Marcu, 1917.] THE ORCHID REVIEW. 55 
BS 
Ie 
DIFFICULTIES OF AN AMATEUR. ee] 
SHOULD be very grateful if you would reply to me in the Orchid Review 
in the following matters, as I am only a war-time substitute with no 
experience. I may say that I have only one house, which I keep at as 
nearly an even temperature as possible of 55° to 65° (the thermometer 
being kept near to the glass), though in the first cold weather of the frost 
it would not rise above 50° to 55° for two weeks. In structural details the 
house agrees with all descriptions I have read as to the right type of Orchid 
house, brick sides, upper and lower ventilators, and stages of slates covered 
with gravel. And I may add that I gave the plants constant attention in 
other respects. 
1. Mr. Barker says that Cattleyas should be potted when the new roots 
are appearing. In the greater number of my plants this has occurred when 
the plants were in sheath. I have tried to carry out the treatment 
recommended, but evidently I have done something wrong. 
2. My Dendrobium nobile produced a good crop of buds, but nearly all 
have turned yellow and withered. The plants have not been potted for a 
long time, and the base is an inch or more above the tangle of roots on the 
surface of the pot. In one case the new growth, which is eight to ten 
inches high, has thrown out new roots, but in the other case it has not. 
3. I should like a few hints on the culture of the Australian 
Dendrobiums. Mr. Sander recommends ‘‘ an abundance of moisture all the 
year round,” but I think this does not suit my plants. A Dendrobium 
tetragonum bloomed in December, and received an immense amount of 
attention. I am keeping it very dry now. 
(The object of potting when new roots are just appearing is that by 
this means the plants are immediately able to avail themselves of the new 
_ compost, which would not be the case when they are inactive. It does 
not affect the time of their appearance, and in the case where this occurs 
just when flowers are pushing up it should be deferred until the latter are 
over. It is difficult to suggest a cause for the Dendrobium buds going off, 
unless it is the result of chill, through the temperature having fallen too 
low in severe weather. Too rapid forcing is generally considered to be the 
cause. It would also appear that the plants are becoming exhausted for 
want of potting. It is only when actively growing that the Australian 
Dendrobiums require an abundance of moisture. The great majority 
require to be kept fairly dry when at rest, especially those with stout 
pseudobulbs and fleshy leaves. Some of them experience a long dry rest in 
a state of nature.—ED. | 
