66 O&CSIDS : HOW To GROW THEM SUCCESSFULLY. 



ORCHIDS IN BLOOM. 



"When Orchids are in flower they should not be allowed to become 

 very dry at the root, or the flowers will draw too largely upon the 

 reservoirs of the plant, greatly exhausting it, and sometimes lead to its 

 entire collapse the following season; neither should the flowers be 

 allowed to remain on the plant for too long a time, especially if the 

 plant is at all weak. Oncidiums, Odontoglossums, Phalsenopsis, and 

 Vanda cserulea, suffer from this cause more than other Orchids, as these 

 kinds generally throw large spikes with a great number of flowers 

 upon them, and should not be allowed to become too dry. Should the 

 plant be in a weak condition and allowed to flower, the blooms must 

 be cut immediately, or the plants will be still further weakened and 

 probably dwindle away. The removal of the flower is no deprivation 

 to the owner, as it will keep a very long time in water. Even where 

 strong and vigorous it is not advisable to allow the spikes to remain on 

 the plant more than a fortnight. Any small glasses or neat little 

 vessels for holding the flower spikes can be judiciously placed among 

 the plants, and but few casual observers would notice that the flowers 

 had been removed from their parent steins. 



PLANTS THAT MAY BE GROWN WITH ORCHIDS. 



The culture of Orchids need not in any way lead to the exclusion 

 of the beautiful f oliaged or flowering plants, and especially Ferns, which 

 are generally found in every greenhouse ; in fact, it would often prove 

 to be a distinct advantage to these plants to be in the same house, as 

 the atmosphere is more suited to their requirements than that generally 

 maintained in an ordinary greenhouse. There are, however, some 

 plants which would probably not be a success i groAvn with Orchids 

 during summer, but could be wintered very well with Cool Orchids. 

 I refer to such as Pelargoniums, Fuchsias, tuberous-rooted Begonias, 

 Hydrangeas, Azaleas, Camellias, Cyclamen, Primulas, and others 

 these are best grown by themselves if possible during summer. 



The class of plants most suitable for growing with Orchids are 

 Ferns, small Palms, and pretty foliaged plants, all of which give com- 

 paratively little trouble in growing, are not so subject to insect pests, 

 and are in harmony with the Orchids. There are also some of the more 

 beautiful and not yet too gaudy fltfwered stove and greenhouse plants, 

 which will flower well in the Cool Orchid-house, on account of its 

 being kept moist, shaded, and with a genial growing atmosphere. 

 Amongst the many pretty and suitable plants are the winter-flowering 

 Begonias, also some of the charming ornamental-leaved section, many 

 of the Palms and Ferns, Abutilons, Pilea muscosa, Aralias, Asparagus 

 plumosus, Asparagus deflexus, Crotons, Cyperus, Dracaenas, Isolepis, 



