78 



THE ORCHID WORLD. 



[January, igi6. 



roots IS the surest guide. With plants in a 

 bad condition, rather than delay, an overhaul 

 may be undertaken at any time when the 

 young growth becomes active ; the smallest 

 pots that will accommodate them should be 

 selected. 



Composts ready prepared may with 

 advantage be obtained from any of the 

 well-known firms mentioned in this publica- 

 tion, and m qualities suitable for the various 

 genera. Cattleya, Odontoglossum and Cypri- 

 pedium mixtures will generally be found 

 sufficient. 



Remove any back bulbs beyond three or 

 four from the leading eye, as these will usually 

 be found without live roots, and taking 

 nourishment from the young growth ; or, as a 

 well-known expert has described it, these back 

 bulbs are the poor relations of the family. 



It will generally be found advisable to 

 remove some of the compost from the back of 

 the plant, and to carefully explore the centre, 

 rejecting all sour and pasty material ; 

 seedlings and small healthy pieces may be 

 transferred without disturbance. With the 

 back of the rhizome, or root stem, against the 

 side of the pot, all new material should be 

 placed m front of the young growth in such 

 a way that the whole is periodically renewed. 

 A common fault with beginners is the failure 

 to pack the compost sufficiently firmly in the 

 pot. A potting stick made from a piece of 

 cane with a slanting cut at the end will be 

 found of great assistance, pressing the 

 material very firmly underneath the plant from 

 the side to the centre, not downwards, adding 

 fresh material as required on the outside of 

 the ball. When completed the surface should 

 be quite firm when pressure is applied ; a 

 final clipping will give a nice appearance. 



A lightly-potted plant, being like a sponge, 

 is very retentive of moisture and tends to 

 sourness and stagnation ; whilst the simile of 

 the squeezed sponge indicates the condition 

 in which the compost dries out readily and 

 leads to sound healthy root action. 



A pot should be selected giving room for 

 two new growths, and be filled one-third with 

 crocks ; overpotting must be carefully avoided, 

 also the use of too great a depth of compost. 



If in doubt, err on the side of parsimon)', 

 which will generally be found of benefit to 

 the health of the jDlant and the pocket of the 

 owner. This opportunity may also be taken 

 to examine carefully for scale, to sponge the 

 foliage, and renew faulty stakes and ties. 



The grower in charge will see that water is 

 applied sparingly at first, until it is seen that 

 the new roots are growing freely, otherwise 

 the compost will be soured and the roots lost. 

 Some slight shrivelling of the bulbs frequently 

 occurs after potting, but this may be mitigated 

 by extra shading and a light spraying on 

 bright days. 



Odontoglossums may be potted to the best 

 advantage in September, and those not then 

 m a suitable condition are best left until the 

 early spring. New roots generally appear 

 when the young growth is 2 or 3 inches high, 

 and this period should always be selected. On 

 account of the elevated and cool condition of 

 their native abode Odontoglossums resent any 

 disturbance during the summer months, which 

 would result m excessive shrivelling. 



Attention may be given to Dendrobiums 

 after flowering, when the young growth has 

 well started m Spring ; also the popular 

 winter-flowenng Cypripediums, under similar 

 conditions but somewhat earlier in the year, 

 when the days first begin to lengthen. 



Plants m a healthy state and with room 

 for development may not require further 

 disturbance for two years, but a small advance 

 m the size of pot at more frequent intervals is 

 preferable to the use of a large quantity of 

 new material. 



The outgrown, sour condition often seen in 

 plants in small collections is well known, and 

 a sick plant is an unsatisfactory charge. By 

 the time the long period of convalescence is 

 over a further move into a larger receptacle 

 is probably needed, and the net return in 

 bloom of good quality will be small. To keep 

 a plant in good health a constant supply of 

 new plant food is desirable, and with care 

 little or no check will be experienced in 

 potting. The time-honoured advice ma)- well 

 be repeated : Prevention is better than cure. 



-Tiniest R. AsJiton, Br'^a'Unnd ^. T iinbriii (^c 

 Wells. 



