To Grow the Best Orchids, Let Nature Be Your Guide--But Not Your Dictator

Growing orchids is no longer an activity just for the privileged few. Now it's something practically anyone can do and be good at. This happened as a result of studying these plants both in their native habitats and in greenhouses, gardens and even the laboratory.

One important discovery about orchids was that many of the most ornamental species did not require either the high heat or the elaborate growing equipment that people once thought necessary. The new understanding showed that growing orchids was something anyone could undertake.

In the 1800s, when the passion for orchids really took off, many would-be growers were at first discouraged by one significant problem. Travelers were sending back home the most exotic species they could find, but usually without detailed information as to their local growing conditions. Orchids vary greatly in their requirements. They need widely differing amounts of ight, heat and water. Ignorance of a plant's unique needs could and often did lead to disaster. "The want of some such information has been a source of extreme vexation to many lovers of these plants," complained one orchid enthusiast writing in 1885.

These days we are much better informed about orchids and their care. We can stand on the shoulders of past orchid devotees who painstakingly wrote down everything they learned about each type and species of the plants that they encountered.

So, it is crucial to know what an orchid's native habitate and climate are like. But having said that, let's inject a cautionary note. Usually, it's not wise to attempt to completely recreate a plant's natural habitat conditions. Done carefully and with the right knowledge, it is possible for us to cultivate better orchids than nature can by tweaking the plants' enviroment. As you can understand, this is both an art and a science.

To again quote that writer in 1885: "We admit that we should by all means take nature as our guide for the production of good plants but it should be nature in her best garb only and then looking as we do upon cultivation as a help to nature the result can only be an improvement if success in the object aimed at has been attained."

So what's a beginning orchid grower to do? How do you strike a balance between imitating nature and improving on it with the tools of modern horticulture? The answer: Gain a solid grounding in the subject. You can successfully grow orchids if you know what you're doing up-front.

One of the best and most thorough guides to modern orchid growing is Orchid Care Expert by Nigel Howard, which may be downloaded online. There are many books on the subject of orchids, but Mr. Howard's guide constitutes a complete education all by itself. And, it's suitable for beginners as well as more seasoned orchid growers. Also, check out the Orchid Secrets web site, which has a growing library of postings on all aspects of orchids.