Cattleya Cultural Notes 
In training personnel in Orchid Culture and giving cultural advice 
to amateurs over the years, I have found that the first and most important 
step is to convince the student that the task before him is not, in reality 
a difficult one, and to assure him that his worst and most aggressive 
enemy is fear and uncertainty. A good rule in Orchid Culture is “when 
you don’t know what to do, do nothing.” The fact that one has become in- 
terested in Orchids proves that one has growing instincts and in mostcases 
as far as the amateur is concerned, the few visits he makes to the Orchid 
nursery to select his plants will provide him with a good working know- 
ledge of the subject in a matter of days. Of course, he will improve his 
methods as long as he lives and most Orchid growers live a very long time. 
So, the first and most important task is to relax and allow ones self to 
become in harmony with the subjects of his hobby. These cultural notes 
could very well end right here, but Orchid people - both amateur and 
professional - love to talk and read shop, so let’s get down to business. 
The first question most people ask is what kind of enclosure do I 
need? Years ago we used to answer this question by describing a structure 
that was so prim and proper - or so cold and forboding - that the beginner 
felt half defeated before he started his collection. It has been proved 
by thousands of amateurs that Orchids may be grown in such awide variation 
of enclosures that they defy listing; so build the kind of enclosure that 
you feel you can afford but remember that your collection will grow and it 
is cheaper to build a place large enough than it is to make additions 
afterwards. Choose a location as near as possible free from shade of your 
house and trees and those of your neighbors, for in such a location you 
will stand the best chance of providing the degree of shade that fits the 
growing methods you choose to employ. The amount of shade needed has been 
described in many ways. I like to describe it as a degree of shade that 
will be relaxing without being depressing to the average human being; or, 
if one likes to be quoted figures, 800 foot candles in summer and from 1000 
to 1500 in winter. That’s about the same degree of shade that you notice 
people growing ferns or African violets in, isn’t it? In cool, damp 
climates one may use more sunlight than in hot, dry ones. You’ll soon 
determine that for yourself and be telling the experts how before you know 
Ree 
Temperature frightens a lot of people, but providing it does not 
get out of hand either way - up or down - it should be the least of 
Your Worrres: The ideal seems to be near 84° mid-day on 
