Earlier this century the aspidistra must have been an essential part of almost every parlour window, and there was many a young lad or lass who earned their Saturday pocket money by cleaning the leaves of Grandma’s cast iron plant. This must indeed have been an unforgettable introduction to house plants for many of them.

Initially, one should purchase plants with full foliage and plenty of flower buds with a small number of buds fully open. Don’t be misled into believing that plants in very tight bud will give a longer flowering period – in some conditions they may not flower at all. The temperature advised above is that for maintaining plants in the best posSible condition while they are indoors; plants will naturally have to endure higher temperatures when they arc put our of doors during the summer months.

An adequate supply of water is the all- important consideration, as it will he totally fatal for the compost to dry out for any length of time. Soft water or rain water will invariably give better results. (In hard-water areas softer water can be provided simply by immersing a hessian sack filled with peat in a water butt or tub).

Almost everyone has their pet way of watering pot plants, and there is no shortage of advice concerning the various methods to employ. But, with this plant, it is simply a question of keeping the compost wet, and this is best done by plunging the pot in a bucket of water daily and allowing all the air bubbles to emerge betbre withdrawing it. To prolong the flowering period of the plant indoors it is essential that it should be kept in a cool room, as hot, dry conditions will accelerate flower and bud development. Good light is also necessary.

In order to carry plants over from one year to the next it is important that they should not he neglected during the summer months. Flowers should be removed as they fade, taking care not to damage any new growth that may be sprouting under them. Keep the plant moist and in a light, cool room indoors until all chance of frost has gone. it may then be placed out of doors until such time as the weather changes when it should be brought in again. In order to reduce the necessity for watering, plants should enjoy a light, cool position in the garden.

A shallow trench can be dug and filled with moist peat into which the plant pots are plunged to their rims, or, if you arc not particularly keen on digging trenches, plant pots can be placed on a firm stone or concrete base and moist peat can he banked up around them. While out of doors the foliage should be sprayed over regularly and the compost kept moist.