Pretty plants take
bv LAUREL SCHAEFFER
Berks Co. Reporter
READING, Pa. - Are
youare you aware that 95 per
cent of all house plants don’t
like direct sunlight, even
though it is the main
ingredient needed for their
growth? If you didn’t, you
can join the ranks of over 120
farm women and guests who
attended the Berks County
Farmers Association
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Ladies Day Out program
held at the Abraham Lincoln
Hotel, here, on March 16.
This affair is an annual
event for women belonging
to the Berks County Fanners
Association. The speaker for
the morning was Debbie
Flay of “Debbie’s Plants and
Macrame,” Reading. Debbie
told the group to leam the
plants by their families,
saying, “It is much easier to
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care for them that way.”
Plants of the same family
require the same care, the
florist explained.
Debbie also told the group
that water is the second most
important ingredient to a
plant’s health, and that 95
per cent all plants die
because of over-watering.
“It is better to under-water
than to over-water,” she
noted. “Use a water meter or
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more than chance
your finger to tell when they
need it,,”
“But,” she cautioned,
“don’t just feel the top of the
soil-push your finger in to the
first knuckle.”
As an explanation for her
last statement, she said,
“The top of the soil is always
dry.”
She also pointed out that
the dishes on the bottom of
the plant pots are not
reservoirs, so when the
water starts to trickle out of
the bottom, the plant has had
enough.
Debbie then proceeded to
discuss, by family, the plants
she has on display. The
families that like humidity
are good for kitchens or
bathrooms. Misting is often
recommended for these
plants.
“I don’t feel that misting is
always necessary for most
plants, but if you do it, don’t
go overboard.” Misters are
used to add humidity, they
are not a watering method,
she cautioned the group.
Debbie pointed out that
house plant production has
been increasing in the last
few years. Spider plants, she
remarked, helped to get the
plant “boom” started.
“If you have one, don’t
touch its leaves because they
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Debbie Flay demonstrates plants at Ladies Day
Out.
are very delicate and will
turn brown,” She added,
“Fluoride is no good for
Spider plants, either.”
Fluoride can kill about two
thirds of all house plants.
The speaker then advised the
women that, if fluoride is
added to their local drinking
water suppies, rain or spring
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water would be better for the
plants.
Debbie also gave tips on
transplanting.
“Don’t use dirt from your
garden,” she said. “Use
sterilized potting soil with
perilite in it. Transplanting
is a very critical point for
plants. The soil needs to be
very moist before putting the
plant into it, then only a very
little water should be added.
Wait a week after that before
you add water again.”
“Also,” she stated, “do not
transplant more than three
times in a year because this
disrupts the plant’s life
cycle.” Wait until at least
four weeks from
transplanting before
fertilizing a plant, the
speaker advised the group.
The new “home” is enough
of a shock, don’t compound it
with fertilizer.
Dust can also be a
problem, the ladies were
told. The leaves are the
structures from which they
breathe, so they should not
be dirty.
“A mister can remove
some of the dirt, or you can
just wipe each leaf off with a
damp cloth on some plants,”
she said. However, plants
with “hair” on their leaves
cannot be misted or they will
turn brown, the speaker
continued.
K pests are a problem, try
to get rid of them by
yourself, Debbie instructed,
before you buy a commercial
product. No problems
should arise, however, as
long as the plants are cared
for properly. If a plant does
have insects, remove it from
the others. The bottom side
of the leaves will tell the tale
if you suspect insects. This is
where the pests will usually
be evident.
To remove the insects,
cover the soil with paper or
something similar and turn
the plant upside down, then
shake gently. After doing
this, use a mild detergent
and wipe each leaf off
individually. Next, rinse the
plant and repeat the process
twice a week if necessary.
Before finishing the plant
lecture, Debbie advised the
ladies about fertilization of
house plants. For the
average person, she
recommended a mild
fertilizer which can be mixed
with water. This way
fertilizer can be added
when the plants are watered
and it is less likely that the
plants will be over-fertilized.
(Continued on Pafe 571
53