Happy Spring

Growing Orchids: Easier Than You Can Imagine!

There are a great many plants available to us today, all capable of giving our homes and offices their welcome air of freshness and life. Further, we never tire of them, regardless of how familiar they become; in fact, we seek out more of them, and want to add new ones to our home and work places.

Flowers, particularly, have great appeal to most of us. Those of us who are especially attracted to the “flower royalty” represented by the orchid are in good company.

Orchids have been named “conquerers of the light” by both horticultural and literary writers. They amaze us when we first encounter them, and they continue thereafter to draw us to them in admiration. Nature has been extra kind to the orchids. Their flowers delight us with their brightness and elegance. Orchids smell sweet, but they don’t cloy with their odor as so many flowers do. Their texture is then, which misleads many into assuming they are delicate. Yet they can last longer after being cut than many another ornamental bloom. Really, the only thing they “lack” from the standpoint of aesthetics is thick foliage. But really, this is no big deal–the common aestehtic solution is to surround them with ferns to create an attractive arrangement.

It was long believed that these marvelous flowers were exceptionally delicate and difficult to grow. This was erroneous. Orchids are easier to grow than you might think; many hobbyist gardeners have raised some of the loveliest examples known. The “trick”–and of course it’s not really a trick–is to learn as much as you can about orchid growing before you even acquire your first plant. By educating yourself, you are almost assured of success; skip the learning phase and you are doomed to failure.

It is a common myth–yet a myth nonetheless–that orchids require high heat to thrive. Not true, it turns out! Yes, most all of the cultivated orchids originated in earth’s tropical zone. However, many orchid species in the wild are found growing in the crisp air of steep mountainsides. It would therefore, in most cases, be unwise to subject the typical orchid to high temperatures.

Whether or not you think of yourself as a skilled gardner, you can grow these wonderful flowers. Imagine “gifting” a lover or friend with an orchid that you grew yourself. 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.

So, here’s to many years of orchid enjoyment!

Happy Spring To You!

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