WATERING ORCHIDS. 21 



WATERING ORCHIDS. 



HIS should be done with great care, especially in 

 the case of plants just starting into growth, for if 

 watered too profusely, the young shoots are apt to 

 be affected by the moisture of the house, and become liable 

 to what is termed damping off. Whilst, therefore, the shoots 

 are young, only enough water should be given to keep the 

 moss or peat moist in which the plants are growing. As 

 they advance in growth, more may be given ; and when the 

 pseudobulbs are about half grown, they may have a good 

 supply at the roots. This, however, will greatly depend upon 

 how the plants are potted : if potted according to the direc- 

 tions laid down in this book the water will pass away quickly, 

 which is very essential to the well-being of the plants. I have 

 known Orchid growers try many kinds of potting material, 

 but have never seen any to succeed better than rough fibrous 

 peat and sphagnum moss, and by using these two materials 

 as recommended, there is less liability of injury. Some 

 growers use fine soil, mixed with sand and moss : this I 

 consider bad for epiphytal Orchids, because it soon gets 

 soddened round the roots — a condition exceedingly injurious 

 to this class of plants, which are not subjects to be tampered 

 with. When plants are potted in this fine soil they require 

 less water, and will also need the soil to be frequently 

 renewed, but this system I entirely set myself against. 



My practice is to shut up the Orchid house in the spring of 

 the year about three o'clock ; and in May, June, July, August, 

 and September, I shut it up about an hour later, when the 

 heat of the sun is on the decline. I then usually give a gentle 

 syringing with water as nearly as may be of the same 



