Orchid Culture for Amateurs 
DENDROBIUM 
flourish in a house built expressly for them is erro¬ 
neous. Some of the finest varieties can be success¬ 
fully grown in a greenhouse used for all kinds of 
plants. 
Maidenhair fern makes a pretty background for 
the orchids and looks well when added to the cut 
flowers. 
Years of practical experience in cultivating orchids 
have demonstrated that, when once their natural 
wants are thoroughly understood, they require less 
attention, and, their requirements being so simple, 
they encroach less upon the gardener’s time than is 
generally supposed. 
Some orchids thrive best in the shade while others 
require more light. Some do best when suspended 
from the roof, and all delight in air—abundance of 
fresh air. 
Orchids will endure more in the way of deprivation 
than any other plant, yet much time and patience is 
necessarv to coax the tender shoots into full life and 
j 
growth when freshly imported. 
Some rare specimens are found in newly imported 
orchids; after having been freshly potted the first 
the stem. Except for hybridizing, few growers care 
to take the trouble to grow orchids from seed. 
One of the most pleasing features of orchid culture 
is the fact that the plants bloom at various seasons 
of the year; so when purchasing them, it will be wise 
to include in your collection those that flower in the 
four seasons. During the winter months, when the 
days are dark and dreary, the Cattleya Percivahana 
and C. Triance are to be found in bloom. The 
reader can better imagine than I can describe the 
pleasure of plucking these flowers and bringing them 
into the living-room. After the dark days have 
passed and the days grow longer comes a most 
enjoyable time when the Cattleya Mossice, C. 
Mendelii, and C. Wamen are in flower. At this 
season no flowers are to be found outdoors in the 
garden. 
The lasting quality of the orchid varies, some last¬ 
ing as long as four weeks after cutting from the plant; 
but to retain them so long the water must be changed 
twice daily and the flowers placed outdoors to re¬ 
ceive fresh air; also a small section of the stem should 
be cut off each day. 
Orchids may be grown side by side with other 
greenhouse plants; and the idea that they will only 
CYPRIPEDIUM 
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