A plant being grown in a heated home needs 
more humidity, since heating tends to dry out 
the atmosphere in a room. A daily spraying in 
the morning is beneficial, and another at noon 
may also be given. Once a week every p!ant may 
be given a good watering by placing it under the 
faucet. | 
For those who live in very hot and dry areas 
of the country, or in excessively heated apart- 
ments, plants may be placed in dishes of wet 
cravel. ‘This gives the plant constant humidity 
by the evaporation of the water thru the gretvel. 
The method is to take a bowl, either of crockery, 
plastic, or metal, add about 2 to 3 inches-of ‘bird 
cravel, chicken grit or pebbles. Then add about 
1 inch of water. The potted Orchid plant may be 
placed right on the dampened gravel. The plant 
is not in water, but the evaporation thru the 
sravel will greatly assist the plant to get the right 
humidity under extraordinary conditions of heat 
and dryness. 
LET THERE BE LIGHT.... 
The next most important thing in growing 
Orchids is Light. This may be in the form of 
filtered sunlight, as thru the venetian blinds, 
wooden slats, or the fllickering of sunlight thru 
a small-leafed. tree; or it may be diffused light, 
such as thru a lace curtain, obscured or painted 
Glass. An Orchid plant should never be exposed 
to the direct rays of the sun either out in the 
open or thru clear glass. Remember, Cattleya 
Orchids are by heredity all jungle type of plants, 
and rarely are they found growing in the full 
sun, except by an accident of nature. 
Orchids must have Light to flower. They 
need no direct sunlight, just light. The correct 
amount of light they need is easily determined. 
An Orchid plant receiving the correct amount of 
light will have light Nile green leaves. A plant 
not getting enough light will have dark green 
leaves. Anda plant getting too much lght will 
have yellowing leaves. Sunburn will quickly 
(7) 
