in the soil. Epiphytic Orchids grow upon other plants but are not parasitic upon them, 
They frequently grow even on stones. 
All Terrestrial Orchids require an acid soil. The best soil therefore is a very sandy 
loam in which is incorporated about an equal part of leaf mould and/or peat. Many 
of them grow in nature in pure leaf mould or wood mould. Many Epiphytic Orchids 
are grown in pots in a semi-terrestrial way but using for soil peat, leaf mould sphagnum 
or osmundine or a combination of them. 
The Hardy Orchid, Bletilla Hyacintha, can be grown in northern climates as it is 
dormant in winter and may be planted 4” deep and given a heavy winter mulch of 
leaves, straw and brush to prevent freezing of the ground to the depth of the bulbs. 
But it might not succeed too well where the winters are 7 months long and it has to 
complete its annual growth in a season of 5 months, tho they have been reported as 
blooming outside when snow was still on the ground. They do exceptionally well in 
the south and middle south. 
Give them half shade, in a rich sandy loam to which has been added leaf mould 
and peat as already mentioned. This mixture of humus and sandy loam should be 10” 
in depth and extend 8” or more on all sides. They will also do well in heavier soils if 
some sand and humus be added. They are said to grow in pots but I do not advise this. 
The bulbs should be potted when received if they cannot be planted outside, but shift 
to the garden in a permanent place when warm. 
Epidendrums of the Euepidendrum group grow very well in the outside garden 
where winter temperatures are not likely to be lower than about 26° and that for only 
a short time. In frostless regions they are always blooming, every month of the year. 
Give them a sandy loam soil with leaf mould and peat. They like a warm situation 
with nearly full sun exposure and a liberal amount of water. They do very well in pots 
and can be depended on to flower within a year. In pots, use 4% to % sand or sandy 
loam and the balance screened leaf mould and peat. In their habitat these tall plants 
grow among grasses which support them in an upright position. In pots, support the 
plants with a stake. 
Cymbidiums are terrestrial Orchids from India and Burma. They grow in the moist 
atmosphere of mountain sides and foothills where there is much rain but perfect 
drainage. The culture is easy, the requirements simple but must be met. Give them 
50% shade. The shade of a lath house, lath spaced 1” apart, is right where the sun 
is bright. In foggy climates, a little less shade may be better, They do well in the 
some proportion of filtered sunlight among trees or in house or greenhouse. 
We prepare the soil, which is sandy loam, perfectly drained and under a lath house, 
by excavating a furrow 10” deep and about 12” or more wide. The soil is laid out on 
the two sides. This trench is then filled with screened peat. Sometimes we use screened 
leaf mould and peat in equal proportions. Pure leaf mould, preferably from rotted oak 
leaves, will do very well. In all cases the peat mentioned in this article should be acid 
in reaction, pH 5 or lower. Some American peat is higher, even alkaline, and must 
not be used. Do not use poultry peat but the best imported horticultural peat will 
always be safe. 
Tramp the peat in the trench until will compressed and add more until the trench 
is full of well compressed peat. Then throw part of the dirt on top and shovel it over 
until well mixed. The bed can then be smoothed with a rake but leaving the future 
_ position of plants on a slightly rounded elevation rather than depressed. It is better to 
water first with a permanently installed sprinkler until moist to the full depth. Allow 
it to drain for several days, they you are ready to plant. 
If the plants have come from a distance, it is likely that the roots are dead or 
broken and hence worthless. But if there -are living roots, handle carefully as they are 
most brittle and tender. If broken or bruised, they surely die. If there are no roots 
they will be replaced in one or two months. To encourage root growth we usually 
surround the base of the plant with pure moist peat, covered with only a little soil to 
hold it down. The pseudo-bulbs must not be covered. Insert them to a depth of only 
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