CHAPTER XVII. 



POT PLANTS: SELECTIONS SUITABLE FOR LOW 

 AND MEDIUM ELEVATIONS 



ORCHIDS : 



The cultivation of orchids affords one of the most interesting 

 and pleasant occupations in the tropics, as elsewhere, and not a 

 few enthusiasts in Ceylon, India, etc., expend a good deal of money 

 on importing and growing showy kinds." Orchids may be divided 

 into two types, (1) terrestrial or ground-orchids, and (2) epiphytes, 

 that is plants which are found growing naturally upon trees or 

 rocks. In order to grow orchids successfully, it is essential to 

 know r to which of these types they belong, also the elevation and 

 conditions of climate under which they grow in their natural state. 

 Orchids of a dry region generally fail when removed to a wet 

 climate, and vice versa ; thus Cattleyas and other South American 

 species, \vhich are accustomed to a long dry period, soon deterio- 

 rate in the moist climate of the south-west part of Ceylon, especially 

 if not protected during the long rainy season. Nevertheless, it is 

 well to remember that in cultivation, orchids, like other plants, are 

 often adaptable to altered conditions, and careful observation of 

 the progress of the plants will generally suggest the more benefi- 

 cial modifications to adopt in their treatment. Epiphytic orchids 

 generally thrive better on trees than in pots, but the former con- 

 ditions cannot always be provided, and for various reasons pot- 

 culture is usually the more suited to the amateur grower. Many 

 species thrive best when fully exposed to the sun, provided suffi- 

 cient moisture is available at the roots ; others, however, grow and 

 flower most freely under light shade. 



Potting orchids. Special kinds of pots with several drainage 

 holes and perforated sides are made for growing orchids in. When 

 these are not procurable, very useful substitutes may be found in 

 well-seasoned joints of large bamboos, these being cut so as to leave 

 one of the divisions, the joint being then perforated at the bottom 



