50 
EPIPHYLLUM SPLENDIDUM. 
allow ; large pots are injurious, because the roots are prevented from reaching the 
sides for so long a time, and the body of soil is liable to retain too much moisture 
every time the plant is watered. 
3. Always give a good drainage by laying in each pot a good portion of broken 
potsherds, as the least stagnation is always injurious, sometimes fatal : therefore, 
never allow water to stand in the pans or feeders, in which the pots are sometimes 
placed. 
4. Water very seldom, not more than twice a week when they are flowering, and 
not so often at other times ; give very little at a time, not more than will just 
moisten the soil all over, particularly if the weather is not fine and sunny. 
5. About the middle of June turn them out of doors, into a situation where they 
will not be exposed to winds, but perfectly open to the rays of the mid-day sun. 
Place them on a board or floor of any kind, to prevent the worms from effecting an 
entrance through the bottoms of the pots. This system of exposing them in 
summer gives them a check which seldom fails to produce a good bloom. 
6. Whilst out of doors they must not be allowed to receive the heavy dashing 
rains, or they will suffer, perhaps die, in consequence ; either a boarded roof or other 
shelter must be provided for them on such occasions. Also if the pots stand on a 
floor of slates or flag stones, they should be partly plunged in a little moss, as the 
sun, by heating the pots, sometimes burns the roots of the plants. 
7- In September take the plants into the* greenhouse, and place them in a 
situation where they will receive plenty of light and air during winter. 
8. Early in the spring remove them into the stove in succession, as they are 
wanted to flower. 
Most of the species will flower very fine without being placed out of doors at 
all ; but by placing them out, as above, the flowers will be much finer and more 
abundant than when grown regularly in the house ; they may be increased by 
cuttings, seeds, and grafting. 
9. Take off the cuttings at the length required, and lay them on a shelf in the 
greenhouse, &e., to dry up the wound made by the knife. Let them remain on the 
shelf until they begin to have a shrivelled appearance, say a week or fortnight : then 
pot them in small pots, in the same compost as recommended for old plants ; set 
them on a shelf as near the glass as convenient, and be particularly cautious not to 
over- water them. 
10. Sow the seed in the wet state, immediately after being gathered from the 
plant and rubbed out of the husk. For this purpose fill a pot with a mixture of 
equal parts of peat earth and sand, cover it lightly, and plunge the pots in a hot- 
bed : if the seed be good, it will make its appearance in a month afterwards. 
