POT-PLANTS IN ROOMS 5 



a plant is not growing it needs only just sufficient water to 

 replace any slight loss, and thus to prevent shrivelling of the 

 tissues ; any more will cause the roots to decay. 



The temperature of the water is a matter of some import- 

 ance. It may sometimes be higher than that of the room — 

 to gloxinias, for instance, it is often given higher — but if it is 

 lower it is liable to interfere with the growth of the plants, 

 and a check of any sort, besides being bad in itself, renders 



Fig. 2. — Plant kept too dry, the soil shrunk away from the pot, 



them peculiarly susceptible to diseases and the attacks of 

 insects. If, therefore, the water is drawn from the tap, it 

 should not be used at once, or some warm water should be 

 added to it. Of course, this also applies to water taken from 

 an outside tank. Rain water is the best for all plants. For 

 some kinds, such as heaths, azaleas, and rhododendrons, it is 

 almost essential, for company's water is generally hard, and 

 the lime in it is most injurious to them, and may kill them. 

 It may be thought that a little occasionally will do no harm, 

 but a sprinkle of water should never be given to any plants. 

 It is worse than useless, for it does not benefit any roots 



