OBCHIU 



ing any decayed and bruised parts, they may be potted 

 and basketed, and removed to their proper quarters, 

 watering sparingly until they start new action. 



It is customary in some establishments to hang newly 

 imported Orchids by the roots, tops down, from the roof 

 of the house or beneath 

 the benches until they 

 show signs of new action, 

 but they invariably suf- 

 fer more or less from 

 this practice and are bet- 

 ter treated as above. 



Pots, Baskets, etc.— 

 Many Orchids are best 

 cultivated in the ordinary 

 earthen pots and pans, 

 more especially terres- 

 trial species and a few 

 of the epiphytal kinds, 

 wliich grow on rocks in 

 inarshis, and among 

 quantities of humus and 

 firu roots. A majority 

 of the cpiphj'tal species, 

 however, need special 

 structures that will ad- 

 mit air to circulate freely 

 to the roots; otherwise. 



1167 



1575. Commonest and best style 

 of basket for general culture 

 of Orchids with pendulous 



these are liable to decay through excess of water if con- 

 fined in close pots when inactive during winter, which 

 must eventually weaken the constitution of the plants. 

 Figures 1575-1583 fairly illustrate the best and most 

 practical pots and baskets for successful culture. Fig. 

 1575 shows the Orchid basket most commonly used ; it 

 is the best adapted for the general cul 

 ture of Cattlejas, Coryanthes, Den 

 drobiums Fpi 1 nlrums L . Ins ^Mis 

 devallias of tl ( ' t ti ti < 



cidiums, an 1 

 pendulous ti 

 made of ced 



any durable w i 11 \ 1 i it 

 into square (oi i unl) sti i ct in\ 

 length desirable and m proportionate 

 thickness from 14-1 in and cnrefully 

 perforated at each end Through the 1576 An Orchid 

 holes is inserted a strong wire, which cylinder, 



is looped at the upper end when finished uged for very tall 

 in order to receive the wire hanger. species. 



These baskets can be as deep as de- 

 sired, but three sticks on each of the four sides are 

 usually enough for most Orchids, with two or three 

 placed crosswise through the bottom, to hold the com- 

 post. The hanger is made by twisting together and 

 ling down in the middle two pieces 

 ized or copper wire, forming 

 four ends to insert in the basket -loops 

 and a loop or hook at the top by which 

 to suspend it. 



The Orchid cylinder (Fig. 157fi) is 

 very useful for standing on the bench 

 or pit, and is used for Renantheras, 

 Aeridcs, Vandtis, Angrn-cuins, Epi- 

 (h-Ti.!nii.i . ;;iM iii:,!!;, "1]: <■ t:Ml plants 



i. :i small 



r :i;r. \\"1,. li \:'r-. enough 



1577, fastened. The depth is adjusted by 



An Orchid raft. 



„ , . ^ The Orchid r^ft i Fig. 1-77) is ma.lo 



thc""mcp''u?;,r,e inmuchthes,,,,,, ,:,, .^il .lin.l. ,. 



as the cylinder.' '"" '» 1"^ "■'' ,,' ''',,' ' ' ' 



blocks of hard, rough wooil. ai, ih.h .-i , •- ;,, „. 



block is very useful for many species, -such as Ciilllcnn 

 citrhia, Barkerias, Epidendrum falcatum, Detidrobium 



Earthen basket. 



Orchids 



holes in the bot- 



Jinkinsli, Oncidium Zimminghii and Papilio, Scuti- 

 carias, etc. 



The earthen basket (Pig. 1578) is t.scfiil when the 

 compost is fine and when the roots <i.' ii"i t. mhh' nnHh 



atmo.spheric action; also to propoil i. i i la 



few terrestrial species, tliereby ill. In i i i :'' ucr 



more freely. The earthen basket i- ' |.. . i u u-clul 

 for Acinetas, Peristerias with pendulous, >, a|.. >. .sian- 

 hopeas, etc. ; it is made with ovate openings around the 

 sides and a round one in the center to 

 admit pendulous scapes. 



Theperforat.-.l ,iao iFii-, I.-,7'h is usu- 

 ally mad 1:1 111 -hi.i.l ^ I, . :iihI ii>ed 



for BulIiM I r type 



of Cy|ii-i; ■■. •' ' ' I . and 



many otli.-r -mij I- i ..wihl' -i-. .irs tliat 

 do well susp.-iulLil from the roof. 



The perforated Orchid pot (Pig. 

 1580) is for bench use and is useful 

 for many epiphytal Orchids that are 

 not to be suspended, the perforations 

 or holes supplying abundant air to the 

 roots, a safeguard against losing them 

 through overwatering in winter. 



Figs. 1581 and 1582 show the stand- 

 ard earthen pot and pan for terrestrial 

 species. They should have the drain- 

 age holes made on the siile at the base, 

 instead of directly underneath, as a 

 preventive against earth-worms enter- 

 ing from the benches. 



Potting, Soil, etc., for Terrcstrinl OrcAicZs. — Terres- 

 trial Orchids as a general rule grow best under pot cul- 

 ture Potting mat. I i.il f'r III i"'i!'."v iiiL- lih.ih .\.'an- 

 thephippium, ¥,)■■ ., 1 :. ' . . : ,11 . , //k- 



dium insigne an. I n 11', , . iSi|.o- 



dium, Habenaria.].ii:ii 1-. M 1. 1 ... . 1 1 , ; '. 1 1- i.n.i, I liaius, 

 Pleione, Sobralia, Tl.uiua, an. I .....u.e ,.ili, 1.-, — .sli.ml.l con- 

 sist of about one-third each of chopped sod with some 

 of the fine soil removed, chopped live sphagnum and 

 leaf mold, adding a little ground bone for some of the 

 strong - growing kinds. One-third of the pot space 

 should be devoted to clean drainage, covered with sphag- 

 num or rough material to keep it open. After removing 

 ill decayed portions, the roots should be carefully dis- 

 tributed and the compost worked in gently but firmly 

 around tl.. m. |.;i.iiil,' ili.' surface a little convex and 

 slightly I. if the pot as in Fig. 1581 (the 



dotted III i I i linage required). The con"ex 



surface :ii. .^ in. . i. 1 ..m. an opportunity to dry out fre- 

 quently, iliiis avoj.ling liiiigi, which are "troublesome to 



In repotting terrestrial Orchids suflicient pot room 

 should be given to last a year or two if possible, as they 

 dislike to have their roots disturbed oftener than is 

 necessary. The best time to repot is just before the 

 rooting period, or when they are starting their new 

 growths in spring. The deciduous species of Calanthe 

 can be easily increased at this time, 

 if desired, by removing the old bulbs 

 and placing a number together in a 

 pan or shallow box, covering them 

 partly with conipo.it and pl.^cing them 

 in a warm li.^nx. imfil tli.-v -tnrt action, 

 after win.' • ■. . -i . ■ ' ..ii.i 1 .■ lotted 

 as desir.'.i : ■ ....■'.... ....■:,. i-. 



Ana'.-li. . ... . ; ; i. . :. :i.. , ( 'vpri- 



pedium.,,lii-a.,i: Ij . ra..S|.a^ll<.;;lot- 

 tis, and many allied genera, grow best 

 under pot culture, but otherwise re- 

 quire compost and treatment similar 

 to the epiphytal kinds. 



Polti}uj, Basketing , and Compost 

 for Epiphytal Orchids. — The roots of 

 epiphytal Orchids are usually very 

 porous, and many are covered with a 

 ,.,it.., -itl.-t.ii,.... (velamenl, capable of 



1579. 

 Perforated pan. 

 Adapted t o 

 small Orchids 

 that do well 

 when suspended 

 from the roof. 



Ill tlieir iiativ.. homes a great many of 

 I,, i . I :.;. a. rial or grow in loose, fibrous material, 

 . a. ii a. 111..-.- and the fine roots of Polypodiums and other 

 f.-nis. where they have free access of air at all times. 

 It is important that they receive similar treatment un- 



