The House Plant Expert [antikvár]

CHAPTER 1 page 3 PLANTS IN THE HOME You don't need to read a book to learn about the beauty, variety and popularity of house plants—just look around you. Everywhere you will find them, the impressive indoor gardens in public buildings tiny pots on windowsills scores of colourful varieties offered for sale in garden shops. The charm of house plants may be universal, but many millions of them die needlessly each year. You have to face the fact that your house isnota particularly good home forthem-mostplants would be muchhappier in the moist, brightair of a well-lit laundry! So you just can't leave them to look after themselves; each plant needs care and each variety has its own particular requirements. It is the purpose of this book to tell you the secrets of success and the special problems of all the types you are likely to find. Forget about green fingers. Anyone can grow house plants and make them look attractive. If everything dies as soon as you take it home, then you are making a serious basic mistake and the answer is in these pages. If your plants look sickly and unattractive then it's a matter of poor choice, incorrect upkeep or lack of knowledge about house plant display. Once again the answers are here. True exotics, such as some Orchids and many Bromeliads are quite easy to grow exciting displays are not difficult to make increasing your stock is surprisingly simple here you will find the key. BASIC RULES • DON'T DROWN THEM Roots need air as well as water— keeping the compost soaked at all times means certain death for most plants. Learn how to water properly - see pages 104-5. • GIVE THEM A REST Beginners are usually surprised to learn that nearly all plants need a rest in winter, which means less water, less feeding and less heat than in the active growing period. • ACCEPTTHE LOSS OF'TEMPORARY' PLANTS Some popular gift plants, such as Cyclamen, Chrysanthemum and Gloxinia will die down in a matter of weeks. You've done nothing wrong— these types are flowering pot plants which are only temporary residents. • GIVE THEM EXTRA HUMIDITY The atmosphere of a centrally-heated room in winter is as dry as desert air. Learn how to increase the air humidity- see page 107. • TREAT TROUBLE PROMPTLY Expert or beginner, trouble will strike sometime. One or two scale insects or mealy bugs are easily picked off; an infestation may be incurable. Overwatering is not fatal at first, but kills when prolonged. Learn to recognise the early signs of trouble. • GROUPTHEM TOGETHER Nearly all plants look better and grow better when grouped together. Learn the how and why of plant grouping on pages 14-19. • LEARN TO REPOT After a year or two most plants begin to look sickly; in many cases the plant simply needs repotting into a larger container. Learn how on page 112. • CHOOSE WISELY The plant must be able to flourish in the home you provide for it. Even the expert can't make a shade-lover survive in a sunny window. Read the rules on pages 4-9. There are many additional aids which can be bought by the keen house plant grower. A maximum-minimum thermometer and a hygrometer are extremely useful for checking the temperature and humidity around plants. A propagating frame is a help for difficult cuttings, but rooting bags can be used for propagating most popular plants. A wide range of self-watering pots is now available. BASIC TOOLS COMPOSTS Needed for repotting and taking cuttings. POTS Clay or plastic. 21/2,3Vi, 5 and 7 inch sizes are the most useful. FERTILIZER Feeding is vital during active growth Use a liquid. OLD KITCHEN SPOON & FORK Necessary for top dressing and removing surface crusts. SOFT SPONGE Useful for washing leaves. PEST KILLER Necessary for greenfly, whitefly and red spider mite control. MISTER Vital for increasing humidity, reducing dust controlling pests. D h ft DRIP SAUCERS Necessary for catching drainage water, not as a means of watering. STRING String, wire or plant-ties necessary for climbing varieties. Stakes, trellis or wire hoops necessary for climbing varieties. Necessary for pruning. Choose narrow, double-blade sort, not blade-and-arivil. WATERING CAN Choose 2-6 pint size. Long, narrow spout essential. Detachable fine rose useful.