THE ORCHID WORLD. 



[May, 1914. 



ORCHIDS FOR AMATEURS. 



THE repotting of Cattlejas is an 

 important item in the culture of 

 Orchids, for not only is this genus 

 very largely represented in most collections, 

 but it produces flowers which are amongst the 

 finest and most attractive. Every amateur 

 desires to obtain the best results from his 

 collection, and unless some unexpected trouble 

 arises there is little reason to doubt that a fair 

 proportion of success will come his way. But, 

 whatever the structure of the house, or its 

 situation, may be, Orchids require careful 

 attention when m their se^ison of growth. 

 1 aken on the whole, the\- do not require a 

 greater amount than any ordinary greenhouse 

 plant, but the most necessary thing is that 

 they should receive it at the ii])portune time. 



At the present time man\' of the Cattleyas 

 are making new roots and are in search of 

 additional food material to produce the 

 ra])idly forming new liulbs. This operation is 

 best carried out as scon as the new roots are 

 visible ; if it is delayc^d until they are several 

 inches in length consideraf)le tremble will be 

 experienced in placing the compost mmid 

 them without damaging the tips and often 

 breaking the mam ])art. As a general rule, 

 all repotting should be completed before the 

 new roots have attained the length of an inch. 



Many of the plants will recjuire the larger 

 part of their compost to be renewed, and 

 when such is the case the whole plant should 

 be turned out of the pot and ever)- particle of 

 decayed matter — both root and compost — be 

 carefully removed. In selecting a pot choose 

 one just large enough to allow from one to 

 two inches of compost being placed between 

 the new growth and the rim of the pot. The 

 roots are particularly fond of clinging to the 

 inside of the pot, which they do in order to 

 secure a necessary amount of air, consequently 

 it is unwise to attempt forcing them into the 

 centre of a large mass of compost. Very 

 much of the future success dejiends on the 

 manner and position in which the plant is 

 placed in the pot. 



With large specimens it may be foun 1 

 desirable to rearrange some of the leading 



growths so that they may occupy favourable 

 positions. This is best accomplished by 

 severing the rhi/.ome at a point which will 

 allow three or four bulbs to support the new 

 growth. Too many old bulbs are a hindrance 

 to the plant's prosperity, and their reasonable 

 removement should always be considered. 

 Almost every time a jjlant is repotted it will 

 be necessary to replace it slightly lower in 

 the pot in order that the base of the new l)ulb 

 may be at a convenient level. The rhizome 

 has a tendenc\- to grow in an ascending style, 

 and when it is situated at too great a distance 

 from the compost there is much danger of the 

 new roots being eaten off by slugs before they 

 can obtain an entrance into the material. 



When good potting material has been used 

 many plants will only need total repotting 

 during alternate seasons, although on each 

 occasion when new roots are being made it is 

 advisal)le to renew just the portion they are 

 likely to enter, for should any roots come in 

 contact with sour material they will probably 

 turn black at the tip and ultimately perish, 

 liy means of a potting-stick some of the old 

 compost can be easily removed, and into the 

 hole thus formed a supply of sweet moss and 

 fibre should be placed. This will give the 

 new roots ample opportunity to get a good 

 start. 



I he amount of water required b\- newly 

 potted plants will not be great. The plants 

 may shrivel a little, but this will not make 

 any difference to their subsequent growth, for 

 as soon as the roots obtain a firm hold of the 

 compost they will be able to extract a 

 suflicient supply of moisture. Much damage 

 is often clone by an excessive amount of 

 water, which rots many of the roots, and thus 

 leaves the few remaining ones to do all the 

 worl-:, consequently they are unable to supjily 

 all the plant's need, and with the inevitable 

 shrivelling the inexperienced amateur applies 

 an increased amount of water in the hope of 

 pulling the plant back to a health\- condition. 

 Needless to say, the health of the plant under 

 this treatment goes from bad to worse. On 

 all fine days a light spraying of the plant will 

 greatly assist matters by creating a damp 

 atmosphere, and so preventing the plant 



