PHALAENOPSIS 
Some of the finest spray orchids known belong to this group. We have both pink 
and white varieties in flowering size from $7.50 to $25.00 each for pinks from $12.50 
to $50.00 for whites. 
(Continued from Page Three) 
Watering probably is the hardest 
thing to learn about orchid culture. In 
the wild the plants live on trees with 
their roots exposed to the atmosphere 
on the bark of the trees so that they 
ean pick up any moisture from light 
rains and dew. On the other hand, 
after a rain, the roots are soon dried 
out by the wind and sun. Orchid roots 
are fleshy and cork-like, and if kept wet 
all the time will soon rot off. Orchids 
in the wild are used to long dry periods 
and the beginner should keep this in 
mind, watering only when absolutely 
sure that they need it. It is better to 
err on the too dry rather than the too 
wet side. Once a week should be often 
enough for watering under most con- 
ditions but the safest rule for watering 
orchids is to soak them when you do 
water—then don’t water again until 
absolutely sure that they are completely 
dry. If there is any doubt as to whether 
or not they need to be watered—don’t. In 
hot, dry, windy weather a spraying over 
the leaves once or twice a day will help 
to make up a lack of humidity but this 
should not be heavy enough to wet the 
osmunda in the pots. 
The temperatures we have here in 
South Florida are ideal for most or- 
chids as they like average temperatures 
between 65 and 80 degrees yet can stand 
temperatures down in the thirties for 
short periods without damage. There 
are a few types of orchids that won’t 
grow here because of too high tempera- 
ture such as most Cymbidiums, and some 
FENNELL 
HOMESTEAD 
like Phalaenopsis, which must be heated 
in the winter for best results, but as a 
general rule most tropical orchids can 
take our weather easily. 
Orchids, like all other plants, need 
food. Just because many are “air 
plants” and live on trees, rather than 
in the ground, doesn’t mean that they 
don’t need food, it just means that they 
get it in a different way. The best way 
to feed orchids is to dissolve Fenorco 
Hydroponic Plant Food in the water 
to be used on the plants. This food is 
readily picked up by the roots and will 
not burn nor harm the plants in any 
way if used in the strength recom- 
mended. 
Orchids need food in proportion to 
their rate of growth; thus in dark, cool 
weather the plants can’t use as much 
as in sunny warm weather and it fol- 
lows that the more sun you can give 
them the more food they can use and 
the faster they will grow. Many of the 
hybrids and some species will bloom 
several times a year instead of once if 
they get enough sun and food. Under 
normal conditions we fertilize once a 
week and water in between with plain 
water as needed. 
The fifth requirement of orchids is 
air or ventilation. In the wild they 
grow up on the trees in breezy, well- 
ventilated locations and such condi- 
tions are easy to supply here either out- 
doors or indoors—just remember that 
orchids don’t like stuffy conditions for 
living any more than you do. 
Selecting or preparing the proper lo- 
cation for growing your orchids is of 
utmost importance to the ultimate suc- 
cess and amount of work involved in 
their culture. A location that natural- 
ly supplies the largest number of their 
requirements will result in the least 
work for you. 
Perhaps the easiest way to grow 
them is on trees. A suitable tree is 
one which will give some shade but 
still allow considerable sunlight to pene- 
trate. A rough barked tree is prefer- 
able because moisture is held in the 
cracks of the bark for the roots to pick 
up and therefore the plants need less 
watering though they will do well on 
smooth barked trees also. The plants 
can be planted directly on the tree as 
they are found in the wild, or they 
can be hung in pots or baskets under 
the tree. Planting them on the tree 
has one disadvantage in that the plants 
cannot be moved for observation and 
care, or taken into the house when 
in bloom. On the other hand they need 
less attention, once established, and 
never need to be repotted. This is, 
then, the easiest method but not neces- 
sarily the best. 
We feel that the best way to grow 
orchids here in south Florida is in a 
slat or lath house. Such a house can 
be constructed at little cost and with 
only a hammer and saw by any ama- 
teur handyman. A lath house supplies 
almost idea! conditions for growing or- 
chids: controllable shading, ideal ven- 
tilation and ease of care. Also they 
can be designed with a little taste and 
thought to fit into your garden and 
not be as out-of-place and as much of 
an eyesore as the average greenhouse. 
Their main advantage over a green- 
house, however, is ventilation, as green- 
houses, though nice for a month or 
two in the colder winter months, are 
almost always too stuffy for orchids 
during the rest of the year. 
For more complete instructions and 
details on the hows and whys of or- 
chid culture come down to the ORCHID 
JUNGLE and let us show you how we 
grow them under the various conditions 
available here in South Florida. We 
have orchids growing on the trees, in 
lathhouses and in greenhouses and you — 
can get many ideas on how best to grow 
them under your conditions. We are 
always glad to help orchidists with any 
problems or questions they may have. ~ 
We will be glad to help you pick out an 
orchid starter collection, give you ideas 
on the design of a lathhouse or in gen- _ 
eral try to help insure your continued 
interest and success with orchids. 
ORCHID COMPANY 
ORCHID JUNGLE 
Follow No. 1 Highway, 25 miles south of Miami 
FLORIDA 
