ORCHID TREATMENT DURING GROWTH. 19 



ORCHID TREATMENT DURING GROWTH. 



WE have in our Orchid houses plants from locaUties which vary much 

 in every respect ; some of them, moreover, produce their flowers 

 early in spring, others in summer, and others again during the dull days 

 of winter. It will therefore be readily understood that the period of 

 starting into growth should vary also ; but as for convenience sake we 

 rest as many of our Orchids as possible in winter, because the days are 

 cooler and shorter, the majority will begin to push up their young 

 shoots as soon as the days lengthen and the sun gains increased power. 

 This being the case, when the growing season commences, the tempera- 

 ture of the East Indian house — -the house in which the greatest heat is 

 maintained — should be increased to 65° by night and 70° by day, while 

 by sun-heat it may be allowed to range up to 75°. As the days lengthen, 

 so the temperature may be permitted to increase ; and during the months 

 of May, June, July, and August, it should range from 70" to 75° by 

 night, and from 75° to 80° by day, or bj^ sun-heat up to 85°, or even 

 90°, which will not do any harm, provided the plants have plenty of air,, 

 and are shaded from the direct rays of the sun. Great attention should,, 

 at the same time, be paid to the state of the atmosphere, as regards. 

 m.oisture. At all times of the year this is of much importance to the 

 successful growth of the plants, since they derive the greater part of 

 their subsistence from moisture in the air. Wherever, therefore, any of 

 these plants are growing, the atmosphere should be well supplied with 

 moisture, which is obtained by pouring water over the tables, walls, and 

 paths of the house every morning and afternoon ; this causes a nice 

 moist heat to rise, which is of great value whilst the plants are in a 

 vigorous state of growth, especially as regards the East Indian Orchids, 

 such as Aerides, Saccolahmm, Vanda, Phalaenopsis, Bendrobium, 

 Oypripedium, and many others requiring a high temperature, with 

 a considerable degree of moisture. 



The Brazilian Orchids, many of which come from a cooler climate 

 than the foregoing, and one not so highly saturated with vapour, of 

 course require less heat and less moisture, but these should also have a 

 considerable degree of warmth during their growing season ; conse- 

 quently the houses which are devoted to the Brazilian plants and to 

 some of those from Mexico, should be artificially heated to about 60° by 



