PHAL^NOPSIS. 271 



night, and 65° by day, or even a little more will not do any 

 harm with sun heat. In giving air, a little should be admitted 

 close to the hot water pipes, so that it may be warmed on 

 entering the house ; and some water should also be sprinkled 

 about on fine days, in the morning, so that the house may 

 be dry by night. 



Phalanopsids are gi'own in different ways. Sometimes they 

 are placed on blocks, sometimes in pots or in baskets, and I 

 have found them to succeed well under all three modes of 

 treatment ; they require, however, more moisture at the 

 roots if grown on blocks, whilst if grown in pots, more 

 drainage will be required than when they are planted in 

 baskets. For pot culture, the best way is to place an 

 inverted pot in the bottom of the one intended for the plant, 

 and fill in the intervening space with potsherds, broken into 

 pieces about two inches square, to within two inches of the 

 rim ; sphagnum, having a few small potsherds mixed with it, 

 should then be placed upon the drainage, and the plant 

 elevated three inches above the rim, taking care to keep the 

 base of the plant well above the moss. The successful 

 culture of Phalanopsis, as well as of all other plants, depends 

 upon efficient drainage. If grown on blocks they should be 

 placed on a good-sized one, so that there is plenty of surface 

 for the roots to cling to. In fastening the plant on, first 

 place a little live sphagnum on the block, then fix the plant 

 on with copper wire, and afterwards hang it up near the 

 roof, but not too near the glass, or the plants may get 

 injured by cold, which should be specially guarded against 

 during winter. 



If the plants should get into an unhealthy condition, the 

 best plan is to turn them out of their pots or baskets, and 

 shake all the material away from their roots, wash them with 

 clean water, cut off all the decayed parts of roots or leaves, 



