CHAPTER IX. 



POTTING. 



AT the close of the resting season is the proper time to 

 pot Orchids ; but no season of the year can be ab- 

 solutely determined as the proper one for this operation. 

 The months of February and March are the best times to 

 repot some, that is, after the resting reason. 



Those that do not need potting should be top-dressed 

 with fibrous peat, removing the old soil from the top with- 

 out breaking the roots of the plant. The pots should be 

 thoroughly cleansed from mould, moss, and dirt, and this 

 time is also favorable for searching after and destroying 

 insects. 



Plants, previous to potting, should not receive any watei 

 for four or five days. 



Some species should be potted somewhat later, just as 

 they begin to grow. All species of the genera Phajus, 

 Calanthe, Dendrobium, Stanhopea, Cyrtopodium, Brassia, 

 Miltonia, Sobralia, Bletia, Oncidium, and many others re- 

 quire this treatment. 



Lczlias, Cattleyas, Saccolabiums, Aerides, Vandas and 

 similar plants should be potted just before the beginning 

 of the growing season. 



The chief attention requisite in potting is that the pots 

 be well drained ; the best material for drainage is pot- 

 sherds or charcoal. See that the pots are perfectly clean 

 inside and out, also wash the potsherds to be used for 

 drainage. 



