Orchids: A Quick Intro

There is a tremendous variety of plants available these days to ornamen our houses and to touch our rooms and offices with green freshness. 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, of course, have a huge appeal to a large number of people, whether cut, potted, or growing in the garden. Lots and lots of folks are undeniably drawn to the aristocratic orchid, among all the flowers in the world.

Orchids have long been known as "conquerers of the light.". They amaze us when we first encounter them, and they continue thereafter to draw us to them in admiration. Nature has been extraordinarily kind to 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 aficiando's point of view, the only thing keeping them from perfection is their lack of much foliage. But really, this is no big deal--the common aestehtic solution is to surround them with ferns to create an attractive arrangement.

Many people for years believed that these lovely plants were exceptionally delicate, and therefore hard to grow. This was an error. Surprisingly, perhaps, orchids are actually rather simple to cultivate, and quite a few hobbyists have been known to produce some startling plants. The "trick," if you want to call it that, is to seek out accurate and complete information on orchid growing before acquiring your first plant. By educating yourself, you are almost assured of success; skip the learning phase and you are doomed to failure.

Let's take one common myth held by people who've never investigated what it takes to grow orchids: Orchids require high heat above all else. However, it's not true! Yes, nearly all the orchids that are commonly cultivated are native to the tropics. However, quite many of them, in their homelands, group high up the mountainsides, where it is crisp and cool. It would be a mistake to subject these coolness-hardy plants to high temperatures -- if the heat didn't kill them, it would at least stunt their development.

Whether you consider yourself a green thumb or not, you can grow these loveliest of flowers. Imagine surprising a friend or loved one with an orchid you grew yourself. Envision yourself cultivating orchids so breathtaking they win 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. These things are all possible to you, even as an orchid newbie.

One of the best and most complete guides to modern orchid growing is undoubtedly Orchid Care Expert by Nigel Howard, available online. Howard's guide is really a complete course, and will teach something to experienced growers as well as complete neophytes. 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!