At one time, many folks assumed, perhaps with some justification, that cultivating orchids was an occupation only for the quite affluent. Today, most folks know that cultivating orchids is an absorbing pastime that is available to people no matter their means.Yet another false perception is still around, though: that taking care of orchids is extremely difficult. But this is certainly not so.
The fact is, many of the most astonishingly lovely orchid types are really fairly easy to grow. All you need is some foreknowledge, gleaned from books, whether they are the hard-copy kind or the convenient digital kind that you can download from the Internet. If you live in a mild or warm climate, you will be able to grow many varieties outdoors, in your yard or garden.But even if your climate is a cold one, you can still grow gorgeous orchids in a greenhouse or even a regular room, dedicated 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!
Nevertheless, here are some possible answers to the question. One huge advantage of growing orchids as opposed to other flowering plants is their extreme showiness paired with the great length of time they will stay in bloom. Some orchid varieites will delight you with their blooms 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. Nevertheless, there are a few basics you should know right off the bat. 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 is these fascinating species that first seized collectors' imaginations and led to the orchid craze of more than a century ago. They are still the ones that most fascinate people today.
Epiphytal orchids are not parasites, though. They draw only a little of their sustenance from the bark of the trees to which they cling, and this does not harm their hosts in the least. 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 grouping of orchids comprises the terrestrial ones. As you can guess, these are the kind that grow in the soil like "normal" plants. Growing them requires potting, just as with any other familiar houseplant. Many of the most gorgeous varieites of orchids are to be found here.
Many orchid growers start out by concentrating on one of these two main groups of orchids. 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 there exists an abudance of good, accurate information to be had by anyone who would like to grow orchids. The most complete guidebook to 21st-century orchid growing, more people are finding, is Orchid Care Expert by Nigel Howard, which can be downloaded over the Internet. Howard's clearly written guide will provide a full understanding of the subject. Also, visit the Orchid Secrets website, which features an ever-growing library of articles on many facets of orchid cultivation.
No comments:
Post a Comment