﻿THE ORCHIL) REVIEW. 



difficult matter to avoid breaking them, when endeavouring to get them 

 inside the pot. The difficulty is greatly minimised by commencing to 

 repot them, before they advance the new roots far. It is not always 

 necessary to repot annually, but it is necessary to have the potting compost 

 as sweet as possible. The long season of rest which this class of plant 

 requires, when water is practically withheld for months, causes the surface 

 moss sometimes to decay. This is easily replaced, and it is therefore 

 undesirable to pot any plant unless the material is unsuitable or the plant has 

 outgrown its receptacle. In repotting it will be found that many roots have 

 become attached to the sides of the pots. These may be detached by the 

 aid of a knife in many cases, and sometimes the pot may have to be broken 

 carefully, and the roots with the broken pot attached, placed inside the new 

 receptacle. Such tall growing ones as A. Lawrenceanum, A. expansum, 

 A. Houlletianum, A. Sanderianum and A. odoratum, do best in pots. The 

 smaller growing ones of the A. multiflornm section, such as A. affine, A. 

 Lobbii. A. maculosum, and others do well suspended from the roof in pans, 

 which should be sufficiently large to hold the plant comfortably. Provide 

 plentv of drainage, and fill in the remaining space to within one inch of the 

 rim with broken crock- an<l sphagnum, over w hich place a layer of fresh 

 picked heads of sphagnum moss. Water, as soon as repotting is done, 

 thoroughly soaking the compost through. Shade from the hot sun, but 

 withdraw the shading early enough to produce a good rise in temperature. 



Vandas. — Some of these beautiful species will now need attention. The 

 first one we notice is V. Sanderiana, which is probably the most beautiful of 

 the whole genus. The plants may now be re-mossed and encouraged in 

 making new growth, by suspending the baskets in a shady part of the 

 house. An occasional moistening of the moss and baskets will be sufficient 

 until rooting and growing vigorously, when frequent supplies will be 

 necessary. Vanda suavis and V. tricolor are best grown in pots, and 

 thrive well in a shady part of the Cattleya house or some similar structure. 



Having been kept on the dry side during the winter, the moss will need 

 renewing, if repotting is necessary. The leafy portion may require to be 

 brought nearer the pot, and this can be done by cutting away a portion of 

 the stem at the base. Fill in with clean crocks, and surface over with fresh 

 sphagnum moss. When finished give a good watering, but for some time 

 afterwards spraying the plants overhead and between the pots will be 

 sufficient for their needs, gradually increasing the amount at the roots as 



Cattleya House.— Plenty of work in this house will be required during 

 the next few months, as the various species reach the condition necessary 

 for repotting, &c. Cattleyas require to be repotted only when the new 

 growth projects over the side of their receptacles or when the compost 



