PLANTS IN TUBS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 21, 25 January 1940, Page 19

PLANTS IN TUBS

Although plants in the open ground have received the full benefit of the recent heavy rains, plants in tubs or pots have not been so fortunate. Remember the water requirements of such plants, whether grown indoors or out. They will still thrive when the soil is crammed to the limit with roots, other conditions' being favourable, but want of moisture pulls them down badly.

Because the sun burns on the.pot or tub and so dries the soil all too quickly, the roots soon become distressed. They require cooler condi-i tions than that. Apart from shading the tubs or pots to reduce the fluctuations of temperature that occur during the night and day, the thing is to water them frequently, soaking the soil until water runs freely from the drainage ho t les. There is ?no necessity to shade the plants themselves if they !■ are hardy varieties, but shading the tubs or pots will prove distinctly beneficial. If the shrub is a standard or small bush which leaves some of.the soil exposed, mulch the surface with lawn clippings or with rotten manure and give all the waterings through the mulch. The latter keeps the moisture in for the use of the plant alone, and allows the roots the cool, conditions they desire.

Plants in tubs can.also do with a spraying, not only over the foliage, but forcibly through it, every evening, especially after hot days. This keeps the leaves clean and free from dust and insect pests, and the fresh condition of the foliage acts as a tonic to tfee plants.