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oO} Aghculiure 
UY. S. Department 
PHALAENOPSIS = THE MOTH ORCHID 
Fall = 1952 
Phalaenopsis are the showiest and one of the most satisfactory of the spray 
types; splendid for exhibition purposes and growing in popularity daily as 
a corsage item, especially for bridal work. 
The species originate in the hot sections of the Dast, from New Guinea to 
Burma, and are found in abundance in the Philippines. They are epiphytes, 
monopodial in growth, with a short, heavy stem four to ten inches in heighth. 
The large, broad, leathery leaves alternate along the stem and form a most 
attractive plant. 
The varieties which we list are all hybrids with larger, better formed 
flowers of heavier substance than the species. The flowers are arranged 
along arching spikes, usually in two rows side by side, closely set and in 
some cases slightly overlap one another. A flower spike will bear from 
four to thirty blossoms and many of the new hybrids have a tendency to 
flower more than once in a season. Flowers vary in size from three to as 
much as five inches acrosse 
CULTURE: Phalaenopsis will do best at a minimum night winter temperature of 
G50 to 70°, although many growers report successful lower night temperatures. 
All of our new hybrids are in continuous growth so checking or resting 
SHOULD NOT be practiced. They like a humidity of around 60% to 70% and re- 
quire a slightly heavier shade than cattleyas through the hot, bright, 
summer season. During the winter months we grow them under a 25% shade 
Lumite Horticultural Shade Cloth of a green or grey 18 x 1 mesh). As the 
season progresses, we increase the shade in our section about the first of 
June by adding another covering of Lumite Orchid Cloth, and this will stay 
on until Fall. This same shading procedure can be followed by using paint 
shading material, etce When watering, remember Phalaenopsis resent drying 
out if potted in Osmunda and we try to maintain an even, light moisture 
content similar to Cypripedium conditions. Overhead syringing is beneficial 
through Spring, Summer and Fall. Pot only in the best grade of Osmundae We 
find azalea pots excellent for this purposee From the community pot on we 
seldom remove any Osmunda in shifting to larger sizes and pot for a two year 
periods As in other orchids they like ventillation and resent a close, 
stuffy atmosphere. 
PROPAGATION: Phalaenopsis are raised from seed and will flower within a 
maximum time of 36 months. It is also possible to propagate additional 
stock from flower stem cuttings placed on agar, using a technique similar 
to seed culture. However, this is impractical unless one wishes to increase 
the stock of an exceptionally fine variety. Occassionally they will also 
start little plantlets at the flower stem nodes. When an injury occurs to 
the crown of the plant, new plant growths will often start from the remainder 
of the stem. 
FLOWER CUTTING: As previously stated, our new hybrids have continuous flower-= 
ing tendencies. When cutting flower spikes always leave two or three stem 
nodes if the plant is in a good, heatthy condition. These stem nodes will 
break into lateral or side flower stems and with a few plants it is possible 
to have some Phalaenopsis flowers all through the year. When new flower 
Spikes appear at the base of the plant and are well in progress, cut off the 
old flowering stem close to the base of the plant; this will allow all of 
the streneth to go into the development of the new flower spikes 
GRAVEL CULTURE: All of the Phalaenopsis do very well potted in gravel and we 
Yecommend Wilson's Orchid Fertilizer, developed by Dre O. We Davidson of 
Rutgers University, which should be used as directed for either Osmunda or 
gravel culture. A number of growers report their plants doing well ina An 
or 3" granite gravel. 
This listing cancels all previous Phalaenopsis offerings. 
