Bringing Orchids Into Your Life and Heart

We 21st century dwellers are fortunate to have so many plants available to us, for decorating our homes and freshening up our work places. 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.

Flowers, particularly, have great appeal to most of us. Lots and lots of folks are undeniably drawn to the aristocratic orchid, among all the flowers in the world.

“Conquerers of the light” is just one of the admiring appelations that have been earned by orchids. They catch us up with their beauty when we first encounter them, and they continue ever after to pull us to them. Mother Nature has shown her liberality with the orchids. Their flowers are colorful; showy yet elegant at the same time. The orchid’s odor is sweet, but it is not cloying. 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. From a flower connoisseur’s viewpoint, about the only thing they lack is abundant foliage. But this is not a serious deficiency: one can always fill the space around them with fern leaves for an attractive arrangement.

Many people for years believed that these lovely plants were exceptionally delicate, and therefore hard to grow. This was a mistake. It’s not as difficult as many people assume to cultivate orchids; in fact, many hobbyist growers can outperform professionals when it comes to producing extraordinarily striking plants. The key lies in finding complete and accurate information on growing orchids before beginning. By getting educated on the subject, you can assure yourself of success.

It is a common myth–yet a myth nonetheless–that orchids require high heat to thrive. The fact is, it’s not true! Certainly, we know that orchids have their origins in the tropics. However, quite many of them, in their homelands, group high up the mountainsides, where it is crisp and cool. It would therefore, in most cases, be unwise to subject the typical orchid to high temperatures.

It matters little how much gardening skill or experience you have, you can grow these marvelous flowers yourself. Think of how much pleasure it would bring to surprise a friend or family member with your own home-grown orchid. Envision yourself, growing and exhibitng orchids good enough to earn 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. You can do all of these things if you are first armed with the right knowledge.

One of the best and most complete guides to modern orchid growing is undoubtedly Orchid Care Expert by Nigel Howard, available online. You can buy tons of books about orchids but Howard’s guide is a complete course — highly recommended for beginners and experienced growers alike. 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 many years of pure orchid pleasure!

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