Each grower should therefore strive to so water his plants that they will be uni- 
formly damp throughout the growing season, and right up to the time the flower 
is ready to burst. After flowering they must be kept comparatively dry, only 
being given enough moisture from time to time to prevent their bulbs from shriv- 
elling. Tank water is preferable to reservoir water, but I have not had any reason 
to object to the latter. I usually spray Cattleya plants and their house with the 
hose each morning in Summer and immerse the plants in tank water once a week. 
ATMOSPHERE CONDITIONS. 
The state of the air about the plants is a large factor in deciding when and how 
much to water them. When dry, hot winds are prevalent, frequent and copious 
waterings will be necessary. On dull days or days when moisture laden winds 
affect the air, little or no water should be given. On clear, bright sunny days, 
again, you will need to give your Cattleyas a good drenching early in the morn- 
ing. When it is raining outside the house there is no need for water inside—even 
if the glass keeps out the actual rain, the air will carry water, which will be ab- 
sorbed by the plants. 
ORIGIN OF THE PLANTS. 
Some species come from localities where more rain is precipitated than in the habi- 
tats of other species. A knowledge of the natural climatic conditions to which 
your plant is accustomed will help you to place it in a position so that it will 
obtain, as nearly as you can give it, these conditions. 
COMPOST AND CONTAINER. 
Again, the nature of the compost in which a plant is set modifies the amount of 
water it needs. A Cattleya planted in a compost of osmunda fibre only will need 
much more applied water than one which is potted in a mixture of osmunda and 
sphagnum moss. Todea barbara fibre, again, holds the water longer than osmunda, 
so it will need less water than osmunda potting. Polypodium fibre and staghorn 
peat hold the water a little longer than todea, so that here again slightly less fre- 
quent watering will be necessary. 
A plant on a block or raft can stand practically unlimited water, as the surplus 
runs off or evaporates very quickly. Baskets also allow very quick drainage, and 
so can stand liberal water. Pots tend to retain the water, so that a potted plant 
needs less frequent waterirg than a basketed one. If a pot has its drainage pro- 
perly arranged so as to allow free exit of surplus water, the plant in it can stand 
more frequent watering than when the drainage is placed flat in the pot covering 
the drainage hole. 
SEASONAL CHANGES. 
The watering necessarily varies with the seasons as a general rule. Cattleyas usu- 
ally commence their new growth with the first warm days of Spring. The buds 
at the base of last year’s growth commence to swell. As soon as this growth is 
definitely shown, regular watering can be commenced, At first the increase must 
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