'34 



THE ORCHID WORLD. 



material. They delight in a sunny position in 

 the warm house, close to the glass, and water 

 must be sparingly given them until the flower 

 spike appears at the top of the new grovvtli. 

 To many, these plants are often very unsatis- 

 factory, but for exhibition purposes they are 

 nidispensable, and on this account are worth 

 the extra trouble to flower them satisfactorily. 



Pleiones, such as maculata, lagenaria, and 

 Wallichiana, will now be growing vigorously ; 

 they must have more water at the roots, and 

 may be occasionally sprayed on the under 

 side of the leaves to prevent an attack of red 

 spider, to which they are very subject, but it 

 IS not yet advisable to syringe them over 

 head as their leaxes are still }'oung and 

 tender. The plants do well in a light position 

 in the Cattleya or intermediate house ; they 

 must be shaded from strong sunshine. 



Deciduous Calanthes will, durmg this 

 month, need attention as regards re-potting, 

 this being best done when the young growths 

 are two to three inches high, and are about to 

 push roots. Various kinds of comjX)st arc 

 recommended for these plants, but they will 

 succeed admirably in the one recommended 

 for Thunias. I do not recommend too heavy 

 a compost, relying rather on feeding later on 

 with a weak solution of manure water. 1 

 prefer a good rooting medium to a close 

 retentive compost. As regards potting the 

 soil should be neither too wet nor too dry, 

 and it should be thoroughly warmed before 

 using ; m fact, all compost should be warmed 

 to the same temperature as the house in 

 which the plants are growing. Calanthes 

 should be grown in the warmest house, and 

 must be watered with discretion. It is during 

 the early stages of growth that great care is 

 needed, for if at all over watered the root 

 action is faulty, and the growth unsatisfactory. 



Angraecums, Aerides, Saccolabiums, and 

 Vandas, which during the winter months have 

 been kept as dry and cool as safety will allow, 

 will be starting again into growth, and new 

 rootlets will be pushing ; a more liberal 

 supply of moisture, both in the atmosphere 

 and at the roots, may henceforth be given. 

 Any plants that have become leggy and un- 

 sightly may be lowered, filling the pots about 

 half full with clean broken crocks, finishing 



off with clean, living sphagnum moss. Where 

 such Vandas as teres, Hookeriana, and Miss 

 Joaquim have been rested in an intermediate 

 house, it is now advisable to return them to 

 their growing quarters in the East Indian or 

 the warmest house where the lightest position 

 possible should be selected for them. 



Whilst overhauling these plants it is a 

 favourable opportunity to thoroughly clean 

 them as they are often attacked by a small 

 scale, which is very difficult to eradicate 

 when once it gets established. Renanthera 

 Imschootiana succeeds best in an intermediate 

 house the whole year through ; it will now be 

 pushing up its flower spikes and will need 

 more water at the roots. 



Anguloas will now commence to push up 

 their new growths ; they must be carefully 

 watered until such growth g^ts nicely awa)', 

 and when the new roots are seen to be push- 

 ing may be re-potted, if necessary. The 

 compost recommended for Thunias will 

 answer their requirements, and they should 

 be grown in the intermediate house. The 

 same remarks apply to Lycastes, which for 

 cultural purposes may be treated in the same 

 manner. After being disturbed at the roots 

 both kinds must be watered with care until 

 re-established. 



Miltonias. M. vexillaria, and its varieties, 

 will now be rapidly making new growth ; 

 they will require more water at the roots. 

 Towards the end of the month these plants 

 may be taken from the intermediate house, in 

 which they have passed the winter, and be 

 placed at the warm end of the cool house, 

 where the humid atmosphere will be of great 

 benefit to them. M. Bleuana with B. Roezlii 

 had better stand for a few more weeks at the 

 warm end of the intermediate house. M. 

 spectabilis, with its varieties, and others of 

 the late summer and autumn flowering kinds, 

 require a shady position in the intermediate 

 house during the whole year ; these plants 

 are now making their growth and liberal 

 supplies of water will be required. If any of 

 the plants need new potting material it 

 should be afforded them just before the 

 growths produce new roots. The potting 

 compost may be similar to that emplo}'ed for 

 Dendrobiums. 



