A FEW HINTS ON THE MANAGEMENT OP ORCHIDEOUS EPIPHYTES. 127 
of their season of rest. It is indispensible, previous to potting, that the plants 
receive no water for a few days ; at the March potting they will in general be in 
good condition for the operation. 
In potting, always be careful to give a good drainage ; this may be done by 
filling about one-third of the depth of the pot with broken potsherds. Although 
the plants are fond of moisture, they never thrive except the water has a free 
passage through the pot. 
Be careful not to place the plant too deep in the pot ; it does best if nearly 
on the surface of the soil. To prevent them falling over, or being easily pulled 
up, tie their pseudo bulbs or roots to a stick fastened in the soil, and cut off at the 
top so as scarcely to be seen above the roots fastened to it. So place the pieces of 
turf that the roots will run freely amongst them, and in a little time the plants will 
have gotten fast hold of the soil. The species of Stankopea are potted somewhat 
differently from the other kinds : the pieces of turfy peat are piled six inches above 
the rim of the pot, and the plant is placed on the top of the pile. To prevent this 
pile falling down, small pegs are run through each square piece of peat which 
constitutes the walls, and, when nicely finished, the appearance is very neat. 
All the species of Vanilla, Aerides, Vanda, Saccalobium, Sarcanthus, together 
with Epidendron nocturnum, and Dendrobium formosam, appear to do the best 
potted in moss, with the pots well drained with, potsherds. 
Many species will grow freely on a piece of rotten wood set or hung up in the 
stove, as Sarcanthus, Vanda, Vanilla ; several species of Oncidium, as 0. divari- 
catum, O. bipfolium, O. crispum, and many other kinds ; in this case they merely 
require a little moss tying round the bottom of the stem, to facilitate the growth of 
the roots ; but this system is not to be recommended for general practice. 
The greater part of Orchidece require but little water to their roots, provided 
the atmosphere in which they grow is humid. Water carefully round the edges of 
the pot with a small watering pot, and carefully avoid sprinkling water on the 
leaves, many species having been found to receive great injury by the practice. It 
is always requisite that the water used should be of the same temperature as the 
house in which the plants grow. 
The above rule, however, has several exceptions. The Renantliera coccinea, 
Vanilla aromatica, &c. &c. thrive best if they be syringed every morning; but it 
must be remembered that they will not flourish, if either the water is stagnant at 
their roots, or their leaves be kept constantly saturated with wet. 
The thick bulging stems of many species bear a great resemblance to true 
bulbs; but being differently constructed, they were named by Dr. Lindley 
pseudo-bulbs. If one of these, having a bud upon it, be separated With a sharp 
knife, another plant is produced. Others not possessing these bulged parts, or 
pseudo-bulbs, strike out roots from the joints of the stem, or creep along on the 
surface of the pot ; these may be separated when large enough, and planted in 
small pots and be treated like the old plants. 
The best time for collectors to gather them to import into this country, is in 
the dry season ; they being then in a torpid state, may be packed in boxes with 
