Onchids Gy Wilsou 
Madison Avenue, Morristown, New Jersey 
“GROWING ORCHIDS IN YOUR HOME” 
To start, there is no deep dark secret to growing ORCHIDS IN YOUR HOME, only 
a few simple requirements are necessary. We list these below in simple terms and if 
followed, you should be successful as many of our customers are. 
LIGHT 
Orchids require plenty of light, but not direct sun light. Sun light should be diffused 
through a lightly woven curtain or the better grade of cheese cloth. The object being to 
give the plants all the sun light possible without the burning rays of the sun striking them 
directly. From November 15th to March 15th Orchid plants can enjoy full sun light, as 
most of the heat is gone from the sun during this period. 
HUMIDITY 
Humidity is necessary to the health of your Orchid plants. This is best provided in the 
home by the evaporation method. Humidity by evaporation is obtained by providing a shal- 
low pan, watertight, not over one inch deep and usually made a shape to fit a wide window 
sill or plant stand. This pan is filled to within one quarter inch of the top with fine clean 
gravel; set pan level and pour in enough clean cool water to completely cover the gravel. 
You need a wood rack to place your plants upon, this can be made of 4%” x1” wood slats 
about 14” apart and cut a little longer than the length of your watertight pan. This is so 
the rack will rest upon the edges of the pan. Do not rest the rack upon the gravel or your 
pots will get too wet. This is bad for your plants. Any handyman can put this together 
in a very short time, at very little expense. 
HEAT 
Orchid plants DO NOT require a great amount of héat; they’ will thrive and flower in 
temperatures as low as 58° F., and will stand temperatures during the hot summer days 
to 110° F., but at such times they must have a lot of air circulation and closer attention to 
watering. A good method is to hang your plants out under a tree that does not cut off all 
the sun light. At other times a temperature that is comfortable to you in your home is all 
that an Orchid plant requires. 
WATERING 
DO NOT over water your Orchid plants; keep them just nicely moist while they are grow- 
ing. A water soaked plant will soon turn yellow and die. DO NOT use fertilizer of any kind 
unless recommended by an Orchid grower. Water plants good once a week, the rest of the 
week just keep the fibre slightly on the moist side, and then water only when it is dry. NEVER 
mist spray over the leaves or do any watering on COLD, SUNLESS days, put it off until 
you have a warm, sunny day. Keep your plants out of any direct COLD DRAFT. 
POTTING 
Repotting should be done when roots are beginning to develop on new growth. Once 
every two years is often enough to repot and then only if the plant is too large for its 
present pot or the osmunda has deteriorated. 
VARIETIES 
Any of the Cattleya Orchids or their hybrids will grow in the home; many of the 
Botanicals do very well and are interesting and beautiful. We do suggest that you start 
with the less expensive types such as the Cattleya species and Botanicals. We carry a full 
line of all Species and a great variety of Botanicals, as well as thousands of Hybrids from 
the flask to mature flowering size plants. ; 
