The Culture of Greenhouse Orchids 



during the process, instead of pushing a flower - 

 spike, the perfected bulb will start into new growth. 

 If not a large plant, probably it will try to escape 

 blooming at all that year. Therefore, when an 

 untimely growth is ripening, perhaps in the late 

 summer, it must be watched and dried, and thus 

 compelled to flower. xiU these operations are as 

 simple as could be, even for a beginner, if he bear 

 my hints in mind ; but for want of such elementary 

 instruction many an amateur keeps a plant for 

 years, healthy, perhaps, and constantly growing 

 bigger, but not flowering. When it reaches a 

 certain size, however, it must throw up a spike. 



N.B. — It is safest to put those which should be 

 watched by themselves. 



Doubtless it is best to re-pot Odontoglots every 

 year, at the moment when new roots are pushing ; 

 they welcome the new sweet compost or leaf-mould 

 with delight. But that is a long job, at a time 

 when gardeners are busy out-of-doors. There is 

 no cause for alarm if the operation be deferred 

 to next year, or even the year after; but in such 

 cases watering must have been done so judiciously 

 that the stuff is not sour. Nevertheless plants will 

 not grow as they should if not provided with fresh 

 material once in two years at the least. 



Odontoglossums are a boon unmixed. They have 

 i6o 



