The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-10-11
1t Is Easy to
Grow Orchids

The notion that orchids are only pos
sible to the very rich has no foundation.
although it is very prevalent. At least
thirty of the most desirable orchids can
be grown with no more trouble than
the average run of greenhouse plants.
The name orchid gives the idea of
such a very delicate plant that most
people are afraid to attempt raising
them in a window garden. There are
plenty of little greenhouses in England
where the orchid is grown beside the
geranium. The culture of the orchid
is not more difficult than that of many
other plants except in one particular
Thisis the potting of the plant.
i Ffbere is a great multiplicity of re-
cepaeles, baskets, RATS, cylinders and
dozen other eontrivances that are put
on the market for the purpose. The
beginner need only remember one thing
that may seem peculiar at first. Most
of the cultivated orchids are air plants,
taking their food from the air instead
of the earth. So in the potting of or
ehids no soil is used, but instead the
substance that takes its place must be
of such nature as to admit air to the
roots at all times. The standard pot
ting mixture is made of peat and moss,
which hold the necessary moisture with
out closing out the air. Baskets of wire
are the best reeeptaeles, because they
admit the air and are more ornamental
than the regular pots.
In potting an orchid the first thing
to do is to provide for the drainage.
More drainage is needed than for any
other plant, and at least two-thirds of
the basket should be filed with the |
drainage material Charcoal is the most !!
satisfactory for this purpose, and plenty /
of rough broken pieces should be scat |
tered through the moss and peat.
The spaghum moss is the best for. pot
ting, the coarse leaved varieties being !
better than the narrow leaved, and live I
moss rather than dead. Both this and i
the Apeat can be gotten directly from
thee swamps or else from an orchid
dealer Leaf mold is sometimes used
flor the potting.
\ Firm potting is very important to
lAhe life of the plant. If the orchid
Swings about it is sure to perish. The
sflling should be nodded up so that the
crown of the plant is little higher
than the level of the pot or basket.
Take care not to disturb the roots when
reporting. Better break the pots or cut
the wire basket.
1t is not essential to know a thou
sand and one things about the flower
before attempting to raise it. However
there are three things that must be
known-frst. whether it is terrestrial
or epiphvtal, because the manner of
potting depends upon this; secondly,
does it belong to the hot, the cool or
the intermediate part of the greenhouse
culture, and. lastly, when it will bloom.
because this conditions its resting
period.
This information can always be
CLEANED from the dealer from whom the
plant is bought. The orchid plant needs
plenty of light, air and a sufficient
quantity of water, but, of course, much
of this knowledge is gained by ex-
perience.
Orchids are, of course little more
expensive imam the run VI
window plants but many of the most I
beautiful varieties are not at all costly. !
Some cost less than 81 but the better .
kind costs from 50 to s. according to
the species. :
The best orchids for home growing :
are the Cattleya Trianae, the largest :
winter flower: the Cattleva Massrae.
the largest spring flower; Cattleya '
Gigas, the largest summer flower Cat
tleya Labiata, the largest autumn r
flower; the baby orchid, the amateur s
orchid and the Laelia Aneeps, the best )
winner bloOmer. +
When the beginner has only room I
for one plant, by all means let the
choice be the Cologne Cristata. 1t T
is one Of the best and most popular T
orchids and the easiest to grow in a \
window garden. 1t blooms freely and h
sometimes the blossoms measure five h
inches across. n
1t will soon be time now to begin n
putting in the plants. and if ordinary 5
ARE and attention is given them the @
amateur gardener will be richly repaid. 4