Division of Agr
39
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for THE CALIFORNIA AMATEUR
H.M. BUTTERFIELD
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CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURAL
it Station
MANUAL 18
THE LIBRARY
OF
THE UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA
DAVIS
for THE CALIFORNIA AMATEUR
H. M. BUTTERFIELD
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Information for the beginner 1
Propagation of orchids 2
Potting and potting materials 5
General care of orchids 8
Control of pests and diseases 11
Descriptions of varieties 17
Hints to the breeder 55
Tables of varieties 58
APRIL 1955
THE AUTHOR: H. M. Butterfield is Agriculturist in Agricultural Extension, Berkeley.
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Experiment Station and Extension Service
LIBRARY
University of California
DAVIS
I^^ :
diet @uCtcvtf, . . .
is so clearly defined in present-day references that amateur
gardeners of moderate means can successfully groxv many of tin-
popular varieties. Most of these orchids come from the tropics Of
suhtropics. A number of native orchids do grow in the United
States and Canada — usually in cool bogs and moist grasslands —
but they are not of primary interest to amateur growers in Cali-
fornia.
The exotic orchids fall into two general groups: terrestrial.
living in soil and leaf mold; or epiphytic, living on other plants
or on rocks where leaf mold and other organic matter have ac-
cumulated.
Information tor the beginner who
hopes to grow orchids at home
Orchid requirements
Moisture, light, temperature, ventila-
tion, air conditioning, and air humidity
are important. Most of the popular or-
chids are exacting of moisture, light, and
temperature, needs that are best met and
controlled by a suitable greenhouse or
some other type of cover. A few of the
hardier orchids, such as the cymbidiums
and cypripediums, do very well under
lath or similar protective covering dur-
ing most of the year, except on cold
winter nights, when even the sturdy va-
rieties may need extra protection. Most
orchids have specific needs in ventilation
and air conditioning in hot weather; and
some orchids are exacting of air humid-
ity, while others are not. These problems
are discussed in this manual under the
selection and general care of orchids.
The highly variable oncidiums (at left) are
interesting in color and form. Flowers usually
are small, with several on a stem.
After a decision is made on tin- kinds
of orchids to plant, and suitable quarters
are provided, the techniques of potting
and propagation should be learned. In
addition, something must be learned
about the control of serious pests and
diseases.
Cost of investment
Orchid plants of the best qual it \ are
costly. Their purchase represents an im-
portant investment which should be pro-
tected with necessary information on
culture and growing conditions. These
requirements met, the grower can antici-
pate success with some of the superioi
kinds, even those classed as difficult to
grow. Fortunately, not all of the superior
new varieties are necessaril) hard to
handle.
The chances are that many of the va-
rieties of cattle\as and cymbidiums, for
example, will be no more difficult to
grow than common species of mediocre
quality. However, the ven fact that they
[i]
are expensive to buy should be sufficient
caution to the beginner to wait until he
has learned the essentials of orchid cul-
ture before purchasing them. As experi-
ence is gained and interest is expanded,
the more difficult orchids can be tried.
Names of orchids
It is essential for the beginner to be
acquanted with the names of good or-
chids. This means access to sources of
information.
Organizations of orchid fanciers offer
helpful information through handbooks
and reports. Available, too, are period-
icals that will keep the orchid grower up
to date on information in the field. Ad-
vertisements in such publications call
attention to new varieties and to better
cultural practices. A list of references
and publications is appended to this
manual for readers who are seeking ad-
ditional information.
Growers who are interested in the ex-
hibition of superior specimens at flower
shows should find very helpful the Hand-
book on Judging and Exhibition, pub-
lished by the American Orchid Society,
Incorporated, Botanical Museum of Har-
vard University, Cambridge, Massachu-
setts.
Other helpful sources are dealers, who
can furnish information on listed varie-
ties and species, and members of orchid
societies, who have an interest in supe-
rior varieties. By comparing notes with
other growers, a beginner in time will
come to know which orchids are con-
sidered superior and where such supe-
rior varieties can be purchased.
Orchids may be propagated by any
of three different methods
Orchids are increased by seed, by cut-
tings, and by dividing the mother plant.
The method of dividing often is slow;
many commercial growers therefore de-
pend largely upon seed for propagation,
even though the seedlings may show
some variation.
Orchid seed usually is planted during
the spring months. Germination should
take place within four to six weeks for
I he popular kinds, where the temperature
is held at 58° to 86° F. A seedling or-
chid normally takes from four to six
years to reach blooming size.
By seed
Germination method. The process
most often used in germination is known
as the Knudsen method, which employs
certain soluble mineral compounds and
agar. Orchid seedlings differ from most
oilier kinds of seedlings in requiring
sugar in the nutrient solution or soon
dying without it. (-hums have been made
[2
that orchid root mycorhiza improve the
growth of seedlings germinated by the
Knudsen method, but these claims have
not been substantiated by some commer-
cial growers.
The agar solution used in the Knudsen
method is made up by the following
formula, then is sterilized before use:
Calcium nitrate,
Ca(NO,) 2 .4H,0 1.00 gram
Monobasic potassium
phosphate, KH.PO* .. 0.25 gram
Magnesium sulfate,
MgSO.JrLO 0.25 gram
Iron sulfate,
FeSO,.7rLO 0.025 gram
Manganese sulfate,
MnSCMILO 0.0075 gram
Ammonium sulfate,
(NH.hSO 0.50 gram
Distilled water 1.00 liter
Cane sugar (sucrose) ..20.00 grams
\rar (powdered) 15.00 grams
Acidity test. The acidity of the nu-
trient solution is very important. It
should be fixed at about pH 5 (pH 4.8
l
to 5.2) . Since the nature of the chemicals
in the solution varies somewhat, it is
impossible to be exact about the amounts
of each in order to give the desired acid-
ity. The ease of testing for acidity, how-
ever, should make possible the proper
regulation of the acidity in the nutrient
agar. Since the agar serves as a buffer
in the acid reaction, testing the sample
is done after the agar has been added.
If much testing is to be done, a small
testing plate should be purchased.
Bromcresol purple, either the ordinary
dye solution or test paper immersed in
the dye solution, is used to test a sample
of the formula for acidity. The purple
color of the acid indicator changes
sharply to yellow as the acidity increases.
Bromthymol blue is another indicator
used. It turns green when the reaction is
neutral (pH 7), and yellow when the
reaction is acid (pH 6).
The acidit) may be increased b> add-
ing about one drop of concentrated
phosphoric acid and stirring until pll 6
i^ reached. \- man) as three drops may
be more than enough to insure the
proper acidity. Phosphoric arid nor-
mally is sterile. 'I he acidit) of the agar
solution is adjusted appropriately after
the solution is heated gently until the
agar dissolves.
Plant container. The Erlenmeyei
flask (below) is the container most often
used for growing orchid seedlings. Int<»
each flask is poured 120 to L30 cubic
centimeters of the agar solution. The
opening of the flask is plugged with
cotton.
Sterilizing the solution. The solu-
tion must be sterilized — in an autoclave,
if one is available — at 15 pounds' pres-
sure for 20 minutes. During this process
be very careful not to caramelize the
Orchids are being grown from seed in these flasks. On the right, seedlings are beginning to
appear on the surface of the agar. On the left, seedlings are ready for transplanting.
[3]
sugar (sucrose) by excessive heat. If an
autoclave is not available, sterilize the
solution with flowing steam in an Arnold
sterilizer at 100° for one hour a day for
three successive days. Failure to sterilize
the culture medium unfailingly will lead
to trouble. As soon as the material is
sterilized, remove the flask and set it
in an upright position.
Sterilizing the seed. Orchid seed
also is sterilized. This may be done with
a solution of chloride, of lime (calcium
hypochlorite) — 19 grams to 120 cubic
centimeters of distilled water. Shake the
chloride of lime and distilled water
vigorously for a few minutes, then filter
the mixture. Moisten the seed thoroughly
in this disinfectant for four to five min-
utes. (A longer exposure for cattleya
and laelia seed does not seem to cause
any harm.) Successful results have also
been obtained by using bromine water
diluted at the rate of 1 part bromine to
10 parts distilled water. The sterilized
seed should be drained for 5 to 10 min-
utes, away from any possible means of
contamination.
Planting method. All objects used
in the planting processes must be steril-
ized: flask plug, seed, nutrient-agar solu-
tion, and wire loop. Carefully remove the
plug from the flask. Scatter the seed over
the surface of the nutrient-agar solution
with a wire loop. About 2,500 to 3,000
seeds are placed in each liter flask. This
amount of seed is equal in size to half a
grain of rice and should produce about
1,000 seedlings to a flask. Where the
germination is known to be low, use
enough seed to equal in size a whole
grain of wheat.
Sealing the flask. As soon as the
seed is planted, reinsert the sterilized
cotton plug in the flask and seal by any
one of three methods: 1) By coating the
Bask top with melted paraffin, and cover-
ing the top with tinfoil, cellophane, or a
clear plasl ic w tapping. Hold this in place
with a rubber band, then seal the edges
with paraffin. 2) By covering the open-
ing with white tobacco paper — a method
used in some culture work — which favors
a greater exchange of air. First, smear
the rim of the flask with gelatin contain-
ing a little copper sulfate, then cover the
rim with the white tobacco paper, the
projecting edges of which are singed.
With this method, also, cap the entire
top with tinfoil, cellophane, or clear
plastic to prevent contamination through
the plug under humid air conditions.
3) By inserting a piece of glass tubing
in a rubber stopper in the flask, and
placing in this tubing an ordinary ab-
sorbent cotton filter. This method is a
substitute for filling the entire opening
of the flask with a cotton plug. It elimi-
nates the necessity of further capping
the neck of the bottle with some material
to help prevent aerial contamination.
Planting the seedlings. Seedling
orchids usually are large enough in 8 to
12 months for their first transplanting.
By that time they should have the third
leaf and several strong roots % to %
inch long. The entire planting process
must be handled with great care. The
seedlings are removed from the flask
with a pointed knife or a dibble, and are
dropped into a shallow receptacle of
water for a few minutes to dissolve the
gelatinous material in which they were
growing.
The small seedlings are first planted in
2%- or 3-inch pots, about 25 to each pot.
The pots are half filled with charcoal and
small pieces of broken crock, and are
topped with finely cut osmundine. The
small fibers of the osmundine are firmly
packed around the roots of the seedlings
during the planting process. The pots
should be placed in a box, which is glass
lidded to keep the atmosphere moist at
approximately 70° to 80°. Cattleya seed-
lings are grown first in standard 3-inch
pots, then are shifted to 4-inch fern pots.
Twice a day the seedlings are watered
with distilled water or rainwater applied
in a thin, mistlike spray with a hand
atomizer. Do not water them too often
[4]
if ventilation is poor; this may Lead to
dam ping-off.
After growing in the 2%- or 3-inch
pots for 6 to 10 months, the seedlings
are transferred to individual, 1%-ineh
pots and placed on henches in the open
greenhouse. The seedlings must he trans-
ferred before they become crowded.
By cuttings
Orchids with aerial roots, such as
vanda, may be increased by a cutting,
including some of the roots. New shoots
may also develop on the remaining old
plant. That is why some growers place
the older pieces on the ground under a
bench until buds develop and then pot
the growing pieces in the usual way or
in small pots filled with gravel. Plantlets
form on old stems of oncidium after the
flowering season; these can be removed
and planted when the roots are well de-
veloped.
When the stems of the basket or crib
orchid begin to creep over the edge of
the container, after the season - flower-
ing i- past, ii is time to dii ide the rhi-
zome.
By dividing the mother plant
Orchids that have been given a variety
name may be increased 1>\
ft
roots, such as phalaenopsis. should be
planted lightly. Such orchids as cattleya
and dendrobium need to be potted as
firmly as possible. The rule of giving
greater drainage to the poorer plants is
worth considering.
Packing the roots. A hard planting
stick sharpened to a wedge, or a narrow
piece of metal is used to work in pieces
of osmunda from the edge of the con-
tainer, always crowding them in from
the edge toward the center until no more
fiber can be wedged in. If the osmunda
has the proper degree of moisture, it will
remain firm; if it is too wet, it is likely to
shrink and leave the plant loose. The
potting mixture for terrestrial orchids,
such as cymbidium and cypripedium
(paphiopedilum), is packed about the
roots with the fingers and a planting
stick. All growing tips finally should rest
near the surface of the fiber.
Staking. Very tall pseudobulbs may
require staking. Small bamboo stakes
are cut to a point and inserted into the
fiber beside each leaf. The leaves then
are tied to the stakes with raffia or plant
bands. New leaves appearing do not need
to be tied.
Repotting. Orchids grown in baskets
or cribs are repotted by pulling away old
potting material and replacing it with
new. This work is done as gently as pos-
sible to avoid injuring the roots. Old
pseudobulbs that are badly yellowed and
shriveled no longer are useful. Their
stems may be severed and the old part
set aside to develop eyes. The good part
of the plant should be set as required
and the pot then entirely filled in with
potting material.
When dividing large clumps of cym-
bidiums, separate the older back bulbs —
which have lost their leaves — from the
leafy pseudobulbs as gently as possible
without injuring the roots of the younger
parts. In pots large enough to permit
continued growth for at least two grow-
ing seasons replant the young, healthy
pseudobulbs that have leaves. The pot
may need to be as large as 6 inches or
more in diameter.
Set the oldest part of the plant against
the side of the pot, with the growing
point toward the center of the pot. Place
the old, leafless back bulbs in individual
pots containing mostly gravel until they
have had time to send out new growth.
Perhaps as many as 90 per cent of these
old back bulbs will produce new plants.
As soon as the new plants have developed
a few good roots, transfer them to the
regular potting mixture used for cym-
bidiums. Do not keep the back bulbs too
wet while they are developing new
growth, and do not expose them to ex-
cessive heat. Give them a moderate
amount of light.
Here are some suggestions on the
general care of orchid plants
Irrigation
Types of watering. These include
damping-down, spraying or sprinkling,
and soaking. Damping-down means wet-
ting the benches and supports to increase
humidity. Spraying or sprinkling means
using a fine overhead spray, which also
helps to control insect pests. The over-
head system is safe only when the tem-
perature is high and ventilation is good.
Ordinary watering is given to potted
orchids when the roots are active. Most
orchids require frequent and thorough
watering during the period of active
growth.
Greenhouse watering. Weather is
the gauge of greenhouse irrigation. In
very rainy weather, for example, many
cattleya plants can go without water for
two or even three weeks. In very hot
weather, watering is done daily after the
hottest part of the day. In very hot
weather, also, the greenhouse floor
should be dampened down several times
a day to keep the atmosphere cool.
Some orchids thrive in a moist atmos-
phere. Correct air humidity can be at-
tained by humidifiers which are avail-
able on the market. For orchids which
do not thrive in too moist an atmosphere,
[81
more ventilation may be needed to over-
come frequent damping-down or sprin-
kling. Water splashing should be avoided
where foliage is likely to be injured, BUcfa
as that of dossinia; in fact, to favor
keeping qualities the blooms of many
orchids should be reasonably dry at all
times.
Amounts of water. Orchids without
pseudobulbs should never lack water.
These include such genera as Aerides,
Cypripedium (Paphiopedilum), Masde-
vallia, Phalaenopsis, and Vanda. Orchid
genera such as Cypripedium (Paphio-
pedilum), Phaius (Phajus) , and So-
bralia should be watered as soon as the
surface of the pot becomes dry.
Cultural suggestions already given for
specific genera have called attention to
the watering of certain kinds of orchids.
These may be summarized briefly as fol-
lows:
1. Genera that require liberal water-
ing at all seasons: Dendrobium (ever-
green species), Cypripedium (Paphio-
pedilum), Ly caste, Masdevallia, Odonto-
glossum, Oncidium, Phalaenopsis, and
Vanda. (Phalaenopsis may be injured by
water on new growth or on leaves.)
2. Genera that require liberal water-
ing during the growing season: Aerides,
Ansellia, Brassavola, Brassia, Chysis,
Coelogyne, Cymbidium, Dendrobium,
Disa, Grammatophyllum, Maxillaria,
Miltonia, Oncidium, Pescatorea, Phaius
(Phajus), Pleione, Rodriguezia (Bur-
lingtonia), Schomburgkia, Scuticaria,
Sobralia, Stanhopea. (Phaius may be in-
jured by water on new growth or on
leaves.)
3. Genera that should not be over-
watered: Cattleya, Catasetum, Cyrto-
podium, and Dossinia. (Cattleya may be
sprayed overhead on bright days. Cyrto-
podium and Dossinia may be injured by
water on new growth or on leaves.)
4. Genera that need a rest period : De-
ciduous orchids should not be watered
much during the rest period. Rest peri-
ods are needed: a) after flowering for
Anguloa, Bletilla {Bletia I . and Calanthe;
hi in winter lor Cycnoches, Dendrobium
(deciduous Bpecies), Habenaria, and
Laeiia; c) after growth for Oncidium
spei -iea from Mexico and Central Amer-
ica, Pleione, and Stanhopea*
5. Genera that need especially good
drainage: Ansellia, Calanthe, Cattleya,
Cymbidium, Grammatophyllum. Oncid-
ium. Renanthera, Rodriguezia (Burling-
tonia) , and Trichopilia. (In potting,
allow V:', shards in pol for Maxillaria and
Vl> for Odontoglossum.
Ventilation
Requirements. Genera that thrive
with high humidity require less ventila-
tion than those which do well with only
moderate humidity. Dossinia, for
ample, requires little air, while Aerides
and Angraecum are often referred to as
air plants. Genera that do best with
plenty of ventilation include Aerides,
Angraecum, Cattleya, Odontoglossum,
and Phalaenopsis.
The amount of ventilation needed i-
naturally influenced by outside tempera-
ture and air movement. In cold weather,
the greenhouse ventilators may be
opened fairly wide for a short time, then
closed. In hot, dry weather, more venti-
lation is needed to maintain the proper
temperature for cool-house orchids. A
small amount of bottom ventilation — in
addition to top ventilation — keeps air
from becoming stagnant. Good ventila-
tion is necessary if foliage must he wet
on bright days.
Shade and light
Amount. Several orchid genera re-
quire protection from strong sunlight,
including Calanthe, Cattleya. Laeiia, Ly-
caste, Masdevallia. Maxillaria. Miltonia.
Odontoglossum. Rodriguezia i Burling-
tonia), and Stanhopea. Vanda does 1" Si
with some shade from February to N '
\ ember. Miltonia needs shade during the
rest period. Cypripedium. Masdevallia,
and Maxillaria usually should have some
[9]
shade with less than 50 per cent sunlight,
but most of the other popular orchids
need only semishade or more than 50
per cent sunlight.
Other orchid genera need considerable
light, such as Aerides, Brassavola, Cata-
setum, Grammatophyllum, Renanthera,
and Schomburgkia.
Temperature
Variation in requirements. Or-
chids are often divided into groups ac-
cording to temperature requirements.
One group does best with a cool temper-
ature of about 50° or above (see table
10). Another group of intermediate or-
chids should have a temperature of about
65° as a minimum (see table 12).
Beginners should not overlook the fact
that temperature is often much more
difficult to hold down to a safe maximum
than to keep up to a safe minimum. The
hardier cool-house orchids, such as
cypripediums and cymbidiums, often
grow better outside than inside a warm
greenhouse during most of the warmer
months. On the other hand, unless these
hardy orchids are grown in a shaded
greenhouse, they may need artificial
shade for their individual needs, such as
lath or filtered tree light.
Even though there may be only a few
days of frost danger in the mild areas of
California, usually it is best to have some
place — a heated greenhouse, room, or
similar enclosure — to house the orchids
in winter so they will not be damaged by
low temperatures.
Fertilizing
If a good potting mixture is used at
planting and if repotting is done every
other year, there should be little need
for fertilizing. The great majority of
orchids thrive with osmunda fern fiber.
Commercial fertilizers. The begin-
ner is advised not to experiment with
fertilizers, although experienced com-
mercial growers have had success with
them. If fertilizing is attempted, use a
weak solution. The Cookson formula
calls for 2 ounces of monoammonium
phosphate and 3 ounces of potassium
nitrate in 3 gallons of tap water. This
stock nutrient solution is used for water-
ing orchid plants at the rate of 1 ounce
to each gallon of tap water. It may be
acidified with 12 to 14 drops of phos-
phoric acid. Some growers alternate the
use of tap water and the nutrient solu-
tion.
Organic fertilizers. Certain genera
of orchids, including Bletilla (Bletia) ,
Calanthe, Coelogyne, Cymbidium, Cyrto-
podium, Phaius (Phajus) , Pleione, and
Sobralia do well with a good loam pot-
ting mixture. Weak liquid cow manure
has been used for such orchids as Calan-
the, Coelogyne, Cymbidium, Cypripe-
dium (Paphiopedilum), Odontoglossum,
Phaius (Phajus), and Sobralia. Chim-
neysoot water containing a little nitrogen
has been used for Cattleya.
Nutrient culture
Specialist's hobby. Orchids have
been grown in gravel and similar media
with the aid of a nutrient solution to
furnish the necessary plant foods. Per-
sons interested in experimenting with
special cultural methods, who are also
willing and able to supply the proper
equipment and attention, can be success-
ful. It should be emphasized, however,
that in many instances it is much easier
to grow orchids in fern fiber or in a good
compost mixture than by special meth-
ods. Many orchid growers who have
tried the nutrient cultures finally return
to the usual methods simply because less
work and expense are involved.
Persons interested in growing orchids
in nutrient culture may consult local
libraries for references that give for-
mulas for preparing the nutrient solution
and illustrate suitable equipment. The
ordinary amateur orchid grower is rarely
interested in these special methods.
[10]
Measures to take for the control
of pests and diseases
Pests
Orchids are subject to infestation or
attack by many kinds of insects and
other pests. The more important of these
include mites, thrips, aphids, scale in-
sects, weevils, cattleya flies, slugs, and
snails. Ants are also troublesome at
times, although they do not attack the
plants directly. Fortunately, most of these
pests are controlled satisfactorily with
modern spray materials and techniques.
Good sanitation will still be necessary,
however, as well as a start with pest-free
plants.
Aphids. Aphids or plant lice attack-
ing orchids include the latania aphid and
occasionally the green peach aphid. The
latania aphid somewhat resembles the
young whitefly, and occurs on orchids,
ferns, and palms. Control is possible
with nicotine sulfate and soap, used in
light applications to avoid injury to the
orchid plants. Nicotine dusts usually
leave an objectionable residue. A tea-
spoon of Black Leaf 40 to a gallon of
water plus slightly more than 1 fluid
ounce of liquid fish-oil soap are sug-
gested. Lindane is also effective.
Cattleya flies. This pest occurs with-
in the small flower buds or pseudobulbs
of cattleya orchids. The infested buds
never bloom. DDT sprays have been
effective against cattleya flies as well as
thrips and weevils. Allow about % ounce
of 50 per cent wettable DDT per gallon
of water.
Mealybugs. The long-tailed mealy-
bug and the palm mealybug sometimes
attack phalaenopsis orchids. Hosing off
the plants helps to control mealybugs.
Removing them with a brush is feasible
only where there are a few. Light sum-
mer-oil sprays may be used safel) on
some orchid plants (see scale insects,
p. 12).
Mites. Two kinds of mites (page 12 i
attack orchids: these are the common
two-spotted Bpider mite, on cymbidium
orchids; and the false spider mite, of
which the phalaenopsis mite, known for
pitting the upper surface of phalaenopsis
leaves, is one of the most important. Light
oil may be used on tolerant plant-. Syring-
ing may control the two-spotted mite; a
product known as Aramite has also been
effective. Dinite has been recommended
as a most satisfactory control for false
spider mites. Dilute the 25 per cent emul-
sion at the rate of 1 teaspoon per gallon
of water.
Deep pitting and silvering of this leaf were
caused by the phalaenopsis mite.
[ii]
The adult female of the two-spotted spider
mite.
Scale insects. The several kinds of
scale insects attacking orchids include
Boisduval scale, cottony orchid scale,
cymbidium scale, false parlatoria scale,
noxious scale, Mackie scale, orchid soft
scale, and proteus scale (see below) . The
Boisduval scale occurs mostly on cattleya
and cymbidium orchids, but also attacks
some other kinds. The cottony orchid
scale is found occasionally. The false par-
latoria scale attacks phoenix palms and
cypripedium orchids. The Mackie and
noxious scales are found on dendrobium
orchids. The cymbidium scale closely re-
sembles oystershell scales and is found
only on cymbidium orchids.
Wettable DDT sprays are effective
against the crawlers of such scales as
Boisduval, cymbidium, and Mackie. If
growers have adequate facilities to fumi-
gate their potted orchids with methyl bro-
mide they will have highly effective con-
trol, but most small growers do not have
facilities for the safe use of this gas.
Cyanide fumigation has been tried in
some instances, but cyanide is so danger-
ous that not many orchid growers care
to run the risk of injury to themselves or
the orchid plants. Low humidity — as
well as adequate facilities — is essential
to the safe use of cyanide fumigation.
Light oil sprays are effective and may
be used on plants that are tolerant. One
Left, cymbidium scale on cymbidium orchid;
right, proteus scale on vanda.
per cent of a summer oil amounts to 1%
ounce per gallon of water. Hardy plants
may stand twice this amount.
Badly infested orchid plants should be
segregated until they can be cleaned up.
If DDT is used, 1 pound of actual DDT
should be allowed per 100 gallons of
water. For example, if a 50 per cent
wettable DDT powder is used, allow a
minimum of about % ounce per gallon
of water.
Slugs and snails. The gray garden
slug and the bush snail are sometimes
pests on orchids. The popular poison
baits containing metaldehyde are most
effective. Handpicking of these pests at
night also may help in control.
Sowbugs. These are troublesome on
very tender petals or buds. Finely ground
poison baits aid in the control of sow-
bugs. DDT and lindane also have been
used.
Thrips. At least three kinds of thrips
attack orchids, including the California
orchid thrips, the English orchid thrips,
and the yellow orchid thrips. The Cali-
fornia orchid thrips is found on various
kinds of orchids in greenhouses. The
English orchid thrips may also attack
several kinds of orchids. The yellow
orchid thrips feeds on the upper surface
of cattleya leaves. These thrips may be
controlled by spraying with about ' g
ounce of wettable 50 per cent DDT per
gallon of water. DDT in benzol also baa
been used. The grower using DDT should
carefully follow the directions on the
package.
Weevils. Three kinds of vvee\ils have
attacked orchids in California. The
cattleya weevil is a large, black-snouted
insect with conspicuous white markings
on the wing covers. It may puncture
pseudobulbs or buds, and the larvae feed
within the pseudobulbs, stems, and
leaves. Fortunately, the cattleya weevil is
not often found here. The black dioryme-
rellus orchid weevil is smaller than the
cattleya weevil and is shiny black. The
adults feed on flower buds, petals, and
young leaves at night. They hide at the
leaf bases or in the potting material dur-
ing the day. The grubs feed inside the
roots, causing them to blacken and die.
This weevil once was a destructive pest
of cattleya and dendrobium orchids in
California, but is now almost entirely
controlled by the wettable DDT spray
used for the control of scale insects and
thrips.
Black vine weevil. This insect,
also known as the Brachyrhinus beetle
(Brachyrhinus sulcatus), is sometimes a
serious pest in gardens: it may even
enter greenhouses, where it attacks the
flower buds of orchids, spoiling the flow-
ers for exhibition. The weevil eggs are
dropped in the soil, usually in summer.
The eggs hatch in about two weeks, and
the grubs feed on plant roots. The larger
grubs often girdle shrubs and other
plants below the ground level. The grubs
finally transform into beetles which
emerge in the spring. They may live for
two years above ground, each laying
several hundred eggs. The pest may be
brought into the greenhouse with in-
fested soil, or the adult beetles may nan I
in slowly from the garden near the green-
house.
Control should start in the garden
where the eggs are dropped. A 50 per
rent wettable DDT ma) be used to spray
benches or plant-, a- in the control of
other weevil-. Benzine hexachloride and
chlordane have proved effective in con-
trolling the grubs thai can !>♦• reached,
but should not !•<• applied to garden -oil-
used to produce food plant- !>♦•< au-<-
they impart an objectionable flavor.
Miscellaneous pests. \nt- can be
held in check with chlordane used at the
rate of I .(> to 3.2 ounce- of a 1<) to 50 per
cent emulsion in 2^/2 gallons of water, or
about 2 to 4 teaspoons per gallon. \\ h< »re
a 50 per cent wettable powder is used,
allow 0.8 to 1.6 ounces per 2 ] '■_> gallons
of water. The popular arsenical cups also
may be used to control ant-.
The foliar nematode has attacked the
Vanda orchid Miss Joaquini. in Hawaii.
but is not known to have attacked or-
chids in California. This nematode is
present here, however, and should be
kept away from susceptible plants by
proper sanitation. Growing plants close
together, where water splashes from in-
fested leaves to healthy plants, favors the
spread of this pest once it is brought into
a greenhouse.
Springtails are sometimes a nuisance.
These are controlled with lindane spra\ -.
Directions on the package should be fol-
lowed carefully.
Virus diseases*
These are disease entities whose ulti-
mate nature is still rather obscure. They
are so small they cannot be seen through
the light microscope, hut particles which
are believed to represent virus are \ isible
in the electron microscope. \ iruses ma\
produce serious disease- in —me hosts
hut he symptomless in others.
Symptoms. Several different vim-
disease- have been described from or-
chids. The range of symptoms they pro-
duce includes mosaic mottle, chlorosis
D. I>. Jensen, who prepared this section, is
Associate Professor of Entomology and Para-
sitology ami is Associate Entomologist in the
Experiment Station. Berkeley.
13
•J
Cattleya flower breaking shows typical symp-
toms.
Cymbidium mosaic, or black streak, is the most
common virus disease known in orchids.
tft» .'
I T.
Mk
K /. "
■ i
■
or yellowing of the leaves, spots, streaks,
and rings of dead tissue, malformation
of the leaves and flowers, and "break-
ing" or variegation in the color of the
flowers. In severe cases, plants may be
killed outright or markedly stunted.
Spread. Virus diseases spread in sev-
eral ways. After gaining entry into a
previously healthy orchid, the virus in-
vades all parts of the plant from roots
to flowers. All new plants derived from
a diseased orchid by division or by back-
bulb propagation are almost certain to
carry virus with them. This practice of
vegetative propagation in orchids thus is
a major means by which the incidence
of virus diseases increases in commercial
and private plantings.
Means of infection. At the present
time the available evidence indicates that
orchid viruses are not carried through
the seed. Therefore, seedlings should be
free of virus until they become infected
from some outside source. The most prob-
able means by which previously healthy
orchids become infected are virus-carry-
ing insects (particularly aphids) and
cutting knives and shears contaminated
with infective juice from diseased plants.
Aphids usually feed very little on the
leaves of orchids, but they feed readily
and reproduce on the flowers and flower
buds.
Control. The following measures are
recommended to prevent or reduce the
spread of orchid viruses: 1) Maintain
an effective program of insect control;
2) clean cutting tools between use on
different plants; and 3) segregate dis-
eased and healthy plants whenever prac-
ticable. For example, when facilities per-
mit, keep healthy plants together in a
separate greenhouse or in one portion
of the greenhouse and diseased plants in
another. This reduces the danger of virus
spread by infective insects or by con-
lam mated knives.
There is no means known by which a
diseased orchid plant can be freed of
virus infection. However, in some cases
the symptoms may be inconspicuous or
absent during part of the year, or after
the plant has recovered from the shock
effect of initial infection.
The most common and widespread
virus in orchids is cymbidium mosaic
virus which causes mosaic and black
streaking in cymbidium. The same virus
produces dead streaks and rings in the
leaves of cattleya, sometimes even kill-
ing entire leaves. Virus diseases occur in
most of the common genera of orchids
grown in California.
Bacterial and fungus diseases*
Glass-house-grown orchids are subject
to many diseases caused by bacteria and
fungi but only four diseases have been
observed to cause serious losses. These
are the Pythium black rot of Cattleya,
and the bacterial diseases, brown spot of
Phalaenopsis and Cattleya, brown rot of
Cypripedium, and the bacterial leaf
scorch and pseudobulb rot of Miltonia
orchid hybrids. In general, these diseases
first appear as water-soaked spots either
in the leaves or the pseudobulbs. These
spots enlarge, causing either dead spots
in the leaves or rotting of the pseudo-
bulbs and rhizomes.
The bacterial diseases are spread by
the splattering of water, and the progress
of the organisms in the plant is favored
by high humidity. When these diseases
are suspected, the affected plants should
be isolated. The spread can largely be pre-
vented by avoiding overhead irrigation
and providing good aeration to promote
drying. Benches should be kept clean.
They may be disinfected with copper
naphthanate (this is also effective as a
wood preservative).
A brief description of the commoner
orchid diseases and suggestions for their
control are given below. The results of
research on these diseases and others usu-
ally appear in the journals devoted to
orchid culture.
* C. Emlen Scott, who prepared this section,
is Agriculturist, Agricultural Extension, Berke-
ley.
Pythium black rot of Cattleya.
This is an important disease <>f seedlings
and mature plant-. It starts as a water-
<(»ak*(l leaf spot and spreads through
seedlings in community pots, or it starts
on leaves or pseudobulbs "I mature
plants. Follow suggestions on sanitation
and aeration. Drench I omnium! \ potfl or
mature plants at three- to seven-da) inter-
vals with sodium salt of 2-hydrox) di-
phenyl (Natriphenei or 8-hydroxyquino-
line benzoate (or sulfate). 1 teaspoon to
2 ! 2 gallons.
Brown spot of Phalaenopsis and
Cattleya, This bacterial disease is espe-
cially severe on Phalaenopsis seedlings in
community pots. The soft, water-soaked
spots which later become brown or black
may kill Phalaenopsis plants. The disease
is not fatal on Cattleya and is confined to
older leaves. The treatment is the same as
for Pythium black rot.
Brown rot of Cypripedium. This i-
a bacterial disease quite similar to brown
spot of Phalaenopsis. Methods of control
are the same as for Pythium black rot.
Bacterial leaf scorch of Miltonia.
Spots in leaves spread rapidly under
warm moist conditions and extend to the
growing point and pseudobulb. The plant
is killed rapidly by spread of the bacteria
through the rhizome. Use a dip of sodium
salt of 2-hydroxy diphen\ I i Natriphene I
or 8-hydroxyquinoline benzoate (or sul-
fate) as given above but cut out affected
parts before treatment.
Air pollution
Smog control. Certain gases, which
include ethylene gas. max be so injurious
to the sepals of orchid-, especially some
of the commercial \ arieties, that the) are
of little value. Occasionally leaves also
are damaged.
Prevention consists of locating where
there is freedom from such troubles or
else going to the expense oi air treatment
within a greenhouse. Further studio oi
this problem are being conducted in com-
mercial establishments.
! 15 I
\
The cattieya group is highly pop-
ular because of large blooms (left)
in many colors and pleasing
forms. A stem may have one to
several blooms. Pleurothallis mar-
morata (below) has many sprays
of small flowers, and well illus-
trates the extreme variation in
sizes of orchid flowers.
i
Oicfad *? amity . . .
includes more than 500 widely distributed genera, characterized
by very irregular flowers with three sepals and three petals. The
two lateral petals are alike, while the third is modified into a lip,
which may either be spurred or formed into a pouch. Bulbous or
thickened stems are often a characteristic of orchids.
Orchid descriptions to aid the
beginner's selection
Many species of orchids have been
brought under cultivation with consider-
able success. Breeders have produced
hybrids between species in the same
genus and also hybrids between different
genera. Where plants are produced from
a certain cross, the breeder will make
selections of superior seedlings and per-
haps attach a varietal name to each
worthy new development. This is why it
is necessary to use the full name in select-
ing fine orchids by name. For example,
orchid growers may have a cross known
as Laeliocattleya Queen Mary. This name
covers a certain group in general, but a
more definite name should be applied to
a superior form, such as Westonbirt
variety of Queen Mary. This is only a
single example of many such choices
that should be made to get superior va-
rieties from the given cross. Many of
these hybrids will be mentioned in this
manual.
The orchids with large flowers and
good colors that keep well in flower
shops are often known as commercial
orchids. The genera include Cattleya,
Coelogyne, Cymbidium, Cypripedium,
Dendrobium, Miltonia. Odontoglossum,
Phalaenopsis, and Vanda. Amateur or-
chid growers in California no doubt will
be interested in both the popular com-
mercial orchids and the many others that
are not seen in the ordinary flower shop.
Many beginners think of the Cattle) a
orchid (page 16) as representing their
idea of a real orchid. However, as ac-
quaintance with different species in-
creases, interest will probably spread to
many other orchids which are not ol
interest to commercial growers. The
flowers may be inconspicuous or too
small to meet the demand of a retail
florist, or their keeping qualities ma) !"■
poor. Sometimes the plants are too tall
or too large for commercial purposes.
The fancier who does not have to depend
on the financial outcome is primarily
interested in flowering plants that have
attractive flowers, irrespective of size or
keeping quality. Some orchids may be
very rare yet are not available to the
ordinary florist for this reason.
Since color, size, form, season of
bloom, cultural requirements, and sim-
ilar factors are important in select inn
orchids, the following descriptions point
out differences to aid the beginner. No
short list of orchid species, hybrids, 01
varieties can possibly mention all of the
orchids found in collections or in refer-
ence books, but those named ma) be ol
wide interest and suggest possibilities.
Many other orchids of equal importance
[17]
can be added as experience is gained.
Dealers can offer further suggestions,
especially after it is known under what
conditions the plants are to be grown
and what particular type or types of
orchids interest the individual. Cost will
sometimes be a limiting factor, yet some
of the less expensive orchids are also
among the best. Cost and rarity are not
necessarily the only guides in selecting
the best orchids.
Among the orchid genera of primary
interest to fanciers aside from the com-
mercial orchids are Aerides, Angraecum,
Anguloa, Anota, Ansellia, Batemannia,
Bifrenaria, Bletilla (Bletia), Brassavola,
Brassia, Bulb ophy Hum, Calanthe, Cata-
setum, Chysis, Cochlioda, Cycnoches,
Cyrtopodium, Disa, Dossinia, Epiden-
drum, Eriopsis, Grammatophyllum, Hae-
maria, Houlletia, Laelia, Lycaste, Mas-
devallia, Maxillaria, Pescatorea, Phaius
( Phajus ) , Pleione, Renanthera, Rhyncho-
stylis, Rodriguezia, Saccolabium, Schom-
burgkia, Scuticaria, Sobralia, Sophro-
nitis, Stanhopea, Trichopilia, and z ygo-
petalum.
Hybrids. The many hybrids between
species and genera are of wide interest.
Among the commoner hybrid groups of
interest to amateur orchid growers will
be Brassocattleya, Brassocattlaelia, Bras-
solaelia, Epicattleya, Epilaelia, Epiphro-
nitis, Laeliocattleya, Miltonioda, Odon-
tioda, Odontoma, Odontocidium, Oncid-
ioda, Sophrocattlaelia, Sophrocattleya,
and Sophrolaelia. Such intergeneric hy-
brids may be of interest to all orchid
growers, although some may interest
only the fancier. They are mentioned
here to give a better picture of the wide
choice open to the amateur.
Aerides
The epiphytic Aerides orchids do best
in a moist atmosphere with liberal water,
light, and air, and a minimum winter
temperature of 65 °F. The stems form
roots, which should not be injured or
checked in growth. Aerial roots should
not be confined in pots or baskets. The
roots are very active, even in winter, and
are difficult to replant in new baskets
without being damaged. Old material
should be carefully removed and replaced
gently.
The plants have thick, two-ranked
leaves. Flowers are in lateral pendulous
racemes. Two lateral sepals are attached
to the base of the column. The three-
lobed lip forms a hollow, usually up-
turned spur.
A. crassifolium
A. jalcatum
A. fieldingi
A. odor alum
( tuavissimum )
native to Burma; flowers up to 1% inches on drooping
spikes; rose purple; blooms in May and June. Has been
called the King of All Aerides.
native to Burma; amethyst lip, white sepals, and petals
spotted with purple. Variety Houlletianum has a whiter lip
and yellowish brown sepals and petals; blooms in May and
June.
native to India; flowers white dotted and suffused with rose,
about 1% inches across; spur white; racemes longer than
leaves; blooms in May and June.
native to India, China, and the Philippines; free flowering
with many flowers up to 1 inch across; white, with a purple
spol at the tip of the sepals; flowers last two weeks or more;
blooms from July to September
18 1
Angraecum
The epiphytic Angraecum orchids are
similar to Aerides in culture. The plants
should be kept in the warmest corner of
a warm greenhouse and never allowed to
become chilled. They are almost air
plants and need frequent spraying with
water. Practically no compost is used at
the roots. The flowers usually appear in
winter and lasl well. Most varieties given
here are natives to Madagascar.
The plant- have very thick leaves. I be
(lowers are usually borne in racemes,
with sepals and petal- similar, the Lip
with side lobes small or lacking and the
middle lobe entire with a long slender
spur.
A.articulatum native to Madagascar; pendulous racemes with numerous
white flowers, pedicels pale orange; spur •'' \ inch long;
blooms in spring.
A.citratum native to Madagascar; pendulous racemes with 12 or more
flowers with a slender spur; white or pale straw color;
blooms in spring.
A. eburneum native to Madagascar; stems to 4 feet and leaves to 2 feet;
flowers to 4 inches across; sepals and petals green, lip ivor\
white with green spur 3 inches long; about eight to 15 flowers
on racemes longer than leaves; blooms from December to
March.
A. falcatum three to five fragrant white flowers about % inch across: lip
three-lobed; spur curved; blooms in summer; native to
Japan.
A.sesquipedale native to Madagascar; flowers up to 7 inches across, with
spur about 12 inches long; borne in two- to four-flowered
racemes; white; blooms from November to March. One o\
finest species of the genus.
Anota
The epiphytic Anota species are some- The plants have Leafy stems and flow-
times referred to the genera Vanda and ers in racemes, the lip being entire and
Saccolabium. The culture is much like spurred. Two varieties are described
that of Aerides. below in some detail.
A. den si flora
A. violacea
native to Burma; free flowering; flowers to 1 inch across on
drooping racemes to 16 inches long; white spotted with
violet, and base of lip purple: blooms about November;
flowers last six weeks.
native to the Philippines: similar to .7. densi flora, with flow-
ers on racemes 12 to 15 inches long: blooms from December
to March.
[19]
Ansellia
The African epiphytic Ansellia afri- growth. The plants are naturally dry half
cana requires a warm greenhouse and a the year and ripen growth after flower-
good supply of water for the young ing is completed.
A. ajricana native to Sierra Leone; flowers to 1 inch in diameter with
nearly 100 on a terminal panicle to 16 inches long; yellow,
spotted with chocolate brown; blooms from December to
July.
Bletilla (Bletia)
This is one of the terrestrial orchids thin leaves, and small flowers in terminal
which grow fairly well outside in Cali- racemes, with the sepals and petals sim-
fornia. It has tuberous rhizomes, rather ilar, and the lip free and three-lobed.
B. striata
(hyacinthina) native to China and Japan; flowers 1% inches long in three-
to seven-flowered racemes on a 1-foot scape; purple; blooms
in June outside, or as early as March in heated greenhouse.
Plants tolerate a temperature as low as 20°.
Brassavola
The Brassavola orchids are epiphytes follows the blooming season. Some spe-
from tropical America. They are of easy cies grow very well suspended on blocks,
culture when watered liberally during The leaves are fleshy. The flowers are
the growing season and kept at a temper- solitary or in short racemes with the
ature of 70° to 75° by day and 60° to flowers attached singly at intervals by
65° by night. In general, the culture of short stems to the flower stalk. The sepals
this group is the same as that for the and petals of the flowers are small and
Cattleya and Laelia orchids. Most brassa- spreading. The lip is entire, having a
volas should have plenty of sun to ma- margin that is continuous, unbroken by
ture the young growth and reduced teeth or serrations, and is attached to the
humidity during the rest period, which column at the base.
B. cucullata native to Mexico, Honduras, Venezuela, Colombia, and the
West Indies; flowers usually solitary; petals orange, yellow,
or white, with white lip; blooms from May to December.
B.digbyana native to Mexico and Honduras; fragrant greenish-white
flowers about 5 inches in diameter; blooms from May to
August. This species has been crossed with Cattleya to pro-
duce the fringed lip of the hybrids.
B.glauca native to Mexico and Guatemala; blooms from February to
March.
B. nodosa native to West Indies, Central America, Colombia, and Vene-
zuela; solitary flowers with sepals and petals of greenish
yellow or white to 3 inches long; lip white; blooms from
January to December.
[20]
Brassia (Spider Orchids]
The epiphytic Brassia orchids are
seldom grown now. They are treated
much like Oncidium or Catlleya in an
intermediate greenhouse with liberal
watering in the growing season. They
should never be allowed to shrivel.
The plants have one or two leave* and
flowers in raceme-, the sepals and petal-
narrow and long pointed, often tail like.
the lip entire and shorter than the sepals.
The racemes may be from 2 1 / 1 > to •»'-
feet in length.
B. brachiata
B. verrucosa
sepals and petals yellowish green with a few purple basal
spots; lip light yellow with dark green warts; bloom- in -um-
mer; native to Guatemala.
native to Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and Venezuela; a
curious orchid with the upper part of the flower pale green
and the lip white marked with green warts; petals to 4 inches
long; six to 13 flowers to a raceme; blooms from April to
June.
The strange flowers of Brassia bidens last only a short time.
Bulbophyllum
The epiphytic Bulbophyllum species
require good drainage with liberal water-
ing and a steaming atmosphere during
the period of growth. They need a tem-
perature of at least 60° to 65°. They are
often grown on wood or on tree-fern
stems.
The plants have one or two leaves, and
the flowers are in racemes or sometimes
solitary, having petals smaller than the
sepals and a fleshy, strap-shaped lip. The
flowers are interesting and come in
various colors. The following illustrates
the species.
B. lobbi
native to Borneo, Java, Sumatra, and Burma; flowers soli-
tary; 2 to 4 inches across; sepals and petals yellow spotted
or lined outside with red; lip golden yellow; blooms frcm
May to June and in November.
Calanthe
The terrestrial or occasionally epi-
phytic species of Calanthe are popular
and of easy culture. They may be grown
in pots with loam and a little well-rotted
cow manure. The drainage should be
good. They like heat, shade, and mois-
ture. A temperature of 70° to 75° by
day and 65° to 70° by night is suggested.
Water new plants sparingly until roots
start; also water sparingly during the
dormant season.
The calanthes are mostly evergreen,
but the Calanthe vestita group is decidu-
ous. They have broad-plaited or corru-
gated leaves. The usually numerous
flowers are white, rose, or yellow in
racemes on erect or nodding scapes or
stalks that arise at or beneath the surface
of the ground like the tulip. The lip is
three-lobed and usually spurred.
The hybrids are known to bloom mostly
in winter.
C.jurcata native to Malaya, India, and Australia; snow-white flowers
(veratri folia) about 2 inches in diameter on many-flowered racemes on
scapes 3 or more feet high; lip lobed and with a slender spur;
blooms from January to December.
C. masuca flower scape to 2 feet; flowers 1 inch across, overlapping,
deep violet fading to lilac, and lip deep violet purple; blooms
from July to September; native to northern India.
C.sanderiana native to tropical Africa; leaves about 1 foot long; many-
flowered racemes; sepals and petals pale lilac edged with
purple; lip dark purple with brown on spur; flower often
listed as rose colored.
C. Sedeni Bella hybrid between C. Veitchi and C. vestita (turneri) ; similar
to C. vestita with crimson blotch on lip.
C. Veitchi hybrid between C. rosea and C. vestita; rose-colored flowers
with white spot at base of lip. Variety Sandhurstiana has
crimson flowers in winter, the flower scapes beginning to
form in late summer.
C. vestita native to India and Malaya; leaves about IV2 feet long; white
(turneri) or creamy flowers 2'/2 inches in diameter in six- to 12-flow-
ered racemes on scapes up to 2% feet high; four-lobed lip
marked with orange yellow at base and with a slender spur;
l>l norns in November and December; deciduous.
[22]
Cattleya
The epiphytic Cattleya Bpecies an
native to tropical America. They include
perhaps the most popular commercial
orchids. Most cattleyas do well with an
intermediate winter temperature, as low
as 60° to 65° by day and 55 to 60° by
night. Karl\ -blooming species, such as
C. trianae and C. skinneri, should be
placed at the warmest end of the green-
house, with later-blooming species, such
as C. mossiae and C. warscewiczi var.
gigas, at the cooler end. Overhead sprin-
kling is permissible on bright days, al-
though the flowers should not be wet.
There Bhould be little moisture a! the
roots until the weather is favorable. In
rain) weather watering maj be required
onl) once a week <>r Less often. \\ hen tin-
plants are in active growth, thej Bhould
be watered about three times a week.
There is an almost bewildering num-
bei of Cattleya Bpecies, varieties, and h\-
brids. They ha\e from one to three ver\
thick leaves. The flowers (page L6) usu-
ally occur in terminal clusters and rarely
in solitary form. Some of the cattleyas
which have remained flighl) popular for
many years include:
C. Amabilis
C. amesthystoglossa
C. bicolor
C. boivringiana
C. citrina
i tulip cattleya)
C. doiviana
(queen cattleya)
C. elrforado
hybrid between C. labiata and C. warsceiiiczi; bloom- in
summer from spring growth.
native to Brazil; sepals and petals white suffused rose and
spotted with violet; lip with whitish side lobes and l>lui>h-
violet middle lobe; five to eight flowers together, about 4
inches across; blooms from November to July.
native to Brazil; flowers 3 to 1 \ L > inches across and two to
eight in cluster; sepals and petals bronze green; rose-purple
lip sometimes edged white; blooms from January to April
and September to November.
native to Central America; flowers about 3 inches across and
five to 13 together; sepals and petals rose violet; lip rose and
lilac; throat white, edged with chestnut brown: blooms from
October to December. Not a commercial variety but good
for amateur growing.
native to Mexico; citron-yellow flowers usually solitary on
drooping stalks: lip white and wavy on edges; blooms from
April to June.
native to Costa Rica; flowers 7 inches across and two t<> five
together: yellow sepals and petals: lip with yellow tube
striped with purple and wavy purple limb lined with gold;
blooms from July to September. Varietj aurea has lip with
more and deeper yellow lines.
native to Brazil; flowers 6 inches across and pale rosy lilac
shading to white: lip crisped and centrally blotched with
orange and purple; Ira- rant: blooms from summer to earl)
autumn.
[23
C. gaskelliana
(summer cattle) a)
C. guttata
C. Hardyana
C. harrisoniana
C. intermedia
C. labiata
(autumn cattleya)
C. lawrenceana
C. loddigesi
C. lueddemanniana
C. mendeli
(virgins cattleya)
C. mossiae
(spring cattleya)
C. percivaliana
(Christmas
cattleya)
native to Venezuela; flowers 7 inches across and two to three
together; petals and sepals purple violet suffused with white;
wavy lip purple violet with yellow-streaked throat; blooms
from June to November.
native to Brazil; flowers 4 inches across and four to six
together; sepals and petals green spotted red purple; side
lobes of lip are rose or white and middle lobe violet purple;
blooms from April to October.
hybrid between C. dowiana and C. warsCewiczi; blooms in
August; strongly scented.
native to Trinidad and Brazil; flowers to 6 inches across and
two to five together; rose lilac, the middle lobe of lip purple
with yellow spot; blooms from July to October.
native to southern Brazil; flowers to 5 inches across and three
to five in a group; pale rose with middle lip purple and
crisped; blooms in April to June and September to Novem-
ber.
native to Trinidad and Brazil; flowers to 6 inches across and
two to five together; rose lilac, the very wavy limb of lip
violet purple with deeper streaks and yellow throat; blooms
from October to March; many varieties.
native to British Guiana and Venezuela ; free flowering, with
flowers to 5 inches across and five to seven together; rose
purple, the limb of the lip purple with a maroon band;
blooms from February to April.
native to Brazil; flowers about 4 inches across, rose lilac;
three-lobed lip has white inside and yellow at the base, mar-
gins crisped; blooms in summer.
native to Brazil and Venezuela; flowers to 6 inches across
and two to five in a group; rose purple; lip has amethyst-
purple limb; throat spotted with yellow or white; blooms
from July to September. Color forms are listed.
native to Colombia; similar to C. trianae; flowers to 8 inches
across and two to three together; white or rosy, the limb of
the lip very wavy, purple with yellow throat; blooms from
April to September.
native to Venezuela; free-flowering, popular species, with
flowers to 8 inches across; rose, the very wavy lip with purple
limb variegated with violet and edged with white, the throat
yellow; blooms from March to August.
native to Venezuela; similar to C. mossiae but with smaller
and darker flowers; blooms from January to March.
[24]
C. schilleriana native to Brazil; flowers to 4 inches across and one to two
on a stem; wavy sepals and petal- green spotted with brown;
lip purple crimson above and yellow inside near base; blooms
in April to May and September to October.
C.skinneri native to Guatemala; free flowering with flowers to 1 inches
across and four to six together; rose purple with yellow
throat; blooms from January to August.
C. trianae native to Colombia; flowers 6 to 8 inches across and two to
three together; rose, the lip with dark purple wa\\ limb and
yellow throat; blooms from December to March. Variety
schroederiana (Easter cattleya) has fragrant pink flowers
with very wavy limb. Several color forms exist; a popular
species.
C. warneri native to Colombia; large flowers to 8 inches across and two
to three together; sepals and petals violet rose, lip deep
purple with two yellow spots in throat, wavy; blooms from
May to August. Variety gigas has larger white flowers. \<>t
very free blooming; needs warmth and light to do well.
C.warscewiczi native to Colombia; flowers to 9 inches across and two to
(gigas) three in a group; sepals and petals violet rose; lip deep
purple with two yellow spots in throat and wavy; blooms in
May to August. Color forms listed.
Some of the better Cattleya hybrid varieties include:
Amabilis (labiata x warscewiczi)
Barbara Billingsley — fine white
Barbara Dane {labiata x Phoebe Snow)
— white
Bow Bells (Edithae x Susanne Hye) —
very fine white
Dr. C. E. Wilson (Gravesian alba x
Nathalie Dekens)
Dupreana {warneri x warscewiczi) —
blooms in summer
Edithae Alba (Susanne Hye x trianae
alba) — white with a little yellow
Empress Frederick (dowiana x mossiae)
— dark orchid; strong grower
Enid (mossiae x warscewiczi) — variable
orchid color; blooms mostly in winter
Fabia (dowiana x labiata)
Gimar (warscewiczi x Queen Mary) —
blooms in winter to early spring
Hardyana (warscewiczi x dowiana)- —
natural hybrid
Joan Manda (white seedling of White
Empress)
Lord Rothschild (dowiana x gaskelliana )
— red
Luegeae (dowiana x Enid) — rose with
crimson lip
Maggie Raphael (dowiana \ trianae)
Monarch (Empress Frederick \ trianae
Grand Monarch) — which is an orchid
color
Nebo (percivilliana x intertexta) — deep
lavender; orange lip, which is veined
in purple
Rosita I Anetta \ Enid)
St. Petersburg — good white
Trimabilis (Amabilis \ trianae \
\\ hite Empress (Irene \ trianae |
[25]
Coe/ogyne
The Coelogyne orchids are terrestrial
in habit of growth, and are native to the
eastern hemisphere. Some, such as C.
cristata, do well under temperate condi-
tions, with a night temperature of 55° to
60°. Others, such as C. massangeana, re-
quire tropical conditions. A rest period
before flowering helps such species as
C. cristata. The addition of a small
amount of liqwid manure or fertilizer in-
sures the best growth.
The coelogynes have one or two leaves
and produce showy flowers in racemes,
with the sepals and petals similar. The
lip is three-lobed and keeled. The flowers
of the species listed are mostly white.
C. barbata
C. corrugata
(nervosa)
C. cristata
C. day ana
C. massangeana
C. mooreana
C. pandurata
C. sanderiana
('. speciosa
C. tomentosa
native to the Himalayas; fine white flowers, 2 to 3 inches
across; blooms from October to February; does well in a
cool greenhouse.
native to India; three to six flowers in a raceme; white with
lip marked yellow; blooms from August to September.
native to the Himalayas; large, snow-white flowers in droop-
ing racemes; lip with five yellow keels; fragrant; blooms
from February to April. Color forms listed.
native to Malaya; drooping racemes of many flowers and to
40 inches long; flowers about 2^2 inches across, whitish or
pale yellow; lip blotched with chocolate brown and crossed
with six white keels; blooms from May fo August.
native to Assam, Malaya, and Java; vigorous and free flower-
ing, with drooping racemes to 2 feet long of cream-white
flowers, the lip marked with yellow and brown and white
keels; blooms from March to June and October to November.
native to Cochin-China; racemes to 16 inches long with three
to eight flowers of snow white; lip spotted golden yellow;
blooms in December.
native to Malaya, Borneo, and Sumatra; arching racemes to
about 24 inches long; up to nine large, pale green flowers;
warted lip marked with blackish brown or black; blooms
from January to March and May to July.
native to Sunda Islands and Borneo; racemes to 15 inches
long with about nine large, white flowers; side lobes marked
brown and middle lobe with yellow; blooms in summer.
native to Java; very large flowers greenish or yellowish
brown; lip yellowish white marked dark brown; racemes less
than 15 inches long; blooms from February to July and in
September.
native to Malaya; pendulous racemes to 18 inches long with
large orange-red or red-brown flowers; side lobes streaked
with brown and yellow; middle lobe has brown margins;
Nonius in May.
26 |
Cycnoches
The epiphytic Cycnoches or swan or-
chids are treated as is Dendrobium, in a
warm house. These need a well-marked
rest period.
The plants have plaited leaves and
C. chlorochilon
(swan orchid)
flowers of two sexes, sometimes similar,
with narrow Bepals and petals and entire
lip. and often quite different, the male
flowers with clawed lip and fingerlike
pi ojections.
native to Central America, Venezuela, British Guiana, and
Colombia; large flesh) flowers to 6 inches in diameter in
three-flowered raceme-: yellow green with a darker spol at
the base of the lip; blooms from Jul) to December.
Cymbidium
The Cymbidium species are mostly
terrestrial orchids, and do best with an
intermediate temperature of 50° to 60°,
with 55° considered best. They have
been very popular among California
amateurs. Sometimes they are planted
outside, in areas with mild winters, but
should be kept in a heated greenhouse
where winters are cold. From spring to
autumn the plants will probably thrive
best outside of a greenhouse where the
temperature is not above 78° to 80° and
where there is plenty of light. The plants
do not bloom well unless they have ade-
quate light.
Cymbidiums thrive in a porous mix-
ture of coarse leafmold and small gravel
or decomposed granite. One formula
calls for two parts by volume of well-
rotted, coarse oak leafmold to one part
of small gravel or decomposed granite.
Various materials may be added to such
a simple mixture. Some growers substi-
tute acid peat moss for part of the leaf-
mold; others add a little aged manure.
As much as 1 tablespoon of bone meal
or cottonseed meal may be mixed with
the compost used in a 6-inch pot. Granu-
lated charcoal also has been added to the
mixture. A more complex mixture used
for cymbidiums consists of 25 per cent
acid peat moss, 12.5 per cent coarse oak
leafmold, 12.5 per cent well-rotted steer
manure, 25 per cent good loam soil, and
25 per cent pea gravel. In any case, see
that good drainage is provided in the
bottom of the pot. Drainage gravel or
shards should be placed in the bottom
of the pot. The plants will not stand wet
feet. Manure water may be applied if the
plants need extra food.
Cymbidium flow T er spikes are some-
times 2 or 3 feet or more in length. The
individual flowers (page 28 1 ma\ he as
much as 3 inches or more across. Some
of the outstanding cymbidiums are:
C. aloi folium
C. eburneum
C. ensifolium
native to India. Indo-China. and Malaya: main -flow ered
pendulous racemes to about 24 inches long: sepals and petals
brownish yellow with purple medium stripe: lip brownish
red with \ellow center; blooms in Jul\ and August.
native to the Himalayas and [ndo-China; handsome ever-
green plant; large snow-white flower- with yellow in ((Miter
of lip to 1 inches across; blooms from March to June.
native to India. Indo-China. China. Japan, and Malaya;
racemes to 20 inches long with three to 12 (lowers of greenish
\ellow with red-brown veins; lip with red-brown spots;
blooms from October to Fcbruarx and from Ma\ to VugUSL
27]
C. erythrostyUum
C. giganteum
C. grandiflorum
C. Iansoni
C. insigne
(sanderi)
C. lowianum
(lowi)
C. tracyanum
C. Winnianum
native to Indo-China; arching racemes to 18 inches long with
four to seven flowers; sepals white and about 1% inches long
with shorter white petals; lip yellowish white, lined or dotted
red purple; blooms in November.
native to the Himalayas, Indo-China, and China; seven to 13
fragrant flowers to 4 inches across on arching racemes;
sepals and petals green or brownish, lined with red brown;
lip yellow marked red; blooms from September and October
on into winter.
native to the Himalayas and China; flowers to 5 inches across
in racemes to 2 to 4 feet; sepals and petals olive green; lip
yellow dotted purple brown; blooms from September to
December.
hybrid (lowianum x tracyanum) with tawny yellow flowers
4 to 6 inches across, with as many as 15 to 20 on a stem.
native to Indo-China; 10 to 15 flowers on racemes up to 5
feet long, the individual flowers up to 3% inches across;
sepals and petals rose, lip rose spotted with purple red;
blooms from February to March.
native to Burma; drooping racemes with 10 to 20 flowers,
the individual flowers up to 4 inches across; sepals and petals
greenish yellow; blooms from February to July.
native to Burma and Indo-China; similar to C. giganteum
and C. grandiflorum with flowers to 6 inches and darker
colored, the prevailing color being yellowish brown; blooms
in October to November.
hybrid between C. giganteum and C. master si (Cyperorchis
master si) , a novelty in white spotted with crimson.
Cymbidiums have become popular in milder
parts of California, where they can be grown
outside most of the year.
Fanciers of cymbidiums will doubtless
grow some of the popular hybrids, most
of which flower from spring until late
in the summer. The following list of
some of the named varieties offered does
not include several of the excellent new
hybrids, but will suggest some of the
superior kinds to which the fancier may
add as his interest and finances dictate.
All those listed flower in March or April,
except Doris, which flowers about Christ-
mas. The prevailing color is indicated.
Balkis (white)
Blue Smoke (green)
Bodmin Moor (varies from white to
chartreuse)
Carisbrook (pink)
Desdemona (varies from white to dark
green )
[28
Dorchester (white)
Doris (brown)
Erica Sander (green)
Ethel Ward (yellow)
Faye Wilson (white to pink)
Fearnley Sander (green)
Hugh Evans (greenish gold)
Ispahan (yellow)
Louis Sander (pink)
Miranda (while i
Pauwelsi (cream) yellow to brown)
Pei i < chartreuse I
Pres. \\ ilson I chartreuse or white I
Redshank ( red I
Redstart I red I
Shina Black I dark red)
Swallow i white i
Yellow Hammer I yellow I
Cypripedium (including Paphiopedilum and Cordula)
(lady-slipper orchids)
The tropical genus Cypripedium in-
cludes both epiphytic and terrestrial
species, which are sometimes listed under
Paphiopedilum or Cordula. Most of these
orchids need a temperature of 65° to 70°
at night and 70° to 75° by day. They do
not have distinct rest periods. The
hardier kinds are grown without heat.
A good supply of moisture is important,
and overpotting should be avoided. These
orchids are of easy culture if given the
requirements specified. The plain-leaved
hardy kinds tend to bloom in winter,
while the warm-house kinds with spotted
leaves (at right) bloom in summer.
The plants have leathery leaves and
flowers in racemes or panicles (page
30). The lateral sepals are united, the
lip being sac-like, with the edges reflexed
or turned in. Many species are grown;
the flowers are moderately popular. The
following species and hybrids are popu-
lar kinds.
The cypripediums (including Paphiopedilum)
are popular with beginners because of hardi-
ness, interesting color, and form. Shown here
is the lady slipper orchid.
C. bellatulum
(Paphiopedilu m
bellatulum)
C. callosum
C. Cardinal
C. caudatum
native to Burma; flowers to 2 inches across: white -potted
with purple; blooms from April to May and again from
August to September.
native to Siam and Cochin-China; whitish-green flowers
about 4 inches across on stems to 15 inches; blooms in win-
ter. Several color forms are listed.
hybrid between Cardinal Mercier and Carola; blooms several
times, one set of flowers following another.
greenish-white flowers about 6 inches across, one to lour
flowers to a stem, appearing in spring.
[29]
C. charlesworthi
C. coiicoloi
C. curtisi
C. jairieanum
C. godefroyae
C. holdeni
C. insigne
( Paphiopedilum
insigne)
C. lawrenceanum
(Paphiopedilum
lawrenceanum)
native to India; solitary flowers 2 1 /2 to 3% inches across;
rose colored veined purple; petals and lip greenish veined
brown; blooms from August to December. (Below.)
native to Burma and Indo-China; flowers 2 to 3 inches
across, solitary or two to a stem; pale yellow finely spotted
with violet; blooms from April to September,
native to Sumatra; flowers to more than 4 inches across on
stems to 12 inches; prevailing color greenish white lined
with purple; petals finely spotted dark purple; lip greenish
brown; blooms from April to September,
native to the Himalayas; flowers to 2 to 2^2 inches across,
solitary on stems to 6 inches; prevailing color whitish green
but with violet stripes in sepals and violet streaks in petals;
lip brownish green with some purple; flowers in winter,
native to Indo-China; one to two flowers on short stems;
mostly creamy yellow but spotted with red purple; lip simi-
larly covered; blooms in summer.
Westonbirt variety is one of the warm greenhouse cypri-
pediums that blooms in summer (below) ; white with green
stripes.
native to the Himalayas; solitary flowers last well; yellow
green with brown; blooms from October to March. A very
common and popular species that does well in a cool green-
house. Variety Sanderi is yellowish green with brown spots;
large winter blooms.
native to Borneo; stemless with 3-inch flowers of interesting
whitish-green color combinations; blooms in spring and
summer, April to August and again in November.
C. holdeni, Westonbirt variety, is one of the C. charlesworthi, one of the popular summer-
warm-house varieties with spotted foliage and flowering lady slipper orchids, also is grown in
summer blooms. a warm house.
«
C. Morganiae
( Paphiopedilum
morganiae)
C. Tothschildianum
( Paph iopedilu m
rothschildianum)
C. sanderianum
(Paphiopedilum
sanderianum)
C. spicerianum
(Paphiopedilum
spicerianum)
C. stonei
(Paphiopedilum
stonei)
C. superbiens
(C. veitchi or
veitchianum,
Paphiopedilum
superbiens)
C. venustum
C. Vexillarium
( Paphiopedilui
vexillarium)
C. villosum
hybrid between C. stonei and (.. superbiens; one of the fines!
of the terrestrial orchids.
native to Sumatra and Borneo; handsome flowers to 5 inches
across: hlooins from Januarv to \piil and again in \ugU8t.
native to Malaya; petals linear t<> L8 inches, yellow tipped
with red and brown and eddied with red: lip purple brown;
blooms from September to October.
native to India: slcmless with solitarv flowers to 2 inches
across; petals greenish brown with wavv margins; blooms
from November to December.
native to Borneo; flowers to 5 inches across on scapes to -
feet long; sepals white striped with purple: petals vellow
spotted with brown; blooms from Mav to August.
native to Malaya; flowers to 3^ inches across, solitary on
10-inch stalks; variegated foliage: good habit of growth;
blooms from January to Julv.
native to the Himalayas; flowers 3 to ') 1 2 inches across, usu-
ally solitary on stems to 9 inches; prevailing color greenish
white but with blackish warts at the base of the petals: lip
yellow green ringed rose and veined green: blooms from
November to March.
hybrid between C. barbatum and C. fairieanum; dwarf habit;
summer flowering.
native to Burma; large flowers to 6 inches across, solitary on
stems almost 18 inches long; petals yellowish brown with
brown-purple midvein: dorsal sepal green above and purplish
brown at base; lip brownish vellow: blooms in winter.
Many named varieties of the lady- mind, we mav mention Balaclara (Gwen
slipper orchids are being produced, and Hannen x Warrior I. dark green with
fanciers will be interested in the best of dark spots, and Mildred Hunter 1 \tlanti-
these. High cost may be a limiting factor. x Everest), deep red to dark green with
Just to illustrate the sort of varieties in red spots.
[31 I
The strong color and firm texture of
Laeliocattleya Mme. Helene-Ammen-
heuser give it unusual lasting quality
(or fog resistance). (From Koda-
chromes of C. E. Wilson, Jr.)
The range in color, form, and siz (
Odontoglossum grande is a highly
popular orchid among amateurs. It
is fairly easy to grow. (From Koda-
chromes of Miss Bobbie Johnson.)
%
As many as twelve flowers may ap-
pear on a single spray of Cymbidium
Jason— Alexander Westonbirt. (From
Kodachromes of C. E. Wilson, Jr.)
Cypripedium Chrysostum var. Richard
Fort has a well-proportioned flower
of fine contrasting color. It is an ex-
cellent stud plant. ''From Kodachromes
of C. E. Wilson, Jr.)
of orchids intrigues the fancier,
The sepals and petals of Brassocat-
tleya Elaine are broad and strong,
contrary to most brassocattleyas.
(From Kodachromes of C. E. Wilson,
Jr.)
The vandas and their hybrids are in
most amateur collections. They usu-
ally produce many blossoms. (From
Kodachromes of Miss Bobbie John-
Dendrobium
The epiphytic Dendrobium species are
variable in habit. Some are evergreen,
others deciduous. Some are drooping in
habit. The Australian evergreen species
do well in a cool house, while others do
best with a temperature of 70° to 75° by
day and 60° to 65° by night. The roots
of the evergreen species, such as D. bry-
merianum, must be kept moist at all
times. They need plenty of heat, humid-
ity, and water. The deciduous dendro-
biums, such as D. nobile, need a rest
period during which the temperature
may be as low as 45°. A cool tempera-
ture may be used to retard the blooms
of this group.
The flowers are in racemes or some-
times solitary. The dorsal sepal and
petals are similar, with the lateral sepals
forming a sac or spur. The lip is entire
or three-lobed. The leaf form varies.
Flower cluster of Dendrobium dearei
D. aureum
D. bensoniae
D. brymerianum
J), chrysotoxurn
IJ. dearei
I), densiflorum
I), jalconeri
see D. heterocarpum
native to Burma and Thailand; flowers white and yellow; lip
yellow orange at base; purple spots in throat; flowers about
2 inches across and one to three in a group; blooms in May
and June; leafless when in bloom.
native to Burma and Indo-China; evergreen; flowers 2Vi> to
3 inches across on lateral racemes up to 3 to 5 feet in length;
golden yellow, the lip fringed; blooms from October to May.
native to Burma, Indo-China, and China; pendulous racemes
to 6 to 9 inches long with eight or more flowers; golden-
yellow flowers about 2 inches across; lip orange in throat
and fringed; blooms from March to July.
native to the Philippines; large white flowers yellowish green
in center of lip and about 2Vi> inches across (see above) ;
blooms from December to May.
native to the Himalayas; evergreen; showy flowers about 2
inches across in many-flowered, drooping racemes to 10
inches in length; golden yellow or white with orange lip;
blooms from March to May.
native to the Himalayas, Burma, and Indo-China; evergreen;
flowers about 3 inches across, solitary on leafless stems; white
tipped with violet; lip orange red in center and throat dark
purple; blooms from March to May.
I 34
D. jarmeri
I), fimbriatum
D. jormosum
var. giganteum
D.Hi
D. heterocarpum
(aureum)
D. infundibulum
var. jamesianum
D. moschatum
native to the Himalayas and Burma: man) 2-inch flowers on
a pendulous sit-in : flowers usual!) -haw vellow, but 038) have
pale rose tinge; lip golden yelloM tipped rose; blooms in
April to June
native to the Himalayas and Burma; pendulous racemes to 6
inches long with six to 12 orange-yellow flowers; oral
yellow, fringed lip; blooms from March to April.
native to the Himalaya- and Burma; evergreen; flowers to 5
inches across in two- to four-flowered clusters; white with
center of lip orange yellow; blooms from January t<> Ma\.
Needs a cool house.
pleasing hybrid of I), superbiens x I), phalaenopsis I below I ;
reddish flowers; flower stems are very lon
five-flowered clusters, which last a month; violet rose with
yellow throat veined with purple; blooms from November
to February. Needs copious watering. Sometimes attacked
by Etch virus disease.
native to Mexico; showy flowers to 4 inches across in three-
to six-flowered racemes up to 20 inches high; rose, the lip
striped with purple; powerful perfume; lasts about tw<>
weeks; blooms from October to April.
native to Brazil; six to 15 cinnabar-red flowers on stems to
20 inches; flowers 2 to 3 inches across; blooms from March
to May and in November, but mostly in spring.
native to Brazil; four to nine white flowers 4 to (> inches
across; lip yellow in throat, purple edged with white in front :
petals much crisped; blooms from July to August and in
December, but mostly summer.
native to Brazil; golden yellow flowers 2 to 3 inches across
and five to IS to a stem; lip crisped: blooms from August to
February but mostly in summer.
native to Mexico; three to nine rose-purple flowers on stems
over 1 foot high; flowers about 1 inches across: lip white or
yellowish white near base: blooms in December and January.
1 39 1
L. grandiflora
L. harpophylla
L. monophylla
L. pumila
L. purpurata
L. rubescens
L. superbiens
L. tenebrosa
{grandis var.
tenebrosa)
native to Mexico; one to two rose-colored flowers to a stem;
flowers to 6 inches across; blooms in summer.
native to Brazil; flowers to 3 inches across in three- to six-
flowered racemes shorter than the leaves; orange red, the lip
yellow edged with white; blooms from October to April.
native to Jamaica; flowers usually solitary, orange scarlet,
to 2 inches across; stems to 3% feet; blooms from August
to November but mostly in August.
native to Brazil; one to two rose-purple flowers 3 to 4 inches
across on a stem to 3% feet; lip deep purple in front; throat
yellow; blooms from August to October.
native to Brazil; flowers to 6 inches across in three- to five-
flowered racemes; white sepals and petals, the lip purple red;
blooms from May to July. This has been called the King of
Orchids, and is often used in hybridizing. The flowers last
three weeks.
native to Central America; flowers white to rose purple with
dark purple base to lip; four to eight flowers to 2 inches
across in a cluster; blooms from September to March and in
July but mostly in winter.
native to Mexico and Guatemala; the flower scape 3 to 9
feet high with 12 to 18 blossoms often 5 to 7 inches across;
rose with a purple lip yellow at base; fragrant; blooms from
December to February.
reddish-brown flowers 6 to 9 inches across and two to five in
a group; sepals and petals are broader than in L. grandis;
lip deep purple; blooms in summer.
Lycaste
The Lycaste species are semiterrestrial
in habit. They grow well at an inter-
mediate temperature, and should be
shaded from direct sun at all times be-
cause the foliage is thin and easily
burned. Light overhead syringing is rec-
ommended in summer. Some kinds do
well in chopped sod and decomposed
leaves with a little chopped sphagnum
added. The compost may be allowed to
nearly dry out at times, although they
need liberal watering during the grow-
ing season, as in the case of L. skinneri.
The group is well known by this species
and by L. aromatica. L. cruenta is some-
times grown locally.
The plants have one to several plaited
leaves and solitary flowers, the lateral
sepals united with the column to form a
spurlike body, the lip three-lobed. L. aro-
matica is sometimes attacked by Lycaste
mosaic.
L. skinneri
native to Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras; flowers up to
6 inches across; white or rose sepals, rose petals, rose or
crimson-carmine lip; free flowering, having as many as 50
blooms; blooms from January to May and again in Novem-
ber.
L 40]
Lycaste longisepala, a new species flowering in November. The flowers are of interesting shape.
Masdevallia
The epiphytic Masdevallia species are
treated about the same as Odontoglos-
sum. They should have good ventilation
and shade from the direct sun. They need
much water at the roots, since they have
no pseudobulbs in which to store water.
They may be hosed down twice daily to
maintain a surrounding cool atmos-
phere, but should not be syringed over-
head in the heat of the day. Artificial
heat may be dispensed with early in the
M. bella
spring on mild days. They should be re-
potted in November or December in peat
fiber and finely chopped sphagnum,
with the lower third of the pot filled w itli
shards for good drainage.
The flowers are mostly solitary but
sometimes there are eight to a stalk, with
the sepals united, and the lobes often pro-
longed into long tails, the petals small.
and the lip small and united with base of
column.
M. chimaera
M. coccinea
(harry an a)
M. houtteana
M. veitchiana
(veitchi)
native to Colombia; solitary flowers with tails 3 to 4 inches
long; yellow spotted with brown; blooms from May to July
and again in November.
native to Colombia; flower tails to 11 inches long: yellow
spotted with crimson purple, the tails purple brown: blooms
from January to September.
native to Colombia; 4-inch flowers of rose pink to violet red
with dorsal sepal prolonged into a tail: petals and lip white;
blooms from April to June.
native of Colombia; solitary flowers are whitish yellow and
about 2 inches across with long reddish-purplr tails : blooms
in summer.
native to Peru; flowers with short tails: orange-scarlet, large
flowers, generally in pairs; blooms from May to July.
[41]
Maxillaria
The epiphytic Maxillaria orchids are
not widely grown at the present time,
partly because the small flowers and dull
coloring count against the genus. A few,
such as M. sanderiana, may be of some
interest. The cultural techniques used for
the plants are the same as those for
Lycaste. These orchids thrive in a cool,
moist, shaded location at all seasons. The
winter temperature should be about 58°
at night and 60° to 65° by day. A con-
siderable amount of water should be ap-
plied, even when the plants are at rest.
The small, dull-colored flowers are
sometimes fragrant and mostly solitary,
the lateral sepals united to the foot of
the column, forming a chin, the lip
mostly three-lobed.
M. grandiflora
M. picta
M. sanderiana
M. tenuifolia
M. venusta
native to Peru and Ecuador; solitary white flowers 3 to 4
inches across, sometimes larger and among the largest of the
genus; lip buff yellow; side lobes streaked wine purple;
blooms in spring.
native to Brazil; solitary flowers 1% to 2 inches across;
tawny yellow; blooms in winter.
native to Ecuador and Peru; has been described as a giant
M. grandiflora; nodding 4- to 6-inch flowers; white blotched
with purple at base, with a yellow lip marked with red and
darker purple outside; blossoms from May to July and again
from October to December.
native to Central America; has creeping rhizomes; solitary
small flowers ro 2 to 3 inches across; dark red; blooms in
spring.
native to Colombia and Venezuela ; solitary large white flow-
ers 4 to 5 inches or more across; short yellow lip bordered
with red; blooms in spring.
Miff onia
The epiphytic Miltonia genus is best
known for such species as M. vexillaria,
one of the prized orchids, with flowers
lasting a month. Most of the miltonias
need about the same treatment as Odon-
toglossum, with plenty of shade and a
liberal water supply during the growing
season. Species, such as M. vexillaria,
need plenty of sun in winter, which is
the growing period, with a short rest
period after flowering.
The plants have one or two leaves,
with sheathing leaves at the base. The
flowers are solitary or in loose racemes,
the sepals and petals nearly equal, the
lip expanded and not three-lobed.
\T. Bleuana
M. Candida
hybrid between M. vexillaria and M. roezli; a splendid sum-
mer-flowering orchid.
native to Brazil; flowers to 3i/> inches across, three to seven
on a raceme; greenish yellow with brown spots; blooms from
July lo October. Considered very beautiful.
[42]
M. phalaenopsis
M. roezli
M. speclabilis
M. vexillaria
native to Colombia; compacl plant with two or more floi
to 2 inches across in two- to four-flowered racemes to 6 inches
in height; while with Lower part of lip purple: blooms from
April to August.
native to Colombia; white flowers to 1 inches a< ross; purple
blotch at the hase of each petal and yellow at base of lip;
one to four flowers to a stem; blooms in Vugusl and Septem-
ber and March to July, hut most!) in August. Sometimes in-
fected with Miltonia diamond spot virus.
native to Brazil; creamy-white (lowers to 1 inches across; lip
rose purple with darker center; one to two (lowers to a stem;
blooms in summer to September and sometimes in February.
native to Colombia; flowers with a depth of about 1 inches
and a diameter of 3 inches, three to four to a raceme; sepals
and petals rose; lip rose with white base and edges; blooms
from May to July. Among the best of all orchid-.
Odontoglossum
These epiphytic orchids, mostly native
in high elevations, should interest many
California fanciers who are able to main-
tain a uniform, cool greenhouse temper-
ature ranging between 45° and 55°. The
temperature should not vary more than
10 degrees, winter or summer. The win-
ter temperature should not go above 65°
but may fall as low as 48° to 50° at night
for most varieties. In the warmer dis-
tricts the summer temperature should be
kept as low as possible. Shade and top
ventilation help maintain the proper
range in temperature. Unless the plants
can be kept cool in summer, do not select
this group, even though the flowers are
beautiful. Odontoglossum pendulum (ci-
trosmum) will stand 10 degrees higher
temperature than the other species.
Repotting should be done in about
October, never in summer. Provide suf-
ficient drainage by half filling the pot
with shards. The top of the pot may be
left convex after potting firmly. Species
like Odontoglossum crispum, 0. cirrho-
sum and O. luteopurpureum need a
plentiful supply of moisture.
The plants have one or two leaves. The
flowers are borne in racemes or panicles,
the sepals and petals nearly equal, the
lip with claw parallel to column and
spreading midlobe.
Odontoglossum crispum is prized for its light-
colored flowers with undulate-crisped petals.
i 13 I
0. cervantesi
0. cirrhosum
0. cordatum
0. crispum
(alexandrae)
0. Denisonae
0. grande
0. halli
0. harryanum
0. insleayi
0. luleopurpureum
0. pendulum
(citTosmum)
native to Mexico and Guatemala; white sepals and petals
with chocolate streaks near the base; flowers about 2 inches
across and three to five to a stem; blooms in spring.
native to Ecuador; flowers star shaped and 3 to 5 inches
across in many-flowered drooping panicles to 2 to 3 feet
long; white spotted with red brown; blooms from April to
July. One of the best of the genus.
native to Central America; flowers up to 5 inches across and
three to five to a stem; greenish yellow with brown bars;
petals yellowish spotted brown; lip white with brown spots;
blooms mostly in spring.
native to Colombia; flowers to 3 inches across in many-
flowered panicles; white spotted with brown; blooms from
February to April. One of the most beautiful orchids. 0.
crispum var. andersonianum (0. andersonianum) has creamy
white flowers 2 to 3 inches across and from five to 15 to a
stem; flowers are spotted brown in this variety.
hybrid with yellow flowers 3 to 5 inches across and many to
a stem in spring. 0. crispum is one parent.
native to Guatemala ; flowers 5 to 7 inches across in three- to
six-flowered racemes to 16 inches in length; yellow spotted
with brown; blooms from October to March. A fine species,
the flowers lasting three to four weeks. Sometimes attacked
by ringspot virus.
native to Ecuador and Peru; long racemes to 5 feet; flowers
3 to 5 inches across; many to a raceme; yellow; blooms in
spring.
native to Colombia; flowers 3 to 5 inches across and four
to six on 3-foot racemes; dark-brown veined and spotted
with lighter brown; lip violet at base and veined with yellow,
white at tips; wavy; blooms from July to August. Flowers of
fine shape and color.
native to Mexico; similar to 0. grande with pale yellow
flowers 4 to 5 inches across and eight to 10 to a stem ; blooms
in August and September and sometimes in December and
January.
native to Colombia; flowers 3 to 5 inches across and many
to a stem; chestnut brown; blooms mostly in spring to early
summer.
native to Mexico; flowers to 3 inches in diameter in many-
flowered racemes to 1 foot long; white or rosy with rose lip;
lemon scented: blooms from April to July; flowers last four
weeks. Stands higher temperature than most other species.
[44]
O. pescatorei
(nobile)
O. pulchellum
O. rossi
0. schlieperianum
O. triumphans
O. uroskinneri
native to Colombia; flowers 2 inches across in 3-foot panicles
with as many as 100 flowers; white, the lip often spotted with
red purple; blooms from March to May. Ver\ choice -(><•< ies
with many varieties.
native to Central America; flowers 1 to 2 inches acr< >ss, some-
times larger, and five to 10 to a stem about 1 foot long;
white; blooms mostly in spring.
native to Mexico and Guatemala; flowers to 2 Inches a< ross
in one- to three-flowered racemes; sepals yellow spotted with
red brown, petals white spotted with brown at base: lip white
with yellow claw; blooms from February to April and from
August to October. The variety majus has fragrant flowers
to 3 inches across.
native to Costa Rica and Panama; flowers 4 to 5 inches
across or less and three to eight in a raceme on stems to 1
foot long; yellow; blooms in summer.
native to Colombia; racemes to 3 feet high; flowers 3 to 1
inches across and many to a raceme; golden yellow; blooms
from March to May.
native to Guatemala; greenish flowers to 2 inches across;
nine to 20 in a raceme; lip pale rose mottled with white;
blooms mostly in spring but may flower in summer.
O. grande floret with basal half of petals reddish brown and anterior half yellow.
The sepals are barred with cinnamon brown.
Oncidium
The epiphytic Oncidium orchids rep-
resent perhaps the widest range of con-
ditions in the orchid genera, varying
from alpine to tropical types. The genus
as a whole requires liberal heat and
moisture in the growing season and good
drainage. Most oncidiums thrive in a
cool greenhouse with a night tempera-
ture of 55° to 60°. The cool-tolerant
varieties take a temperature of 50° to
60° at night and 60° to 65° by day. Sun
and air have been recommended, al-
though some shade from March to Octo-
ber is permissible. Overhead sprinkling
once or twice a day is advisable, but the
roots should not be too wet. The plants
do best with restricted roots in a mix-
ture of chopped fiber and live sphagnum
in equal parts, with broken charcoal
added to the mixture. Species with long
flower racemes need to be trained away
from the glass, as in the case of O. ma-
cranthum. The Mexican and Central
American species need a decided rest
period with less heat and water.
The plants have one or two leaves. The
flowers (page 47) are usually in lateral
racemes or panicles, the sepals and petals
nearly equal, the lip three-lobed and
crested or tubercled at the base. Oncid-
ium varicosum var. rogersi is one of the
best known of this group and has been
popular as a winter florist orchid. The
plants of the tropical epiphytic Oncidium
orchids can be grown in trees in tropical
areas.
0. altissimum
0. bicallosum
O. carthaginense
0. cavendishianum
0. cri
crispum
O. flexuosum
().
incurvum
0. la
nceanum
native to the West Indies; many flowers about l 1 /^ inches
across on nodding racemes with stems to 4 feet long; yellow
barred with brown; blooms in summer.
native to Guatemala; flowers l 1 /^ inches across and many to
a stem; yellow; blooms in winter.
native to Central America, the West Indies, and northern
South America: many flowers to 1 inch across placed loosely
in a panicle to 5 feet; creamy white spotted purplish rose;
crisped; blooms all the year but mostly in summer.
native to Guatemala; many flowers to 2 inches across on
stems to 4 feet long; yellow; sepals and petals spotted with
red brown; blooms mostly in spring.
native to Brazil; flowers 2 to 3 inches across and 50 to 60 on
1%-foot panicles; yellow barred and edged with red brown;
blooms from May to August and from November to Decem-
ber.
native to Brazil, Paraguay; flowers about 1 inch across and
many to 3-foot stems; yellow spotted red brown; blooms in
summer.
native to Mexico; flowers about 1 inch across and loosely
arranged on 5-foot stems; rose pink; blooms mostly in
August.
native to British and Dutch Guiana and Trinidad; flowers to
2 inches across on stems to 2 feet; yellow; lip violet purple
;il liasc and rose above; blooms in summer.
[46]
/
A flower of Oncidium papilio, the butterfly orchid, borne on a long, slender stem.
O. leuchochilum
0. longipes
0. luridum
O.
macranthum
0. ornithorync.hu
orynchum
0. papilio
(butterfly orchid)
native from Mexico to Honduras; flower? about 2 inches
across and loosely arranged along stems to 7 feet high;
yellowish green; lip white with lavender dots at hase; blooms
from March to August and in November.
native to Brazil; flowers 2 to 3 inches across and two to five
to a stem; reddish brown; blooms in summer.
native to Florida, the West Indies, Central America, and
South America; flowers 1 to 2 inches across on spectacular
sprays and larger than those of O. carthaginense; yellowish
green; sepals and petals sometimes tinged \sith violet;
blooms in summer.
native to Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru: ver\ ham ls< ime
flowers 3 to 4 inches across in climbing panicles to 9 fee!
long; sepals olive, petals golden yellow: blooms nearly all
year, but especially from May to July.
native to Mexico to Salvador; many flowers in a drooping
panicle to 1% feet long; rose lilac with yellow crest on lip;
blooms in winter.
native to Trinidad. Venezuela. Prazil. and Peru; butterfly-
shaped flowers with petals to 3 inches long on 2 to 3-fool
scape; petals and sepals brown spotted with yellow; bloom-
all year, one flower following another on the spike
[47]
0. sphacelatum
O. tigrinum var.
splendidum
O. varicosum
0. wentworthianum
native from Mexico to Honduras; many flowers loosely
placed on racemes to 5 feet long; yellow; blooms in spring.
native to Guatemala; handsome flowers to 2 inches across in
many-flowered panicles; yellow spotted with brown; blooms
from December to February.
native to Brazil, Paraguay, and Bolivia; beautiful 1-inch
flowers on panicles to 2 to 5 feet; greenish yellow spotted
with red brown; lip golden yellow; blooms from September
to July. The variety rogersi has a densely branched, nodding
panicle with as many as 170 flowers to 2 inches across; at
times is affected by oncidium mosaic. Flowers resemble large
butterflies and appear mostly in winter.
native to Guatemala; flowers about 1 inch across on loose
12-foot panicles; yellow; blooms in summer.
Pescatorea (Zygopetalum, Bollea)
The epiphytic Pescatorea species re-
quire much heat and moisture. They
should be grown in the warmest end of
the warm orchid house. They need plenty
of water at all times, since they do not
have a rest period. P. cerina, P. dayana,
and P. klabochorum are some of the
species.
The fragrant, showy flowers are soli-
tary in the axils of leaves, the lateral
sepals united to form a chin, the lip
clawed and with a thick crest at the base.
P. klabochorum
(Bollea klabo-
chorum)
native to Ecuador and Colombia; flowers up to 3 or 4 inches
across on drooping stalks up to 2% feet long, white tipped
with purple; lip veined with purple and with purple hairs;
blooms from May to August.
Phaius (Phajus)
The terrestrial Phaius orchids are of
easy culture. Plant them in large pots
with loam rich in organic matter. Liberal
feeding when in full growth will help.
The plants need a cool greenhouse, with
a temperature between 55° and 65°.
They should have plenty of moisture all
year, with perfect drainage. When irri-
gating, do not allow water to touch the
new growth.
P. wallichi
native to tropical India northward to lower Himalayas; from
10 to 20 flowers, 3 to 4 inches across on a stem; white and
buff; blooms in winter.
Phalaenopsis (Moth Orchids)
The epiphytic species of Phalaenopsis
require the warmest temperature in or-
chid culture, with a minimum of 65° in
winter. A day temperature of 70° to 75°
has been recommended. Good ventilation
is needed, and the air should be moist,
but there should be no drip, and the
center of the plants should not be wet.
Since there are no pseudobulbs, the
plants should never lack moisture. Very
[48]
little potting material is needed about the
roots, since the roots like to escape. This
group does well in California.
These orchids have short, leafy stems,
thick, leathery leaves, and flowers in
racemes or panicles, the sepals and petals
equal or the petals larger, the lip thrce-
lobed and united with the base, some-
times with appendages at the apex. The
plants arc often grown in 5- <>i 6-inch
pot-. Growers may leave pari of tin- stem
when cutting a spray, bo that anothei Bel
of flowers will develop from dormant
buds lower down on the BCape.
P. amabilis
(Queen of the
Orchids)
P. aphrodite
{amabilis var.
aphrodite)
P. lueddemanniana
P. sanderiana
P. schilleriana
P. stuartiana
native to Malaya; flowers 3 to 1 inches in diameter, two
ranked in long, drooping, six to 15 flowers on racemes; white
with the lip marked with yellow and red; blooms from Oc-
tober to January.
native to Malaya; many flowers to 4 inches across on a
drooping raceme to 3 feet long; white; blooms in August.
native to the Philippines; three to eight flowers about 2
inches across on stems to 1 foot long; whitish; lip amethyst
purple with white side lobes; blooms nearly all the year.
native to Malaya; considered by some to be about the same
as P. aphrodite, but the flowers are rose pink, 3 to 4 inches
across, and appear mostly in winter.
native to the Philippines; flowers to 3 inches across in man] -
flowered, branched scapes to 3 feet long; rose purple; blooms
from February to May. One of the finest of all orchids.
native to the Philippines; similar to P. schilleriana: flow* ts
to 2 inches across in panicles to 2 feet long; white spotted
with red brown, lip yellow spotted with red brown; blooms
from January to February and again in May.
P/e/one
The terrestrial genus Pleione has not
been very popular, because the plants
are deciduous and the flowers appear
after the foliage dies down. The flower-
ing plants may be grown with ferns to
cover the bare stems.
The common species are dwarf, and
these have been known as "crocus" in
the East Indies. They may be grown in
the cattleya house with considerable heat,
and are treated about the same as Colon-
the, a rest being given after growth is
completed. They are best grown in shal-
low compost in pans, and demand plent)
of water.
The flowers are usually solitary, the
sepals and petals similar, the lip with
fringed keels.
P. lagenaria
native to Burma: the Bowers about 3 inches in diameter:
brilliant rose violet, with the lip yellow at base ami spotted
dark red; blooms from October to November.
49]
Renanthera
The epiphytic Renanthera genus is
similar to Vanda, doing best in a warm
greenhouse with good drainage and
plenty of light. The plants are too tall
to be of interest to commercial growers.
The flowers are borne in many-flow-
ered racemes or panicles, the sepals and
petals spreading and usually unequal,
the lip small. Two specimens of the epi-
phytic Renanthera genus — R. coccinea
and R. imschootiana are described in the
paragraphs below.
R.
coccinea
R. imschootiana
native to Cochin-China and Hainan; has stems up to 10 feet
long, with many flowers on a panicle, each up to 3 inches
long, the panicle up to 3 feet long; dorsal petals and sepals
scarlet; lip yellow striped with red; blooms from April to
September.
native to Assam, Burma, and Indo-China; flowers about 2%
inches across on stems to 2 feet long; dorsal sepals and petals
yellow spotted with scarlet, lateral sepals scarlet; lip scarlet
with a yellow crest; blooms in May and June. Plants grow
well near the roof.
Rhynchostylis (Saccolabium)
The epiphytic Rhynchostylis genus of
orchids is grown by about the same
method as is Aerides. It is often sold as
Saccolabium.
The plants have leafy stems. The flow-
ers are in dense racemes, the dorsal sepal
and petals similar, the lateral sepals
broader, the lip entire and spurred.
R. retusa native to India, Burma, Indo-China, Malaya, and the Philip-
( Saccolabium pines; flowers % inch across in many-flowered, pendulous
blumei) racemes to 18 inches long; white spotted with red; lip red
purple; blooms from June to September.
Rodriguezia (Burlingtonia)
The epiphytic Rodriguezia species may
be treated like many species of Cattleya.
The plants do well in shallow pots filled
with tough peat fiber so that drainage is
good. During the growing season the
temperature should be around 65° to
75°. The plants may be rested at 50°,
with little water given. Syringing during
the growing season is recommended. The
plants should be shaded from the direct
sun.
The plants have one or two leaves and
flowers in racemes, with petals and dorsal
sepals similar, the lateral sepals united
and concave, the lip slightly two-lipped
and with a short spur.
R. seen ml a
It. i ermsta
(Burlingtonia
fragrans)
native to Panama, Trinidad, and northern South America;
pale rose to red flowers in many-flowered racemes up to 15
inches long; blooms from February to October.
native to Brazil; white, fragrant flowers about l 1 /) inches in
diameter, borne on pendulous racemes; last two to three
weeks: blooms from January to May.
I 50 |
Schomburgkia
The epiphytic Schomburgkia species rather inconspicuous, borne on stems
require about the same conditions as several feel long. The petals art- smallei
Cattleya, with liberal watering and more than ilu- -epals and wavy, the Lip three-
sun, especially in winter, to induce flow- lobed and united with the base of the
ering. The temperature should be be- column, liner specimens S. crispa, S.
tween 60° and 65° in winter or up to tibicinU {tibicina), and 5. undulata
70° by day. are described in some detail in the fol-
The plants are large and the flowers lowing three paragraphs.
5. crispa
S. tibicinis
(tibicina)
S. undulata
native to British Guiana; man) Bowers to 2 i<» 3 inches across
at the apex of 3-foot stems; sepals and petals with wa\\
margins; brownish yellow; lip whitish tinged rose and with
five keels; blooms in winter.
native to Central America; flowers to 3 1 2 inches across, with
10 to 15 flowers on stems to 10 feet high; red lilac, brown, or
burnt orange, the lip white, veined in darker color and with
yellow center and lilac tip; blooms from February to Vugust
Reported to be the best species of the genus.
native to Trinidad, Venezuela, and Colombia; flowers l 1 L . to
2 inches across, with many loosely arranged near apex of
3-foot stems; sepals and petals very wavy; purplish brown:
lip with lateral lobes pale rose and purple midlobe; blooms
mostly in spring.
Sobralia
This is a genus of strong terrestrial
orchids with slender, reedlike stems and
showy flowers, which do not last long.
The plants are grown in a cool green-
house. The compost may be the same as
for Coelogyne. The roots should never
be permitted to become dry, but the
plant requires little water during the rest
period.
The flowers are solitary or are in ter-
minal racemes, the sepals and petals are
spreading, the lip is overlapping around
the column, forming a tube with expand-
ing; limb.
5. leucoxantha
S. macrantha
S. xantholeuca
native to Costa Rica; solitary flowers 4 to 5 inches across on
stems to 3 feet high; white; blooms in summer.
native to Mexico and Costa Rica: stems are (> to 8 feet long:
solitary flowers to inches across may appear in succession,
and last about three days; sepals and petals rose violet, lip
violet, throat yellow: blooms from May to November. He-
ported to be the finest species of the genus, and worth grow-
ing as a foliage plant.
native to Guatemala; flowers I to (> inches across on stems to
6 feet high: creamy yellow; blooms in summer.
[51]
Sophronitis
This is a group of small epiphytic or-
chids from Brazil grown mostly in shal-
low pans under the roof. The plants are
grown in fern fiber in a cool tempera-
ture not less than 50° in winter. They
5. cernua
S. grandiflora
(coccinea)
need semishade — not less than 50 per
cent light. Keep the plants moist, but
water less when plants are resting. The
blooming period of the showy flowers is
in winter.
native to Brazil; flowers 1 to 2 inches across and one to three
to a stem; cinnabar red; blooms in winter,
native to Brazil; flowers about 3 inches across and one to
two to a stem; scarlet; blooms over a long season but mostly
in winter.
Stanhopea
This epiphytic genus is appreciated in
collections, but the individual flowers
decline too soon to be of commercial
importance. A fragrance of vanilla is
present in some species. Stanhopea in-
signis was the original species intro-
duced, but at least half a dozen kinds are
available for collections. Some fanciers
consider S. tigrina the best of the genus.
S. oculata and S. wardi are among other
beautiful species.
The plants are grown in crates or
baskets suspended from the roof or
crossbars, so that the flower stems can
push downward through the potting ma-
terial — equal parts of chopped sphag-
num and fern fiber. They need plenty of
shade and liberal watering during the
growing season. A rest after blooming is
normal. Some Stanhopeas flower twice a
year, and flowers may appear early in
California.
The plants have one large, leathery
leaf and two to 10 large fragrant flowers
borne on scapes, the sepals and petals
reflexed, the lip saccate at the base, with
two lateral horns in center, the front lobe
keeled. Stanhopea ringspot is a virus
disease that has been reported in Cali-
fornia.
Species of Stanhopea have the peculiar habit of flowering through the
sides or bottom of the container.
52]
S. eburnea
S. insignis
S. oculata
S. tigriiva
native to Guiana; flowers about 1 to 5 inches tu ross and one
to two to a stem; ivorj \\ r i i t « • : blooms in summer.
native to Brazil and Peru; flowers about 1 to 5 inches across
and one to four to a stem; dull yellow; blooms in summer.
native from Mexieo to Honduras; four to eight flowers on
stem to 14 inehes long; light yellow with numerous red-purple
spots resembling eyes; blooms mostly in summer.
native to Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, and Venezuela;
flowers to 7 inches across and two to four on a raceme;
yellow spotted with violet, the Lip tipped with white; blooms
from May to July.
Trichopilia
The epiphytic Trichopilia genus is
worthy of consideration because the
flowers last well on the plant or when
cut. The plants should be grown in a
temperate house near the window. They
may be grown in peat, with good drain-
age. The surface is well elevated above
the rim of the pot.
The plants have one leaf and flowers
on nodding scapes, the petals and sepals
similar, the lip entire, overlapping
around the column.
T. crispa
T. marginata
(coccinea)
native to Central America; similar to T. marginata but with
more robust panicles; usually two-flowered; sepals and petals
red, often with a yellow- white border; lip purple crimson in
the throat; petals not twisted; blooms from April to June,
native to Costa Rica and Panama; flowers 4 to 5 inches
across; sepals and petals pale brown or reddish margined
with green or white; lip whitish outside and crimson inside;
petals somewhat twisted.
Tricopilia fragrans bears almond-scented flowers that bloom from summer to winter
Individual blooms are short-lived.
I 53 |
T. tortilis
native to Central America ; inflorescence, one- to two-flowered,
with peculiar corkscrew-like sepals and petals; purplish
brown or dull rose edged with greenish yellow; lip white;
blooms from February to June and again from September to
December.
Wanda
The epiphytic Vanda group wants
little shade, with none from November
to February. The winter temperature
should be 70° to 75° during the day and
60° to 65° at night. The summer temper-
ature may be ten degrees higher, with
good ventilation. V. amesiana, V. coeru-
lea, and V. kimballiana tolerate a cooler
temperature than many other species.
There should be plenty of moisture at all
seasons, and a damp atmosphere should
V . amesiana
be maintained in summer. Chopped
sphagnum about the roots, with a little
charcoal added, has been recommended.
The stems are leafy, and the flowers
are in axillary racemes, the sepals and
petals similar and spreading, the lip
three-lobed, spurred or saclike, united
with foot of column. The vandas bloom
two or three times a year, and include
some of the most beautiful orchids that
are grown.
V . coerulea
(caerulea)
V. kimballiana
V. sanderiana
I .
suavis
V. teret
native to Burma and Indo-China; dwarf, free-flowering spe-
cies with flowers to 1^2 inches across, 15 to 20 on an erect
scape to 20 inches; white with rose lip edged with white;
blooms from December to April.
native to the Himalayas and Burma; flowers 4 to 5 inches
across in dense racemes with three to 11 flowers; usually
light blue but color varies from pale to dark blue; blooms
from July to January, but mostly in summer. Vanda ringspot
is a virus disease that has been found on some plants of this
species.
native to Burma and China; flowers to 2 inches across with
four to 12 or more on nodding scapes; white and wavy, with
dark-rose lip with yellow side lobes spotted red; blooms from
August to November.
native to the Philippines; flowers to 5 inches across and seven
to 15 to a raceme; yellow and rose; lateral sepals larger,
greenish or brownish yellow with purple-red veining; blooms
in summer.
native to Java; flowers to 2 inches across; free flowering with
eight to 10 flowers on short racemes; sepals white, petals
spotted with purple at base; blooms from February to July.
Large aerial roots like to run under other foliage in the
greenhouse.
native to the Himalayas and Burma; climbing in habit;
flowers to 4 inches across in three- to five-flowered racemes
to 1 foot long; sepals nearly white, petals violet with rose lip,
yellow at base, spotted with red; blooms from May to Au-
gust. Flowers last from four to five weeks, but plants are
rather shy bloomers. Needs plenty of water and air, and
should be cut back each year.
[54
V. tricolor
native to Java; flowers 2 to 3 inches across and five to nine
in a raeeme; whitish yellow but there arc several color
forms; very fragrant and fleshy; blooms from February to
July.
Zygopetalum
This is an epiphytic genus of orchids
that is of fairly easy culture when given
intermediate heat and compost similar
to that required by Phaius (Phajus) .
The plants may be grown on a raft or
in a basket.
The plants have two or more leaves
and rather large flowers, solitar) or in
three to 10 flowers on racemes, tin sepals
and petals similar, the lip three-lobed
with a broad, spreading midlobe or
entire.
Z. gairrianum
Z. mackayi
Z. maxillare
native to Ecuador; handsome, large, solitary flowers; violet
tipped with black purple above; the lip purplish rose with
15 to 17 radiating keels; blooms in summer.
native to Brazil; flowers to 3 inches across; sepals and petals
yellowish green spotted with brown purple; blooms from
November to June, and flowers last a long time.
native to Brazil; handsome flowers to 1Vl> inches across in
six to eight flowers, drooping racemes, with as many as 70
flowers on the plant at a time; sepals and petals barred with
brown; lip violet blue with paler margins and purplish cresl :
free flowering, and blooms at different times in the year.
Some hints to the orchid breeder
on lines of crossing
Both interspecific hybrids (between
species within a genus) and intergeneric
hybrids (between species of different
genera) are widely grown. Some inter-
specific hybrids have already been listed
under the appropriate genus. New forms
of orchids have been obtained by cross-
ing species in different genera, and the
possibilities along this line are almost
unlimited. Sanders' Complete List of
Orchid Hybrids names most of the hy-
brids and gives their parentage. The
American Orchid Society has helped dis-
tribute this reference in America. Un-
fortunately, it is now out of print. Refer-
ence copies may be found in some public
libraries.
Among some of the generic parents
may be listed Brassavola, Cattleya, Kpi-
dendrum, Laelia. Ly caste, Miltonia.
Odontoglossum, Oncidium, Phaius
( Phajus). Phalaenopsis, Schomburgkia,
Sophronitis, I anda, and Zygopetalum.
The results of such crosses now bear
[55]
standardized names recognized by or-
ganized orchid fanciers. Thus Brassolae-
liocattleya results from crossing Brassa-
vola with Cattleya and with Laelia. Lae-
liocattleya results from crossing Laelia
with Cattleya.
Persons who intend to cross different
genera might well review the literature
to see what crosses have been made and
which seem to produce the most popular
hybrids. Within each particular type of
hybrid there may be numerous varieties.
The parentage of any particular variety
can be determined readily by consulting
the Sanders' reference, which also tells
who made the cross and in what year.
The orchid breeder should save a great
deal of time and accomplish more by
carefully studying crosses that have al-
ready been made and by planning future
crosses. The breeder will probably under-
take some special line of crossing, and
he should be familiar with crosses re-
ported, as well as with the recognized
names of the crosses. A few illustrations
may be of interest.
Brassavola digbyana, with its fine,
fragrant, greenish-white flowers up to 5
inches across, was used to give the
fringed lip to its offspring in the crosses
shown below.
Cattleya labiata was crossed with C.
warscewiczi to produce Cattleya Ama-
bilis. In turn, C. Amabilis was crossed
with C. mossiae to give Caracas and with
C. trianae to give Trimabilis. C. bow-
ringiana crossed with C. trianae has
given Barbara. C. dowiana has been an
important parent in many crosses, using
either species or varieties as the other
parent. C. Hardyana resulted from cross-
ing C. dowiana and C. warscewiczi, and
in turn has been crossed with many va-
rieties to produce popular new varieties.
Cymbidiums have been very popular
in California, and some of the varieties
have already been listed. Butterfly is the
result of a cross between Cymbidium
insigne and Lowio-Grandiflorum. Hugh
Evans is a cross between Curlew and
Lowianum. Crosses of similar nature will
continue, and orchid fanciers interested
in breeding will find the parentage given
in supplementary literature issued from
time to time.
The Cypripedium group of orchids,
known to some botanists as Paphiopedi-
lum, has been used in crossing to pro-
duce popular hybrids, such as Cardinal
Mercier, which has been used as a parent
in many of the best later types such as
Cardinal. C. Morganiae is a cross be-
tween C. stonei (Paphiopedilum stonei)
and C. superbiens (P. superbiens) , and
is considered to be one of the best of this
hardy group of terrestrial orchids.
Laelia purpurata was used in the
crosses shown below.
Odontoglosswm invites hybridization
with a near relative, Cochlioda noezli-
B. digbyana x Cattleya Hardyana = Brassocattleya Heatonensis
x Cattleya dowiana = Brassocattleya Mrs. J. Leeman
x Cattleya mendeli = Brassocattleya Digbyano-Mendeli
x Cattleya mossiae = Brassocattleya Digbyano-Mossiae
x Laelia cinnabarina = Brassolaelia Mrs. M. Gratrix
X Laelia purpurata Brassolaelia Digbyano-Purpurata
L. purpurata xCattleya labiata = Laeliocattleya Bella ,
x Cattleya mossiae = Laeliocattleya Canhamiana
x Cattleya warscewiczi - Laeliocattleya Callistoglossa
x Cattleya dowiana = Laeliocattleya Dominiana
x Cattleya leopoldi = Laeliocattleya Elegans
[56]
ana. The latter was crossed with 0.
crispum to produce Odontioda Brad-
shawiae; with 0. ardcniissimum to pro-
duce Odontioda Cooksoniao; and with
0. pescalorei to produce Odontioda
Vuylstekeae. 0. crispum has been crossed
with Miltonia warscewiczi to produce
Odontonia Lairesseae. Cochlioda noezli-
ana was crossed with Oncidium incurvum
to produce Oncidioda Charlesworthi.
A cross between Miltonia vexillaria
and M. roezli was made by Bleu in 1889,
and this cross is now known as M. Bleu-
ana. Bleuana has been used further in
crossing to provide many other varieties.
These few illustrations will show how
the orchid breeder may use the reference
on hybrid orchids to determine parent-
age and perhaps make it easier to select
promising parents for further crossing.
Cattleya and Laelia species have been
crossed to produce Laeliocattleya. In
turn, the offspring have been crossed
with Brassavola \>> produce Braseolaelio-
cattleya Mackayi. Breeders in tin- future
may want to know thai Brassot ola di
(inn was crossed wild Laeliocattleya Ele-
gans back in L903 b) Chamberlain at
Hughbury, Moor Green, Birmingham,
England, to produce tlii- li\ l»i id.
It is difficult to predict the nature of
the offspring, f«»r seedlings may !"■ dif-
ferent and an- occasionally better than
either parent. Sometime- the) closel)
resemble one parent, as Laeliocattleya
Callistoglossa and Lc. Canhamiana,
which closely resemble their Laelia pur-
purata parent, while Laeliocattleya Do-
miniana resembles the Cattleya dowiana
parent.
Schomburgkia tibicinis has been
crossed with Laelia lenebrosa to pro-
duce Schombolaelia Tibirosa, and with
Cattleya mossiae to produce Schombo-
cattleya Spiralis. Fanciers may greatly
increase such hybrids if they bo desire.
REFERENCES
Boyle, Louis Morris
1947. My observations on growing cymbidium orchids out of doors. 47 p. Published by the
author, Ojai, California.
Briscoe, T. W.
1946. Orchids for amateurs. 3d ed. W. H. and L. Collingridge, Ltd., Loudon, i Unpaged.)
Fairburn, D. C.
1944. "Gravel" culture for orchids. Missouri Botanical Garden Bui. 32:133-51, October.
Harrison, C. Alwyn, and T. W. Sanders
1925. Orchids for amateurs. 140 p. Lockwood Press. London.
Hocc, R. B.
1947. Orchids for everybody; a complete handbook on all phases of orchidology. 204 p. .1.
Bisset, Sydney, N.S.W.
Locan, Harry B., and Lloyd C. Cosper
1949. Orchids are easy to grow. 312 p. Ziff-Davis Publishing Co., Chicago, III.
Lumsden, David
1947. Culture of orchids. U. S. Dept. Agr. Leaflet 206:1 8. Wash., D.( :.
Sanders, T. W.
1927. Sanders' orchid guide. 452 p. Sanders. St. Albans. England.
1946. Sanders' complete list of orchid hybrids. 307 p. Sanders. St. Albans, England.
1951. Sanders' popular orchid growing. 75 p. \\ aterlow and Son-. London.
Watkins, John Vertrees
1942. Orchids in Florida. Florida Agr. Ext. Bui. 116:1-17
1948. ABC of orchid growing. 134 p. Ziff-Davia Publishing Co., Chicago. 111.
White, E. A.
1942. American orchid culture. 276 p. (3d vi\. rev. and enl.i A. T. Dc La Mare Co., NVu York.
I 57 |
Table 1. Orchid Flowers Month by Month
JANUARY
Cattleya percivaliana (I)
Coelogyne cristata (C)
Dendrobium phalaenopsis (W)
Laelia superbiens (I)
Lycaste skinneri (I)
Oncidium cavendishianum (C)
Phaius grandifolius (I)
Phalaenopsis schilleriana (W)
FEBRUARY
Cattleya percivaliana (I)
Dendrobium bigibbum (W)
Dendrobium brymerianum (W)
Dendrobium super bum (W)
Dendrobium wardianum (W)
Odontoglossum crispum (C)
Odontoglossum rossi (C)
Oncidium sphacelatum (I)
Schomburgkia (I)
MARCH
Cattleya lawrenceana (I)
Cattleya skinneri ( I )
Cymbidium insigne (C)
Cypripedium callosum (W)
Dendrobium bensoniae (W)
Dendrobium nobile (W)
Lycaste cruenta (C)
Odontoglossum pescatorei (C)
APRIL
Cattleya mossiae (I)
Coelogyne massangeana (C)
Coelogyne mooreana (C)
Cypripedium bellatulum (W)
Dendrobium dearei (I)
Laelia grandis (C)
Laelia ma jalis (C)
Odontoglossum cirrhosum (C)
Schomburgkia tibicinis (W)
MAY
Aerides crassifolium (W)
Calanthe veratrifolia (C)
Cattleya intermedia ( I )
Cymbidium lowianum (C)
Cypripedium concolor (W)
Laelia pur pur ata (I)
Maxillaria sanderiana (I)
JUNE
Aerides lawrenciae (W)
Brassavola digbyana (I)
Cattleya warscewiczi (I)
Cypripedium lawrenceanum (W)
Dendrobium injundibulum (C)
Laelia pur pur ata (I)
Masdevallia veitchiana (C)
Miltonia vexillaria (C)
JULY
Aerides odoratum (W)
Cattleya dowiana (I)
Cattleya gaskelliana (I)
Coelogyne corrugata (I)
Cypripedium lawrenceanum (W)
Epidendrum nemorale (C)
Odontoglossum harry anum (C)
Stanhopea tigrina (I)
AUGUST
Catasetum macracarpum (W)
Cattleya lueddemanniana (I)
Cypripedium godefroyae (W)
Oncidium flexuosum (C)
Sobralia leucoxantha (C)
Vanda coerulea (W)
*Orchid fanciers often want flowers each month of the year rather than most of the
blooms at one time. It is possible to predict within certain limits what kinds of orchids
will bloom in a certain month. Many species and varieties bloom over a period of
months and may occasionally bloom out of season. With the hope of aiding beginners
this table is given, but it may need to be changed somewhat for special conditions that
affect the time of flowering. (C = cool or not under 50°F; I = intermediate or not under
55 F; W = warm or not under 65°F.)
[58]
SEPTEMBER
Catasetum rnaculatum (W)
Cattleya bowringiana (I)
Cypripedium charlesworlhi (W)
Dendrobium deari (I)
Epidendrum skinneri { I )
Odontoglossum citrosmum (C)
Oncidium crispum (C)
NOVEMBER
Ingraecum eburneum I \\ I
t no/a densi flora (\\ I
Calaiuhe vestita (C)
C ) f>i ipedium villo.su tn (C)
Dendrobium chrysotoxum (\)
Laelia autumnal is (C)
Phalaenopsis stuar liana C\\ |
OCTOBER
Cattleya bowringiana (I)
Cattleya guttata ( I )
Cypripedium insigne (C)
Odontoglossum grande (C)
Oncidium ornithorhynchum (I
Phalaenopsis amabilis (W)
Vanda sanderiana (W)
DECEMBER
Angraecum sesquipedale (W)
Cattleya trianae (W)
Laelia anceps (C)
Ly caste skinneri (I)
Phalaenopsis aphrodite | \\ I
Zygopetalum mackayi (C)
Table 2. Some Orchids with Flowers of Large Diameter
Species
Diameter,
in inches
Number of
flowers to
cluster
Predominating
color
Angraecum sesquipedale
6
5-8
6
6-8
6-8
6
7
6-8
5-8
5-7
6-7
6-8
5-6
6
6-9
6-9
6
5-7
5-7
2-5
1-3
6-10
2-6
2-7
2-7
2-7
2-3
3-5
3-5
2-3
2-7
1
1-2
3-9
2-5
1
4-7
2-4
ivory white
variable
light green
nankeen yellow
bright rose
lilac rose
flesh color
rose white
light rose
deep rose
light rose
deep rose
greenish
rose
rose white
reddish brown
white
yellow
red and yellow
Brassocattlaelia hybrid
Brassia brachiata
Cattleya dowiana
Cattleya labiata
Cattleya loddigesi
Cattleya lueddemanniana
Cattleya mendeli
Cattleya mossiae
Cattleya percivaliana
Cattleya schroederiana
Cattleya warneri
Cypripedium villosum
Laelia grandiflora
Laelia purpura ta
Laelia tenebrosa
Maxillaria sanderiana
Odontoglossum grande
Stanhopea tigrina
[59]
Table 3. Some Orchids with White Prevailing
Aerides falcatum
Laelia albida
Aerides fieldingi
Laelia crispa
Aerides odoratum
Laelia rubescens
Angraecum articulatum
Lycaste Candida
Angraecum citratum
Maxillaria grandiflora
Brassavola glauca
Maxillaria venusta
Brassavola nodossa
Miltonia phalaenopsis
Calanthe veratrifolia
Odontoglossum cirrhosum
Coelogyne barbata
Odontoglossum citrosmum
Coelogyne corrugata
Odontoglossum crispum
Coelogyne cristata
Odontoglossum pescatorei (nobile)
Coelogyne mooreana
Odontoglossum pulchellum
Cymbidium erythrostylum
Peristeria elata
Cypripedium niveum
Phalaenopsis amabilis
Dendrobium bensoniae
Phalaenopsis aphrodite
Dendrobium dearei
Phalaenopsis stuartiana
Dendrobium formosum
Pleione maculata
Dendrobium infundibulum
Sobralia leucoxantha
Dendrobium nobile
Vanda suavis
Dendrobium sanderae
* See white hybrids in lists from nurseries. See also varieties listed under Cattleya (such as Barbara
Billingsley, Barbara Dane, Bow Bells, St. Petersburg, and White Empress) and under Cymbidium (such
as Balkis, Miranda, and Swallow).
Table 4. Some Orchids with Yellow Prevailing
Species
Diameter,
in inches
Species
Diameter,
in inches
Cattleya citrina (tulip
orchid)
3
2-3
2
2
2-3
4
VA
VA
2-3
5-7
Odontoglossum halli
Odontoglossum
schlieperianum
3-5
4-5
VA
1-2
2
1
3
3
3
1
2H
Cirrhopetalum
Cyrtopodium andersoni
Dendrobium brymerianum .
Dendrobium chrysotoxum . .
Dendrobium densiflorum. . .
Dendrobium heterocarpum
faureum)
Epidendrum brassavolae . .
Epidendrum stamfordianum
Epidendrum wallisi
Laelia flava
Oncidium altissimum ......
Oncidium bicallosum
Oncidium cavendishianum. .
Oncidium lanceanum
Oncidium sphacelatum
Oncidium splendidum
Oncidium tigrinum
Oncidium varicosum
Oncidium wentworthianum .
Schomburgkia crispa
Odontoglossum grande
I 60 I
Table 5. Some Orchids with Red to Reddish Brown Prevailing
Species
Predominating color
Bulbophyllum careyanum
Cochlioda hybrids
reddish brown
red to rose
orange scarlet
cinnabar red
cinnabar red
orange red
orange scarlet
reddish brown
bright vermillion
dark red
chestnut brown
chestnut brown
chestnut brown
reddish
red brown
reddish crimson
blood red
vermillion
reddish brown
cinnabar red
scarlet
red and yellow
Epidendrum radicans
Epidendrum vitellinum
Laelia cinnabarina
Laelia harpophylla
Laelia monophylla
Laeha tenebrosa
Masdevallia veitchiana
Maxillaria tenuif olia
Miltonia Candida
Odontoglossum harryanum
Odontoglossum luteopurpureum
Oncidioda hybrids
Oncidium longipes
Oncidium papilio
Renanthera coccinea
Renanthera imschootiana
Schomburgkia tibicinis
Sophronitis cernua
Sophronitis grandiflora
Stanhopea tigrina
[61]
Table 6. Some Orchids with Many Flowers to a Cluster or Stem
Species
Bletilla hyacinthina
Cattleya bowringiana
Cochlioda hybrids
Coelogyne pandurata
Cymbidium lowianum
Cymbidium tracyanum
Dendrobium brymerianum
Dendrobium formosum
Dendrobium nobile
Epidendrum brassavolae
Epidendrum skinned
Laelia flava
Lycaste tricolor
Odontioda hybrids
Odontoglossum pescatorei (nobile) .
Odontoma hybrids
Phaius grandif olius
Phalaenopsis schilleriana
Vanda coerulea
Vanda sanderiana
Number to
cluster or
Diameter,
in inches
Predominating
color
spray
6-12
1
light purple
5-20
2-3
rose purple
10-15
1
red to rose
5-15
4
green
15-36
4-5
yellowish green
5-15
4-5
yellowish brown
7-15
2-3
golden yellow
7-15
3-4
white
4-18
2-3
white
10-20
4
yellow
15-30
1H
rose
8-10
5-10
canary yellow
10-30
1H
whitish rose
5-20
1-3
variable
over 20
2-3
white
5-15
3-4
whitish
10-20
3-4
yellow brown
over 20
3-4
light rose
7-15
3-4
light blue, variable
7-15
5
yellow and rose
[62
Table 7. Some Good Hybrid Orchids
Laeliocattleya Hybrids
Bella (X. purpurata X C. labiata;
Callistoglossa (L. purpurata X C. war-
scewiczij (rosy, middle lip dark purple )
Canhamiana (L. purpurata X C. mossiae),
especially Alba (light rose and purple
lip, throat orange )
Dominiana (L. purpurata X C. dowianai
Elegans (L. purpurata X C. leopoldij
(rose; a natural hybrid)
George Baldwin (Princess Margaret X
Enid)
Lustre Callistoglossa X C. lueddemann-
iana* 'very good dark orchid
Marie Dobrott Callistoglossa X Lustre
Mme. Brasseur Hye Lc. Aphrodite X C.
Metior
Princess Margaret Profusion X Clotho
(dark orchid;
Queen Mary, Westonbirt's Variety Lus-
tre X Peetersi
S. J. Bracey Mrs. Medo X Thebes
White Queen Britannia X C. mossiae
(white i
Brassocattleya Hybrids
Digbyano-Mendeli (B. digbyana X C.
mendeli)
Digbyano-Mossiae (B. digbyana X C.
mossiae)
Digbyano-Trianae (B. digbyana X C. tri-
anae)
Heatonensis (B. digbyana X C. hardy-
ana)
Mrs. J. Leemann (B. digbyana X C.
dowiana)
Rosalind (B. digbyana X C. mossiae
X Enid)
Montecito (an Armacost and Royston va
riety)
Brassolaeliocattleya Hybrids
The Baroness (chartreuse to yellow
Brassolaelia Hybrids with Odd Colors
Digbyano-Purpurata (B. digbyana X L. Mrs. M. Gratrix tB. digbyana X L. cinna-
purpurata) barina)
* See catalog listings for full color descriptions.
Table 8. Some
Orchids
Commonly
Grown in Osmunda Fern Fiber
(Epiphytic
orchids)
Aerides
Maxillaria
Angraecum
Miltonia
Brassocattleya, etc.
Oncidium in part)
Cattleya
Phalaenopsis
Coelogyne
Schomburgkia
Cycnoches
Sophronitis
Dendrobium
Stanhopea
Epidendrum (in part)
Vanda
Laelia
Table 9. Some Orchids Grown in Leafmold and Gravel Mixtures
(mostly terrestrial but some epiphytic)
BletiUa (Bletia)
Calanthe
Cymbidium
Cypripedium (in part)
as insigne
parishi
spicerianum
villosum
Lycaste
Odontoglossum (epiphytic)
Phaius (Phajus) (in part; mostly terres-
trial)
Pleione
Sobralia
Zygopetalum (epiphytic)
Table 10. Some Cool-House Orchids for Beginners
(50 F minimum)
Species
Size of flowers,
in inches
Predominating color
Calanthe vestita
3
3-4
3-4
mostly 2-4
4-5
3
5-6
4
2-3
1
3-4
4
1
4-6
2-3
5-7
1-2
1-2
2
3
3
3
creamy white
white
white
various
greenish white
white
greenish
white
yellowish green
red and yellow
cinnabar red
deep rose
deep purple
golden yellow
whitish rose
yellowish green
white
yellow
yellow
greenish brown
yellowish green
yellow
scarlet
green and blue
Coelogyne cristata
Coelogyne mooreana
Cymbidium
Cypripedium insigne
Cypripedium spicerianum
Cypripedium villosum
Dendrobium infundibulum
Epidendrum cochleatum
Epidendrum obrienianum
Epidendrum vitellinum
Laelia anceps
Laelia autumnalis
Lycaste aromatica
Lycaste skinneri
Odontoglossum bictoniense
Odontoglossum citrosmum
Odontoglossum grande
Oncidium cavendishianum
Oncidium crispum
Oncidium leuchochilum
Oncidium tigrinum
Sophronitis grandiflora
Zygopetalum mackayi
[64
Table 11. Some Intermediate House Orchids for Beginners
(55 F minimum)
Species
Size of flowers,
in inches
Predominating color
Cattleya amethystoglossa
Cattleya bicolor
4
4
2-3
6-8
5
6-8
6
6-8
5-8
5-7
6-7
2-3
6-7
6-8
2
3-4
2-3
6-9
6-9
VA
l
3-4
3-4
2-3
rose purple
bronze green
rose purple
nankeen yellow
rose purple
bright rose
lilac rose
rose white
hght rose
deep rose
hght rose
rose purple
hght rose
deep rose
golden yellow
yellowish rose
white
rose white
reddish brown
yellow
yellow
yellow brown
white and bufE
reddish brown
Cattleya bowringiana
Cattleya dowiana
Cattleya gaskelliana
Cattleya labiata
Cattleya loddigesi
Cattleya mendeli
Cattleya mossiae
Cattleya percivaliana
Cattleya schroederiana
Cattleya skinneri
Cattleya trianae
Cattleya warneri
Dendrobium chrysotoxum
Dendrobium moschatum
Dendrobium nobile
Laelia purpurata
Laelia tenebrosa
Oncidium altissimum
Oncidium sphacelatum
Phaius (Phajus) grandifolius
Phaius (Phajus) wallichi
Schomburgkia tibicinis
[65
Table 12. Some Warm-House Orchids for the Beginner
(65 F minimum)
Species
Size of flowers,
in inches
Predominating color
Aerides crassifolium
1H
1
3
3-4
4-5
3-4
2V 2
3
1-2
3-4
5
4
3-4
13^-3
3-4
5
2-3
2-3
rose purple
white
creamy white
light yellow
whitish green
satiny white
white
deep rose
yellowish green
reddish crimson
white
white
light rose
white
light blue, variable
yellow and rose
white
whitish yellow
Aerides odoratum
Cypripedium bellatulum
Cypripedium concolor
Cypripedium lawrenceanum
Cypripedium niveum
Dendrobium dearei
Dendrobium phalaenopsis
Oncidium luridum
Oncidium papilio
Phalaenopsis amabilis
Phalaenopsis aphrodite
Phalaenopsis schilleriana
Phalaenopsis stuartiana
Vanda coerulea
Vanda sanderiana
Vanda suavis
Vanda tricolor
I 66 I