lot) ORCHIDS I HOW TO GROW THEM SUCCESSFULLY. 



all times rain or soft pond water, with a sufficient amount of clean hot 

 water added to make the whole lukewarm to the feel. The syringing 

 should be tempered to a large extent by the prevailing weather. It 

 may merely be a spray just enough to moisten the foliage and the 

 surface of the compost, or it may be such that will ma.ke everything 

 present the appearance of the outside garden after a drenching summer 

 rain. Do not be afraid of anything. The water may lodge in the new 

 growths, and on the most fragile blossoms, the former will not rot, nor 

 will the latter damp or spot, providing the hot water pipes are warmed 

 more or less when the nights or days, the nights especially, are 

 unseasonably cold. 



That pernicious species of Scale which attacks weakly specimens of 

 Cattleyas or Lselias cannot breed and make much headway under this 

 system of syringing, and by cleaning the plants with a small brush 

 occasionally this scale quickly disappears. I particularly recommend 

 amateurs who are away from home the greater part of the day to give 

 this system of growing a trial, as I am convinced they will find it answer 

 admirably, serving the two-fold purposes of sufficiently watering the 

 plants without saturating the compost, and of producing a beautiful 

 genial temperature suitable for the free, healthy, vigorous growth of the 

 plants, with one tenth part of the claims upon their time, and they will 

 soon discover that to be successful with the culture of orchids does not 

 involve great expense nor time. As the summer advances and its end 

 approaches, the new pseudobulbs will either be matured, or nearing 

 that condition. As the autumn passes and the winter sets in the 

 warmth of the summer sun will no longer be available, nor indeed will 

 it be required. Overhead syringing should be discontinued. The 

 plants will quite naturally finish up their pseudobulbs, and will then 

 lapse into a state of rest, or partial inactivity. During the winter 

 months they will want nothing more than to be kept free from excitement 

 in any form whatever. Water should be given sparingly at the roots. 

 The atmosphere should also be kept somewhat drier. In fact these 

 plants will now demand nothing more than to occupy the same house, 

 or to receive exactly the same conditions and treatment, as the others 

 which I have previously called the "Cooler" sections of cool growing 

 orchids. They all delight in similar treatment during winter and early 

 spring. A temperature varying between 50 and 60 is the best. It 

 may fall as low as 45 or at times even lower. It may likewise rise 

 a little above 60. But for the greater part of the time, the 

 thermometer should range from 50 to 60. A nice bright morning 

 should be selected for giving a little water to prevent the roots and 

 atmosphere from becoming too dry, which tends to exhaust the plants. 

 It is surprising, however, what a small quantity is necessary for the 

 purpose during the winter, unless excessive fire heat is used. During 

 hard frosty weather more moisture distributed is needed than in damp 



