excessive drying. When plants are watered give them a good drenching under the 
faucet or immerse them in a bucket of water until the bubbles stop rising from the 
soil, This will keep pots wet longer and should last two or three days. When clay 
pots are light in color and pot rings when tapped on the rim theyaatcudry a OT 
course, plants must always have adequate drainage—if soil is soggy continually the 
roots will rot off. So check drainage hole in bottom of pot occasinally to see if it 
is open. Do not water plants with very cold water. It should be room temperature. 
Light—placed near any window they should receive adequate light. Some 
plants like Philodendron and Chinese Evergreen will stand places away from the 
window for long periods—still all plants will benefit from window light. African 
Violets do well in an East or Southeastern exposure. 
Temperature—most plants are happiest with a minimum of 60 degrees at 
night and the day temperature may rise to 85 and 90 without harming them. Of 
course, these plants will take lower and higher temperatures without damage. 
Fertilizing—After 6 months most plants will benefit from mild feeding— 
especially in Spring and Summer months when most plants grow. Any complete 
fertilizer will do (Vigoro-—Hyponex, etc.) Do not over-feed, follow directions 
on package. 
Spraying—To keep plants free of insects—inspect the undersides of the leaves 
at least once a month (or every two weeks) for any suspicious unwanted guests. 
Generally a sponging off of the foliage with soapy water to which a teaspoonful of 
nicotine or black leaf 40 (to a gallon of water) has been added will act as a 
cleansing treatment and clean the pores of the leaves. Do not let soil around pot 
get too saturated with the soap. Use Ivory or mild soaps until you have a fair 
suds. (do not use on African Violet leaves—although the nicotine without the soap 
is alright) . 
Potting soils—Any good enriched garden soil is satisfactory with some peat 
added to hold moisture. 
two thirds garden loam (add sand if not friable) 
one sixth dairy manure or organic vegetation (leaf mold) 
SOIL MIXTURE one sixth pulverized peat 
add 3” pot of complete fertilizer to wheelbarrow of mixture 
(Vigoro, etc.) and handful of bone-meal. 
REFERENCE BOOKS FOR HOUSE PLANTS 
“ENJOY YOUR HOUSE PLANTS” by D. H. Jenkins and H. V. P. Wilson—$3.00 
“THE AFRICAN VIOLET” by H. V. P. Wilson—$2.75 
“GREENHOUSE GARDENING FOR EVERYONE” by Ernest Chabot—$4.00 
Our Policy - Color Skides 
We do not sell orchid seed—flasks or stud plants. We do not 
have divisions to sell of the color illustrated cattleya hybrids shown 
in this catalog. It is our policy to sell seedlings from our finest stud 
plants and to exhibit the parents used in our breeding. We have col- 
lections of Kodachrome transparency slides which we shall be glad to 
loan to Orchid Societies or Garden Clubs for programs if you will pay 
the postage or transportation charges. These slides have been given 
wide acclaim and will give a program of an hour or more. We are 
always glad to help with cultural problems and invite your corres- 
pondence on special selected plants in flower. 
and Boynton Beach on the Gulf Stream 37 
