CHAPTER X 



DISEASED PLANTS 



When a plant that has been making satisfactory 

 growth suddenly drops its leaves, you may be quite 

 sure that its health has been injured in some way. 

 Possibly the cause may be the red spider, but if, after 

 examination, you find none of these insects at work, 

 you will be obliged to look in other directions to 

 ascertain the source of trouble. It may come from 

 overpotting, which means that you have given the 

 plant a pot containing more soil than it needs ; or it 

 may come from too much water at the roots, or too 

 great heat ; or gas in the room. Or it may be attribu- 

 table to too great stimulation or the use of a fertilizer 

 in too great quantities. Possibly worms in the soil 

 may be the cause. 



Before beginning any kind of treatment, try to 

 find out what has caused the difficulty. When you 

 have ascertained that, you can go to work intelli- 

 gently. If the pot is too large, put the plant in a 

 smaller one. If too much water is retained in the soil, 

 see to the drainage. That must be defective. If too 

 strong a fertilizer has been given, repot the plant, 

 putting it into a soil of moderate richness. If the heat 

 of the room is too intense, temper it in some way, and 

 give plenty of fresh air. 



In treating a sick plant let the soil get quite dry. 

 Then repot the plant. Give a small pot, and remove 

 all the diseased roots. If a new pot is used, soak it 

 well before potting the plant. If an old one is used, 

 clean it thoroughly. After putting your plant in it, 

 water moderately, and then wait till the plant shows 



