b» ORCHID-GROWER S MANUAL. 



operation. The montlis of February and March — that is, after 

 the resting season, just before they begin to grow, are very 

 suitable for potting some of them. Those that do not require 

 potting should be top-dressed with good fibrous peat and 

 moss, the old soU being removed from the surface without 

 breaking the roots of the plants. This operation aflfords the 

 means of getting rid of many insects which harbour in the old 

 soil or crocks. The pots should be thoroughly cleansed from 

 the mould, moss, and dirt, which are too often seen covering 

 them. Cleanliness is one of the greatest aids in the success- 

 ful growth of Orchids. Previously to potting, the plants 

 should not receive any water for four or five days. 



Some species should be potted at a somewhat later period, 

 that is, just as they begin to grow. All the species of 

 Phajus, CcdantJie, Dendrohium, Stanhojyea, Cyrtopodkan, 

 Brassia, MUtonia, Sobralia, Bletia, Oncidium, and many 

 others, require this treatment ; whilst those of Lcclia, Cattleya, 

 Saccolabium, Aeridcs, Yanda, and similar plants, should be 

 potted just before the commencement of their growing season. 



The chief point to be attended to in all potting is that the 

 pots should be well drained, the best material for drainage 

 being potsherds or charcoal. Before potting, be particular 

 to have the pots perfectly clean and dry, inside and out, and 

 the broken potsherds should be washed. After this is done, 

 select a pot in accordance with the size of the plant, but do 

 not give too much pot-room. Some plants require shifting 

 once a year, while it may not be necessary to shift others 

 oftener than once in two or three years. If a plant becomes 

 sickly or soddened with wet, the best way to bring it back 

 into a healthy state is to turn it out of the pot or basket, and 

 wash the roots carefully with some clean tepid water, cutting 

 off such of them as are dead ; and then to repot it, not giving 

 it much water till it begins to make fresh roots. The best 



