An Acceptable Obsession: Orchids by John Shelley

I was immediately entranced by a plant that, when out of bloom, is plain and almost ugly. Not quite compost material yet, but one that which you'd believe intensive care units at botanic gardens are designed for. The orchid, specifically the Phalenopsis, caused the beginnings of an magical attraction and healthy obsession that will last throughout my lifetime.

Orchids are the largest family (Orchidaceae) of flowering plants found in nature, with over 26,000 species of orchids and perhaps 75,000 hybrids. Most commonly grown on twigs, branches, fallen trees and rocks rather than in deep soil, orchids are easily gown in bark chips and other airy media that permit rapid drainage and dry-out, while allowing the uptake of moisture and nutrients for the requisite growth of any plant. Either epiphytic (growing in fibrous or peat material), lithophytic (growing on rocks) or terrestial (growing in ground), orchids can be readily adapted and easily grown at home. This is what attracted my enthusiasts eye. What attracted my admiration was, and still is, the fact that orchids are easy to grow and affordable.

The difficulty is that it's hard to stop searching for and buying new and more unusual orchids. Once the first success in blooming an orchid (in my case a simple Phalenopsis, the Moth Orchid) occurs as an event in one's home, the race for a myriad of colors and cultivars begins. The easiest cultivar for a beginner to deal with successfully is the beautiful Phalenopsis or Moth Orchid, then the Dendrobium and next the Oncidium.

There are "hot" (Oncidium) "warm" (Phalenopsis) and "cool" (Cymbidium) orchids, and thousands of others in between that can live just where you and I do. No special glass houses like Dr. Moriarity of Sherlock Holmes fame required. Actually, it doesn't take a great deal of skill to grow orchids as much as it does interest and a keen eye. Each plant must be inspected weekly for disease and pests, though with a little preventative care and common sense, both can easily be eliminated.

Orchids need to dry out between waterings, whether planted in bark chips or in soiless mix, and fertilization for plant growth need be done every 5-6 weeks during the growing season. Always water early on a sunny day so that the inner crown of leaves can dry out prior to cool, dark nights. This helps avoid the dreaded botrytis fungus that attacks and kills many plants. Flush the orchid with warm water weekly to leach out any fertilizer salt build-up within the growing media and root system. And easy on the fertilizer (1/3 the recommended concentration) every five weeks during its growing season.

Around November, you'll begin to notice the Phalenopsis beginning to "spike out"; that is, put out a long green stem from between its large flat strap-like leaves. The spike will bear the buds that will eventually blossom in late January into the moth-like blooms. Other orchids will put out smaller spikes and the buds will appear from nowhere and begin to plump up for their blooming cycle. Some orchids bloom for several weeks, others for months. I've bloomed a Phalenopsis for as long as nine months!

Prior to acquiring my first several hundred Phalenopsis orchids, I needed to learn the specific culture. And what better teacher than a local man in the Orchid Club of South Jersey who has propagated from tissue culture and seed for over 41 years. He and his wife took great care to show me all the nuances of their business, from growing to pollination to mass production. I cleaned pots, benches, kept my ears and eyes open and asked questions at every opportunity. Very valuable lessons indeed. As is joining the American Orchid Society, which I did immediately, and am still a member in good standing. Like the classic potato chip TV commercial, "Bet you can't eat just one!"; as with orchids, bet you can't own just one...

INTERESTING INFORMATION Spring 1996:

Garden Center Guarantee

Alpine Trough Gardens -

New Perennials, Annuals & Nursery Stock for 1995

Seed Starting Materials Featuring Upscale Shepard's Seeds

Roses - Summer Care and Enjoyment

Getting It All Ready For Spring. Again.

Windowsill Container Herb Gardens Become Spring & Summer Outdoor Herb Gardens.

Wildflower Gardens & Meadows Begin This Spring or Fall!

An Acceptable Obsession: Orchids by John Shelley