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. How may the necessary high humidity be maintained in the greenhouse when 
one is away and does not have automatic humidity controls? 
. Spread gravel or crushed rock on the floor, use brick walks and place trays of 
coke under the benches. When well dampened down these will give off mois- 
ture for a long time. Sprays or atomizers under the benches automatically 
controlled are the perfect answer. 
. Does it hurt to leave the flowers on the plant for a long time? 
. The flowers do take some strength from the plant, but if the plant is a strong 
and healthy specimen, it will not injure it to leave the blooms on it. If the 
plant is weak, they should be removed. If the plant is in a very poor con- 
dition, it is well not to allow it to bloom at all. 
. Where do I cut the bloom from a Cattleya plant? 
. Always cut through the sheath about a half inch above the place where it joins 
the leaf and pseudobulb, using a clean sharp knife and making certain that a 
clean surface is left. ; 
. What do you do with backbulbs? 
. If the plant is worthy of propagation, the backbulbs may be placed in a warm, 
humid spot, perhaps under the benches, and given light syringings until there 
is evidence of new growth. Then they are potted the same as mature plants, 
using a wire staple to hold the rootless rhizome firmly in the compost. 
. Is a Cattleya a parasite? 
. No, the Cattleya is an epiphyte and derives much of its nourishment from the 
air. It is merely a tenant of the tree upon which it grows. 
. Should orchid corsages be kept in the refrigerator? 
No. Home refrigerators are usually too cold and the flower soon fades after 
being brought out into the warmer outside air. ( Florists’ refrigerators carry a 
temperature of 45 to 48 degrees.) It is better to keep your orchid bloom in a 
cool place where it may be seen and its beauty enjoyed. 
. Please tell me the maximum number of times per year one can safely spray 
orchids with DDT. 
. DDT is not a spray to use casually, and should be used only when there is a 
need. As a matter of fact, excessive use allows the population of springtails and 
red spider to increase because it is ineffective against these, while it removes 
their predators. Its chief use for orchids is to rid them of scale and to control 
thrips. The latter are a particular nuisance in warm weather, when they blow 
in from the garden, and they may be accompanied by leaf hoppers and various 
other garden insects. A fair schedule for DDT would be once a month from 
April or May through September, and either not at all in the winter, or not 
more that once in three months if there is a need. 
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