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How to Grow Orchids

Practically everyone loves orchids but thinks they're hard to grow. Not so!

Gardening by the Yard : Episode GBY-1405 -- More Projects »
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Practically everyone loves orchids. But practically everyone also thinks they’re impossible to grow. That's just not so, says Gardening by the Yard host Paul James.

Most orchids are easy to grow because they are epiphytes. That means they extract their nutrients and water from the surrounding air and don’t require soil to thrive.

Paul James met with prize-winning orchid grower Dotty Woodson at her huge greenhouse in Fort Worth, Texas, to learn her best tips for growing orchids successfully. Four types of orchids fall into the very-easy-to-grow category:

  • Dendrobiums (prefer low light)
  • Oncidiums (can be grown outdoors in summer, indoors in winter)
  • Paphiopedilums (prefer low light)
  • Phalaenopsis (prefer low light and rebloom)
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Cattleya orchid
A little more difficult to grow, but extraordinarily beautiful, are the showy and fragrant Cattleya orchids, which can feature flowers of spectacular size. And here's a surprising fact: Cattleyas are as sweet to eat as they are to smell!
Also in this Episode
Gardening by the Yard : Episode GBY-1405
•How to Grow Orchids
•Adding Character to Landscapes
•Trash to Gardener's Treasure
•Tools for Trimming, Tilling and More
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