


RYERSON 1949 EXPANSIBLE ORCHID FOLDER Page 13-A 
LET'S TALK ABOUT MATURE, BLOOMING SIZE HYBRIDS 
SELECTING TH) PLANTS. The best way to buy any mature plant is in bloom. Un- 
fortunately, this is also the most expensive procedure when it involves. travel- 
ing great distances to the source of supply. 
The next best plan is to have some one who knows orchid values buy the plants 
for you, especially if he is able to visit the orchid ranges and see the plants 
in bloom. That is what I did for you: last December 18th. I made a flying trip 
to New York (arriving during the worst snow storm of the season) to look over 
a greenhouse full of mature Cattleya hybrids in bloom before I decided to buy 
them for youe It didn't take me long to decide that these plants were exactly 
what you have been asking me for: big, strong, healthy plants that have 
bloomed on nearly every lead they produced - blooms of good size and quality 
for the cut flower market. 
In fact, if you had been there with me, Itve no doubt but what your reaction 
would have been the same as mine: "Why does the grower want to sell such fine, 
dependable bloom producers as these?" 
But I was promptly reminded that the time comes in every grower's career when 
he must choose between his older hybrids and the newer ones that have reached 
flowering size. The new crosses having been developed for SIZE, which seems 
to be the first consideration of the New York market, he was wise in his 
choice. For while many blooms on the plants for sale were seven to eight 
inches, the majority averaged six. The newer crosses were averaging eight, 
nine and ten inch blooms! 
Maybe you're thinking, “That's for me$ Why can't I buy hybrids like that?" 
You can, if you don't object to paying fifty dollars and UP per plant. A 
mature Enid Alba which will average four nine-inch white blooms with purple 
lips can be had for forty dollars. An Le George Baldwin that averages six 93- 
inch very dark blooms will cost one hundred dollars or more. 
Seedlings of Enid Alba and Le George Baldwin (same parentage as the above) are 
listed on pages 9 and 10 in the seedling list. 
But if your bloom market does not insist on mammoth size, you will be able to 
fill the demands for good hybrids from the following list, and at very reason- 
able prices. While I did not see every one of these hybrids in bloom - nor 
even every one of a given cross - I saw enough to convince me that the lot of 
plants were an excellent buy. Since most of the crosses are available in 
limited nwabers, please order promptly, or indicate a second choice to each 
hybrid selected. 
POTTING. These hybrids were all repotted in new orchid pots, as soon as I re 
ceived them, and every one has already started one or more new leads. They 
should not need repotting again for two years. Long before that, I will give 
you a "Letts Talk About Potting Mature Hybrids." 

CARE OF PLANTS. The plants will require more water now than at any other 
period in their year's cycle, but do not drown them nor keep the fibre sopping 
wete Do your watering early in the day so the foliage will not be wet at sun- 
down. Before the new lead is mature, it has a cup-like formation that catches 
water. If water is permitted to stand in this "cup" overnight, black rot may 
destroy your new lead, and consequently, its chance to bloom next Winter. 
Watering is so important, my next "Let's Talk About....." will be devoted to it. 
While orchid plants like shade, humidity and warmth, you can overdo any of the 
three by keeping them in too dark and stuffy an atmosphere. And as the new leads 
approach maturity they require less water and more light than at any other time, 
if they are to produce good blooms. Water too profusely at this time and you 
either will get new leads instead of blooms, or the blooms you do get will be 
weak and floppy. 

Se Ne a EN ee Ae Ske ty Swen aes ee ~ = — ~ — ~ -—— + = 

