“ORCHIDS DO NOT DEMAND A GREAT DEAL OF ATTENTION” 
Taken as a whole, Orchids are a much hardier family of plants than is 
usually believed. In their native habitats they are subject to constant fluctu- 
ations in temperature. It sometimes drops many degrees below what we 
consider a safe minimum temperature, and again rises with sun heat to an 
exceedingly high degree. To varying amounts of rain, from the constant 
daily, downpours of a tropical rainy season to extreme drought periods. 
They are also subject to many more plant diseases and insect pests, than we 
in cultivating them have contact with. Yet with all of these hardships, they 
are found in most cases, in fine physical condition. They demand no more 
attention under cultivation than the common house plant. 
To aid those to whom the Orchid is an unknown field, and in answer to 
the many inquiries that we receive daily, we have listed below a few of the 
answers to the more frequent questions. 
The life of an Orchid plant is not judged by years, but by the treatment 
given it. As it ages and continues to grow, it throws out new shoots which 
develop into bulbs or growths, thereby increasing in size yearly. It is 
through this increase in size that we propagate additional stock by division. 
All Grchid species flower once a year when in good condition, and there 
are a number of hybrids that, once reaching maturity, will sometimes flower 
more often. This is probably due to the influence of the two different species 
parents. The plant does not die after flowering and from seed takes from 
six to seven years to reach maturity. 
The number of flowers a plant will bear has to do very greatly with the 
parent influence, and incidentally with the strength and condition of the 
plant. However, as we have been breeding for floriferous types, it is reason- 
able to expect an increase in the number of flowers on a single stem up to 
their maximum bearing. As a plant increases in size, it more often than 
not makes more than one flowering lead, so that it is entirely possible to 
have plants, (Cattleyas) with twenty or more flowers. Other species and 
varieties also increase proportionately as they age. 
Orchid flowers of the more popular types are without a doubt, the long- 
est lasting of any in the floral kingdom, both on the plant and as a decora- 
tive cut flower. Cattleyas on the plant wiil last two to four weeks under 
ordinary conditions, and when cut, two weeks and more. Cymbidiums and 
Cypripediums we have kept on the plants sometimes in excess of two months, 
and they are marvelous keepers when cut. Although all of them appear to 
be very frail, they are not, and for decorative work, even though their origi- 
nal cost is more than other flowers, their long lasting qualities make them 
less expensive. 
“CARE OF ORCHID FLOWERS” 
Orchid flowers should not be cut until fully matured, and in the case 
of Cattleyas and their hybrids, this is wsually three to four days from the 
time the buds open. In Cymbidiums and Cypripediums the developing time 
is longer, and with the former, one should wait until all of the flowers on 
the spike have opened completely. When cutting, always use a very sharp 
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