As we have seen by Mr. Hibberd's address, the Pelargonium's native home
is on arid plains where there is much sand, much sunshine and little
rain, so that they are chiefly dependent on heavy dews for moisture. To
plant them in heavy soil, give them a sheltered situation and liberal
and frequent watering, would be a mode of treatment directly the reverse
of what they require. In the cultivation of all plants we should as far
as possible adapt them to their native conditions. One skilled amateur
says his rule is to let the earth in the pots become thoroughly dry
before watering, and always to give a period of rest after blooming.
Another, a lady, said she never had any success with Pelargoniums until
she gave them a heavy period of rest after blooming. In the spring, when
putting her plants out of doors, she laid the pots containing
Pelargoniums on their sides, and let them remain perfectly dry until
fall. She then took the plants out of the pots, shook the soil from the
roots, and scrubbed them well with a hard brush and water. The
old-looking roots were cut off and the top trimmed down to six or eight
inches in height. They were then repotted in rich earth and watered very
moderately till they started into full growth, and after that more
freely. With this treatment they never fail to bloom.
A young physician who raised many extraordinarily fine varieties of
Pelargoniums from seed, in stating his mode of culture, said that _his_
practice was to re-pot large plants whenever they seemed in danger of
being pot-bound. The mold he used was made up of black earth from under
a manure heap, and a little stiff clay to retain the water. After the
plants were done flowering, they were trimmed rather close, and with
regard to probable places of sprouting. They were then placed in partial
shade, and all shoots found straying out of symmetry were pinched off.
His large plants were kept moist till after bloom, and then rather
dry.--_Floral Cabinet._
We have given these methods so that if not successful with one, another
can be adopted.
The Rhodora.