The Culture of Greenhouse Orchids 



essential to the vigour of all plants, but especially 

 to epiphytal orchids — that is, such as grow on trees, 

 the great majority. They are protected only by 

 leaves and boughs against the wind, which rises 

 to prodigious force upon occasion, and the rain, 

 which falls as from a sluice. Many species grow 

 to an enormous bulk ; Mr. Burbidge found a Gram- 

 matophyllum " as big as a Pickford's van," he says. 

 To reach that size it must have got through many 

 a hurricane ; but the clasp of the roots preserved 

 it. Orchids are broken off by the wind continually. 

 The branch t(,> which they cling is severed, or the 

 tree itself overthrown ; but scarcely one is ever 

 blown away. 



It follows that an orchid must feel itself safe, 

 firmly planted or solidly attached to its support, 

 or it will not thrive. The inexperienced are apt 

 to disregard this point. Observing how quickly 

 and vigorously the roots of a healthy plant catch 

 hold, they often leave it insecure — " wobbly," in fact 

 — when the shape is awkward, trusting that it will 

 anchor itself. This is injudicious. However lightly 

 the compost be laid around it, the plant should be 

 firmly fixed. My own practice is to tie it down 

 with copper wire, which is removed when the roots 

 have attached themselves. But only copiier can 

 be used for the purpose. Iron is fatal. 



