INSTRUCTIONS 
DESIRABLE CONDITIONS FOR RAISING ORCHIDS 
Temperature, light, water, (Both humidity and pot watering), ventilation and food are the basic ingredients 
involved in growing orchids. 
DESIRABLE TEMPERATURE—58 to 60 degrees farhenheit minimum at night with a 10 to 15 degree raise 
during the day. 
LIGHT—As much filtered or reflected light as possible without burning. A shading of cheese cloth or 
“Glass” curtain is ideal. 
WATER—Humidity and watering are two separate subjects when applied to orchid culture. Humidity refers to 
the moisture content of the air and is a very important factor in orchid culture. Orchids like a 60% to 70% 
humidity to keep them from drying out too fast and yet they do not like too frequent pot waterings. To add 
humidity, place the pot on a container of pebbles approximately 24%” deep. An inch of water should be kept 
in the pebbles but do not allow water level to come up to the top of the pebbles and keep the bottom of the 
pot moist. In summer additional humidity may be sprayed on the foliage with a fine spray (The kitchen sink or 
the bath tub will serve nicely for this purpose), being sure you do not really give the fibre a real watering. 
THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. DO NOT OVER-WATER THE FIBRE. 
Incidentally, the kitchen window is an ideal location for growing orchids because of the extra humidity found in 
the kitchen and bathrooms. Some growers find their plants grow well in the utility room where the washing 
machine is giving off additional moisture. You will think of even better ways to supply this extra moisture in 
your particular set-up. 
Once a week thoroughly water each plant by pouring water through the plant until the excess water runs 
out the bottom of the pot. Then allow it to thoroughly dry out before watering again. This applies to plants in 
4” and 5” pots; smaller pots may need to be watered more often while larger pots will not require water once a 
week. Although orchids like a high humidity, they do not like to have their roots wet continually. 
VENTILATION is closely related to temperature but orchid plants really enjoy fresh air. We like to give 
as much ventilation as we can without putting the plants in a direct draft. Too much draft will dry out the plants 
too fast making it hard to keep up the humidity but here again you can work out a satisfactory way to give the 
plants fresh air. 
FOOD—Most of the food requirements of orchids are taken care of by the osmunda fibre that they are 
grown in but many actual experiments definitely show that orchids grow faster, bloom more and produce healthier 
bulbs when given additional food. Both inorganic and organic foods are used, both with good results. Hyponex 
is easy to use and obtain, as most 10c stores carry it. We have had very good results with Fish Emulsion. 
It is well to remember that there must be a definite balance between temperature, light, moisture, and food 
in supplementary feeding of orchids. They should be fed on a bright warm day. We start feeding our plants 
around the first of March and feed them once every two weeks until September 15th. The plants are thorough- 
ly watered once between feedings to wash out the collected fertilizer salts. Use the fertilizer according to the 
suggestions of the manufacturer. 
Potting—Cattleya orchids and some of the other genera are usually potted in Osmunda fibre, the root mass 
of the Osmunda fern. Detailed instructions for repotting orchids are given in the many available books on 
Orchid Culture. We will be glad to send you detailed instructions for potting cattleya orchids with your order 
of orchid plants if you so desire. Please ask for instructions for repotting orchids. 
—Lee Orchid Co. 
