CHAPTER IV 



CARE OF PLANTS IN THE WINDOW 



In order to grow plants well, in the house, they 

 must have plenty of light. Unless this can be given, 

 they will be spindling and weak, and there will be few, 

 if any, flowers, and these will be inferior. 



The best exposure is a southern one ; the next best 

 an eastern one. A south window is the one in which 

 to grow Geraniums, Lantanas, Heliotropes, and all 

 plants fond of much sunshine, while the eastern one 

 is better for Begonias, Fuchsias, and such plants as 

 care more for the sun in the early part of the day 

 than they do for it after its rays become more intense. 

 A west window gives too much heat unless shaded 

 considerably, but it is better than no window at all, 

 and if you have no other to give your plants, don't go 

 without them. A curtain of thin muslin will temper 

 the heat greatly, and vines can be trained over the 

 glass in such a way as to break the fierceness of the 

 sun's rays. A north window is not suited to the 

 needs of flowering plants, but some which are grown 

 solely for foliage can be kept there. Ferns, Palms, 

 Aspidistra, Ficus and Lycopodiums will do quite as 

 well there as in a window exposed to the sun. English 

 Ivy can be trained about it. Tradescantia in baskets 

 can be hung up in it, and thus it can be made beautiful 

 without flowers if you have a love for "green things 

 growing." 



One often sees weak, scraggly plants in the sit- 

 ting room windows. They seem to have grown too 

 rapidly to be healthy. Two things combine to bring 

 this about : Lack of fresh air and too much heat. 



