cannot be grown even in an ordinary greenhouse but require a special house, correct in 
temperature and humidity. Only an experienced specialist can grow them. The 
following two orchids are not too difficult in pots in the north or in the outside garden 
in the south where minimum temperatures do not go much below 27°. Even at that 
temperature, if long continued they should be covered. Where temperatures descend to 
an occasional low of 20°-24° one must be prepared with boxes, cartons, etc., and do 
a thoro job of covering. | 
Epidendron O’brienianum. The tall stems grow to a height of 3 ft. or more, are 
slender and require the support of adjoining plants or stakes. As the plant grows it 
produces terminal clusters of flowers thruout all the year when warm. This large cluster 
is composed of many small brilliant red flowers of a typical orchid form. Below each 
cluster as it withers, a lateral bud develops and continues the upward growth. At its 
base aerial roots develop. Propagation is effected by planting these air-rooted branches. 
Culture. Epidendrons need a warm, almost full sun exposure and constant but not 
excessive moisture. They will grow in well drained sandy or sandy loam soil containing 
some gravel but it is better to incorporate 50% leaf mould or 35% or more peat for a 
distance of a foot around and under the plant. 
Price of E. O’brienianum: cutting with aerial roots, 75c. Small clump, $3.00. 
Cymbidiums are immensely popular in So. California. Many are grown in green- 
houses in England and we must admit the English have high appreciation for floral 
values. They are not very expensive nor yet very cheap, the minimum prices being 
about $5.00 to $7.50 per small plant. 
The large 4” to 6” flowers are borne on a stem often 4 ft. long, and from 12 to 
over 30 in number. Well established plants may give 4 or more and large clumps up 
to 35 stems. The flower spikes remain in perfect condition for 8 to 12 weeks. When 
cut the flowers have unsurpassed lasting qualities and may be used many times in a 
corsage if kept in a refrigerator between times. Florists retail the flowers for only a 
little less than Cattleyas. 
The flowers are of typical orchid form and in a wide range of colors. It is 
impossible to give accurate color descriptions of hybrid Cymbidiums as the hybrid is 
named from the cross and may include several seedlings not necessarily identical, tho 
close. Descriptions are usually only approximate but not always even that. 
Culture. Cymbidiums are terrestrial orchids from India and Burma where they 
grow in the moist atmosphere of mountains and foothills in perfectly drained situations. 
The culture is easy enough if you note carefully our instructions. But you can’t plant 
them and forget them. The shade of a lath house, lath spaced 1” apart, 50% shade, is 
about right. They do well in this exposure, or even a little more sun in our hot inland 
valleys and in cooler coastal regions the lath may be farther apart. The shade of trees 
giving filtered light and full sun in early morning or evening suits them well. They do 
well in a sandy or gravelly loam of acid reaction. In preparing our soil we dig to a 
depth of 10” and the same distance on each side of plant. We fill this hole with peat 
or peat and leaf mould. Leaf mould alone will do but use oak leaf mould, or more if 
ordinary leaf mould. This is thoroly mixed with the soil thrown out, wet a little and 
pressed down. The elevation resulting may be rounded over on sides. 
The base of the plant is enlarged into a pseudo-bulb, surmounted by the foliage. 
This bulb must not be covered by soil. Insert it to a depth of only about % of its 
length. The plant may need support until roots form. 
Set the plants in moist soil and water after planting to settle soil around them. At 
first, they must only be kept slightly moist until roots have developed. If moisture is 
excessive the pseudo-bulb will rot and the plant is lost. In warm weather, when plant 
is in full growth they will use more moisture. We sprinkle then a little every day or 
two. They make scant growth if allowed to become dry between waterings. But at no 
time should they be kept in a soggy condition. Provision must be made for perfect 
drainage in pots or garden. | 
Customers are sometimes alarmed if the roots of plants appear dead when received 
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