Q. 
A. 
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What should I do to plants that have lost their roots? 
The best practice is to repot in fresh Osmunda and give the same treatment 
as newly potted plants. Many growers find Ashtons EZR Grow, a leaf mold- 
redwood bark growing mixture, is very good for bringing back plants that have 
lost their roots. 
. To what pests may my Cattleyas be subject? 
. Cattleyas and allied hybrids are relatively pest free. Scale and thrip are the 
two common enemies and they both can be controlled by regular monthly 
sprayings with DDT. 
. How can I tell when a plant needs water?P 
. Familiarity with specific plants will show that a pot is lighter when dry. In- 
spection of the surface peat will show that it is brown and brittle when dry 
and dark, or black and flexible when wet. Look at the surface roots, they are 
white when dry and a mossy green when wet. Examine the crock in the bottom 
of the pot. If it is moist it indicates that the peat in the middle of the pot is 
still wet. Pushing a pencil or small stick into the pot will further indicate the 
degree of dryness. 
Q. I have quite a number of new growths that have developed without sheaths 
and are not flowering. What is the cause of this? 
A. This is generally the result of not giving the plants enough light. It is suggested 
_ that the grower examine his shading and see how much he can take off without 
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excessive yellowing of the foliage. 
. What is the cause of brown sheaths? 
. In Mossiae and Mossiae hybrids it is a normal condition for the sheaths to 
turn paper dry several months before the buds come up. Attention is necessary 
especially in the case of plants producing succulent sheaths when the sheath 
commences to turn brown. This is usually the result of too high humidity. 
Sheaths of this type should be cut off at the tip or slit down so as to let air in 
and let the moisture escape. 
. What does sunburn look like? 
. Generally this shows up as large black spots on the foliage which dry up and 
do not spread. This is usually caused by the shading being washed off the glass 
by rains and the plant being suddenly subjected to unfiltered high light inten- 
sities. 
Q. I have a plant of Le. Canhamiana alba that has made up a growth with a sheath 
but I have waited several months and still I don’t see any buds coming up. 
A. It is characteristic of some hybrids, especially those with C. Mossiae blood in 
them, to mature a growth with a sheath and then wait until their season to 
bloom. C. Gigas (Warscewiczii) has a habit of flowering immediately as the 
growth is matured. We must remember that each species has its own growth 
habits which it imparts in varying degrees to its progeny. A good example of 
inheritance is C. Enid which is bred from C. Gigas X C. Mossiae. This hybrid 
has a habit of flowering two and even three times a year. 
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