August. 1915.] 



THE ORCHID WORLD. 



257 



reachiiij^ all parts of the compost ; oftentimes 

 it is the front or nearest [X)ition that receives 

 the water, the hack portion, freciuently hidden 

 by lar^e bull)s and foliage, receiving an 

 inadequate quantity. 



Years ago, when Stanhopeas and allied 

 Orchids were more numerously grown than 

 they are at the present time, many baskets 

 and pans were suspended from the roof. 

 These had all to be taken down to receive 

 their water supply, and, indeed, left for a short 

 time on or near the ground in order that the 

 surplus water might pass away without 

 damaging other plants, as it would do if 

 allowed to drip upon them. Now as the 

 watering is generally done when the growing 

 conditions are at their best it is apparent to 

 one and all that much valuable time is thus 

 lost to the plant by removing it from a warm 

 and sunny position and leaving it in a cold 

 and semi-dark place near the ground. In 

 fact, such treatment is very liable to give the 

 plant a check, especially if the water is many 

 degrees colder than the atmosphere from 

 which it has just been removed. Although 

 but few plants are now grown in baskets and 

 pans, those that are should always be 

 suspended over the path or in a place where, 

 as soon as water has been applied, they can 

 be immediately replaced, the surplus water 

 can then drip off without damaging other 

 plants. These remarks apply with equal force 

 to plants cultivated on shelves. 



Small pots require frequent attention, and 

 as they usually contain young plants of 

 delicate constitution no prolonged period of 

 dryness should be allowed to occur. Where 

 large numbers of seedlings are grown in 

 batches frequent syringing overhead is 

 generally carried out during fine weather, but 

 even then individual attention is required at 

 least once a day, for there are always to be 

 found some pots which have dried up quicker 

 than others, sometimes because they are 

 influenced by a current of drying air, at other 

 times on account of an unusually porous 

 compost. Now and again a pot becomes 

 saturated with water, the drainage is clogged, 

 the compost becomes sour, and the plant 

 soon assumes a sickly appearance. A good 



cultivator is ever on the look out for an 

 eventuality of this kind, and liir, keen eye 

 dete(-ts it aliiKJst as soon as it occurs. Exces- 

 sive dryness is also likely to take place. The 

 surface of the compost assumes a dead 

 appearance and becomes so dry and hard that 

 it effectually prevents water from percolating 

 through. The best remedy is to soak the pot 

 ill water for a few minutes, and then carefully 

 remove the surface of the compost and 

 replace it with fresh material. Plants which 

 have an aljundant supply of growing 

 sphagnum moss are able to collect much more 

 of the water sprayed over them than those 

 having a dead-like surface. Thus it comes 

 about that the plants really in need of water 

 receive less than their share while those 

 requiring but little get an excessive amount. 



Years ago, when cultivators half-filled the 

 pots with crocks, large quantities of water 

 were applied ; in fact, the drainage was so 

 efficient that were it not for this plentiful 

 supply the compost would more often have 

 been too dry than too wet. Of late years the 

 drainage material has been greatly reduced ; 

 with small pots only one or two crocks are 

 necessary, which allows a comparatively 

 larger amount of compost being used. The 

 pots thus hold more moisture and smaller 

 quantities of water are required. Hence the 

 method of potting and the application of 

 water are always closely associated. As a 

 general rule it will be found that the larger 

 the mass of compost the less frequent will be 

 the need of the watering pot. A specimen 

 Cymbidium may go a whole week without 

 requiring additional water, whereas a small 

 seedling may need attention daily. 



Consideration must also be given to the 

 kind of climate the plant would enjoy in its 

 natural abode, for it would not be advisable 

 to attempt any wide change in the amount of 

 atmospheric moisture. Take, for example, 

 Brassavola Digbyana — its very nature suggests 

 a dry climate ; the staff and fleshy leaves 

 remind one of a cactus. To attempt the 

 cultivation of this plant m a shady and 

 excessively moist situation would end in 

 nothing but failure, yet such an atmosphere 

 would prove most suitable for a Cypripedium. 



