Here are a few of the Valentine specials provided to all our subscribers.
All Valentine Specials get Free Overnight Fedex
These specials are especially beautiful and will bring joy to your Valentine's eyes and, yes, to you too!
And they last longer than roses.
These make very special gifts and are priced to sell.
I want to encourage you to buy early to get the best selection
and we will hold it for you until you want it shipped.
Remember, our guarantee is your full satisfaction.
For a very special Vaentine
Even a seasoned orchid collector will enjoy our exquisite gift flower called Slc. Tutankamen "POP" SM/96' JOGA. This special red cattleya orchid..
Priced at $89.95
On sale for $79.95
Remember You Get Fee Overnight Delivery
Another Beauty for You
The word Dendrobium in Greek "dendron" means Tree and "bios" meaning Life. This refers to the epiphytic mode of dendrobiums. These plants consist of a series of...
Priced at $69.95
On sale for $59.95
Your Orchid Tip of the Month
Cattleya Care
a bit more in-depth
This month we are going to go into some detail about the care of cattleya orchids. These orchids are
probably the easiest to care for and like all plants need water, light and
fertilizer. Playing some nice music or talking to them doesn't hurt either.
Most of the wild cattleyas grow in rain forests of South America, namely in
Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Mexico. They flourish in the Andes from
altitudes near sea level to high altitudes of 9 - 10,000 feet. These orchids are
truly epiphytes or air plants. So, they are used to being partly covered by the
canopy of the rain forest and get considerable humidity and bright light to
grow.
Being in the forest as noted above they are used to diffuse light all be it
bright light. They generally do not have direct mid day sunlight. The bright
light helps them to develop hard pseudopods. The pseudopods are the orchids main
way to hold water which is so important for their growth and life. It is from
the pseudopods that the orchid flowers come from.
Being in the forest and at various altitudes there are a wide range of
temperatures that these plants are used to. In the winter and higher altitudes
these plants become accustom to temps which can go as low as 50 - 55 degrees in
the winter and as high as 80-90 degrees in the summer.
Humidity is the friend to cattleyas. We can understand this from being in
rain forests. Most cattleyas do well with being set on humidity trays. These are
metal or plastic trays that are filled with pepples and then half full with
water. The plant roots cannot sit in water for a long period of time or else
they will get root rot. Allow for good air circulation but not sitting in direct
aim of an air vent.
Generally, watering twice a week does well during their growth and flowering
period and once a week during their period of rest. Cattleyas are orchids that
can and should get dry between watering. This aids in the growth of healthy
pseudopods. Be sure that the potting medium allow the water to drain
out fairly rapidly.
To check to see if a plant needs water stick your finger about 1 inch into
the potting material and see if it comes out dry or damp. If dry it needs
watering. If damp it may be able to go another day or two without water.
When watering allow the water to flow into the plant and then drain right out
into the sink and not into the humidity tray. You can let the water water flow
onto the plant for about 20-30 seconds and the pseudopods will get enough water
for storage.
If plants are blossom in the winter or spring this means that these orchid
plants deserve a rest period of about 6 to 8 weeks. During this time water
them about once a week and keep the lighting the same.
If the plants blossom in the summer time no rest period is needed.
Fertilizing should take place about every other week with a balanced formula
like 20-20-20. If the plant is flowering you can fertilize with a blossoming
mixture with a higher nitrogen factor, e.g. 30-10-10.
With these rather easy steps you will get many years of joy from your
cattleya orchid plants.
Any questions please contact
me
Picture of the Month Sorry none this month
If you have any please feel free to send them to me.
