200 Growing Flowers 



has once become dull and heavy in appearance, a 

 little oil should be smeared on a cloth and rubbed 

 over the leaves, wiping it off thoroughly that the 

 air may penetrate the lungs of the leaves. 



A pinch of mustard, half a teaspoonful to a quart 

 of water, added to the water in watering house 

 plants will destroy insects of many kinds and will 

 not harm even the most tender of plants. 



In planting the house plants in the garden during 

 the summer, leave the plant in the pot and plant 

 the pot as well. There will be no advantage what- 

 ever in taking the plant from the pot, and there 

 will be the disadvantage of upsetting the root 

 system twice during a few months. 



A small plant should not be set in a large pot. A 

 few roots with too much nourishment will be in 

 danger from having more food than they can 

 digest, and a sort of plant indigestion will set in. 



House plants should be fertilized every three or 

 four months and it will not be necessary to repot 

 them more than once a year. When plants out- 

 grow their quarters, they should always be re- 

 planted in larger pots to give the root system a 

 chance to develop. 



