50 ORCHIDS : HOW TO GROW THEM SUCCESSFULLY. 



the centre of which a tiny leaf will soon form, and in this early stage 

 these may be transplanted; indeed, it is best to transplant them as 

 early as possible, for frequently the sphagnum surface on which they 

 are growing becomes stale and dry, and woodlice, slugs, or ants cause 

 the seedlings to disappear; but if taken away when they are large 

 enough to be moved with a sharp pointed stick, on to some new, sweet 

 compost, a fresh impetus is given to the little plant, and they then get 

 a firm hold of the material in which they are for a while to find a 

 home, and which is so necessary for their wellbeing. When the seed 

 does not show signs of growth in from three to six months it rarely 

 vegetates at all. 



I prefer pricking off the little seedlings into what is known as 

 thimble pots (one inch in diameter). These small pots should be half 

 filled with small bits of charcoal or crocks, then filling level to the rim 

 with chopped sphagnum moss and best fibrous peat, with the dust 

 shaken from it, adding a little silver sand, mixing it well together and 

 pressing it moderately firm into the pots. I then press down the com- 

 post with a pointed stick, making a furrow all round close to the rim of 

 the pot, just sufficiently deep to admit and steady half-a-dozen of the 

 little seedlings, using the pointed stick in doing this, and I moisten the 

 the tip of the stick, generally with my tongue, as the tiny plants then 

 adhere to the point and can easily be deposited where required. 

 Previous to filling the pots they should be soaked in water, especially if 

 new, or they quickly absorb the moisture in the small amount of 

 compost" so necessary for the young seedlings. The compost should 

 also be thoroughly damped previous to being used for the seedlings, 

 after which the watering of them is a delicate operation, and must be 

 done with the geatest care, until the little plants are steadied by their 

 own roots. The pots containing the little seedlings are best nursed in 

 the small wood baskets used for Orchids, accommodating from eight to 

 a dozen pots in each, and suspending them close under the roof, where 

 they are shaded from the direct rays of the sun. The baskets in which 

 the pots are to stand should have more cross bars fixed in the bottom, 

 to prevent their falling through the air will then pass up between 

 them and lessen the chance of too much moisture collecting around 

 them, which is to be avoided. These very small pots, however, dry 

 very quickly, and should be examined at least once every day and 

 water given to the dry ones. I usually apply the water by dipping the 

 hand into the water and let it drip gently from the fingers on to the 

 plants, but it can be done in various other ways, so that it is done 

 gently and without disturbing the little plants. Especial care should 

 be taken with the seedlings during their resting season, as such small 

 plants will not stand the same amount of drying and resting as 

 established plants which have large pseudobulbs and have a much 

 larger mass of material about their roots to retain the moisture, the 



