SUCCESSFUL POTTING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 58, 9 March 1935, Page 6 (Supplement)

SUCCESSFUL POTTING.

HOW TO SECURE

The inscription "Successful Potting -, is justified by the fact that incorrect potting rarely leads to anything but failure. Many amateurs seem to imagine that the pot, the soil, and the plant are the only things required. To such it will probably come as a revelation to be informed that the pot must be per-

fectly clean and dry, the soil of a composition suited to* the plant and the plant itself set therein in a particular manner. There ought always to be sufficient space left between the rim of the pot and the surface of the soil, to admit of proper watering, but when, on the other hand, there is an insufficiency of soil and too much watering s]>ace, the plant so potted stands an excellent chance, sooner or later of becoming "drowned." All pots should be clean and dry; next, there must be proper drainage material, this being composed

of pieces of broken pots or scoria placed over the drainage hole. Larger pots require more of this than small ones; for the smallest one piece would be suflicient. Take eare to place these hollow side downwards, with one large piece completely covering the drainage hole. A little moss or rough material should next be placed over the crocks, to keep the soil from being washed down and blocking the drainage, which should be covered in its turn by some of the roughest or lumpy parts of the soil, using an inch or so of this before placing the plant in position. If there is

no soil upon the roots of the plant, these should be spread out as far as possible and have the soil worked amongst them as it is filled in, finally pressing all firm with the fingers. When finished 5 off, the pot should "be nearly but not quite full of soil, the plant well in the centre of the pot, with the soil gently sloping from the plant stem to the pot rim. A hollow round the stem or collar of the plant must always be avoided. In the case of repotting a plant, where it is transferred from one pot to another a size or so larger, the plant is iirst turned out of its original pot and then set in the centre of the

new pot at such a depth that the undisturbed ball of roots is only slightly covered with new soil. The new soil must be rammed in firmly with the blunt !end of a wooden label round the old bahl. Hard wooded plants require firmest potting; plants that like most water should have most drainage material; heavy garden loam must never be made too firm; surfacing the soil with a sprinkling of silver sand helps to prevent caking.

TO SECURE ORCHIDS IN THEIR POTS.

This refers chiefly to freshly imported tall and awkward" varieties of dcndrobiums, laelias, cattleyas. Place the crocks, clean and fairly large pieces, edgewise, take a stick, sharpen it flat, and fit it between the crocks. Add some smaller crocks, then place the plant, with the lead in the centre of the pot, and tie it to the stick. When using the rotting compost start at the base and work to the rim of the pot. Some growers prefer to leave this operation till it i« seen that the plants are on the move, and pushing out roots from the recently-made bulb, simply watering through the pots. Ono of the easiest varieties to grow is enttieya labiatn iiutuninnlis. Imported plants procured in spring will l>f iilfuobt sure to flower in autumn.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS,

M..T.IT. (Takanlnl) writes: A larse bed of Allium Longltlorum of various sizes planted two years aso, did fairly well the first season, "but this nonson were practically n failure. A very few had two nnd three blooms to a stalk, lnit the balance had only one bloom. Fully x> per cent did not throw a bloom at all. and the whole bed was very stunted, many ot them withering oIT altogether. Tho soil is of a light, loos? character. Can you surest a cause and dire?—l);ic to I.ilium rust. This is very difficult to control. Cut down and collect nil old stems nnd leaves. IJft the bulbs, clean them nnd dip them in a MOO solution of disinfectant. This is about three tablespoonfuls to two gallons of w;itcr. Lei thft bulbs soak for l>4 minutes, then replant without drying. New groiiud should be used for planting up. Next spring when tops show through the soil spray with llme-.sulphur once a month, except when In llower. R.M. (YVestmero) asks: "Will runners taken off last year's strawberries produce a decent crop this year, or will it lie neces- ■ sary to purchase now plants?—lt all depends, but tho experience of commercial growers is that it does not pay to plant runners from fruited plants. Uunncrs should be taken from plants grown naturally and without manure. KJ U (Okahnkura) nsks: (1) For nnme of peaches immune from split stone and summing? l 2) If when budding do you use a bud from the current season ;: crowth, and if so, do you take a bod with il leaf on it and leave it intact? (3) I renl an article on plug-grafting, which is supposed lo give quicker results than ordinary methods. Can you give an article on this system?—Hi Brlgß'e Bed Muy, Wleglna, Paragon, Holes Early, (.olden Queen are seldom attacked, (so long as cultivation Is given. (2) 'i ou take a m<l with a leaf, cut away the leaf, lenylng about half an inch of the leaf ■talk,, >I. being used as a handle to n nnlpulsuc thn bud (3) Will - iv|, an "'"' "' l( ' "" " new form of S rn«l.W. which is said to give a crop within three years of overworking.

WEEDS (Auckland) writes: I am endeavourini; to cultivate a garden of liwht volcanic soil which is overrun with a weed having a bulbous root and shamrocklike leaf. In September I buried a tall mul luxuriant crop of grass, etc., and apparently the weed had a good hold nt Unit time. Have tried booing, and have forked out a cart load of the bulbs, but Hie weed ntill overcome!* small weds planted and chokes other plants?—lt is probnbly ox.ilix, and It Is a most tiresome weed t.» eradicate because It grows must vigorously during winter. The best remedy is to lien fowls on the ground, they will scratch out and eat every bulb it the soil is loosened. Hoelnjr and forking, persisted In, will eventually master it. M.M , . (Dauncvlrke) nsks: Would you tell me what Is wronjr with my aspidistra plants and treatment; most of the leaves are jioing brown at the ends? —Due to thrtps. Procure some insecticide and use according to directions on container. Sponging the leaves with warm soap and water with a soft spouse once a. week would also keep them clear, but more success would be obtained by using an insecticide. AI.MBPHA (Mount Eden) asks: Could yoji tell me the best time to prune hydrangeas and what kind of pieces to plant ns cuttings?— Prune hydrangeas now. Cut back too larse prominent buds, usually at the lower portion of this season's growth. For cutting take the current year's wood, cut oIT level just below ihe iuids, nuike them about six inches long, Take oir the lower le.ivew. Insert firmly in well drained soil In open garden. They will root fairly readily it you use tin , current season's wood. Cut away any llower heads.

E M. (I'apatoetoe) asks: (1) Could you toil mo what the enclosed leaves are and why they do not form Bowers? (2) Can you tell me how long seedling peach trees will bear?—(l.) 1 cannot eay, but it looks like mallow or mulvn. (2) Seedllns peaches will bear as long as any other kinds.

TRANSPLANTING PASSION VINES.

\ Thames correspondent write*:--! noticed vou had an inquiry re transplanting passion fruit. A method which I have had great success with and which may be of some use to your readers is a* follows: — Well water the plant to be moved, then remove top and bottom of a onepound jam tin and place over the plant. Frees the tin well into the earth, then gently lift the tin, which will bring the plant and soil with it without disturbing the root*. Then plant tin and all in new posiion. The roots will grow ri"ht through the tin. Small plants of five or six leaves move the best, but I have moved plants with vines three and four feet long.

ONIONS.

Crops of onions are now sufficiently ripened for harvesting. Where only a limited number is .mown n good method of Btoring is to suspend wire netting on which the bulbs can be placed. The bulbs should be thoroughly dried mid cleared of nil looee skin and old roots. If the wire netting is suspended across a shed close to the roof where it is dry and airy, the bulbs will remain dormant for a lonper period than when laid on benches or in -heaps.

PENTSTEMONS

These are hardy perennials, but give best results when treated as annuals, old plants becoming very ragged. The present day strains, with large gloxinialike flowers varying from pure white, pink, rose, to scarlets and rich crimson, borne on spiken about thirty inches high, are fine plants for bedding purposes. They can be propagated by seed or cuttings, and where there are good sorts growing, cuttings are the best method. The cuttings made from young unflowered side growths, about four inches long, root quite easily if planted in sandy soil and shaded and watered till rooted." The present is a good time to take cuttings, and those will root and be ready for planting out in autumn. In cold "districts it is best to defer planting till spring. Seed give good results, and the best time to sow is in autumn. The seed is small and should be sown in sandy soil in pots or boxes. As soon a large enough to handle the seedlings should be pricked out into boxes, and later on into beds of prepared soil. It is preferable to transplant into frames if possible, not so much to protect from cold as to protect from heavy rains. They require the ground well manured. »s they arc gross feeders. They arc p.I-o good drv weather subjects, especially if the plants are mulched in early summer.