It is common “knowledge” that the orchid is a tropical/subtropical plant. But in truth, orchids can be found in almost every part of the globe outside of the deserts and the polar regions.

About 85% of orchid types may inded be found in the tropics and subtropics, but that leaves a large proportion to the more temperate zones. Among other things, this means that you will not be out of luck if you live in a cool area and want to grow orchids, but do not have a greenhouse or other such area in which do so so.

There are tens of thousands of orchid species. You could be astounded to know that there could be orchids growing in your own neighborhood, even if your home is in one of our more northerly regions. Take the fairly common Lady Slipper.

Lady Slippers (also written Lady’s Slippers and Ladyslippers) is a name given to a large subfamily of orchids, the Cypripedioidea, with many members that grow in cool climates over much of North America and Europe. If you live in the New England states of the U.S., or the Appalachian mountain region, or even in Canada, you might find Lady Slippers of one variety or another growing in the woods near your home.

A species of Lady Slipper is the state flower of Minnesota. Another is the official state wildflower of New Hampshire. The Canadian province of Prince Edward Island has a Lady Slipper as its official flower.

If you’re considering growing orchids, especially in an outdoor garden, you would do well to consider a native species. It will already be used to your particular climate, and–if you live in a place that has low temperatures in the winter–you might not even have to bring it inside when cold weather arrives.

One of the prettiest native-American orchids is the Yellow Lady Slipper. It is also among the easiest orchids to grow in a garden. On the other hand, the Pink Lady Slipper is extremely difficult to grow.Clearly, unless you are already experienced with growing orchids, the Yellow Lady Slipper is the preferred choice.

Nurseries that specialize in orchid plants tend to run out of stock from time to time. Nevertheless, Lady Slippers are generally some of the easiest orchids to obtain. They also tend to be less expensive than orchid plants from exotic locations. They are a great orchid for getting your thumb green, so to speak, before you take on the rarer or more “foreign” species.

All of the advice pertaining to successful orchid cultivation apply to the Lady Slippers and similar plants. You need accurate information before you begin trying to grow these or other orchids, and  the best, most complete guide to modern orchid cultivation, hands down, is Orchid Care Expert by Nigel Howard, which can be downloaded online. Mr. Howard’s guide is a complete course in itself, suitable for beginners as well as the more experienced. Also, visit the Orchid Secrets web site, which has a growing library of postings on many aspects of orchid cultivation.

Orchids (more formally, Orchidacea) are a group of plants comprising over than 20,000 identified species, quite many of which are very valuable from a commercial standpoint. Many people believe them to be by far the most intriguing order of plants in the whole vegetable kingdom because of their curious mode of growth and existence, their bizarre habits and the multitudinous shapes and forms of their flowers, which are different from those of all the other plants — delicate seeming in texture and with exquisite and glowing hues.

Orchids are also to be remarked upon owing to their well-known adaptability and the degree to which they will easily cross-breed or cross-fertilize. This is the case in their natural habitats as well as under cultivation. This fact also accounts for the practically endless varieties of flowers and colors that can result from the hybridizing process.

Here’s some botany: The orchid flower as a rule is made up of these parts: the sepals, petals, the labellum (or pouch), and the column (or crest).

On most orchids the labellum is generally the most notable part as well as the most important organ of the flower. Insects enter it in search of the succulent juices contained within the spur or walls of the flower, pollinating the plant in the process and bringing about cross-fertilization in the bargain. This is how so many new varieties are produced in the wild, and these are the orchids that are termed natural hybrids.  But under cultivation this task must be achieved by human caretakers using tiny camel’s hair brushes and with a careful eye and judgment as to the proper moment for fertilization. It is in this manner that the most wonderful hybrid orchids are created, and these are termed garden hybrids.

Among the the things that makes orchid growing so exciting is the possibility of producing our own orchid hybrids. The process takes knowledge and much patience, but even first-timers have created breathtaking orchids by experimenting with hybridization.

If you’re wishing to experiement with hybridizing orchids, you should first have some solid experience in basic cultivation of these plants.  Only when you feel confident in growing and caring for orchids should you venture on the more demanding experiment of hybridizing them. Orchids are slow growing, and slow to come to bloom, so you must be prepared to wait often years to learn if your hybridizing attempts are a success. Nontheless, when it succeeds, it’s fantastic experience.  You can produce not only a beautiful flower by this process, but also orchid varieties that have never before been seen in the world.

Naturally, you must amass all the knowledge that you can before trying your hand at hybridizing orchids. Fortunately, there are good books available on all aspects of orchid growing, including step-by-step instructions on hybridizing orchids.

The most up-to-date guidebook to 21st-century orchid care, in the opinion of many, is Orchid Care Expert by Nigel Howard, which can be downloaded from the web. Howard’s delightful guide will provide a complete education on the subject. Additionally, be sure to visit the Orchid Secretsweb site, which contains a growing database of articles on a broad range of topics of orchid cultivation.

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!

We should appreciate orchid and other flower fanciers, in part, for the burgeoning movement to reuse the water that reaches our homes, particularly that which falls as rain. If you are growing orchids, this might be something you should look into.

Orchids, like most other plants, have specific likes and dislikes as to the water provided them to nourish their roots. Most of them definitely do not like water that is too hard. Unfortunately, the water that comes out of the taps in many areas is too hard for orchids to respond as well as we might like. Rarely will hard water kill them. But it may retard their growth or prevent them from blossoming as gorgeously as they might.

A saving grace about orchids is that they possess thick, fleshy roots that can stand up to hard water better than many other sorts of plants. Woody plants, as an example, with their fine roots, are easily killed by water that is overly hard. Nevertheless you should take measures to avoid putting hard water on your orchids.

There are devices that you can buy to attach to your water line that will make your water softer while blocking many impurities that are bad for humans and plants alike. But absolutely nothing beats rainwater when it comes to treating your orchids right! After all, this is the form of water that nature supplies to plants the world over.

A number of companies make rain barrels that are great for collecting and holding rainwater until you want to use it. Many people set up the barrels below the rainspouts coming from their roofs. With a little planning and work, you could set up a bank of barrels to direct water right to your orchids. Then the watering task, presuming you live in a fairly rainy area, becomes almost hands off.

Whatever type of water you decide to use, don’t put it on your plants if it is chilly. For instance, I would not use water that I got from an outdoor faucet on a cold day, without first allowing it to come to room temperature in my home or greenhouse. Chilled water can cause spotting, rot young growths and harm roots.

Some orchids will benefit from water with a little lime mixed in it. In years gone by, people noticed that imported Cypripedium orchids often were covered with lime deposits owing to the plants having grown in limestone rock crevices where the water trickled down upon them. So if you have a Cypripedium, you could experiment with adding lime to its water, a little at first and then more if you determine that the plant is thriving on it.

The art and science of orchid cultivation is an intriguing topic. Orchid growing is not as difficult as some people like to make it out to be, but you must arm yourself with accurate information before plunging in to this rewarding pastime. 

The most up-to-date guide to contemporary orchid cultivation, many agree, is Orchid Care Expert by Nigel Howard, which can be downloaded over the Internet. Howard’s well-written guide constitutes a complete education all to itself. And, it’s suitable for beginners as well as more seasoned orchid cultivators. Additionally, spend some time at this Orchid Secrets site, which is publishing an ever-growing library of information on a wide range of facets of orchid cultivation.

Previously, orchids were considered as the special plants and just the very rich that can grow these plants. Nevertheless, this idea is no longer suitable today. Currently, every person can grow these lovely plants as they are more attainable and acknowledge on how to care for them is offered readily. For people who have grown orchids for years, these plants are the queens of horticulture world.

Can I Really Grow Orchids?

Generality, those who are not accustomed to orchids, may have heard that they are very hard to grow well. A mystery seems to be surrounding them. Some would be plant fanatics may consider orchids to be the job of experts, and not to be considered for the learner or hobbyist.

In fact, all of those thoughts are completely incorrect. Growing orchids is the oldest and perhaps the most highly organized of plant hobbies and people in all walks of life can enjoy them. If you can grow pot plants, you can fruitfully grow orchids. Nevertheless, before reckoning these plants to your home, consider some essential facts first.

Fast Facts

One that you have to bear in mind principally in growing orchids is select the suitable type of indoor environment that you will be offering. There is a myth that these plants are “exotic”. Hence, they will not grow well in the common home.

As the largest group of plants in the world, they are not a scarce and delicate species. While they do need specialized treatment, many species are sturdy and you may even find a variety growing wild in one of your local parks.

Orchids have evolved over the years, with the type you buy in a local garden center being especially bred and cultivated for your certain area. By reason of selective breeding and hybridization, the plants you acquire will do quite well in your home if you meet their essential needs.

A greenhouse isn’t required to grow these sweet plants. Growing them indoors will be as simple as nurture to other houseplants. However, select a species of orchids that has been cultivated for your area.

There are plenty of species of this plant, and several may include careful care just because they are unable to last out the conditions that are in your home. In contrast, there are plenty of varieties that will blossom in your house, with normal and frequent care, because they have been acclimatized for your definite area.

You won’t be sorry of growing orchids at your home as they can give you a lifetime of happiness. It calls for a patience to grow these plants but give the significant satisfaction. Happy growing orchids!

Want to know more about orchids? Learn about the species of orchids here.