POTTING-. 65 



is the criterion to guide the cultivator, He must observe when 

 the plants are beginning to grow and then pot them. A wide 

 rather shallow pot for epiphytal Orchids is the best, and if 

 ordered at the pottery costs no more than an ordinary pot. For 

 ground Orchids, the common-shaped pot is the best. If old pots 

 are used they should be scrubbed quite clean, and allowed to 

 become dry before using. New pots fresh from the pottery 

 should be put into water for an hour or two, then allowed to 

 become dry before using. For Orchids that grow on trees, the 

 pots should be thoroughly drained with broken pots. In fact, 

 the pots should be half filled with drainage. Over the drainage 

 place a layer of moss and charcoal. Let the size of the pots be 

 in proportion to the size of the plants. Having got ready the pot, 

 then take the plant and turn it out of its pot, and pick away all 

 the old stuff and drainage. If it does not come out easily, it is 

 very likely prevented doing so by the roots adhering to the side. 

 If so, pass a thin, long-bladed knife carefully between the root 

 and the pot. If that cannot be done without injuring the root, 

 then break the pot in pieces very gently, and such pieces of the 

 pot as hold the roots let them remain so, and put them altogether 

 into the new pot. Hold the plant in one hand and work in the 

 fresh compost with the other. Let the centre of the compost 

 be raised a little above the rim of the fresh pot, so that the plant 

 will stand as it were on a little hillock. Most likely it will be 

 rather loose in the compost at first ; and, therefore, to keep it 

 steady, put in some short sticks close to the pseudo-bulbs. 



The potting season is a good time to cleanse the leaves of the 

 plants, and to clear off any scaly insects that may be 011 the leaves 

 and pseudo-bulbs. The best implement for this purpose is a 

 piece of thickish soft leather tied to a stick. This, when used, 

 does not injure the tenderest leaves. 



Proceed thus with every plant till all that are beginning to 

 grow are finished. Then with a syringe wet the compost by 

 forcing the water on it strongly, which will press down the com- 

 post, rendering the surface compact and smooth. 



