THE GREENHOUSE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 March 1940, Page 8

THE GREENHOUSE

IMPORTANCE OF WATERING, ? With long days and much ’sunshine, ’ watering is a big item in the managej ment of glass-houses, and there is a , risk of over-watering some of the . plants by keeping them in a sodden j. condition too long, thus preventing a . supply of air that is so necessary to ’ keep the soil sweet. Keep the floor and stages damp, but water the plants ac- ; cording to their needs. ' I Cyclamen seedlings should be prick- , cd off as soon as they can be handled. This plant is slow to make leaves, but ' its roots grow fairly fast, and unless the seedlings are transferred from the seed pan early the roots from the plants that germinate first will have become entangled so much that it will be impossible to separate them without breaking many. If the first sowing failed to provide the number of plants required, make another sowing now. This batch will come in a little late, but will be found very useful. Primulas from the first sowing should be large enough for the pots. This first potting needs great care and should not be done in a hurry. If there is too much hurry many of the leaves will be broken. Probably the early leaves of primulas are more brittle than any other and they will not bend: just a little pressure and the leaf snaps. This gives a plant a big check; therefore take great care and preserve every one. The compost for the first potting needs more care than those for future repotting. Remember the base' of the plant has to set in this compost all its life, and much depends on its quality and character. It should bo fibrous and light, rather than heavy, so that water can pass away easily, and it should be fairly rich. A suitable compost would be of rotted turf, leaf mould, sharp sand and a little rotten manure rubbed through a quarter-inch sieve. For this first potting use small pots just big enough to take the plants. The seedlings will get away faster than if put into bigger pots. A cold frame is the most suitable for these young plants. Shade them from strong sunshine and be very sparing with water.