. Some OF these. especially
the bulbs, Will remain in flower only
a short time. so that the entire box
containing them can be removed and
stored in cellar or attic until time TO
plant the bulbs outdoors for another
season.
Plants to be grown in pots in liv-
ing room should be of a kind that VIII
flourish under the relatively adverse
conditions found there, Usually they
should be foliage rather than HOVER
ing plants and should be varieties
which will stand a dry atmosphere
and lack OF direct sunlight. All should
he given good pointing soil bought from
a florist or prepared by mixing equal
parts OF compost, loan and sand.
Seeking Variety.
IL pots are used instead Of window
boxes, q greater variety OF plants can
be raised. as the soil and watering can
he varied to suit each plant, while q
box imposes the same conditions on all
Plants require reporting at intervals
in order TO supply new food materia!
for the restricted roots. Rapidly
growing plants require frequent re-
potting, slow growing ones need annual
reporting. while some which are I'M
patient Of disturbance will do best
with only an annual top dressing in
the pots for three or four years.
Proper drainage must be given the
same as for window boxes. Broken
crooks should be placed over the drain
age hole in the pot and these covered
with turf or moss to prevent the work
ing OF the soil down into the inter
stlces. r'hen this is done, IL water Is
given ~. plant in greater amounts
than the soil can retain normally, the
excess viii draw away freely and not
saturate the soil and so exclude the
air in the soil, so essential TO root
growth. The use OF jardinieres is not
very good for the health OF plants I'M
Jess they are closely watched. as jar
dinieres form a reservoir which catches
and holds excess water that might
otherwise drain away.
Except for plants coming from the
arid regions, which require infrequent
watering, most plants are benefited
ny tYrlYnersing the entire pot in water
for several hours. allowing the excess
Of water 10 drain away quickly and
then giving no more water until the
soil N the pot becomes really dry. as
detected by the touch. feeling quick
~ recognized after a little experience.
Whatever method Of watering is used
the aim should be TO keep the soil uni
forynly moist and to avoid extremes Of
dryness or wetness. Frequent spray.
ing Of the foliage with water is help
ful. inasmuch as IL counteracts the
dry atmosphere. prevents attacks Of
red spider and 80 proiongs the life Of
the leaves Of the plants. which soon
drop of II the air Is too dry or the
pIa,.fs are infested with spiders.
Why Some Fail.
Success for indoor plants denaa nds
that a temperature % 81 10 10 degrees
he maintained during the daytime
wf,n a drop Of 10 10 IS degrees during
Inc night. Fifty degrees is an low Il
temperature as most plants can sue
,essft4lsy rtand. Too often the tenn
uerat ure o. the living room reaches
* or 50 degrees during The Winter
months. Such temperatures are 81
most invariably accompanied by q
low percentage ofAhunsidlty in the At
,nogphere and the soil in the pots dries
,arf6ty in concurrence for not fuiy