CULTURE OF EPIPHYTAL ORCHIDS. 8/ 



CULTURE ON BLOCKS. 



The selection of the wood on which the Orchids are 

 to grow, is a matter of importance. We know that when 

 plants are thus grown, we cannot change them as we 

 can in pots and baskets, therefore we must choose wood 

 the least liable to rot, or to be attacked by fungus. 



The best kinds are cork, oak, apple, pear, plum, or 

 with us, locust j as these stand best the warm moist tem- 

 perature of an Orchid house. Rough, knotty pieces are 

 the best, because the roots more easily cling to them. 



In placing the plant upon the block we must inquire 

 the nature of the roots, and always provide a piece ten 

 to fifteen inches long and six to eight inches in diameter. 

 A hook should be fixed to each extremity of the block, in 

 a position to give it the requisite inclination. 



The plant should always be placed in the centre of the 

 block, upon a slight layer of moss, and be retained in its 

 place by copper, lead, or zinc wire, until the roots cling 

 to the block. 



The block should be suspended so as to give the 

 pseudo-bulbs an inclination of forty-five degrees. 



The size above given for blocks, is of course not in- 

 tended for such small growing plants as Sophronites and 

 Comparettias. These should be grown on little branches 

 or blocks, about five inches long by two in diameter. 

 These little plants will thrive in small wooden baskets 

 filled with sphagnum, and they thus require less attention 

 to prevent their drying up, than when on wood. 



It is not well to place more than one plant on a block, 

 as the plants often have different times of growth and 

 rest, and in supplying the wants of one, the other might 

 suffer. 



