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How often should I divide my Cattleya orchid plant? 
You can usually divide a plant when it has 6 or 8 
bulbs or more. It is not necessary, however, unless 
you want to make more plants. If a plant is producing 
a satisfactory amount of flowers there is no advantage 
in dividing a plant. 
I live in Wisconsin and it gets bitterly cold here in the 
winter. Can I grow orchids in this climate? 
You can if you have a heated home. 
Do I need a greenhouse to grow Orchids? 
No. You need anly a heated home and windows for 
light. 
Can I give my orchid plants artificial electric light and 
thus stimulate them to better growth and more flowers? 
No. Orchid plants need 10 to 12 hours of light daily. 
Given artificial light at night saps their vitality and 
will stop them from blooming altogether. They must 
rest and sleep just as you do. 
My home is oil heated. Will this affect the plant? 
No. However, any heated home will benefit by in- 
creasing humidity. You can do this by simply placing 
the plants in dishes of wet pebbles or bird grit. 
In my city they use chemicals to purify our drinking 
water. Will this hurt the plant in any way? 
No. Any water fit for human consumption is fit for 
an orchid plant. 
Can I hang my plants out in trees in the summer time? 
Yes. They will benefit by the moist, night air. 
My Orchid plant is a beautiful shade of rich dark 
green. It looks healthy but has not flowered this 
spring. Why hasn't it? 
Your plant has not received enough light. The dark 
green color is the proof. Orchid leaves receiving the 
correct amount of light will have light grass green 
leaves. Place your plant closer to the window to re- 
ceive more light. 
In repotting a Cattleya Orchid plant what must I do 
with all those roots clinging to the pot? How can I 
prevent injury to the roots? 
Do not worry about the roots. Cut them all short, to 
about one inch in size. Orchid plants, contrary io 
many books, do best on a NEW root system if properly 
handled in repotting. After you repot the plant, do not 
pot water the plant for 60 days, but sprinkle the leaves 
faithfully every morning on sunny days, and again at 
noon. Within 30 days you will see a wonderful new 
root system developing. 
Will my orchid plant die after it blooms? 
Certainly not. It will get bigger and bigger each year 
Where do I cut the flowers from a Cattleya orchid 
plant? 
It really does not matter, but take as much stem as 
possible and it will keep the flower in better shape. 
How often do Cattleya Orchids bloom? 
Most of them flower once a year. A few may flower 
twice a year or whenever they complete a new 
growth, which may be every six months. 
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