The Garden Under Glass

88 THE GARDEN UNDER GLASS Besides C. labiata, I would advise also C. trianæ, C. mossiæ, C. aurea, C. Eldorado, C. Skinneri and C. Gas-kelliana. Odontoglossum Crispum This is perhaps more of an amateur’s orchid than the others I have mentioned, for it will do well in a temperature kept as closely as possible to 50°. It relishes cool condi-tions, combined with a moist atmosphere. On this account it is imperative that the flooring and staging and the spaces between the plants be damped three times a day. I do not recommend overhead syringing, as with inexperi-enced growers it can easily be overdone. Imported plants should be treated as advised for cattleyas, but when potting is being done I would advocate the use of osmunda fibre in preference to peat, and to this and sphagnum moss should be added some good oak-leaf soil prepared in the same manner as advised for calanthes. With closeness of atmosphere (for the temperature can be kept down by shading without a great amount of ventilation) and moisture, the pots will become coated with a green slime. This should be washed off. Shading may be given, except during the winter months, whenever the sun strikes the house. Beyond the differences noted in shading, temperature, moisture and compost, the culture of odontoglossums may follow on similar lines to the other orchids. Repotting will only be needed when the roots are seen to roam out-side the pot. Then may the plants be put into larger pots or be divided. Other good odontoglossums are Pescatorei, Rossi majus, coronarium, citrosmum, grande, cirrhosum, gloriosum and triumphans.