36 orchids: how to grow them successfully. 



immediate sale by auction are naturally anxious that the plants 

 should look well and fresh in the salerooms, and at as early a period 

 as possible, and to obtain this result the plants are placed in a moist, 

 darkened house, and frequently no attempt is made to really harden 

 them off. It is necessary, therefore, for amateurs to be on their 

 guard and very careful with newly imported plants, getting them 

 gradually accustomed to heat, hght, and moisture, for if this is 

 done too rapidly, and too hberally, the foliage may drop off 

 considerably, and perhaps the pseudo bulbs decay. 



When the plants are received, all useless decaying foliag(!, 

 roots, &c., should be removed carefully; and this done, the plants 

 should be placed in a shady part of the Cool-house, on the stage, 

 and kept free from water and in an upright position, the moisture 

 of the house being sufficient for one or two days. The foliage and 

 pseudo bulbs will soon commence swelling and become plump, and 

 occasional waterings may then be given to the roots. As soon as 

 the new growth or roots appear, the imported plants may be potted 

 or placed in baskets or pans and then treated as established plants, 

 watering them carefully as required. Some growers suspend the 

 newly imported plants by the roots with the growth downwards, 

 in the shade of the house, in order that no water shall lodge 

 about them, receiving only the moist atmosphere of the house ; 

 but I am not in favour of this plan, and prefer placing them in 

 an upright position from the first, as I have already explained. 

 Experience has shown me that when suspended the imported 

 plants do not so readily resume their normal functions of growth, 

 the delay being much less when placed in an upright position. 

 Should they, however, belong to the Cattleya or Warm-house 

 section, they may be removed there after being a few days in the 

 shaded house. When potting or placing them in baskets advantage 

 should be taken of this opportunity to form well shaped, compact 

 plants, as frequently the imported plants, as taken from the 

 branches of trees or when gi'owing, are spreading and ill formed. 

 In potting these, it is necessary to divide the mass, especially 

 with Cattleyas, and place the parts together, so that the leading 

 growth is placed in its proper position, and this can be done 

 without the slightest injury at this stage, and a well shaped plant 

 will be secured. 



In potting the plants it is a great mistake to leave a mass 

 of the old roots on them, as these, when confined in the pots, 



