Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-01-16

The amateur need no longer fee
that he cannot grow the mysteriou:
aristocrat of flowers if he will fol-
low but few simple rules. Orchids
belong to a hardy family; will stanc
lots of punishment, are easy to grow
inexpensive and do not demand 8
great deal of care.
Orchids like plenty of sunshine
except during the hot months wher
some sort of shade should be pro-
vided. Likewise, give them plenty
of fresh air.
In cold weather, the plants do moi
care whether the atmosphere i.
heated by coal, gas, oil or electric
heaters, but provide water in pans
or wet coke for humidity purposes
Keep the heat around So to 81 de-
grees at night and never grow then
too close to the heater. Likewise
they should not become chilled.
More orchids are killed by over.
watering than by all other means
combined, so make it a rule, never
water except on a bright sunshiny
day. If in doubt, don't water.
Water in the Morning.
While they like a moist atmos-
phere with humidity of 20 per cent
or more for all-around best results
play safe and water in the morning
on bright day, and not after that
time as general rule. The pot
should never be placed in a saucer
as you would an ordinary house
plant. 1t must be watered from
the top.
That does not mean one cannot
water on particularly hot day, as
a syringe around the plant or on
the leaves will keep up the humidity
and prevent the fiber from becom-
ing too dry.
Once a week on a bright day, the
hose should be turned on the plants
until the water runs out of the
bottom of the pot. If it does not
drain freely, the hole in the poi
should Immediately be enlarged OF
the plant is apt to rot.
If a plant is too large, 1t may
be divided easily by simply taking
a sharp knife and cutting through
the rhizome several joints back
from the growing part. To have 8
better looking plant, most growers
when dividing a plant, always leave
from three to four bulbs to each
division. After you repot the from
division if you are not sure as tt
the health of the rear or back
bulbs, instead of wasting time anc
material ia reporting, leave it ir
the pot or you can simply place II
on coke or some oc3er moist recep.
Ftacle until such future time as root
growth commences, at which time
potting should be done.
The Dormant Period.
After a plant has bloomed, II
goes into a dormant period at which
time water is given sparingly until
new root growth appears.
1t is after the dormant period
and before the new collar roots
around the base of the new growth
get too large that the plant should
be repotted or divided, otherwise the
roots will be damaged. Never re-
pot q plant when it is in sheath
or after the bud has come through
the sheath as you will, in all prob
ability, lose the bloom as you would
any ordinary plant that is disturbed
when ready to flower.
Always place the plant in a pot
large enough for two years growth
which can be determined from pre-
vious growth.
For drainage, use about a third
of broken crock in the pot mixed
with charcoal. Don't purchase spe-
cial containers for your plants. Use
only the ordinary garden pot and
enlarge the hole in the bottom with
a hammer so as to be assured OF
quick and good drainage.
Cattleyas like to be ported in os-
munda fiber and it makes no diff
ference whether it is black or brown.
AS the plant ages, it puts forth new
leads, thereby increasing in size
annually. Where there are few roots
on the rhizome, it is wise to also
hold the plant down to the osmunda
fiber with piece of wire bent in