HINTS FOR CULTURE OF HOUSE PLANTS 
Decorative foliage plants and African violets are all excellent house 
plants. They withstand the shade and warmth of the normal home. 
While they require less fertilizer than some plants they all require 
more water than cacti. It is this requirement of moisture that makes 
FOLIAGE PLANTS so valuable to the health of people living with 
them. They supply a natural humidity to the home that is needed 
when homes are heated artificially and without benefit of real air- 
conditioning. 
Watering—This, of course, varies according to the location and type 
of container they are grown in. By placing your foliage plants in jar- 
dinieres or glazed pottery (leave plants in red clay pots they were 
grown in) you will help prevent excessive drying. When plants are 
watered give them a good drenching under the faucet or immerse them 
in a bucket of water until the bubbles stop rising from the soil. This 
will keep pots wet longer and should last two or three days. When clay 
pots are light in color and pot rings when tapped on the rim they are 
dry. Of course, plants must always have adequate drainage—if soil is 
soggy continually the roots will rot off. So check drainage hole in 
bottom of pot occasionally to see if it is open. Do not water plants 
with very cold water. It should be room temperature. 
Light—Placed near any window they should receive adequate light. 
Some plants like Philodendron and Chinese Evergreen will tolerate 
places away from the window for long periods—still aN plants will 
benefit from window light. African Violets do well in an East or 
Southeastern exposure. 
Temperature—Most plants are happiest with a minimum of 60 de- 
grees at night and the day temperature may rise to 85 and 90 without 
harming them. Of course, these plants will take lower and higher 
temperatures without damage. 
Fertuizing—After 6 months most plants will benefit from mild feed- 
ing—especially in Spring and Summer months when most plants grow. 
Any complete fertilizer will do (Wilson’s Orchid Fertilizer, etc.). Do 
not over-feed, follow directions on package. 
Spraying—To keep plants free of insects—inspect the undersides of 
the leaves at least once a month (or every two weeks) for any suspicious 
unwanted guests. Generally a sponging off of the foliage with soapy 
water to which a teaspoonful of nicotine or Black Leaf 40 (to a gallon 
of water) has been added will act as a cleansing treatment and clean 
the pores of the leaves. Do not let soil around pot get too saturated 
with the soap. Use Ivory or mild soaps until you have a fair suds. 
(Do not use on African Violet leaves—although the nicotine without 
the soap is all right.) 
Potting Soils—Any good enriched garden soil is satisfactory with 
some peat added to hold moisture. 
two thirds garden loam (add sand if not friable) 
one sixth dairy manure or organic vegetation (leaf 
mold) 
SOIL MIXTURE one sixth pulverized peat 
add 3” pot of complete fertilizer to wheelbarrow of 
mixture (Vigoro, et.) and handful of bone-meal 
and Boynton Beach on the Gulf Stream 61 
