Each winter I grow tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, crocus, amaryllis, and African violets in my window. But most spectacular of all my indoor plants are the cattleya orchids—the popular florist’s corsage flower.
Ideal Conditions in Bathtub
For months they lived under ideal conditions in our bathtub until I was faced with the ultimatum, “Move them, or move out.”
Humidity in Bathtub
In the bathroom, where humidity was ideal, the original plant doubled and tripled in size, so I divided it into three.
Our bathroom has a southeastern exposure, ensuring plenty of sunlight. A tilt of the venetian blind cut off the intensity of the noonday sun.
Closed Door and Shut Offed Radiator
The radiator was shut off at night and the door was closed. But when the family objected to sharing the tub with three enormous pots of orchids, I had to make other arrangements.
Cool Spared Bedroom
I moved my plants to a two-tiered wrought-iron tea wagon, which I keep in the cool spare bedroom.
Sunshine All Day, Cool Room At Night
I wheel the tea wagon to the bathroom to be sprayed, push it into sunshine all day except at noon, and back into the cool room at night.
Now my plants are crowding the tea wagon and I have added a few epidendrums so the next step will have to be a small lean-to greenhouse.
I found that orchid flowers last a month on the plant and as long as two weeks when cut and placed in water.
Floral Endurance Contest Winners?
This makes them winners in any floral endurance contest. The plants are hardy and will survive under abuse, but they will flower only under certain conditions.
If you are willing and able to regulate temperature, fresh air, sunshine, nourishment, water, and humidity to fill their needs, you can achieve gratifying results.
Cattleya Orchids Requirements
Cattleya orchids are native to tropical and subtropical regions and so prefer a temperature of 60° to 70° degrees during the day and a cooler temperature of 50° to 60° degrees by night.
You can meet this requirement by keeping the heat shut off at night during winter in the room where you grow your orchids.
Good Air Circulation and Fresh Air
They like good air circulation and fresh air, which can be provided by opening a window in an adjoining room so no cold drafts reach them.
Orchids need 6 to 8 hrs of sunlight daily.
Placement in South or Southeast Window
If you place them in a south or southeast window, which has a Venetian blind or muslin cur-thin that can be drawn across the window at noon.
You simulate conditions found in their native jungle where dense foliage shields the plants from the direct rays of the noonday sun. In winter when the sunlight is weak, a curtain is not necessary.
Watering is Necessary
Watering needs can be met by soaking the entire pot in a pail of water once a week, then letting the excess water drain off. Feed monthly with a portion of weak soluble plant food.
Proper Humidity Maintenance
Maintaining the proper humidity is a major problem in the house. An overhead sprinkling once or twice a day helps increase relative humidity, which ideally should be about 50% to 60%.
Raising orchids is fun and it’s easy. Try it!
44659 by Edith Backer