434 



GARDENERS' CHRONICLE 



The Greenhouse, Month to Month 



W. R. FOWKES 



JANUARY is not a very busy month for the greenhouse 

 department, and early February does not call for many 

 changes pro\iding the December needs were attended 

 to. So we shall discuss for a short time that beautiful 

 and much misunderstood class of Nature's gems, the 

 orchid. It is gratifying to note the revival in orchid cul- 

 ture that is taking place in our broad land. The mis- 

 taken ideas regarding their cultural requirements have 

 been somewhat clarified by recent writers, and the so- 

 called mysteries of orchid growing are being dispelled. 



The more commonly known commercial orchids are 

 the Cattleyas, and they are of the easiest culture, if one 

 or two technical items are studied. I know well that 

 to be a real orchid grower requires many years of study 

 in the best European places, but European culture is not 

 suitable for the United States. The novice will do well to 

 let alone what he reads about orchid culture that is prac- 

 tised there. (_)ur more severe Winters requiring more 

 artificial heat, that dries the atmosphere, has to be com- 

 bated, and the European rest for orchids has to be mod- 

 ified, for with Cattleya.^ here the most of them are either 

 growing, flowering or recuperating. 



Several Cattleyas now out of bloom having their so- 

 called rest, need a little attention. Cattleya gigas, the 

 noblest of the family, flowers from June to July. In 

 order to succeed, keep the plants in a lower temperature 

 than the earlier bloomers. By this treatment they will 

 not shrivel but will have firm bulbs which will in due 

 season send up strong flowering bulbs. The idea is to 

 restrict this capricious variety to make one growth on a 

 small plant annually, and thus successfully give its mag- 

 nificent blooms in season. 



A few cultural details for a mixed collection which 

 can be grown in a temperature of from 50° at night to 

 60° in the day time, follow : 



The lovely Epidcndrmn vitcHiniiin has given its bril- 

 liant scarlet spikes during the last eight weeks. It is 

 evergreen. To rest would be disastrous. Give it the 

 lower temperature and spray only on bright days, or not 

 more than three times a week. 



Cattleya Pcrcivaliaiia will succeed with the same treat- 

 ment. 



Cypripediums will stand with success more water at all 

 times, being evergreen also. 



The beautiful Pliahnwpsis is now flowering and its 

 resting period is at this time, but give these plants the 

 warm corner of the house, and they should never be dried 

 off, or their fleshy leaves will shrivel. This variety should 

 not be sprayed with insecticides as its roots dislike any- 

 thing poisonous. After blooming, take the sour compost 

 carefully from the roots and replace with sphagnum moss 

 and small pieces of charcoal. No heat is necessary. 



The deciduous Calanthes as they go out of bloom 

 should be shaken out and stood perpendicularly in a 

 flat containing the dust shaken from the Osmunda fibre or 

 peat, when mixing compost. Keep these bulbs dry. They 

 will start their next year's growth at the base in March 

 and their culture will be noted then in these columns. 



Dendrobuivn Phalcrnopsls is an evergreen orchid and 

 should not be kept too dry or the bulbs will not be stout 

 enough to give the support necessary for the next growth 

 to flower. 



Dcndrobuun nobilc, and li'ardiamim are not ever- 

 greens, but deciduous, and are now resting in a carnation 

 house, suspended from the roof and are dipped every 

 Saturday morning for three minutes. With this treat- 

 ment, the nodules appear along the dried growths, and 

 they can then be taken into warmer quarters and be wat- 

 ered freely. But the idea of resting these Dendrobiums 

 is to flower them before new growth appears, and if the 

 lower temperature is adhered to there will be no shrivelled 

 up plants, but healthy and vigorous ones that will repay 

 any care given them, for in orchid culture. Art must assist 

 Nature, and we must not grow weary in well doing. 

 There is no magic art in their culture and when the 

 problem of their period of rest, and how to rest them is 

 understood, it will be a pleasure. 



Exhibitors have carnation and chrysanthemum cuttings 

 in the sand, and it is well not to start the latter too soon, 

 or lanky growth will intervene. What is wanted with 

 "mums is a continuous period of growth, and the transi- 

 tion of the periods of formation of buds will not be so 

 perplexing. Single and decorative kinds need not be 

 propagated until IMarch. 



The lilacs that w-ere dug from the garden early in De- 

 cember, and have been at rest in a cold cellar, can now 

 be brought into a cool house. Keep the temperature low 

 for two weeks and the plants will prodtice good results 

 when forced. 



In the meantime, cuttings of lilac shoots, Forsythia 

 and Pniniis, that have now been well frozen can be 

 placed in vases or jars of water in a warm room or green- 

 house and will give useful flowers for the home before 

 the potted plants will be ready. 



Do not forget the Nectarines in pots in the cold cellar, 

 r.ring them in and prune off any dead twigs, but if dis- 

 budding tn five eyes was attended to last Summer, little 

 |:runing will be necessary. A temperature of 39° at night 

 is sufficient the first two weeks, but see first that the roots 

 aie not killing dry. and that the drainage is right. 



Poinsettias that have bloomed can be kept dry and laid 

 to rest on their sides in a dry room. 



Hive Cyclamen a light position and if you want stout 

 stems do not feed at all. Feeding makes fat stems that 

 (|uickly fall over when the sun shines. The compost 

 should' be rich enough to carry them through all right. 



Liliiiiii fnrmosum or Harrissii for Easter can now stand 

 plenty of heat. Do not neglect the aphis that are sure 

 to infest the growth, and apply the proper remedies in 

 time to keep them clean, for Easter is early this year. 



Gloxinia bulbs can be started now for early blooming 

 and there is no better method than a flat with moss and 

 sand. Just press the bulbs in gently and, if the moss is 

 moist, no water will be necessary until growth has nicely 

 commenced. 



Insist on vourself ; never imitate. Your own gift you 

 can present every moment with the cumulative force of 

 a whole life's ci!iltivation ; out of the adopted talent of 

 another, you have only an extemporaneous, half posses- 

 sion. That which each can do best, none but his Maker 

 can teach him. No man yet knows what it is. nor can, 

 till that person has exhibited it. — Emerson. 



