Show s Tropical Orchids Require I t Scientific Hothouse Hot ouse Caret Ca t tIn In hot jungle lowlands 10 from Co Co- Colombia Colombia Co- Co Colombia lombia Venezuela and Brazil to the Philippines New Guinea and andi i Borneo orchids orchi s bloom in profusion high forest in-forest in trees They are ar not the parasites they appear to be however Although a single plant j may spread for 50 feet along a trunk or limb and carry more than blooms it lives on air Spongy aerial roots absorb dust and mois- mois moisture moisi i I ture for its nourishment I Most of the orchid blooms of com com- commerce comI I merce represent five or more years i j i of patient scientific hothouse cul cul- culture culI culI culture I ture from seed After two to eight I months in flasks of agar solution the tiny seedlings are transferred to pots of fluffy moss and charcoal or I similar materials insuring good I drainage and air circulation In shipping cut orchids to market I each bloom is given plenty of space in the container Each cut stem is isi i I inserted through a rubber cap into I a thin glass tube of water Fragile i as the flowers flowers' appear to be they stay fresh for a week with good care Some orchid blooms on the I plant last as long as 10 weeks I In some countries you can eat eatS S your orchid and have it too land natives make a food staple of ofa a orchid ground-orchid root resembling a small potato Mayflower t tea a brewed from orchid petals is good goods and good for you according tot toj to I Venezuelans Vanilla flavor comes from the dried seed pods of the the they I vanilla orchid j I I |