Evening star., 1941-10-18

III CO III UllC lNlllS 4OOil usually
range from IS to 10 degrees, it is
not desirable to attempt to grow
there plants that definitely require
lower temperatures.
A third factor in plant growth is
sunlight. Some plants are suited to
sunny room, whereas others may
be grown in rooms having a north
ern exposure and where direct SUM-
light never enters. Thus, when buy
ing plants for indoor use keep the
exposure of your windows definitely
in mind. Some of the new plant
stands are equipped with electric
lights, making it possible to grow
plants that would otherwise be i'm
possible because of lack of sunlight
Few house plants can withstand
draughts. Tender plants, such as
gardenias, will lose their flower buds,
and poinsettias their leaves, if ex-
posed to chilling draught.
House plants usually remain in
pots throughout the year and the
soil fertility soon becomes exhausted.
AAAS bS ploOtu bN oil OC(d-
sional application of fertilizer once
every month or so and by repotting
once year. The fertilizer may be
supplied in the form of tablets. or
by a level teaspoonful ito 6-inch
poD of standard commercial fer
tilizer. In repotting most plants
should De set in a soil mixture of
one-thlrd loan. third Well-rot-
ted manure or compost, and one
third sand. Do not repot plants
until the roots have begun to crowd
Even then it is well to remember
that amaryllis, palms and pandanus
do best when potbound. However
ferns, African violets (saintpaulia)
and many others do not thrive when
their roots show as a netted mass
surrounding the pot soil.
watering is an important phase
of house plant culture. When to
water and how much is a very trou-
blesome question. The answer de-
pends upon the kind of plant, the
weather, humidity. time of year and
whether the plant is in active growth
or in a rest stage Plants in active
growth need much more water than
when resting. Similarly, plants in a
dry atmosphere need more frequent
watering than those in a house
where the heating system is equipped
with a humidifier. In general, we
may say that house plants should
be Watered whenever the soil seems
dry to the touch. Give them a thor
ough soaking, stand the pot in a
pan OF water and let them stav
until the soil is moist at the TOP.
In this way you may be certain
that the entire mass is wet through.
In addition to watering from below.
1t is well to give the plants an
occasional Swinging to wash the
dust from the leaves. This also
serves to keep spiders under control.
Pest control among house plants
is just as important as in the garden.
Healthy house plants are less sub
Ject to disease and insect injury
than those that are barely max
Ing the grade. However, red cpiders,
mealy bugs, etc, will appear occa-
Slonally and must be controlled. A
strong blast of water is the easiest
and most available means of con-
trolling spiders and aphids. The
mealy bugs may be controlled with
a stick and tuft of cotton moistened
with alcohol. Daub the woolly mass
eS with the alcohol 1t is easier to
do than spraying with one of the
contact sprays. Burn or destroy
leaves to control diseases. Some
times it is necessary to use one of
the horticultural sprays to control
plant diseases but not often. Most
of the house-plant troubles are in
the form of insects, which, with the
exception of the white fly, are not
difficult to control. Soapy water does
wonders in controlling aphids.
Here are some plants adapted to
hot, dry air and very little sun
light: Chinese evergreen, Aspidistra
or cast-iron plant, Dracaena, rub
Der plant, curly palm, Mexican
salad fruit, pine, Philoden-
dron. leatherleaf fern, Sansevieria
(snake plant). The Philodendron is
a vine.
For north windows one may try
the Dracaena, English ivy, carpet
plant, Zanzibar balsam, the Mexi-
can salad fruit (Monstera deliciosa)
Peperomia Philodendron (vine)
African violet, Weddell palm and
the picks back plant.
Where there is sunshine one may
use the wax begonia, amaryllis, OK
ais, horseshoe geranium, rosa rou-
| lettii, the cacti, Christmas cactus
and many of the succulents-aloe,
crassula, crown of thorns, Haworth-
ia, Kalanchoe, etc.
In the east or west windows one
may add to the above Towering
maple, begonia credneri and thurs
Toni, the shrimp plant, kangaroo
vine, ivy grape, Olivia, Marica
(apostle plant), Boston fern, Pan
danus, Billbergia and the spring.
Towering bulbs.
| Where one has very cool room
between 40 and so degreeS-the
following are suitable: Norfolk island
pine, emerald feather asparagus
sprengerD, Camellia japonica, cycla-
men, Kenilworth ivy, holly fern,
creeping fig, English ivy, Primula
obconica and P. sinenSis and the
azaleas. Several of the winter flow
ering ANIMALS may be added to this
later group, especially the dwarf
marigolds, Towering tobacco, ager-
atums, browallia, calendula and
stocks.
For high temperatures and humid
ity, a rare combination, we mention
only the orchids, but there are a
great many other kinds that are
adapted to such conditions.