Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-01-16
Orchids-How to Grow Them
You, Too, Can Be Success Raising
The Aristocrats Of Fancy Flowers
By Linnoeus T. Sewage
Trustee, American Orchid Society

| the form of gu" in addition to the
wire stake to support the bulb.
If an orchid bulb is shriveled, it
should be examined to see if its roots
have died, and if so, cut off the dead
roots, remove the fiber that is de-
cayed and repot.
If the bloom will not come out OF
the sheath, cut it, as 1t may be too
tough for the flower to break
through. Likewise, if sheath turns
wet black, remove it most care
fully so as not to damage the en-
bryonic bud at it's base therein, and
if the bud has not been injured it
will still bloom.
Get Rid of the Snails.
Snails like tender roots on plant
and particularly the bloom, so If
you have trouble, just tie absorbent
cotton on the stem holding the
bloom as they cannot climb over.
Another method is to place plant
on an inverted pot. AS to killing
the snails, there are numerous prod
ucts to be had for a reasonable sum
at almost any hardware or flower
shop in powder form which, if
sprinkled around the greenhouse,
will kill them in short order.
While a greenhouse or leanto is
preferable, that does not mean that
you cannot raise orchids in your
own home without the use of special
or expensive equipment.
In ones own home, all you need
do is to use an east window with
the room not too warm, but rather
moist in atmosphere. The pots
should be set on grillwork over a
pan filled with water, stones or coke,
so as to create humidity. Another
easy way for the small grower is to
build himself a Wardian case, or,
better still, purchase one for a rea-
sonable sum, including six plants to
bloom throughout the year, together
with cultural notes.
Having decided to grow orchids,
the amateur should first confine his
purchase to established, matured
plants which will bloom within one
year. They should be obtained from
reliable firms.
Price Range From Sc Up
Excellent matured plants in five
to six inch pots can be purchased
in price range of Sc to SIS. Rare
ones sell at fancy prices, but the
average amateur does not want a
rarity. Be careful not to buy a plant
that will be too tall for the space or
hangs down to bloom instead of up.
The Botanic Garden here has
hundreds of orchid plants on exhibit,
and the attendants are most CO.
operative 1t might be wise first to
see a variety on display before buy
ing one.
There are more than $4,000 species,
in addition to countless hybrids. A
favorite, snowy, popular and useful,
is the cattleya pronounced KAT
lee-a). They should be potted in
fiber. These are known as Epiphytes,
whereas those grown in soil are
called terrestrial.
Most orchids flower once a year
and will last lifetime with good
care. Flowers left on the plant
should last for weeks; or, if cut, up
to 10 days. Blooms should not be
cut until three or four days after
the bud opens and should immedi-
ately be placed in water for harden
ing.
Reasons for following.
1t is normal for the rearmost
leaves to turn yellow and drop; but,
should all the leaves do so, immed-
lately remove the plant from the
pot and inspect the fiber, roots and
drainage as mistake has been
made. Usually this condition is made
by the use of too much water or the
plant has been chilled over a long
period.
Orchids have few diseases in COM
parison with regular house plants so
don't worry as there are number
of preparations on the market that
can do wonders for an infected plant
in short order.
In Washington, the orchid grower
should join or attend the meetings
of the National Capital Orchid
Society