At one time, many folks assumed, with some justification, that growing orchids was an occupation only for the quite affluent. Today, most folks understand that cultivating orchids is a fascinating pastime that is available to people whatever their station in life. Yet another unfortunate myth still persists: that it is extremely problematic to care for orchids. But this is certainly not so.
The fact is, some of the most lovely orchid varieties are really rather easy to grow. All it requires is some foreknowledge, which may be learned easily from books, both the printed kind and the digital kind that you can download from a website. If you live in a mild or warm climate, you will be able to grow many varieties outdoors, in your yard or garden. Even if you live in a cold climate, you can still grow lovely orchids in a greenhouse or any regular room that you can dedicate to the purpose.
Why grow orchids rather than other types of plants?If you have had any experience growing orchids, you would not need to ask the question. Orchids can seize us with a hold that never relaxes once it has us in its grips!
Regardless, here are a few answers to the question. The great advantage of growing orchids over other plants is their extreme beauty coupled with the great length of time that they will remain in bloom. Some orchids will remain in bloom for three or four months. A few will continue blooming for six months. Even if your collection of orchids is a small one, it is possible to have blooms the year around, due to the varying blooming seasons of different species.
The topic of orchids, and how to cultivate them, is both broad and deep. You should dig deep into the subject, learning as much as you possibly can before acquiring your first plant. Nontheless, there are some basics you need to know at the very start. One of those basics is that orchids are divided into two great groups based on their growing habits.
One of the two major groupings is the epiphytal orchids. These are orchids that grow on trees, or sometimes in moss or fungus on rocks. They are the air dwelling orchids, because they seemingly live on nothing but air and sunlight, though this of course is not actually true. It was these mysterious species that first grabbed the imaginations of collectors and resulted in the first great orchid mania of a more than a century ago. They remain the ones that hold the most fascination for people.
It should be noted that epiphytal orchids are not parasites. The get only a little of their sustenance from the tree bark on which they grow, and this doesn’t harm their hosts at all. They also draw nutrients from water, moss and fungi, as well as leaves that often get caught on and around them, decomposing in the process. Orchid devotees adore the epiphytals because of the enjoyment of recreating their unusual habitats in a garden or greenhouse.
The other major orchid group is the terrestrials. As you can guess, these are the kind that are rooted in the soil like “normal” plants. Growing them means pottting them, as we do with most other of our familiar houseplants. Some of the most beautiful species of orchids will be found in this group.
Many orchid cultivators begin by focusing exclusively on one or the other of these two main groups. As you might guess, though, they end up growing at least a handful of species from both groups. It’’s recommended to learn about both types of orchids if you are serious about joining the world of orchid growers.
In our day, of course, we have a huge amount of good information on the correct way to grow orchids. The most accurate and clear guide to today’s orchid cultivation, many growers agree, is Orchid Care Expert by a Mr. Nigel Howard, which may be downloaded from the Internet. Howard’s wonderful guide constitutes a complete education all by itself. And, it is appropriate for beginning gardeners as well as more seasoned orchid cultivators. Also, we hope you will visit us here frequently at GoGoKitty’s Orchid Secrets, which features a growing library of postings on all facets of orchid cultivation.
