Most people believe that Orchid plants are 
parasites because they cling to trees in their 
natural state of growth. Nothing is further 
from the truth. An Orchid will cling equally as 
well to a pane of glass, a piece of tile, a stone, 
or a lead pipe! If proper proportions of water, 
sunlight and air are given to the plant it will 
grow on anything. A parasite is something that 
destroys whatever it clings too. An Orchid 
simply holds on for support. It is the history 
of its very existence. 
In its native state the seeds of a Cattleya 
Orchid are blown by the wind into trees and in 
the crevices of stones. As soon as the roots 
form they will cling to whatever object they are 
in contact with. On this precarious perch begins 
the life cycle of a Cattleya Orchid plant. If it is 
lucky enough to survive to an adult age it will 
begin to flower somewhere between the seventh 
and tenth year. Once it reaches blooming age 
it should continue to flower every year. Some 
of the cattleya hybrids will often flower twice a 
year. A hybrid is produced by crossing two 
varieties of orchids, thus producing a new, and 
often better breed of Orchid. 
Grown under good conditions Orchids double 
their size every two years. They are then 
transferred into larger pots or they may be split 
up and made into two plants. I have seen a 
thirty year old Orchid plant with as many as 150 
flowers on it at a single time. They do not die 
with old age, but become bigger and bigger each 
year and more productive. Their life span is 
“forever”, so to speak. 
I recommend that all plants be changed into 
larger pots every two years. The Osmunda 
should also be changed every two years, as that 
is one of the most important steps to keep them 
blooming well. Osmunda is an organic material, 
and after two years in a pot it breaks down and 
packs to the extent that the root system of the 
plant cannot breath properly. When this hap- 
pens the old Osmunda retains water for too long 
a time and the root system of the plant may 
rot or suffocate. If the Osmunda is changed 
every two years after the plant blooms you can 
keep the plants growing for a hundred years! 
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