THE GREENHOUSE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20668, 13 September 1930, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE GREENHOUSE.

Tha season has again arrived when bulbous ans tuberous plants that have been stored away for the winter should bo brought out, and, as they show signs of starting into growth, be repotted into good fresh soil. Gloxinia are usually tho first bulbs to start, and should be potted out for early flowering. These are among the most beautiful and attractive of greenhouse, bulbous flowering plants, and when well-grown produce a profusion of largo bell-shaped flowers of various shades of colouring. As soon as the bulbs show signs of starting, shako the old soil free from tho bulbs and repot in a mixture of rich fibrous loam and leaf mould, with a fair sprinkling of silver sand.

Tuberous begonias, too, should bo taken out and examined. All sound tubers shonld receive an occasional watering until they commence to show growth, when they should be repotted, nsing a compost of loam, loaf mould, and a little wellrotted manure, with a littlo silver sand. To raise fresh plants, seed of gloxinias and begonias may be sown now. Plants raised from seeds now, particularly of tho tuberous begonia, if carefully grown on, can bo made tn flower freely the same season, and will form fine tubers for next season's flowering.

CHANGING THE SOIL. At this season nearly all plants that have remained in the same soil throughnut tho winter are benefited by a change of soil and being repotted, tho sizo of the pots in every case being regulated by the condition of the roots. The necessity for providing free drainage applies to all plants, for during the summer plants need an abundance of water and unless there is a free outlet for surplus moisture the pots are liable to become water-logged, when the plants soon become sickly and often die. The safest rule in potting is to shift only when the plants are well furnished with roots and require more root space, and then to shift only from one size to the next, as more root space is required Over-potting results in tho loss of many plants. Many amateurs, especially, are anxious to obtain as large specimens as possible, in the shortest spaco of time, and they think that by increasing tho size of the pots their object will be attained. No greater mistake can be made, for unless in the hands ot a skilled grower, thoroughly experienced in the art of watering, too great a body of soil placed around the roots is almost certain to become oversodden and soured and result in failure.