WATEEING ORCHIDS. 43 



be given ; and when the pseuclobulbs are about half grown, 

 the roots may receive a good supply. This, however, will 

 greatly depend upon how the plants are potted. If potted 

 according to the directions laid down in this book the water 

 will pass away quickly, which is very essential to the well- 

 being of the plants. We have known Orchid growers try 

 many kinds of potting material, but have never seen any to 

 succeed better than rough fibrous peat and sphagnum moss, 

 and by using these two materials as recommended, there is 

 less liability of the plants sufiering injury. Some growers 

 use fine soil, mixed with sand and moss : this we consider bad 

 for epiphytal Orchids, because it soon gets soddened and con- 

 solidated round the roots— a condition exceedingly obnoxious 

 to this class of plants, which are not subjects to be tampered 

 with. When plants are potted in this fine soil they require 

 less water, and will also need the soil to be frequently 

 renewed, but to this system we are entirely opposed. 



Our practice is to shut up the Orchid house in the spring 

 of the year about 3 p.m., and in May, June, July, August, 

 and September about an hour later, when the heat of the sun 

 is on the decline. We then usually give a gentle syringing 

 with water as nearly as may be of the same temperature as 

 that of the house. In fine weather, the temperature from sun- 

 heat will rise frequently as high as 95°, or even more ; but we 

 have never observed any injury to befall the plants in con- 

 sequence of this heat, so long as the house was saturated with 

 moisture. The atmosphere should be dried up once a day, if 

 possible, by means of ventilation. In syringing be careful 

 not to wet the young shoots too much. The syringe should be 

 furnished with a fine rose attached, so as to cause the water to 

 fall on the plants in imitation of a gentle shower of fine rain ; 

 but this syringing should onl}- take place after a hot simny day, 

 and should never be carried to excess, for we have seen the ill 



