THE ORNAMENTAL PLANTS — WINDOW-GARDENS 347 



they are very sensitive to heat, and require to be given the 

 light only when they have started to grow, without any forcing. 

 Forty to 45° will be as warm as they ever need be kept. 



Watering house plants. 



It is impossible to give rules for the watering of plants. Con- 

 ditions that hold with one grower are different from those of 

 another. Advice must be general. Give one good watering 

 at the time of potting, after which no water should be given 

 until the plants really need it. If, on tapping the pot, it gives 

 out a clear ring, it is an indication that water is needed. In 

 the case of a soft-wooded plant, just before the leaves begin 

 to show signs of wilt is the time for watering. When plants 

 are taken up from the ground, or have their roots cut back in 

 repotting, gardeners rely, after the first copious watering, on 

 syringing the tops two or three times each day, until a new 

 root-growth has started, watering at the roots only when abso- 

 lutely necessary. Plants that have been potted into larger 

 pots will grow without the extra attention of syringing, but 

 those from the borders that have had their roots mutilated or 

 shortened, should be placed in a cool, shady spot and be 

 syringed often. One soon becomes familiar with the wants of 

 individual plants, and can judge closely as to need of water. 

 All soft-wooded plants with a large leaf-surface need more 

 water than hard-wooded plants, and a plant in luxuriant growth 

 of any kind more than one that has been cut back or become 

 defoliated. When plants are grown in hving-rooms, moisture 

 must be supplied from some source, and if no arrangement has 

 been made for securing moist air, the plants should be syringed 

 often. 



All plant-growers should learn to withhold water when 

 plants are ^'resting" or not in active growth. Thus cameHias, 

 azaleas, rex begonias, palms, and many other things are usually 

 not in their growing period in fall and midwinter, and they 



