Care Of Indoor Plants Outlined

Press, Volume C, Issue 29520, 23 May 1961, Page 2

Care Of Indoor Plants Outlined

For many persons—working men and women, couples running a home and with full-time jobs, elderly folk or disabled persons—a full, outdoor garden is an impossibility. The time and energy needed to care for it is not available or too much money is required to keep it up to standard.

An alternative is an indoor garden where nearly every plant is manageable and grows well. This is especially good for flat-dwellers who miss the scenery of a lovely garden and the flowers it would yield for the home.

Members of the Federated Business and Professional Women's Club in Christchurch heard a talk by Mr David Combridge last evening. on the care of indoor plants. They also learned of the many pitfalls that can halt plant growth. “Too many pot plants are bought in shops at the wrong time of the year,” he said. "Many arrive at the shops from the North Island where conditions are better suited to the growing of indoor plants and these are often ill-prepared for South Island temperatures. Tern, perature* affect plants that are offered for sale in the pink of condition and straight from the greenhouse. Naturally these will not do nearly as well in the average home.” COLEVS Coleus was a plant that was a popular buy for Mother’s Day, Easter and other festive occasions. Many failed because they stood too long in the shops. Another reason was the poor choice of season for removing from the greenhouse to the home.

“The ideal time to buy coleus is in October, never attempt to buy them after Christmas,” said Mr Combridge. Asparagus fem thrived on partial shade and responded to a weekly soaking in a pail of water, he said. The broad-leafed variety fared better in hanging baskets and a fine-leafed in a pot. Silky oak was an Australian plant which could be transplanted from pot to garden when it grew too large for the decorative scheme of the room. This plant needed warmth and a little afternoon or morning sun. NEON LIGHT African violets did well under neon light and this made them good for decorating some offices, Mr Combridge said. Providing they were not near a heater, were in the shade and had access to dampness in the atmosphere, they were not difficult to grow.

These plants and others with downy leaves, and also cyclamen. needed careful watering.- The water should

not be allowed to touch the base of the leaves but should reach the centre core of the roots. Many cyclamen plants died because of dryness in the centre of the pot, he said. A remedy for this was to soak the pot in a basin of water taking care that the water did not overflow into the earth. GAS FUMES Gas fumes from a stove or heater were lethal to plants, said Mr Combridge. The plants would often sense a leakage before it became apparent to the householder and would suffer as a result. Rooms that were too hot damaged a plant but if it was moved to another room and left there overnight it would also suffer from the cold. A plant beside a window in a cool room should be protected, if left overnight, by a piece of brown paper or newspaper placed between it and the window-pane,

“Broadleafed plants appreciate a good wash,” said Mr Combridge. "Tbeir leaves should be carefully sponged with water at room temperature or at sun temperature, to remove dust or the occasional plant pest.” Mildew was the enemy of maidenhair fern and attacked the newly-formed plant fronds. This was shown by the new leaves turning a slightly darker green than the normal colour. The maidenhair also suffered from draughts and cold. Hi ch humidity such as was usually found in the kitehen was good for most pot plants, he said. Plants could remain in the room with a radiator and benefitted from it if a tray of water was olaced nearby to evaporate in the warm air. Plants should never be placed on a radiator, he said.