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Orchids

Gardening by the Yard : Episode GBY-709 -- More Projects »
"One of the biggest myths within the world of gardening is that orchids are impractical, expensive and next-to-impossible to grow," says master gardener Paul James. "It's just not so."
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Figure A
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Figure B

As the world's largest flowering plant family, orchids come in all sizes and shapes--from the big and bold (figure A) to extremely small (figure B). And did you know that the intense fragrance of some orchids can fill an entire room? Discover the truth about these exotic and misunderstood flowers from orchid specialist Carson Barnes:


  • Myth #1: Orchids require greenhouse conditions to grow properly.

    While Barnes grows his orchids in a greenhouse, you can grow orchids in your home. "The kind of climate that orchids like is very similar to the kind of climate we like," says Barnes. "A bit of humidity in the air, enough light, a drink of water from time to time and the kind of temperature we enjoy in our homes."

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Figure C
  • Myth #2: Orchids are expensive.

    Specimens like this ladyslipper (figure C) may seem very pricey, but you would be surprised at how affordable orchids really are. "Centuries ago, the wealthiest aristocrats would pay anywhere from $20,000 to $30,000 for just one orchid," James says. "Today orchids range anywhere from $20 to a few hundred dollars."

  • Myth #3: Orchids are next to impossible to grow.

    Barnes grows and ships thousands of orchids a year, and if you look around his greenhouse, you'll find that most of his orchids aren't in bloom. That's because orchids typically bloom just once a year. However, there are usually two main reasons for failure to bloom:

    "If it's been a couple of years and your orchid hasn't bloomed, there are two things you've left out," says Barnes. "One is fertilizer and the other is light. It's an equation: Fertilizer plus light equals flowers. When they have enough of both, they will bloom."

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    Figure D
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    Figure E
    According to Barnes, there are really few other guidelines when caring for orchids. The leggy root systems of orchids wrap around trees and rocks to absorb nutrients, so when the roots of your orchid start to wander beyond its container, it's time to repot. The best time to transplant an orchid to a new container is after the plant has finished blooming. Snip off any old, dried flower stems. Gently flex the pot to carefully remove the plant. Barnes suggests using a mixture of four parts bark and one part peat moss. Position the old growth close to the edge of the container to allow the new growth plenty of room to spread (figure D). Under the right conditions, orchids are practically immortal. For example, throughout their life, orchids will sprout identical reproductions of the original plant (figure E).

    For more information on how to select and care for orchids:
    Orchids 101

    Guests
    Carson Barnes
    Owner
    Carson Barnes Orchids
    Website: www.orchidconsultant.com
    Also in this Episode
    Gardening by the Yard : Episode GBY-709
    •Garden Maintenance
    •All-Natural Pesticides
    •Orchids
    •Synthetic Mulches
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