54 



THE FLOWER GROWER'S GUIDE. 



The most natural method of treatment would appear to be to fasten the plants to 

 blocks of wood ; could we in our orchid houses produce the ever- changing, yet always 

 suitable atmosphere of their native habitats, and under our artificial surroundings, 

 create the natural moisture that is always present in the vicinity of tropical vegetation, 

 there is no doubt that this would be successful. But no matter how carefully 

 built our houses may be, or how we try to reproduce those natural conditions, it is 

 still a poor and weak attempt, and consequently we have to fit our plants to meet the 

 altered conditions. Hence the need of the composts previously described to retain a due 

 amount of moisture about the roots, and form a medium for their support. This 

 medium will vary according to the habit and liking of various kinds, and a considera- 

 tion of the different class of roots is also helpful to the cultivator. 



Where a general and varied collection of orchids is grown, a quantity of the 

 different ingredients (pp. 49-50) should be got ready, a stock of pots, pans, and baskets 

 of various sizes, and a number of stakes and labels. For pressing the materials about 

 the roots, a couple of strong boxwood dibbers, one large and the other small, will be 

 necessary. The size of the roots is a fairly safe guide as to the quality of the compost 

 they will thrive in. Those kinds having small roots, such for instance as the cool 

 section of oncidiums, odontoglossums, or the deciduous group of dendrobiums, are best 

 in small pans or baskets, in a compost consisting of peat fibre and moss in about equal 

 proportions, a liberal addition of finely broken charcoal and crocks being made thereto. 

 Those having larger roots, such as cattleyas, like more room, and the crocks and charcoal 

 must not be broken so finely. Then there is the large fleshy root characteristic of the 

 vanda section, these liking large pots or baskets, and only sphagnum moss and charcoal 

 as compost. 



Besides these, there is a class of orchid that likes a rather more substantial mixture, 

 and here the advantage of loam is seen. For the great bulk of cypripediums, 

 cymbidiums, peristerias, and many others, equal parts of loam, peat, and moss form a 

 good mixture ; the size of the pots will depend upon the habit of the species, and a 

 very liberal addition of crocks and charcoal will be needed. 



Most pseudo-bulbous orchids are best potted so that the base of the bulbs just rests 

 on the top of the compost, and this must be finished in a convex line from the top 

 of the rim of the pot or basket. The roots will then enter the compost at once, and 

 are out of the way of insects. Eight and wrong methods of potting this class of orchid 

 are shown in Figs. 24 and 25. Besides the advantage of the roots entering the com- 



