64 PRESENT-DAY GARDENING 



though while dry still retaining a green appearance. Such 

 collectors' failures die rapidly as soon as heat and moisture 

 are given, and, even in the case of those which seem to 

 establish a healthy appearance of the pseudo-bulbs, growth 

 is not possible, as the growth-buds have been dried up. 

 It is waste of time trying to bring such plants round, there- 

 fore care should be taken not to purchase them at any price. 



Imported Orchids of all kinds should be trimmed over 

 as soon as they are received, the damaged parts removed, 

 and the plants placed in a cool-intermediate temperature 

 after they have been sponged over. They may be suspended 

 for a few days and afterwards placed in small pots of broken 

 crocks. Pseudo-bulbous Orchids, such as Odontoglossums 

 and Cattleyas, should not be watered, but they may be 

 sponged occasionally until growth commences, when they 

 should be potted in the usual manner. 



Aerides, Saccolabiums, Vandas, Angraecums, and other 

 Orchids not having pseudo-bulbs may be treated in the 

 same way as the pseudo-bulbous kinds, it being probably 

 the safer and more cautious policy. But good results, 

 and a quicker establishment may be secured, if the plants 

 are recoverable by immersing them for five minutes in 

 a rain-water tank immediately on arrival, suspending them 

 head downwards from the roof of the house afterwards, 

 and repeating the dipping two or three times a week, This 

 method has the advantage at least that those which were 

 not recoverable are quickly discovered, while the sound 

 plants soon plump up. With all imported plants there 

 is no use potting them permanently and watering them 

 until growth commences, but they must not be kept too 

 hot in the meantime. 



