ORCHIDS : HOW TO GROW THEM SUCCESSFULLY. 63 



TREATMENT OF ORCHIDS THROUGHOUT 

 THE YEAR. 



FOR TEMPERATURES, SEE TABLE, PAGE 31. 



JANUAKY. 



COOL HOUSE. Winter Temperature. 



During this dark, dull month scarcely any potting will be required, 

 but attention should be given to cleanliness, ventilation, watering, &c. 

 Open the bottom ventilators, more or less, in accordance with the 

 outside conditions; and if that should be damp and mild, the top 

 ventilators may be opened a little, especially on the leeward side, and 

 a little fire heat used to temper the atmosphere and promote the 

 circulation of air. Should excessive cold weather prevail, it will be 

 best to close all the ventilators and have the hot- water pipes sufficiently 

 heated to keep the thermometer at the proper degree of heat, also 

 affording a little more moisture both to the roots and in the atmosphere 

 than is required in dull, damp weather. In mild weather damp down 

 about once a day, and twice when much fire heat is used. Generally 

 speaking, all growing plants should be more sparingly watered, at this 

 season of the year. Plants which are dormant (resting), such as some 

 of the Dendrobes, Ccelogynes, Anguloas, &c., may have sufficient water 

 only to prevent the pseudobulbs from shrivelling. The autumn- 

 flowered Pleiones may be repotted and suspended near the roof, giving 

 but little water at first. Examine all the plants and clean them, wash 

 their pots when wanted, look well after slugs, and if any signs of thrip 

 should be visible and their work may soon be detected in the centre 

 of the young growth, which then assumes a light- tinted sickly appear- 

 ance and showing a small watery-looking mark then dust a pinch of 

 tobacco powder well into the growth affected. Thrip and slugs are 

 especially fond of the young flower spikes and buds as they appear 

 from the sides of the pseudobulbs, and should be watched for as 

 previously advised. 



INTERMEDIATE HOUSE. Winter Temperature. 

 Keep the temperature up in cold weather and temper the 

 atmosphere by the admission of fresh air, given chiefly through the 

 bottom ventilators, and damping down the floors, &c., once or more 



