422 THE ORCHID REVIEW. [APRIL, 1923. 
disturbing the old ball of compost and roots, but care should be taken that 
Orchids are not over-potted. It is a great mistake to think that the 
larger the amount of compost surrounding the plant so much the finer will 
be the results. 
Robust plants rarely suffer when producing a flower-spike at any time of 
the year, but those that are in an impoverished condition should have the 
spike removed, or else disbudded, so that only one or two remain in order to 
determine the variety, as might be required in the case of the newly 
acquired plants or seedlings flowering for the first time, 
A word of warning will not be out of place regarding the after treatment 
of recently potted plants. It is as well to give them a shady place for the 
first few days, and to maintain a moist atmosphere by thoroughly damping 
down all under-staging and paths. The foliage may be syringed once or 
twice daily, as the weather conditions will allow. The large trade-growers’ 
establishments are generally built in open country, and positions inside the 
houses are very similar as regards the light, consequently it little matters 
where the plants are replaced after they return from the potting shed. But 
in many amateurs’ houses the conditions are not so equally balanced. One 
end of the house may be heavily shaded by adjacent buildings or trees, and 
if a plant is removed from such conditions and replaced in the sunny 
portion careful attention in the way of shading is required. More especially 
will this be needed when the constitution of the plant has been shaken by 
the severe handling of its root system during a thorough renewal of the 
compost. A method employed by some growers is to place sheets of thin 
paper over any plants that have been recently re-potted, removing the same 
soon after the sun has lost its power for the day. Each day this shading is 
used for a shorter period, until after about a week it can be dispensed with 
entirely. 
Although opinions differ as to the number of bulbs that are necessary to 
support the new growth and to maintain the plant in the strongest vigour, 
everyone will agree that there is a period after which back bulbs become a 
hindrance to the plant. These back bulbs may be placed in separate pots, 
or else laid on a bed of moss until new growths are visible, when they may 
have compost placed around them, taking care that the pots selected are 
only just large enough to accommodate the current season’s root action, 
and also to see that the compost is not placed too closely around the new 
growth, or it may decay through an overabundance of moisture. 
Whenever plants are properly cultivated the flower spikes are strong 
enough to bear the weight of the flowers without any extra support, and 
the graceful arching manner which many of them possess is a special 
feature. Should, however, assistance be needed, then a thin stick firmly 
placed in the compost will be sufficient. 
