HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1986-04-16, Page 60PAGE 34
A houseplant sh u1s1complement the space it fills
There's more to selecting houseplants
than picking out one you like, paying for it
and taking it home. A plant should comple-
ment the space it fills.
Before shopping for houseplants, study
the total room environment, especially
natural light conditions, and measure the
spaces where the plants will be positioned.
The amount of sunlight a plant receives
will determine its success or failure in your
home. That's why it's important to evaluate
the available light.
If the sun shines directly through a south -
facing window for at least four hours a day,
you have bright light. Cactuses, scheffleras,
and most flowering plants need bright light.
Medium light 'is the indirect sun that
filters `rough windows that face east or
west. Plants suitable for medium light in-
clude rubber trees, weeping figs and
Swedish ivy.
Low light comes from a north window and
is just bright enough to cast a shadow.
Parlor palms, Chinese evergreens and
many species of ferns thrive in low light.
Other factors to consider,in plant selection
are the size of the plant at maturity, its
shape, foliage texture and color.
A six-foot Kentia pahn would overwhelm
a small room, while a shorter lacy -leaved
false aralia would be perfect.
HOUSEPLANTS SHOULD COMPLEMENT the spaces they fill. A six-foot Kentia palm (L)
would overwhelm a tight corner or small room. A shorter, lacy -leafed false aralia (r.) wou'.d
be more appropriate.
Once you've measured your space and
determined the light intensity, you've also
narrowed your houseplant choices. The next
step is to select those that are suitable for
your room.
Inspect each plant carefully for pests and
diseases. Don't hesitate to question the plant
41,
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482.3211
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dealer about anything that looks suspicious.
Never purchase a plant that has limp, off-
color leaves; it will be a constant problem.
Look for firm foliage and new growth.
Flowering plants should have plenty of
buds. Don't buy a plant in full flower. It's at
its peak and won't blossom much longer.
When you get your new plants home,
water them thoroughly to flush out any salts
in the soil.
Isolate the. [newcomers from other
houseplants for two weeks and continue
checking for tell-tale signs of pests and
diseases. If the ,plants look clean after two
weeks, move them to their new locations.
Fertilrring too soon can cause root burn.
Wait until ,the plants have acclimated
themselves to their new environment, usual-
ly in about two months.,
All houseplants need nitrogen for vigorous •
green growth. A convenient source of this
vital nutrient is as near as the pantry shelf
Knox Unflavored Gelatine. University
research has concluded that unflavored
gelatine, commonly used in recipes, helps
promote fuller, greener plants.
To apply, dissolve an envelope of gelatine
with one cup of hot tap water in a pitcher or
large mixing bowl; then add three cups of
cold water to make a quart. Water the
plants with this mixture once a month.
When you repot actively growing plants
into larger containers, fresh potting soil will
provide phosphorous and potassium.
One last tip; new houseplants can lose up
to one third of their lower leaves. Don't be
alarmed; it indicates that the plant is mak-
ing a normal adjustment.
re -open
MAKE YOUR YARD
A SHOWPLACE...
TREES:
•apple •peach
*flowering cherry
•flowering crab
•umbrella catalpa
*weeping caragana
•red maples *linden
•silver & sugar maples
•paper birch
*mountain ash
•mugo pine
•white spruce
•pyramid cedar
•andorra junipers
*compact pfitzer
•dwarft alberta spruce
FOR YOUR YARD
•marble chips •new lava rock
•driftwood bark *peat moss
opine mini -nuggets •potting soil
•and much More
o serve you
SHRUBS
•euonymus •lilacs
*rhododendron
•purple sand cherry
*honeysuckle
•floweki,ng almond,.
•cotoneaster •forsythia
•gold nine bark
See our flowering window
box display at the Goderich
Garden Club Booth at the
oderich Home & Garden Show
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