434 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTIOUL'L'URAL SO('l^:l'^ . 



the weather, and by keeping the houses comfortably warm, with tlie 

 air in active circulation, and not too heavily charged with moisture. 

 In the growing of these Orchids the state of the atmosphere is ten 

 times more important than any kind of compost for the plants to root 

 into can possibly be. 



Epiphytic Orchids are remarkable for the great variety of their 

 flowers and foliage, as well as for the life and partiality to certain ! 

 substances of their roots. Everyone with a little experience is well | 

 aware how closely these plants are dependent upon their roots. In 

 their absence, either through decay or other reason, it is useless to look 

 for healthy growth or superior flowers. 



This brings me to another important point, I am convinced that 

 the reason why these epiphytic Orchids sometimes fail in the hands 

 of certain cultivators is because of their practice of affording too much j 

 moisture to the roots. Presuming these plants are growing in pots or 

 baskets in the ordinary way, and the usual present-day rooting material 

 is employed, there still remains to be answered the oft-repeated ques- | 

 tion : How often should certain Orchids be watered ? An answer to | 

 this question is impossible. 



Some terrestrial Orchids require a compost almost saturated with 

 water, a condition totally unsuitable for epiphytes. The ability of the 

 latter class of plant to take up little or much moisture is mainly deter- ] 

 mined by the amount of air they receive, and by the light and descrip- i 

 tion of the houses in which they are grown. Light and air naturally 

 enable any plant to take up more moisture by means of its roots, but 

 these organs of nutrition must be in a suitable medium. Any great 

 excess of moisture causes young roots in course of formation to die 

 •prematurely, and often results in the death of the older ones. 



The kinds of Orchids which I have mentioned require comparatively 

 little water at their roots, the only exception being in the height of 

 their growing season, for, if furnished with plenty of live roots, they ! 

 seldom shrivel, even when the compost shows scarcely a vestige of j 

 moisture. The roots already in existence continue to grow in the dry 

 material, unmistakable evidence of conditions favourable to the health 

 of the plant. 



In nine cases out of ten the season's growth of epiphytic Orchids 

 precedes root action by a longer or shorter period. In this matter of 

 watering we should be guided by Nature, and only supply water in 

 moderate quantities to the roots, until it is seen that increased supplies 

 are called for by their activity and the demands made on them 

 by the developing growths. I very much doubt if there are any plants 

 under cultivation that require more discrimination in the matter of 

 watering. 



When the roots of these Orchids require water, no matter at what 

 stage of activity, or season of the year, only enough should be given 

 to maintain the plants in health, always avoiding that excess which 

 causes the roots to decay. Eain- water is preferable for all plants as 

 being the most natural and purest. . Particularly is this the case with 



