336 EPIPHYTAL TROPICAL ORCHIDE^ — POTTING AND SOIL. 



I. EPIPHYTAL, OR PARASITICAL TROPICAL ORCHIDE^. 

 POTTING AND SOIL. 



We can scarcely admit that there should be what is usually called a 

 general shifting or potting of any plants, much less so of those under our 

 present consideration ; because the whole collection in a house can never 

 be exactly in the same state as to growth, health, excitement, &c. Pot- 

 ting should be attended to according to the circumstances of indi%'idual 

 plants, and we have found it a very good practice to examine any par- 

 ticular coUection at different periods, selecting at each examination those 

 individuals that most required shifting, and leaving such as did not until 

 another time. For potting Orchideae it may be taken as a pretty general 

 rule as to time, that period at which their season of rest expires, or just 

 as they are beginning to show symptoms of grovving. Pots for this tribe 

 should be large in proportion to the plants, and cannot be too well 

 drained ; indeed, from one third to one half of the pot should be taken 

 up with drainage alone, of which broken pots, small pieces of sandstone 

 or brickbats is the best, being well calculated to absorb a supply of water, 

 w^hich will be given out to the plants as they require it. Indeed, it 

 is a good practice to mix a quantity of similar materials along with the 

 soil in which the plants are to grow. 



The soil used by the best cultivators is what is called turf}^ peat, of 

 rather a sandy nature, cut from the surface of a moor or common upon 

 which water does not lie during any part of the year, and having the 

 surface herbage and as large a portion of fibrous matter in it as possible. 

 Such a soil seldom requires what is called sweetening or previous pre- 

 paration, such as keeping for years piled up to rot, and being frequently 

 turned over during that time. It is, if of good quality, fit for use as soon 

 as it is brought from the common, requiring only to be cut into pieces 

 about an inch square, and mixed with about one-third of broken pot- 

 sherds, to render it still more capable of allowing the superfluous 

 moisture to pass off. For it should be remembered that no species of 

 Orchideae will thrive if stagnated water be allowed to remain about 

 their roots. 



In potting, care should be taken that the plants be not set too deep ; it 

 is better to place them almost on the surface, and to support them with 

 sticks, to prevent their falling over, which may be done in a neat manner, 



