32 ORCHIDS I HOW TO GROW THEM SUCCESSFULLY. 



of a hen's egg by the fingers, and if the moss is long it should be 

 chopped once or twice. This forms the best compost known for the 

 majority of Orchids, although some species require more peat than 

 sphagnum, and in some cases a little sweet fibrous loam may be 

 added to advantage. Having prepared and mixed the compost, the 

 plant, if an established one, should be turned out of the pot and all 

 the crocks and old material cleaned away from the roots, bearing in 

 mind that it is a very bad practice to insert the old ball of roots into 

 a new pot, as is customary with other plants, such as ferns, &c. 

 The removal of the old compost and crocks is best accomplished by 

 means of a pointed stick; all dead roots, pseudobulbs, or old stems 

 useless to the plant, having been carefully cut away, a clean pot or 

 basket should be close at hand, and of the right size, to receive the 

 plant. In repotting Orchids it is not always necessary to give them 

 a larger pot, as one of the same size as that in which it has 'been 

 grown often suits it better. It is a great mistake to overpot Orchids. 

 A good idea of the size required can be gained by selecting one large 

 enough for the plant when two more growths are added to the leading 

 pseudobulbs before reaching the side of the pot. The roots of Orchids 

 should not be unduly disturbed, provided the plants have been recently 

 potted and in good material, as many may remain two, or even three 

 years, without disturbance, needing only top dressings and the renewal 

 of supporting sticks. When, however, repotting is necessary, and that 

 is when the compost becomes too much decayed and in a sour condition, 

 or the leading pseudobulbs are growing over the rim of the pot, or 

 from any other cause, then the repotting should be done carefully 

 and well. 



POTTING CATTLEYAS. 



Supposing, for instance, we are about to repot Cattleyas. In the 

 first place, take the plant out of the old pot as carefully as possible, 

 clearing away all worn out soil, &c., as already directed; avoid, if 

 possible, breaking any roots, and have a clean pot ready, about half 

 full of clean broken crocks and small lumps of charcoal, to form 

 effective drainage, so that water can pass through most freely and 

 escape through the hole at the bottom of the pot. A thin layer of 

 sphagnum should be laid over the crocks and charcoal, then place 

 the plant in position, holding it there with one hand and with the 

 other distributing the roots in the pot, afterwards filling in with the 

 compost, and whilst still holding the plant firmly with one hand, the 

 peat, sphagnum, &c., should be carefully packed in, neither too firmly 

 or too loosely, but well into the centre between the roots so that no 

 hollow spaces are left. A little practice and careful use of the fingers 

 will soon enable beginners to pot their plants properly. The plant will 

 then be self-supporting, with the exception perhaps of a few neat sticks 



