72 HOUSE PLANTS 



watering can be made. Plants may need 

 water twice a day or only once in two days. 

 The best way to determine whether a plant 

 is dry is to rap the pot sharply with the 

 knuckles of the hand. A hollow, or ringing 

 sound shows that the soil needs water; 

 a heavy, dull sound indicates that it has 

 sufficient moisture. Usually you can tell 

 whether the soil needs watering by looking 

 at the surface. If it is dry and powdery 

 give water. 



The common fault in watering is not doing 

 the job thoroughly. Never give a little sur- 

 face sprinkling. The best way, if convenient, 

 is to take the plants to the sink or bath tub 

 and give the soil a good watering, allow- 

 ing the pot to stay in the sink until the sur- 

 plus water has had a chance to drain off. 

 If it is impossible to do this, have a saucer 

 under each pot and ten or fifteen minutes 

 after the watering go around and turn out 

 all the water standing in the saucers. Never 

 allow water to remain in the saucers as it 

 will prevent aeration through the hole in the 

 bottom of the pot, and also it will rot the 

 roots. When plants are kept in jardinieres 

 people often grow careless, let water collect 



