The Simple Facts About those “Delicate” Orchids and How to Grow Them

Wednesday, December 17th, 2008 at 10:04 am

There is a tremendous variety of plants available these days to ornamen our houses and to touch our rooms and offices with green freshness. Further, we never get tired of them; in fact, we seek more of them, wanting to add new ones to our home and work places.

What is it about flowers, in particular, that they have such a great appeal to human beings?. Lots and lots of folks are undeniably drawn to the aristocratic orchid, among all the flowers in the world.

Orchids are called “conquerers of the light” by some. They amaze us when we first encounter them, and they continue thereafter to draw us to them in admiration. Nature in its liberality has been especially kind to the orchids. Their flowers are consistently bright and elegant at the same time. The smell is sweet but not cloying. Certainly, orchids are thin in texture, but they are not nearly as frail as this leads many to believe. From a flower aficiando’s point of view, the only thing keeping them from perfection is their lack of much foliage. But really, this is no big deal–the common aestehtic solution is to surround them with ferns to create an attractive arrangement.

For a long time, people assumed taht these wonderful flowers were too delicate to grow with ease. This was a mistake. Orchids are actually rather simple to cultivate, and many amateur growers can consistently raise some of the most extraordinarily beautiful specimens anyone has ever seen. The key lies in finding complete and accurate information on growing orchids before beginning. To assure success, you must educate yourself first; skip this preparation and you may be dooming yourself to failure.

One prevalent myth about orchids is that in order to thrive, they must have high heat. This is not true! Certainly, most orchids with which we are familiar have their origin in the tropics. But many species, in their native lands, actually grow high up on cool mountainsides. It would be a mistake to subject these coolness-hardy plants to high temperatures — if the heat didn’t kill them, it would at least stunt their development.

It matters little how much gardening skill or experience you have, you can grow these marvelous flowers yourself. Imagine springing a gift of an orchid–one you grew yourself!–on a friend or family member. Envision yourself culitvating gorgeous orchids that are so good they win prizes. Picture yourself going so far with your orchid growing hobby that it becomes a business, perhaps one big enough to provide you with a living. Trust me, all of these things are possible to you.

One of the best and most complete guides to modern orchid growing is undoubtedly Orchid Care Expert by Nigel Howard, available online. Howard’s guide is really a complete course, and will teach something to experienced growers as well as complete neophytes. You might also want to visit the Orchid Secrets web site, which has a growing database of articles on all aspects of orchids.

Here’s to your wonderful orchid adventure!

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