Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 May 1884 — How to Water Plants. [ARTICLE]

How to Water Plants.

Watering plants, says a writer, is one of the most important things in the culture of house plants, and very care should be devoted to it. plants ought not to be wet until they jpef& fe It win be evident that they rectiiirn -Wetting, if, on taking the earth from the pot, it crumbles to pieces* like dust. A Sure.- sign is to.kpock on the 'side qf the pot, near the middle, with the flog er knuckle. If it gives forth a hollo4r ring, the plants need water; if ,there is a dull soupd, there is still moisture enough, to.- sustain the plant., Plants must not be wet more than once or twice a dayt i tlmnther hand, the earth must not -he allowed to dry out entirely, for that is also very injurious, jn wetting them, the water may be poured on in such a way that it will run out again through the hole in the bottom of the pot. If the earth gets too dry, it is best to place the pot in water, so that the water will saturate the dirt very gradually. They may be watered at any hour of the day, except when tlie sun is shining* on the pot, or has just left it, for the earth gets,hot when the sub shines oh il, and then if the cold water is poured on it, it will cool off too ranidly. The best time for watering flowers in summer is in the evening, and in winter, noon is best. Well water should never be used, but always use either rain water or brook water. It is important that the water should not be lower in temperature than the room in which it is to be used.