Orchid Culture 



By Wm. Turner. 



Strange though it may seem, when isolated from 

 greenhouse operations, after being so many years asso- 

 ciated witii their watching, their dififerent pecuharities 

 and general makeup ; it brings to my mind vividly the 

 Orchid family. Is there a more interesting class of plants 

 or more varied in their varieties than those floral gems ? 

 Nor can anyone be at a loss in writing descriptions of 

 their usefulness and the prominence they have achieved 

 in recent years. Yes, the better one becomes acquainted 

 with them, the more fascinating they become. It is al- 

 most equivalent to a fairy story to follow the rise in pop- 

 ular favor of those noble species and varieties, and how 

 interesting it is to look back over their culture of half a 

 century ago. According to early writers on the subject, 

 when receiving an importation and particularly those 

 coming' from the hot moist climates, naturally one would 

 suppose they required a close, humid atmosphere, and 

 such was their treatment in their early history, with the 

 result that many deaths occurred. But as time went on 

 it was found they reveled in fresh air, providing it was 

 given in such a way as not to cause a direct draught. 

 Though the culture of orchids was considered a secret for 

 quite a number of years, and the young man that was 

 placed in charge of a collection of orchids was looked 

 upon as a genius or a step above his associates, in other 

 departments, the orchid industry has steadily grown, and 

 time and experience have given the cultivator opportunity 

 to learn the peculiarities of the different species, until to- 

 day it is a realized fact that orchids will stand about the 

 same amount of abuse as any other class of plants, possiblv 

 more than some. Undoubtedly, to keep them in a healthy, 

 vigorous condition, year after year, it is absolutely neces- 

 sary to be acquainted with their requireiuents, as all or- 

 chids have their season of growth and their resting sea- 

 son ; in fact, this is one of the important factors and abso- 

 lutely a necessity if the health and full vigor of the plants 

 are to be maintained. Take cattleyas and dendrobiums. 

 for instance. How long would they remain in a healthy, 

 thrifty condition providing they did not have their proper 

 season of rest? It is essential to be familiar with the dif- 

 ferent varities, their dormant and growing season. Even 

 the cattleyas vary considerably. Some varieties make up 

 their growth and flower at once, such Warnerii, Gas 

 Killiana and Gigas, for example. Such as these require 

 a long period of rest after flowering, or I should say, 

 after the growths are fully made up, being careful not to 

 allow them to make a second growth. Whereas the ma- 

 jority will complete their growth a month or so before 

 flowering, such as those would need a partial rest in ad- 

 vance of their flowering season. 



It is not necessary to have a large variety of orchids 

 to give a long season of flower — a dozen varieties of cat- 

 tleyas properly selected would about fill the bill. I dare 

 say there is more space devoted to C. Trianae than any 

 other specie coming into flow'er, as they do, through the 

 winter months. In fact, they may be depended on, say, 

 from the latter part of December till away into Febru- 

 ary. Unfortunately they are deceiving at times as to 

 their flowering qualities, particularly if they have been 

 grown a bit soft. While such plants are pleasing to the 

 eye, they are apt to cause disappointment in production 

 of flowers. Thoroughly ripening their growth in the fall 

 is the best remedy towards producing a free crop of 

 llowers. With the ripened growths not only will there 

 he more flowers, but better substance and quality. There 

 is a great variation in this type from the pure white and 

 delicate shades to the dee]) magenta colors. 



How interesting it is to watch the development of a 

 new importation, just as they are ready to give their first 

 crop of flowers, and perhaps at times we find a gem 

 among them to e.xcite our curiosity and give us double 

 interest. Just as the last of the Triaenas would have 

 passed out of flower, that delicate and sweet scented 

 cattleya schroderiae would be about ready to flower. 

 While some may appreciate the higher colors, neverthe- 

 less schroderia is a chase and delicate flower, and will be 

 found to fill in the gap between Triaenas and mossiae. 

 Speaking of mossiae, what a grand free flowering spring 

 orchid it is. One may import a batch of this grand old 

 standby and hardly find two plants alike. Their mark- 

 ings are apt to be dilTerent either in the lip or makeup of 

 the sepels and petals. Quite a number of named and dis- 

 tinct varieties are at the disposal of our orchid loving 

 public. Another thing may be of interest. Usually we 

 find the instructions regarding orchid culture as to re- 

 potting are August. Repotting that is necessary should 

 be attended to after through flowering, which is sound 

 advice in most cases. However, to my way of thinking 

 there are exceptions to the general rule in two or three 

 of the species of cattleyas, and mossiae is one of them. 

 The close observer will notice that mossiae towards the 

 end of January will commence to make new roots. There- 

 fore at that time they may be overhauled and the plants 

 \vill recuperate quickly again. 



Cattleya Warneri will be found to come along nicely to 

 succeed mossiae. What a pity it is this grand cattleya is 

 ?o scarce, and I am told by good authority in its natural 

 habitat it is nearly depleted. I should say the easiest way 

 to describe this orchid, and most accurate, would be a 

 spring flowering labiata, both as to growth and flower, 

 but I presume today it would be difficult to secure in any 

 large quantity either in the way of established plants or 

 by importation. It is an easy grower, providing it re- 

 ceives a long rest after flowering. Mendelli and Gas- 

 kelliana will also follow on, while mendelli, unless it 

 chance to be an extra good variety, will have what I 

 would call a washed out appearance. Gaskelliana also 

 is not near so high colored as some of the other varieties. 

 Still, being so floriferous, and no doubt Gaskelliana has 

 played an important part in many a June wedding, there- 

 fore it must be classed important. Gigas and gigas san- 

 deriana, as their name denotes, are the largest of the 

 cattleya family. A spike of .gigas with seven or eight 

 flowers, particularly if the variety is a good one, is apt to 

 make some of the others look insignificant. There has 

 been a cry at times of gigas producing a large percentage 

 of blind growths, or I should say, shy to produce the all 

 important flower spikes. This I daresay has been true in 

 man}- cases in years gone by. However, by giving Gigas 

 a long rest, thoroughly ripening up their growths, this is 

 overcome. It is an advantage to place them near the 

 glass. They w'ill withstand a more severe drying process 

 during their resting season than many other cattleyas. 

 One thing certain, gigas enjoys a long season of rest. 

 There is no orchid collection complete unless gigas is 

 represented. That wonderful combination of c;olor C 

 Dowiana is chase and grand. It is generally supposed 

 they require a trifle more heat than most of the species, 

 but Dowiana may be grown successfully in the ordinary 

 cattleya house, providing they are placed in a position 

 away from direct currents of air, and by keeping them a 

 bit dryer at tiie root. They will simply revel in a mixed 

 house. 



August usualh' will find us w-ith a batch of that deli- 



