February, 191 5 



33 



What House Plants Need to Help them Thrive 



H. J. 



THERE is no home lo which some 

 plant is not adapted, and while 

 conditions for its growth may not 

 be ideal, its culture is not impossible. 

 Ignorance of cultural details even in a 

 proper environment has resulted in the 

 elimination of many house plants which 

 otherwise would have endured and be- 

 come a source of attraction and of plea- 

 sure to their owner. Plant culture de- 

 mands the application of intelligence. 

 Commonsense methods are necessary for 

 success. 



Many times the question has been ask- 

 ed, Are such substances as cold tea, tea 

 leaves, coffee grounds, cigar ash, castor 

 oil, and beef steak of any use as plant 

 food. To all such questions there is but 

 one answer. Their harmful effects more 

 than offset any fertilizing value they may 

 have. They are of no use to the plant 

 until they decompose, and when this 

 occurs the percentage of fertilizing ele- 

 ments is so small as to practically render 

 their use ineffective. They may lie up- 

 on the surface of the soil for weeks, and 

 so prevent aeration. This will cause an 

 unsanitary and evil-smelling condition, 

 and probably an acid condition of soil. 

 All such substances should, for the sake 

 of sanitation and cleanliness, be relegat- 

 ed to the garbage waggon or to the in- 



Moore, Queea Victoria Park, Niagara Falls, 



cinerator. If to the latter, the ash, in 

 conjunction with that from the rest of 

 the home garbage, may in small quan- 

 tities be mixed in the potting soil or used 

 as a garden fertilizer. 



Negligence in cultural details is like- 

 wise a derogatory factor. The rooms 

 must not be stuffy, the windows must on 

 favorable occasions be opened, the blinds 

 should not be drawn until dark, or left 

 down too long in the morning. A fairly 

 even temperature must be maintained. 

 Atmospheric humidity must be created 

 by placing pans of water on the radia- 

 tors, stoves, furnaces, or near the re- 

 gisters. Cleanliness is also essential, 

 neglect of this will result disastrously. 

 Plants breathe through the pores of their 

 leaves, one-half of their food material 

 is absorbed in this manner (carbon). 

 They should, therefore, be sprayed or 

 sponged to remove the dust which clogs 

 the pores, remembering at all times that 

 it is as necessary to clean the under sur- 

 faces as the upper surfaces of the leaves. 

 The surroundings must be cleanly and 

 wholesome. The dictionary indicates 

 that surroundings are but the environ- 

 ment. The scientist says environment 

 governs or influences development and 

 growth. To neglect the foregoing con- 

 ditions must be to court failure, as these 



Ont. 



are the things which constitute en- 

 vironment. 



Much depends upon the selection ol 

 house plants. If they are intended as 

 permanent subjects tho.se of the distinct- 

 ly florists' type should not be purchased. 

 The florist grows certain plants for spe- 

 cial purposes at special seasons. The 

 majority of these subjects will not en- 

 dure long under dwelling-house condi- 

 tions, they have probably been forced 

 rapidly in a high temperature, and humid 

 atmosphere (conditions which cannot be 

 duplicated), to say nothing of abundant 

 light. The florist does not guarantee 

 their permanency, it would be unreason- 

 able to expect him to do so. He will 

 supply you with permanent subjects if 

 you seek his advice. 



Such plants as cyclamen, cinerarias 

 (senecios). Primula sinensis, P. stellata, 

 azaleas, and Begonia Gloire de Lorraine 

 belong to the strictly florists' class, and 

 are only temporary subjects. Plants of 

 a more permanent character, and, there- 

 fore, more suitable as house plants, are 

 Aspidistra elatior, and A. elatior varie- 

 gata, Ficus elastica (the rubber plant), 

 Araucaria excelsa (Norfolk Island pine), 

 and A. excelsa glauca, Fatsia japonica, 

 Begonia gracilis alba, geraniums, fuch- 

 sias ; many of the cacti, the Christmas 



This beautiful wall is a feature of thr SJirdcii of Jlr. A. W. Austia, Toronto, Out. On thu wall, which is only two years old, are Virginia creeper, 

 BoBton ivy, English ivy and wild cucumber. The wall is about 1.000 feet long. Other Illustrations of this garden will be published later. 



