February, 1914.J 



THE ORCHID WORLD. 



Ill 



It is a rare event indeed to find every 

 Dendrobium in exactly the same condition of 

 growth, some will have their flower-buds just 

 pushing forth from the bulbs, while others 

 are so far advanced that but two or three 

 days are required to see them in full bloom. 

 To many amateurs this is an appreciated 

 advantage, for the more the flowering season 

 can be extended so much the more does the 

 decorative, value of the plant increase. For 

 the furtherance of this object a few of the 

 most forward plants should be selected and 

 placed in a position where they can obtain a 

 warmer and moister atmosphere, which will 

 much accelerate the progress of the flower- 

 buds. 



There are, however, occasions when a 

 grand display is required on a definite date, 

 and every available plant will then have to 

 be seen in its best attire of full bloom. 

 Considerable care is needed to arrange the 

 plants in positions where they may obtain the 

 treatment necessary to produce this result. 

 Two or three times a week the cultivator will 

 need to look over the plants and rearrange 

 them as his skill directs. The backward ones 

 will require every encouragement in the way 

 of moisture and heat, while the forward ones 

 will need to be retarded as much as possible, 

 without at the same time checking their 

 growth so severely as to cause permanent 

 damage. 



Dendrobiums, in common with all other 

 plants, lose much f)f their strength during the 

 flowering period, and at the time when their 

 last flowers have withered their vitality will 

 have reached its lowest state. Every care 

 will be required to resuscitate the plant, and 

 any indiscretion, such as premature potting, 

 will invariably produce an ill effect on its 

 health. In many cases the plant has produced 

 a new growth of several inches in height 

 during its period of flowering, and, also, 

 during the time that the compost has been 

 kept comparatively dry. This renewal of 

 growth is a great temptation to give an 

 immediate supply of water to assist its 

 development, but such must not be done, for 

 the sudden change from a long period of 

 dryness to one of moisture often brings about 



the damping-off of the growth. There is still 

 plenty of nutriment left in the old bulbs to 

 supply this new growth with food for several 

 weeks, and when in due course new roots are 

 formed only then may water be applied with 

 any degree of safety. 



It is surprising how small an amount of 

 compost Dendrobiums really require. Young 

 plants placed in small pots with some sweet 

 compost make rapid headway, and frequently 

 produce larger bulbs than the parent plants. 

 During their summer growth a plentiful 

 supply of water is beneficial, but only in those 

 instances where small pots are used. In 

 specimen plants the large amount of compost 

 holds a comparatively larger amount of 

 water, and any excess causes a sodden nature 

 and consequent rotting of the roots situated 

 in the centre of the pot. 



On many of the older plants small growths 

 may be seen pushing forth from the 

 unflowered portions of the bulbs. These 

 form a ready means of increasing the stock, 

 and if they have one or more roots their 

 removal may take place on any desired 

 occasion. In the case of rare varieties one of 

 the young plants is placed in the centre of a 

 suitably small pot, but when the variety is 

 [ilentiful then three or four may be placed in 

 a pot in order to ensure a specimen plant 

 being rapidly produced. In those cases 

 where the young plants have not yet 

 l^roduced roots it will be found advisable to 

 cut up the old l)ulb into suitable portions, 

 allowing several inches to each growth. 

 These portions should either be laid on damp 

 moss until new roots are formed, or else 

 placed in small pots and kept moist by 

 occasional syringing. The portion of old 

 bulb will supply nutriment to the young- 

 growth until It is able to maintain itself by 

 means of its own roots. Some varieties are 

 not very free in producing young growths, and 

 in these cases an old unflowered bulb should 

 be severed from the plant and laid on some 

 damp moss, when in due course growth will 

 appear at many of the previously dormant 

 buds. The chief secret in the production of 

 easily flowered Dendrobiums is the annual 

 creation of fresh healthy plants. 



