PLANTS FOR HOME ADORNMENT.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVIII, Issue 21, 20 November 1912, Page 39

PLANTS FOR HOME ADORNMENT.

Of all the pot plants purchased for home decorations undoubtedly the palms take precedence. Their bold, majestic, yet graceful foliage lends a grandeur and magnificence that can seldom he obtained in any other class of plant. For the decoration of hall, conservatory or sittingroom. thousands are purchased annually by all classes of the community, from the humblest labourer and mechanic to the professional men with large incomes, who have for the adornment of homes all that money can purchase, yet how seldom does one see healthy specimens. In nearly every instance failure with the Palms is not the fault of the plant, but the result of lack of proper treatment. Poor method of watering is the primary cause of failure. Some folks apply water daily without regard to the condition of the soil. Palms are not aquatics and refuse to flourish when treated as such. Others again allow several days to elapse before

watering, consequently the roots become parched. These represent the extremes of watering. Between them is the happy medium by which the soil is kept moist, but never allowed to become mud. There can be no hard and fast rule because conditions differ so widely, but it is always safe to wait until the surface of the soil has a dry appearance, then apply sufficient water to thoroughly saturate all of the soil in the pot. One of the best guides as to the need of water it to rap the pot with the knuckle. If the pot sounds hollow it is a sure indication that water is required. Another cause of failure must be attributed to dark corners of a room and dim halls. Light is essentia] to the well being of all plants—no plant can long remain healthy if kept continually away from it. therefore if you want your palms to do well change their positions occasionally to where they will receive abundance of light. This will not only sweeten the soil, hut greatly invigorate the plants. Upon every available opportunity on mild nights, cloudy and light showery weather place them out in the open in some sheltered corner, and let them have tin* full Iwnelit of one of nature's greatest blessings. hut remember, do not allow them to remain exposed to the sun You mav wat**«* artificially for weeks,

hut just observe the difference after a few showers from al>o\e. and note the delightfully fresh appearance the rain gives your plants. In like manner will your palms benefit. Some people seem to labour under the impression that it is absolutely necessary to repot their palms at least once a year. I'his is an erroneous idea. Let them alone as long as they are doing well. They do not like to ..ave their roots interfered with. Many a fine specimen is lost by re-potting w hen not necessary. When re-potting must bf done, disturb the roots as little as possible. Never shake the soil oft* them as some advise, simply lift the plant out of its old pot, set it in the new. and fill in about it with fresh soil. Palms do not require large pots, an ordinary flin. pot being ample for a ten-year-old plant. The ’nest sized pot for an ordinary palm is fl inches. This will accommodate a palm 3ft. high for several years. Before ;♦tting be careful to see that your pots are exceptionally clean both inside ami out, otherwise you will find when transferring to a larger pot that the soil will adhere to the pot ami many roots will get broken which considerably checks its growth. If new pots are to be used soak th»*m for several hours in water. If not treated thus, the new pots will absorb all the moisture in the soil and keep the palm dry for several days. Scale often attacks the v;»lm and is generally found on the under side of the leaf. One kind, of a brownish colour, is of considerable size. Another, the commonest variety, has a thin greyish white appearance and will be found most plentiful along the midrib of the leaflet and between the stalk and leaves, where the latter separates from the bulbous base of the plant. Firtree oil or Gishurst compound will be found effective ia combating this, hut prevention is better than cure. Wash your plants once a week with weak soapsuds, and afterwards syringe with clear water, then there will be no necessity to purchase i isecticidcs. W hen a new leaf appears, apply some good fertilizers to assist it to perfect development. Soot water will answer the purpose to prepare this, soak 2 lbs. of soot, enclosed in a sack, in a kerosene tin of water and apply once a week for several weeks. A teaspoon of fine bone dust will also prove beneficial as a top dressing. The most suitable palms for home decoration will be found in the following: Hedyscepe Canterburyana, ITowea Belmoreana and Ilowea Forsteriaua, natives of Lord Howe Island, and g nerally catalogued as Kentias. 11.W.D.