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U. S. Department Gi... culture | 
Dates Gale Lu Mo 
Fall = 1952 
A large and varied genus of plants with beautiful, showy flowers of various hues 
and pleasing color combinationse The species distributed throughout the Kast from 
Ceylon through India, Burma, Assam, Maylasia, parts of China, Japan, to the Phil- 
ippines and 4ustralia. 
The majority are easily grown and are free-flowering with long lasting qualities, 
especially when a change of season occurs or when climatic conditions allow for 
temperature variations during their ripening or resting periods. 
Divided in two cultural groups = the Nebile and Phalaenopsis sectionse 
CULTURE: Generally speaking, their requirements are periods of growth and reste 
When growing a cattleya temperature with plenty of humidity, moderate quantities 
of water, overhead syringing and light are required. As the new season#s growths 
are completed, start ripening them off by cutting down on pot watering, continuing 
the overhead syringing until the flower buds appear, at which time increase the 
watering again. During this ripening period it is beneficial to move the plants 
cooler and lighter if possible. This ripening is of prime importance for best 
flowering results, but should not be so severe as to shrivel the bulbs. 
The Dendrobium Phalaenopsis section will do best in cattleya temperatures with the 
resting period shorter. 
All of the Nobile section will do well hanging and this is especially true through 
the resting or checking periods. 
PROPAGATION: Dendrobiums are reised from seed and plant stock can also be in= 
creased by dividing the plants at the rhizomes. They sometimes have a tendency to 
grow offshoots from the pseudo bulbs which, when rooted, may be cut off and pottede 
Old pseudo bulbs can sometimes be cut into sections between the nodes, leaving two 
nodes to each section and laid horizontally on sphagnum moss or Vermiculite, 
covered over, placed in a warm, moist atmosphere and little plantlets will start 
at the nodesSe 
POTTING: Pot in a good, medium grade of Osmunda fibre as small as possible, allow- 
‘ing for a two year growth periode For best results pot the Nobile section soon 
after flowering. The Phalaenopsis section should be repotted when the new growth 
reaches a height of 23 inchese 
FEEDING: Dendrobiums respond beautifully to feeding and we recommend Wilson's 
Orchid Fertilizer, a 10-LO-1O developed by Dre O. We Davidson, Florticulture 
Depte, New Jersey Experiment Station at Rutgers University. 
GRAVEL CULTURE: All of the Dendrobiums do very well potted in gravel and again we 
recommend the above Orchid Fertilizer used as directed for gravel culture. In 
gravel potting use larger sizes of pots and a one=quarter inch granite gravel. 
We grow our Dendrobiums of the Nobile section in a Cymbidium house with a high 
light intensity of about 75% total light. We use a light weave green 18 x lh 
Lumite Horticultural Shade Cloth of a .015 mil. filament with a light transmission 
factor of close to 75% on the outside of the clear glass, with no other shading 
from March through October. This, together with a feeding program as well as 
under the bench humidity system of our special H-261 nozzle tips, plus adequate 
top and bottom ventillation, results in exceptionally fine growth and flowering, 
with some large plants producing over 100 flowers measuring up to l; inches across. 
At the show of buds we move some into a warmer house and flower them for Christmas, 
New Years and Jmuarye The balance left in the cool house flower in February and 
Marche In addition to the following listing of flowering size plants we often 
have smaller plants in established divisions or offshoots, a year or two from 
flowering, the prices and descriptions of which will be sent upon requeste 
Every collection should include some plants of this beautiful and showy Orchid. 
LAGER & HURRELL 
SUMMIT, NEW JERSEY 
Established 1896 
