‘ al! THE CARE AND FEEDING OF PLANTS gives ,, Here are Answers to Plant Questions: Houseplants have never : been more popular! Window sill plants and other home plants are now ‘considered important decorating fea- tures, Here are expert an- i swers to most-often-asked indoor gardening questions: How much water do my Experts feel this is deter- mined targely by a combina- tion of practice and ex- ? perience. Asa guideline, it is 2 important to remember, the speed with which moisture part of plant lovers, Answers ta typical queries are in accompanying article. many questions on the - dries out in pot soil is depen- dent upon both the amount of soil and the size of the plant, i'm going on vacation ; soon; how can I assure my plants ofadequale watering? Plants can be kept watered in your absence by using “wicks.” These are made of fiberglass, dangling in water and placed well into You can Grow Flowering Plants Can Also Thrive Indoors, with Care Vegetables in Containers Want to grow a vegetable garden, but limited on gar- dening space? You might - want to join the ranks of - many individuals who have formed the “plant-in con- tainer habit,” Tubs, pots, _ barrels, and window boxes are now popularly transfor- med into productive mini- farms. The results are both practical and economic and experts agree this provides a most decorative way of. planting. Any containers readily available can be put into ser- vice. Drainage holes and sturdy construction are the only essentials. Wooden tubs, buckets, and boxes hold moisture well and are highly recommended. Most garden shops carry miniature and dwarf hybrid vegetable seedlings. For quick results, carrots, rad- ishes, spinach, and several types of lettuce can be sown directly in containers during any season. Very little care _ is required, outside of thinn- ing seedlings after germina- tion to allow plants to mature properly. Many soil formulas are suitable, but one is par- ticularly favored by experts. This preferred soil is made up of garden or purchased loam, peatmoss, leafmold, organic matter, sand, per- lile, and inert matter. This composition allows easy drainage and is highly effec- tive of itself and when com- bined with superphosphate, and mixed fertilizer. Food plants need six hours of sun daily and good air circulation, Sunny places on your porch, patio, roof, balcony, or terrace are ideal locations for miniature farm gardens. If there is ample air circulation and at least six hours of sun, you can plant climbing" vegetables” against a daorpost, fence, or any tall support. Certain vegetables adapt easily to hanging baskets; small tomatoes and season- ing herbs do particularly well in such environments, Put Those April Showers to Work! The neat time it rains, don’t just sil there... put out all the buckels you've got to collect all that lovely rain water. It's the best pos- sible water for your house plants! What could be lovelier than lots of greenery in the home — except beautiful, flowering plants! With some know-how, a lot of care and a little luck, you can enjoy floral blooms indoors as well as out, You'll want to keep in mind these impor- tant tips for maintaining in- door flowering plants: Choose plants which pos- sess the necessary qualities to exist in an indoor en- vironment. Experts advise: the purchase of young house plants which are well-rooted and shapely. Small plants, budded or not, generally perform: well in-house. You'll also want to choose foliage whose blooms last for many months, Be sure to provide plenty of light. Unlike other plants, flowering blossoms need your brightest windows and indoor lighting to encourage -blaoms to form. ; Keeping moderate tem- peratures is important! Very hot temperatures cause flowers to develop too fast and drop off prematurely. Generally, flowering plants _ do well in a climate of 65 to 75 degrees during the day. Ideally, temperatures should drop 10 degrees at night. I's best to keep plants evenly moist but never com- hahaa lahat ak kita a at ated tian! race Interiors — Ti Just Ask Us. 4610 Lazelle Avenue CUSTOM BUILT pletely dry. Plastic pots hold moisture longer than clay containers and gardeners must adjust water levels accordingly. In the original tropical home of flowering house plants there dre cooling showers during the day. It's easy to create the same humid effect by misting plants daily, using a spray applicator, For those unable to take time to do this, a - dish of water-covered peb- bles or electric humidifier. provides a constant mois- turizing effect. Fertilize regularly with a potassium and phosphorous mixture designed for flower- ing houseplants. These minerals strengthen roots and stems, help plants resist infection, and increase their capacity to form buds. Guard against insects and diseases by spraying plants with insecticides, It is some- times necessary to wash al- ready infested leaves with soap and water. Black spots and mold on plants indicate 4 fungus condition and too much humidity, This can be eliminated by using a fungicide, * In choosing, and caring for, your flowering house plants, don't hesitate to ask - your local nursery for expert advice, the soil through the planter bottoms. Wicking material is carried in most floral shops. Many indoor gar- deners do all watering this way. is it true planis should be turned daily? To avoid lean greening, it is best to give plants a quar- ter turn each day. Besure to turn them clockwise to. stimulate growth. Z spend a great amount of time away ‘from home. What plants and flowers need litile care? There are several attrac- tive alternatives. Philoden- drons, jade plants, peper- onias, alocasia, and aglaonema require only a little light, a little love, and only an occasional sousing. Most of these plants need to be kept evenly moist but re- quire watering only once a Be on the Alert For Plants that Are Poisonous Each year, in our country alone, there are thousands of accidental, plant-caused poisonings. Some of the most common and beautiful plants harbor the most toxic of elements. The problem is: a complex one, as a single plant may contain as many as six separate types of poi- sonous materials, Ironically, some of na- ture’s loveliest blooms are _ Often the most deadly. To compound confusion, many popular edible plants have | separate, deadly parts. A recent medical study. revealed an estimated 700 species of flowers and preenery are now classified as poisonous in whole or part. Here is a partial list of toxic foliage found com- monly beyond most door- steps; azaleas, poinsetlias, oak leaves, rhubarb, jasmine, daffodils, holly, and castor beans. Experts encourage both adults and children to be aware of these and other dangerous plants, All are cautioned to avoid eating unfamiliar foliage. In case -of ingestion, immediately contact a physician. If possi- ble, save any part of the con- sumed plant to aid iden- tification and diagnosis, i, FIR or CEDAR My brightest window sill is above a heat source. Any suggestions? A little ingenuity can turn , such windows into lush gar- dens. You might place a tray full of moist pebbles over ’ heat vents to create the healthy humidity plants love. Or, if you prefer, a plastic panel to deflect heat is easily balanced over hot air vents. What elements should i look for when choosing a fertilizer? ; Three elements vital to all plant growth are potassium, phosphorous and nitrogen. All chemical and organic fertilizers contain these es- sentials. You might also want to purchase a fertilizer containing the additional elements of iron,- molyb- denum, and boron. Gardeners’ Best Friends: - Our fine-feathered friends are friends indeed to gar- deners, thanks to their eat- ing habits. Birds get rid of many pests in the garden. For instance, the robin eats slugs and snails; the rose- breasted grosbeak elimi- nates potalo bugs, cicum- ber beetles, leaf beetles, tent caterpillars, scale insects and cabbage butterflies; the -oriole eats gypsy moth caterpillars, weevils, aphids, grasshoppers and borers. Birds are indeed garden- ers’ best friends. Piant Nutrition —— Phosphorus is necessary for plant growth. Flowering and fruiting, crop matura- tion, root development and resistance to diseases are all affected by this important ‘element. Caring for Your Lawn . Don’t give your lawn fre= quent, light sprinklings, It’s better to soak lawns thoroughly to a depth of 4 inches, every two weeks, How do I choose the right plant container? . Although the roots of some plants need more air than others, it’s Wise to choose a pot with a bottom drainage, providing an entry for air in the lower soil areas. Excess water draining through the opening is easily caught by a saucer placed. ear under the planter. How do i know If it is fime.to repot? Several signs point to the need for repotting. Compare the size of the plant to its pot size — if it appears “top heavy,” repotting is in ar- der. While it is normal for a few small roots to grow through the drainage hole, several large roots crowding through indicates more growing space is needed, Undersized new growth and wilting between intervals are strong indications that repotting and new soil ‘are needed. 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