ORCHID CULTURE. 129 



termediate house orchids, night, 55° to 60°; day, 65° 

 to 70°. Cool house orchids ten degrees lower. 



During the resting stage, the Cattleyas, Laelias, 

 Dendrobiums and similar forms, should be kept as dry 

 as possible and not shrivel. On the other hand, several 

 genera, such as Aerides, Vanda, Phalaenopsis and Zygo- 

 petalum, keep up more or less growth during the winter, 

 and should be given more water than the others and 

 never allowed to become dry at the roots. 



The Dendrobiums and Calanthes of some species 

 drop their leaves as soon as growth is over, and, in order 

 to ripen the growth, should be placed near the glass, 

 and kept quite dry. Although the moisture should be 

 withheld, during the winter, the atmosphere should not 

 be allowed to become hot and dry, and on bright days 

 the walks and tables should be wet down. 



MANAGEMENT DURING BLOOM. 



There is quite a variety in the habit of bloom in 

 orchids, as some forms like Lmlia anceps, Cattleya Tri- 

 anm, Calanthe, Cmlogyne, Phaius and Cypripedium 

 insigne bloom in December, during the resting period, 

 while many bloom during the summer. When the blos- 

 soms open, it is a good plan to remove the plants to a 

 cooler house, as, in an atmosphere that is cool and dry, 

 they will last much longer than in one that is hot and 

 moist. If the drop is not more than ten degrees, no 

 harm will be done to the plants, especially if the change 

 is made gradually. If the blossoms are wet, in syring- 

 ing, they soon become spotted and fade, hence no water 

 should be allowed to fall on the flowers. 



From the fact that most orchids can be grown in 

 baskets, and hang from the sash bars, where they take 

 but little room, many florists are taking up orchid grow- 

 ing for the sale of cut flowers, and find it very remuner- 

 ative. 



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