Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 February 1916 — Aspidistra Ornamental Plant. [ARTICLE]

Aspidistra Ornamental Plant.

No ornamental plant is made more simple of culture than ihe aspidistra, and few plants receive more neglect. The aspidistra is a handsome evergreen, foliage plant, unequaled for dwelling room decoration. The chief difficulty with them is giving too little water in summer and too much in winter. When plants become too large for the pots the leaves crack because they have not room to properly develop, and growth becomes poor on account of the exhausted condition Of the soiL Too little water in summer starves the plants at the period when they should be making new growth. Too. much water in winter sourS the soil, which kills the plants. ‘ All plants out of condition should be repotted in the spring. Good garden .soil with sufficient sand added to insure good drainage will grow good plants, but for best results there is nothing better than four parts loam, one-sixth part sand and onesixth part fine charcoal, thoroughly mixed. IMha plant is simply to be repotted turn the ball of earth from the pot and -reduce- soil by carefully picking it off with a pointed stick. Repot in a clean pot of suitable size, placing plenty of broken crock at the bottom for drainage. Spread the roots out carefully and work the soil well In among them, setting the crown not more than dn inch below the surface and water well as sioon as the plant is pot.ted.