Evening star., 1950-12-24

Freezing temperatures at night
and above freezing in the daytime
is not good for evergreens and
plants with green foliage. The soil
has been moist enough and they
did not suffer from that score but
the alternate freezing and thawing
is likely to be hard upon them
unless they were mulched to keep
them cool and dormant. 1t is not
too late to pile oak leaves over the
root area of the evergreens and
to place a layer of compost or
sawdust. Evergreen branches are
excellent for protecting the peren-
nial border. rose bed. and azaleas.
House plants tend to be neg
lected at this season of the year
Spray those that can take it with
cold water to remove the dust and
to control Red spider mites and
other pests. Those that cannot
withstand cold water should be
Syringed with warm water or have
their foliage washed or brushed to
remove the dust.
Feeding should not be neglected,
especially those that are in active
growth. Plant food in tablet or
liquid form should be supplied at
monthly intervals to keep the
plants in active growth. 1t is not
too early to check the potted bulbs
to see if they are ready to be
brought indoors to warmth and
moisture. If they are we'll rooted
the best sign is new roots ex-
tending through the drainage hole
they are ready to be brought
into a cool room (50-60 degrees)
where top growth should soon
show. AS the buds begin to unfold
into leaves they may be moved into
more warmth and sunlight. Guam
titles of moisture will be needed
at this stage and a temperature
not above so degrees.
Poinsettias that were brought
in from the garden in September
with ample green foliage may still
be green because of one simple
little requirement-they are sensi-
tive to length of day and unless
they have IA hours of darkness
the flowers" will not develop.
Electric lights keep them green
almost as well as sunlight. How
ever, a black cloth cover will shut
out the light and have the same
results as will parking them in a
dark room. The poinsettia thrives
on even temperatures and chilling
drafts are likely to result in loss
of foliage.
| Keep watch on the dahlia tubers,
the gladioluS corms and other
summer Towering roots" to see
that they do not dry out or that
excess moisture produces rot. Few
storage rooms are so ideal as to
permit complete neglect without
some loss. Frequent inspection is
the best insurance for safe storage
! Stake recently planted tall
shrubs and trees to prevent their
blowing about in winter winds.
Guy wires or ropes should be COW
cred with some material that will
prevent injury to the bark-sec-
tionS of worn-out rubber hose are
ideal for this purpose. A single
stake placed on the windward side
of small tree with one loop about
the trunk will usually provide
adequate protection. Taller plants
will need the customary three
stakes and guy wires.
In the modern home or apart
ment where the air tends to be
painfully dry, humidifiers at
tached to the radiators are apt to
be as beneficial to the plants as to
humans. There are many kinds
available to choose from, but don't t
waste time trying to figure out
which is best for the price, the de-
lay only irritates the throat.
Foliage plants usually need
watering but twice a week. flower
ing plants more often. Woody
plants need more water than
succulent or herbaceous plants.
These general rules are as near
I a guide as can be given. Some
houses are drier than others.
Plants growing in rooms with the
higher temperatures need more
water than those growing in a