Healthy roots are firm, mostly white, silvery in phalaenopsis and brown in paphiopcdilurns. Dead roots are soft, they may be wet or dry, and the outer covering is easily removed leaving the inner core exposed. Healthy roots can be damaged by pests or accidentally broken. Broken root tips will heal themselves and after a short time will recommence to grow from above the broken end.

Only occasionally is a single old leaf shed, their lifespan being for many years. The plant grows from a downward-creeping rhizome and the large green flower emerges from inside the base of the leaf. In cultivation the pendent habit should be retained and regular spraying essential.

All orchids produce roots. There are basically two kinds: aerial and underground. The root structure of orchids is peculiar to them, and all their roots are of a uniform thickness which does not increase with age. The roots will branch, in some species freely. All consist of a central wiry thread which is surrounded by the fleshy, moisture- retaining, part which in turn is coated by the white papery covering, the velamen, which grows as the root extends, leaving only the green growing tip exposed.

Cymbidium has completely filled its pot, and the new growth to the right has no room to develop its pscudobulb. The pot is crammed with roots to such an extent that they arc actually pushing the plant above the pot rim. Now, when the growth is a few inches tall, the new roots will start to grow.

Most orchids will be happy in ordinary plastic pots; in fact, these are preferable to clay pots owing to the dry nature of the compost. Clay pots are useful for top-heavy plants, standing the plastic pot inside a slightly larger clay one. Those orchids which persist in making aerial roots can be treated differently; they can be put into hanging baskets, or wired onto a piece of cork bark. Cork bark is best because it takes a very long time to rot and because the roots can easily adhere to the rough surface.

Chysis bractescens is an untidy plant to grow, and if grown upright will continually strive to turn itself the other way. Eventually the pseudobulbs grow out at all angles. Taking a closer look at this plant, it will be found that the heavy, club-shaped pseudobulbs are wasted at the base; they grow from a considerably thick, strong rhizome and swell out as they mature, consequently becoming top-heavy. Even when accommodated in an open basket this plant will look decidedly uncomfortable, and the best answer is to grow it in a pendent position on a piece of bark.

The plant is removed from the basket in the usual way, and cleaned of its bark compost. The bare-rooted plant is then placed on the raft with a pad of ostnunda fibre, into which the roots have been folded, between the plant and the wood.

Their embryo growths seem to deteriorate after a year or two, and old pseudobulbs seldom grow. For this reason these orchids are usually propagated by front pseudobulb division. Paphiopedilums are sympodial orchids without pseudobulbs and they can, on occasion, be propagated.

The decision now is where to place each plant so that it contributes most to the attractiveness of the finished tree. Usually the plants seem to decide for themselves, looking just right in a particular situation. Some plants may look best on or near the main branch, whereas others will hang daintily from the extremities of a side twig. Bear in mind also that they must have space to grow. The plants should not be crowded onto the tree. Six plants would be quite enough to a tree, say, 3 ft (i m) high.

Taking the first plant and a suitably-sized wad of damp osmunda fibre or similar material, place the latter against the tree with the plant on top. Any exposed, non-aerial roots can be tucked underneath the fibre. Once the plant’s exact position has been settled, a length of the wire is taken around the branch and plant and pulled as tight as possible with the pliers, and then twisted, and the end cut off short. Two or three tics may he necessary to secure the plant, which by now must be very firm in its position.

As the compost is being poured into the cavity between the plant and pot rim, it should be firmed down with the fingers. There is no need of a potting stick; the bark can be firmed sufficiently with the fingers. Care should be taken to press the compost down around the pot rim, avoiding any direct pressure against the plant. The action of pressing down the compost will lower the plant slightly, taking the base to just below the pot rim. Pressing down can be done with both hands, while the plant sits firmly held by the compost.

On an annual basis a Paphiopedilum can, for a number of years, be repotted back into the same size pot, or, if the compost is still in good condition, be `dropped on’ without disturbance to the root ball, into a slightly larger pot.

A vigorous-growing Paphiopedilum can he divided only if there is snore than one new growth with at least two mature supporting growths for each division. To reduce the plant further will affect its flowering capability for some years to come. The only reason for dividing paphiopedilums is where they have become too big to manage. Otherwise it is better to keep them as one plant. The rhizome adjoining the growths is quite soft, and the bare-rooted divisions will easily pull apart in the hands.

Wholesaling is basically the sale of goods or certain merchandise to retailers, to industrial, commercial, institutional, or other professional people dealing with business or to other wholesalers and related subordinated service. The word synonymous to “wholesaling” would be “jobbing”. “Wholesale” always means the resale of new as well as old and used goods to retailers, to industrial, commercial, institutional or professional users or to other people commonly known as wholesalers. This entire process of wholesaling takes place with the help of an agent or a broker who buys merchandise for these persons or companies or sells merchandise to such persons or companies or both. The main work of these wholesalers is to gather sort and grade goods in bulk and repack and redistribute the same goods in smaller lots. Wholesalers of most products usually function from independent areas.

The consumption and production of marketed food are spatially separated. Production primarily happens in rural areas whilst consumption occurs in the urban areas. This is wholesale marketing for food products at specific and demarcated wholesale markets, where there is a gathering of wholesale traders.

“The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world”. This phrase or proverb or common saying defines the much-celebrated “Mother’s Day”. The role of the mother has definitely changed over the years but she is still the most significant member of the family. One day should be solely devoted to her: to cherish her love, to shower her with love, to make her feel really special. Mother’s day: a day dedicated to your mom, the most powerful woman in your world.

In different parts of the world Mother’s day is celebrated on different days. According to one school of thought, this day emerged from the concept of the ancient Greek worship of the mother. Apparently and similar to the Greeks, ancient Romans also celebrated another day Matronalia, which was dedicated to the goddess Juno, and mothers were given gifts on this day. In the United States of America, Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of May. Mother’s Day was inspired by the British day in the United States and was imported by social activist, Julia Ward Howe, after the American Civil war. She wanted to unite women against war, she understood and sympathised with the pain of losing a child. In 1912, Anna Jarvis created the Mother’s day International Association, after Julia Ward Howe failed in her noble cause, carrying on from where her mother left off, in 1905.