Gardening for Amateurs 



817 



Plants for Rooms 



TO grow plants successfully in a room 

 or in the window of a room is not 

 so easy as in a greenhouse, for the 

 very simple reason that the conditions 

 of light, air, moisture and temperature 

 are not so favourable. There are, how- 

 ever, a number of plants that will thrive 

 for years in a room with reasonable 

 attention. It is of course quite easy for 

 those who possess a greenhouse to change 

 the plants frequently, giving them a week 

 or ten days in a room, and then a month 

 in the greenhouse. These notes, however, 

 are intended to help those not so fortunately 

 placed, and who must grow their plants 

 entirely in a room. In some instances it 

 is necessary to purchase small plants to 

 commence with, though many can be raised 

 from seeds, and eventually be increased by 

 cuttings, division, etc. 



Plants benefit by a change of position 

 occasionally, and they ought to be turned 

 round two or three times a week, as they 

 invariably grow towards the light, and 

 become one-sided if not attended to. 



Watering. Of all the details concern- 

 ing the care of plants in rooms this is the 

 most important. Improper watering causes 

 immense harm to room plants. The usual 

 question asked is, " How often should a 

 plant be watered ? " The answer being, 

 " When the soil in the pot begins to get 

 dry." But when this will be, and how 

 often, depends on man} 7 things : aspect and 

 atmosphere of the room, the weather, size 

 of pot, and so on. During the growing 

 season more water is necessary ; this, in 

 most instances, coincides with spring and 

 summer, though there are some exceptions ; 

 a few plants grow vigorously at other times 

 of the year. During winter most plants 

 need less water than in summer, but if there 

 is a fire constantly in the room the soil will 

 naturally dry more quickly. In watering, 

 always give sufficient to moisten the whole 

 of the soil ; it is of little use moistening the 

 surface, for the lower half of the ball of soil 

 still remains dry. Fill the pot, and give no 

 more until the soil begins to get dry. 

 52 



When the pots are full of roots, healthy 

 plants in rooms may be given a little fer- 

 tiliser once every ten days in summer 

 Guano, Clay's Fertilizer, and soot water can 

 be recommended. It is a mistake to stand 

 the pots in saucers of water. As most room 

 plants are placed in vases, these must be 

 frequently inspected, and any surplus water 

 tipped out. 



Potting the Plants. Clean pots are the 

 first essential ; if dirty, scrub them, and dry 

 thoroughly in the sun or elsewhere before 

 using. Thorough and efficient drainage of 

 the pots is necessary to permit of the escape 

 of surplus water. In the bottom, over the 

 liole, place a large piece of crock, then a few 

 other crocks, and fill with smaller pieces to 

 the depth of 1 inch, or more for large pots. 

 On the crocks place a thin layer of moss or 

 rough soil to prevent the fine particles of 

 soil trickling down into the drainage. Once 

 a year at least the drainage should be 

 examined, and, if necessary, cleaned or 

 replaced, for nothing does more harm to a 

 plant than stagnant water. When, as occa- 

 sionally happens, the soil gets sour, it is 

 often better in fact it is desirable to 

 wash the roots of many plants quite free of 

 the old soil, and give them a fresh start 

 in new compost. The general method when 

 repotting is to take away only the loose 

 soil from about the roots. 



Spring as a rule, about the beginning of 

 April is the best time to repot plants in 

 rooms ; there are exceptions, which will be 

 noted later. To keep the soil porous a free 

 sprinkling of coarse sand must be mixed 

 with the compost ; in fact, for some plants 

 it is worth while smashing up soft bricks 

 and old mortar rubble to the size of peas 

 and marbles to incorporate with the potting 

 soil. 



PLANTS GROWN FOR THEIR FOLIAGE 

 Aralia. This useful Japanese plant is 

 grown under several names in our gardens. 

 One in common use is the Castor Oil Plant, 

 but the true Castor Oil Plant is Ricinus 

 communis. The two plants are somewhat 



