CULTURE 
HE Orchid Cacti are not desert 
plants but forest or jungle plants 
and need quite different care than 
the true desert types. The parents 
are native to Mexico and Central 
America and extend to Brazil and 
Peru in South America. Some are 
found in the wet jungles but most 
of the larger flowered types from 
which our hybrids have descended 
are native to the drier mountain 
forests where oaks and pines are at 
home. | have collected many wild 
species but the oak and pine for- 
est plants were always the hand- 
somest. 
Thus it will be seen that these 
plants like a cool or warm rather 
than a hot climate. They don’t like 
freezing of course and at tempera- 
tures below 32° one is taking un- 
necessary chances. In California they 
will take temperatures of 27° with- 
out great harm and with the protec- 
tion of wrapping paper, burlap, etc., ' 
they survived temperatures of 19° 
outside under lath. 
Since they are often epiphytes, 
that is tree-dwellers living perched 
up on the branches or clinging to the 
trunks, it will be seen that they 
enjoy fresh air. Give them good ven- 
tilation, they will appreciate it more 
than heat. They do not enjoy a close, 
stagnant atmosphere though they 
will do very well even under such 
conditions. 
Epiphytes are not used to sticky 
or clayey soils as in nature the roots 
creep about in the moss, roots and 
accumulated humus which is under- 
standably not too plentiful high up 
in a tree nor is much to be found 
on the rocks or cliffs which the 
plants also frequent. Thus in your 
garden they will thrive best in an 
open, porous soil with leafmold (hu- 
mus) where the roots will get plenty 
of air. They will suffocate in wet, 
clayey soils. 
There is generally some shade 
where they grow, not dense shade 
but broken sunlight. So in your win- 
dow garden put them where they 
get some sunlight but not the hot 
mid-day sun. If they can be put out- 
doors in the summer they will ap- 
preciate it. On a protected veranda 
or under the shade of a tree will 
suit them fine. 
To sum up their requirements 
which are simple and easily within 
the reach of every window gardener: 
Pot them in loose, open soil using not too big 
a pot seeing that the pot is drained so excess 
water can escape; put them in a position where 
some sun is had but partially protected from 
the hottest sun and where there is some fresh 
air; water carefully, don’t keep them dry but 
do not saturate them, give only enough so they 
will dry out in about a week or so; in winter 
time keep them from growing as much as pos- 
sible by keeping a little drier and cooler. 
Potting soil: 1 part leafmold, 1 part coarse 
sand, | part sandy loam. Old rotted cow ma- 
nure may be added up to | part. Optional. 
A PENNSYLVANIA COLLECTION 
Mrs. Ivan Gehman of Denver, Pa., flowered many of 
her plants last summer. She has 250 different kinds. 
Thelocactus bicolor had 3 flowers, Hamatocactus 6 flow- 
ers, the Gymnocalyciums all flowered as did the 
Parodias, More than 50 kinds flowered. 
ORCHID CACTI 
Various flower forms and colors. Note the difference in size, petal shape and arrangement 
and the difference in the inner and outer perianth segments (petals). The varieties shown are: 
Top 5, left to right; Valencia, Rosetta, Londonii, Fairyland, Romance; 
next 3, slanting row; 
Gloria, Peacockii, Prof. Ebert; next 3, Admiral Togo, Marseillaise, Bohemienne; bottom; Jenkin- 
sonii. Photo taken in. Cactus Pete’s garden, color plate courtesy Scott E. Haselton from the Epi- 
phyllum Handbook. 
Red-Violet, Maroon 
Hermosissimus. (Dr. Houghton). An exquisite 
flower one of the most striking | know. Inner 
petals brilliantly bordered with violet with 
orange center stripe, throat an effulgent elec- 
tric blue-violet. Outer petals bright red shadins 
into woObanee-redwan bachie = Se ee $1.25 
Mrs. Grant. Flowers predominately purple 
with red outer petals. Lovely........................ 7152 
Callender’s Pfau. Not always in stock. Light 
lavender-cerise with full rounded petals, cup 
like sOutert petals etans2.- Sas Ne $1.00 
Valencia. A heavy blooming plant flowering 
late in the season. Inner petals orange-yellow 
darkening to red with violet tones in the throat. 
Outer petals deep orange red.._.......-.-..-..2..... 7 poe! 
Conway’s Giant. An old favorite. The large 
flowers with broad, crimson outer petals. Inner 
petals over-laid with crimson and violet. A 
strong grower and free bloomer...-......-...-..... 75¢ 
Anton Gunther. Excellent flower in tones of 
blue violet. Inner petals with rounded tips 
forming a wide cup. Petals with red-violet to 
lilac center stripe and white border. Back petals 
HECIN VIO teu eects bere ses ea: cht La isa $1 
August von Szombathy. Outer petals deep 
oo 
violet, inner petals with delicate violet stripe 
shading to pink. Excellent for corsages and for 
baskety culture 25s ee ee ae oe 80c 
Frederich Werner Beul. Fragrant 10” blos- 
soms, petals with reddish orange center stripe 
shading into violet and pale lavender with 
white edges. Petals broad, flat, crinkled. 75¢ 
Paula Knebel. Large flower with spreading 
petals. Outer petals crimson, inner petals violet 
shading to lavender at edge with orange center 
stripe. 
Red Queen. Bright orange-red blossoms with 
faint lavender overlay a free bloomer and vig- 
OFOUS™ SR OW Cla 5.25 eetects sae June tee a eee ee 15¢ 
Sacuntala. Handsomely striped flowers, un- 
usual color. The lanceolate petals are terra- 
cotta edged with carmine with a violet center 
stripe. 
White 
Oriole. A lovely variety with contrasting yel- 
low and white petals. Outer petals are rich 
yellow shading to coppery gold. Inner petals 
pure white the margins slightly shirred. Flow- 
ers large, freely borne plant strong and vigor- 
Oust. Good) basket type eee ae eae 75¢ 
