o8 



THE ORCHID \\ORLD. 



[December, 1914. 



NOTES FOR AMATEURS. 



THE iiionlli ot December murks the 

 commencement of the real winter 

 treatment of Orchids, and for that 

 reason many of the details of culture in use 

 during the last few months must be put on 

 one side until the advent of longer da\ s and 

 more genial weather. All Orchids require a 

 certain amount of atmospheric moisture 

 during" the whole of the }-ear, although when 

 at rest a much smaller quantity will suffice. 



In summer and bright autumn days much 

 damping down is required to balance the 

 rapid evaporation, but unless the grower is 

 careful this practice is apt to be methodically 

 continued for a longer period than is reall)' 

 necessary, with the result that an excess of 

 moisture brings about an atmosphere 

 unnatural to the occupants of the house. 

 During the winter months considerably less 

 damping down is required, the only places 

 where it is principally needed being round 

 about the boiler-end of the house and the 

 ground near the hot-water pipes, for it is here 

 that evaporation is taking place most rapid!}'. 

 \\ henever an extra amount of artificial heat 

 15 used there will be needed a corresponding 

 increase in the damping down. 



A sunny morning often induces the grower 

 to use a considerable quantit\- of water for 

 damping down, resulting in a \er\' moist 

 atmosphere. Xow if the weather remains 

 bright all will be well, for much of this water 

 will evaporate before the evening; but it often 

 happens that a bright and promising morning 

 soon turns into a dreary and rain\' day, and 

 the Orchid house is left with an excessive 

 amount of atmospheric moisture. In this 

 event the grower must use all his ability to 

 disperse the unrequired moisture by reason- 

 able ventilation and fire heat. No sudden 

 change should be attempted, nor should a 

 large amount of fire heat be alone used, or 

 the house may become a hot vapour bath. 

 What is required is a slow but continuous 

 movement of the atmosphere, which may 

 be effected by slightl\- opening the top 

 ventilators and maintaining a gentle heat in 

 the hot-water pipes. After a few hours the 



atmosphere will be much drier and ma\- 

 safely be left m this condition during a cold 

 night. Nothing is more detrimental to 

 Oichids than an unreasonably moist atmo- 

 sphere when the temperature is below the 

 normal figure. 



The amount of light is now considerably 

 reduced, so much so that the few plants m 

 growth will need e\ery care to ensure a 

 robust bulb being produced. The best place 

 sliould be selected for plaius in growth, a 

 situation near the glass, and away from 

 shelves or dark ends and walls that ma)' 

 keep off the little sunshine which makes its 

 appearance during the winter months. It 

 will be found a good plan to rearrange the 

 plants every month, placiiig those in growth 

 upon an inverted pot, or, if many, placing 

 them together in a separate part of the house. 

 In this wa_\' the)' can receive the necessary 

 daily attention in a few moments. Of course, 

 the majority of plants are now m a state of 

 comparative rest, and once or twice a week 

 will be quite sufficient to attend to their 

 wants, which will maml)- consist of occasional 

 watering and some slight cleaning when 

 insect pests arrive. 



With Odontoglossums of the cnspum type 

 the conditions are somewhat different, for 

 these cool-house plants continue their growth 

 right through the winter months. But even 

 with these less water will be required, and 

 although a minimum temperature of 50 degs. 

 should be aimed at, no real damage will occur 

 if the thermometer falls to 45 clegs. On 

 excessively cold nights it may not be possible 

 to maintain more than 40 degs., and when 

 this IS the case very little atmospheric 

 moisture should be present, and the plants 

 should not be watered until better conditions 

 prevail. An excellent plan is to cover the 

 glass with mats or sacks, and when lath roller 

 blinds are in use they may be let down as 

 additional protection. Excessive fire heat is 

 never good for plants, so every means must 

 be taken of preventing" a loss of heat from 

 the house, and thus reducing the need of 

 over-heated pipes. 



Of late years fogs hax e been less prevalent, 

 but they are alwa)'S likely to occur near large 



