RCHIDS ARE EASY TO GROW if -you 
will follow these simple directions. You 
do not need a greenhouse to grow them at your 
home. During winter months you can grow 
them in the house. During the Spring, Summer 
and Fall, you can grow them on a porch or else- 
where outside. 
These directions are for the care of Cattleya 
orchids and their hybrids, the kind most usually 
sold by florists. “They also apply generally to 
others of the epiphytic (air-loving) branch of 
the orchid family. Different culture is required 
for the terrestrial (ground-loving) types such as 
Cypripedium, Cymbidium and others. 
WATERING 
Contrary to popular belief, orchids do not require 
a great amount of watering, but do require moisture. 
A Cattleya orchid is an epiphyte, meaning that it 
gets its sustenance from air and moisture. Your or- 
chid plants will, of course, need some watering but 
not nearly as much as you probably think. During 
winter months, and while the plant is in active 
growth, a good soaking once a week is usually suf- 
ficient. When the plant is not in active growth, 
Cattleya hybrid orchid plants in various stages of growth, left 
to right: Community pot of Cattleya hybrid seedlings, ready for 
individual 134-in. pots; seedling in 134-in. pot; seedling in 214-in. 
pot; seedling in 31%-in. pot making new growth and which should 
bloom on second new growth; seedling in 4-in. pot which should 
bloom on next new growth; seedling in 3-in. pot showing its first 
bud sheath; mature plant with four flowers. Plants shown are of 
average size; others are larger or smaller, depending on varieties. 
which is usually (but! not always) for one to four 
months after blooming, watering once every two 
weeks is sufficient. Water just enough to ‘keep fol- 
iage from shriveling. During winter months and on 
bright days, sprinkle only the foliage once a day. 
Don’t water on cloudy days unless the fiber gets 
very dry. -DO NOT SET THE PLANTS ON A 
SOLID FLAT SURFACE; place a small block of 
wood or other material under the pots to elevate 
them half an inch or so. Air must get to the roots. 
If you live in a “hard water’ area, water your 
plants with rain water when convenient. 
SUMMER CARE 
During the late spring, summer and early fall 
months when the night temperatures outside usually 
do not fall much below 55 degrees, your plants may 
be kept outside on a porch, hung to a tree branch 
or set on a rack in the shade of a tree. Some sun- 
light will not be harmful if it is “spotted,” as when 
it comes through spaces between the leaves on a 
tree, or the slats of a porch shade or Venetian blind. 
During this period, your plants will need more 
water than during the winter, especially on breezy 
days. About every other day or every third day give 
