FLOWER POT COMPOSITION 



159 



X;^sx 



Fig. i. — Maidenhair Fern in Rubber ami Clay Flower Pots. 



Table 6. — Livikg fronds of maidenhair ferns, fifty days in clay and 

 rubber flower pots. 



The type of pot, porous or non-porovLS, determines the method of culture 

 to be used. The standard clay, porous flower pot, employed by the commercial 

 grower, does not produce good plants in dwelling houses. In order to use this 

 pot successfully, it must be kept on a bed of moist material so that the 

 evaporated water may be replaced from outside the pot instead of from the 

 moisture within the pot. Thus, a pot may be porous or vitreous witliout any 

 injury occurring to the plant if cultural practices are adaj)ted to the type 

 of pot. The non-porous pot is adaptable to the requirements of house and 

 office culture of ornamental plants, and may' even be used by tlie commercial 

 grower with special advantage if plants are to be shipped. 



The porous pot may be made non-porous by filling tlie pores with paint, 

 or similar preparations. The non-porous containers may be made of water- 

 proofed fibers, glass, any vitreous material, or any synthetic substance that 

 can be poured into a mould or stamped out, as metal. It should be kept in 

 mind, however, that there should be no soluble chemical in the substance of 

 the pot that will be harmful to plants. Should there be decomposable mater- 

 ials in the pot, nitrogen deficiency would probably occur. 



