FOLIAGE PLANTS IN POTS 



123 



saturated. Few plants, except those accustomed to living 

 in bogs, can grow under such con- 

 ditions. Water in excess destroys 

 the bacteria which contribute so 

 much to the fertility of the soil, 

 turns it sour because the decom- 

 position of its acid constituents is 

 thereby prevented, and drives out 

 the air which is necessary to the 

 growth of the roots. The more 

 water a plant requires, the more 

 important it is that the soil should 

 be porous, and that there should be 

 a fairly thick layer of drainage 

 underneath, in order that any 

 surplus should get away quickly. 

 More sand than usual should 

 therefore be mixed with the loam 

 and leaf mould, and though the 

 whole should be firm and not 

 spongy, it should not be rammed 

 hard as for most shrubs, for the 

 roots of ferns are not strong 

 enough to force their way through 

 it if it is very solid. 



When repotting is necessary 

 the best time to do 



it is early ^^\ 



spring, just as the young fronds 



are beginning to grow. Ferns 



have less vitality than more robust 



plants, and as it is at its lowest 



ebb while they are dormant, it is 



not always safe to disturb them 



then. Some of the old soil should 



be worked away with a pointed 



stick, and fresh soil substituted for 



it. At the same time those that (like adiantums) spread by 



means of additional crowns can be divided. Davallias and 



Fig. 53. — Renovating the 

 top of an Aralia {Fatsia 

 japoiiica), the stem and 

 roots divided to make 

 cuttings. 



