A move in the right direction
The benefits of moving pot plants in the greenhouse
THE old-time greenhouse gardener was always keen on handling and moving plants. In fact, he did it on every possible occasion and regarded it as part of his usual routine. Why, one might ask, did he do this? That he did it with something important in his mind was obvious from the way in which he found time to carry out this task.
The truth is that by this moving of plants he was trying to emulate Nature, which in its own way keeps practically all foliage on the move by wind, thus keeping those which might be attacked by mould or mildew free of these pests. Apart from this, it has always been felt that this movement is good for the general health of plants. Now, in the greenhouse, the same rules apply, and plants benefit from being moved. In this case, however, it also stops the tendency of plants drawing towards the light, providing they are turned around each time they are moved.
Keeping plants free of troubles
If one’s leisure time is so limited at this time of the year that this cannot be done, then take a thin cane and draw it over the plants once or twice a week. This will do a great deal towards keeping plants free of such troubles as mildew, damping leaves, mould forming on the surface of soil, and lichen and moss forming on pots.
The best way to do the job really well is to take down a number of plants from one end of the staging, say, 3-4ft (90-120cm), and then move the others along. In doing this, one should, if it is an ash or shingle staging, have a flat piece of thin board that can be used to scrape the surface of the staging and level it up if needs be. A piece of board is far more useful for this purpose than a rake, which is apt to go into the staging so deeply as to move the rougher material at the bottom.
As every plant is moved, look it over, take off every dead or decaying leaf, remove any moss that is forming on the soil, and when replacing the plants see that they stand level. This point should be considered as one of the essentials, and perhaps it is only fair to say that it may be difficult for some people, but such a fault can soon be corrected by constant practice.
The most necessary thing which plants require is breathing room, and this is as important during winter as in spring and summer, for a free circulation of air will work wonders on the health of the plants. More than this, ample space means that the plants get far more light than if crowded together, and this is another good reason why plants should be handled occasionally.
Give your plants a sponging
If plants are a long way from the glass, put them up on inverted pots. By doing this, not only are the plants nearer the light, but it is also an ideal method of ensuring a perfect circulation of air.
When time permits, give all strapleaved plants a sponging. This does not take long, especially if it is done frequently. All one wants is a bucket of warm, soapy water beside them as the job proceeds, but make sure that the undersides of the leaves are particularly well sponged. Also, wash any very green pots with soda water.
If the staging is dry, water in before setting any plants on it, while if it is an open batten staging, then wash the woodwork as the work proceeds.