Orchid

Culture

Because the orchid species are so diverse and come from so varied environments and climates, it is impossible to have basic directions of culture for them as a whole. The first step to succeed on orchids culture is trying to identify the species. Usually, the most important recomendation to newbies who intend to seriously grow orchids is to never buy an orchid without an identification tag, unless they are intended just for home decoration. The reason why the identification tag is important is because generally it is the best and sometimes only, way to learn how to grow each one of them. When orchids are natural species, it is always possible to identify them. Some ways to do so are asking to more knowledgeable friends or experienced orchid collectors, looking on books or internet, or even joining orchid societies. Learning the name of the species means learning where it comes from so their original taural conditions may be reproduced, deciding what is the best amount of light, humidity, temperature, watering, whti is the best type of substract and drainage, if they should be potted or mounted, and what is the resting period regime of the plant. The most common error is potting orchids on mud. Hardly orchids will thrive on this kind of substract as circa 70% of orchids are epiphytes which means need their roots dry few hours after they were watered. There is no mud over the trees where they live. there are many choices of substratc mixes available on stores. Another common mistake is having a plate under the pots to prevent the water to spread around. Plates also result in excessive humidity and unless this orchid is one of the few that actually like lots of humidity, it will be dead in a few months. Most of the orchids need their roots to get completely dry before being watered again.

Usually orchids are regarded as delicate plants that are very hard to grow. This is not true. As mentioned before orchids can take a lot of adverse conditions and the are actually prepared for that, sometimes they even need them. It is interesting to notice how some orchids, when are very well cared, grow beautifully but never bloom. this is the case with several species of Dendrobium which need a very dry period at the end of their resting time. During this drough their pseudobulbs shrink and the plant assumes a very poor appearence, sometimes loosing all their leaves. This seems to indicate that the plant feeling the adversity gathers all its strenght and blooms trying to spread their seed before dying, however, just after they bloom, it is rain time in the wild so they start to receive all the nutrients they need to live through another cycle. Some species of South Africa, among which Disa sometimes pass several years withouth any bloom but provided there is a fire in the area they bloom generously. Other plants need extreme cold to tryger the blooming, or just a very hot day with a cold shower at the endo of the afternoon. are the most noted Uma coisa é certa, as orquídeas de maneira geral não são plantas delicadas e frágeis como alguns acreditam. The pseudobulbs most orchids have make the very resistent, capable to pass long time without bein potted. Actually some growers never pot or mount their orchids. Most monopodial orchids from southeast Asia can live just hanging with all their roots hanging in the air. In nature they take their nutrients from the water that washes the tree leaves above them, in nurseries they take them from fertilizers. Orchid hybrids usually are stronger than wild orchid for they have mixed genes from two species and this mixture generally produces stronger individuals, which grow faster and than wild species.

Almost every large city around the world has at least one orchid society were generally congregate local amator and professional growers. These societies have periodical reunions, sometimes weekly, sometimes monthly, where they discuss the last news, exchange experiences and orchids, show plants, learn to recognize what is desirable in plant, listen to lectures and even visit for the partying. When there are several societies in other cities neaby, they may have orchid shows open to the public and evem organize championships of culture and rarity. Most countries have a main institution that is responsible for the schedule of orchid shows in the country, for seting their rules and managing the judgements and judges selection, and keeping the records of best orchids shown as well. Two good examples of such organizations are American Orchid Society, AOS, and Coordenadoria das Associações Orquidófilas do Brasil, CAOB. Both are non-profit intitutuions which keep websites on internet and are very good references to the ones looking information about the orchid societies in the area where they live.

Growing orchids in the north of United States or Europe is considerable harder than doing it in the tropical areas. Expenses to maintain small greehouses or nurseries may be high during the winter and growers in those areas usually would rather grow smalles species so they can have more varieties in less room. Growers in tropical areas hardly have to concearn with weather thus it is much more affordable and large specimen plants are more common in those collections. Orchid culture is very common in the southeast of Brazil. There are so many orchid societies in São Paulo State that every weekend there is at least one orchd show happening, and sometimes four at once, spread trhough the cities in the region. Attend to societies gatherings and orchid shows is the best way to learn about orchid culture.