subject: Don't Fall Into These Seven Traps About Growing Orchids – Trap 1 [print this page] Don't Fall Into These Seven Traps About Growing Orchids Trap 1
Actually the truth is growing them is more like relaxing in your backyard on a crisp, clear night and looking up at a sky filled with stars. You're simply in awe at their number and their individual beauty.
Growing orchids brings that awe and amazement back down to earth, especially when you don't fall into the trap of thinking that:
An orchid is an orchid is an orchid, all the same
They demand too much "hands-on" care
They are only indoor plants
It takes too long to propagate orchids
They are all small and oh, so delicate
All orchids only bloom once a year, then look scraggly for the rest of the year
You need vast experience in horticulture to grow orchids
Let's remove the first these traps from your thoughts about growing these beautiful and generally forgiving plants.*
1. Thinking that an orchid is an orchid is an orchid, all the same
If you think they are all the same and all need to be handled the same way, you're just wrong! Consider this: there are more than 75,000 varieties of orchids. (Some experts put that number at over 100,000!) That's the size of a small city.
You'll probably agree that the population of a small city has certain common, basic similarities. But wouldn't you also agree that each person also has individual needs; that they express themselves individually and contribute different attributes to the whole population.
Much is the same with orchids. All may have basic needs of light, water, food, and a medium mixture, but they also each have individual needs and provide us with their individual beautyand we definitely are in awe of them. And caring for these plants so that they can enrich your life for years to come, you need to understand and appreciate their individual needs and personality.
The easiest way to learn about individual orchids types is to contact your local orchid society. These experienced enthusiasts love to share their expertise and can provide you with just the information you need.
If you'd rather find information on the web, that's fine too. Just be sure to verify what you find on the web because not all of it is accurate. Check several sites to ensure you're getting your facts straight.
And of course you can also check your favorite bookstore where you'll find volumes of books dedicated to these wonderful flowers. You'll find several listed in the "Resources" section of the Growing Orchids 123 website.
Grasp the truth about orchid types...
...And you'll want to fill your house and garden with them. Know, understand and appreciate the individuality of your variety, and you'll find caring for them individually will be as easy as enjoying their beauty.
*This is the first of seven articles on common traps many orchid fanciers fall into when deciding whether to grow orchids themselves. You'll find the entire series on the Growing Orchids 1 2 3 website. It's listed on the right navigation bar under "Interesting Articles", "Orchid Information."
