FLOWERING PLANTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIX, Issue 21994, 20 June 1941, Page 2

FLOWERING PLANTS

INDOOR CHEER The little English primrose is a delightful subject for growing in pots for indoor decoration for flowerless winter days. It will put up its pale gold flowers very quickly after potting, and new flowers continue to open as the old ones die off, so that for months you will have flowering pots to bring inside when flowers are scarce in the garden and expensive in the florist’s shops. The best plan is to plant half a dozen in pots, following the directions given for other pot-plants. Start them in the shade, then bring them into the sunlight to encourage the flowerbuds. When they flower, keep some on the verandah and some in the house. A week inside and then a week outside in the'fresh air and sunshine will keep all the pots healthy. They are thirsty little plants, and must have plenty of water. Should one develop signs of wilt or rust on the leaves, put it back in the garden at once to save its life. Primroses make tremendous roots and become pot-bound at the end of the season. Always turn them out into the garden when the flowers are over and start afresh each autumn with new plants. Polyanthus is another good subject for flowering pots. Always choose healthy plants to begin with. Nothing could be more charming than yellow primroses or golden-brown polyanthus in blue or green pots, but the flowers will be just as happy if you prefer to grow them in the common earthenware pots.