PHAL«NOPSIS. 245 



fine days, in the morning, so that the house may be dry by 

 night. 



Phalanopsids are grown in different ways. Sometimes they 

 are placed on blocks, sometimes in pots or in baskets, and I 

 have found them to succeed well under all three modes of 

 treatment ; they require, however, more moisture at the 

 roots if grown on blocks, whilst if grown in pots, more 

 drainage will be required than when they are planted in 

 baskets. For pot culture, the best way is to place an 

 inverted pot in the bottom of the one intended for the 

 plant, and fill in the intervening space with potsherds, 

 broken into pieces about two inches square, to within two 

 inches of the rim ; sphagnum, having a few small potsherds 

 mixed with it, should then be placed upon the drainage, and 

 the plant elevated three inches above the rim, taking care to 

 keep the base of the plant well above the moss. The suc- 

 cessful culture of Phalmnopsis, as well as of all other plants, 

 depends upon efficient drainage. If grown on blocks they 

 should be placed on a good-sized one, so that there is plenty 

 of surface for the roots to cling to. In fastening the plant on, 

 first place a little live sphagnum on the block, then fix the 

 plant on with copper wire, and afterwards hang it up near the 

 roof, but not too near the glass, or the plants may get 

 injured by cold, which should be specially guarded against 

 during winter. 



If the plants should get into an unhealthy condition, the best 

 plan is to turn them out of their pots or baskets, and shake 

 all the material away from their roots, wash them with clean 

 water, cut off all the decayed parts of roots or leaves, and re- 

 place them on blocks with a little sphagnum, giving them a 

 good supply of moisture, and placing them at the warmest end 

 of the house, but not too much exposed to the light ; under 

 this treatment they will soon begin to root and improve in 



