CHAPTER XIV. 



FLOWERING. 



T7PIPHYTAL Orchids generally produce their flowers 

 JLL/ in a manner to be seen to the best advantage from 

 below, while terrestrial Orchids produce theirs in a con- 

 trary way. In arranging the plants in the Orchid house, 

 this fact should be considered. Some cultivators have a 

 portion of a house for use as a show house to which they 

 remove the plants when in bloom. This is arranged to 

 display the plants to the greatest advantage, and can be 

 kept at a low temperature. Thus the plants remain longer 

 in bloom and are not affected by the damp atmosphere 

 necessary for the Orchid house. Most Orchids with large 

 flowers, such as Cattleyas and L<zlias and above all Phalce- 

 nopses, are very much injured if drops of water fall upon 

 or condense on the petals. Orchids are also seen with 

 more comfort in a cool house, for the hot moist tempera- 

 ture of an Orchid house is not pleasant to a visitor. 



Many Orchids, such as Oncidiums, throw up a flower 

 stalk from two to three or more feet in length. Such 

 stalks may need a support, which should be of light slen- 

 der wood or of wire. These stalks continue to grow until 

 they branch, and the branches are often ten inches long. 

 In many of the species many months elapse between the 

 showing of the flower bud and the expansion of the flow- 

 ers. For example, Oncidium pulvinatum begins to throw 

 up the flower stalk in January, but the flowers are not 

 produced before the June or July following. 



