Care of House Plants

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Jan 28, 1904

Care of House Plants

A PLANT should not be watered every day, whether it needs it or not. More plants probably die from overwatering, than from any other cause. In order to find out whether a plant needs water, stir the soil with your finger, and if it is dark-colored and adheres to your finger, the plant needs no water; but if it is dusty and light-colored, it needs watering. A good vigorous plant growing in a warm room which shows these signs of dryness, should be saturated to the bottom when it is watered. A poor plant with little foliage should not be watered often; it is better to wait until it is quite dry.

Plants breathe through their leaves, and consequently require fresh air every day. If the leaves of the plant get covered with dust, its breathing pores are stopped up, and the plant can not live long. Therefore they should be frequently sprinkled, or in case they have large leaves, be wiped off with a wet sponge. This should be done every week, at least, and it will also prevent the eggs of insects, which may be on the plant, from hatching out.

Insects on House Plants

Should insects obtain a lodgment on your plants, the most effective remedy is fir-tree oil. One application will often show very good results. It should be applied only in the evening. Use only tin or earthenware vessels to hold the mixture in. To make a mixture suitable for washing or sprinkling, use a teaspoonful to a quart of water. If insects actually infest the plants, use two tablespoonfuls to a pint of water. Apply with a syringe, and wet it under the leaves as much as possible.

Frozen Plants

Sometimes it happens that through some mischance the plants in the window become frozen. In such a case, the best thing to do is to get the plants, as soon as possible, into a cool, dark room, a little above the freezing-point, and sprinkle them over with water; then bring them gradually to the heat, as sudden heat will completely destroy the plants. Very often plants that are frozen can be saved in this manner. A good plan to guard against frost is to cover the plants over with newspapers at night.

— Selected.