Jan 31 2009
We've Come A Long Way In Orchid Knowledge
Since tulip mania (or “tulipomania”) crested in the Netherlands until the present, no single family of plants has achieved such a firm hold on popular imagination as the orchids. Difficult as it is to imagine, today’s orchid craze doesn’t hold a candle to the passion that the plants roused in our Victorian ancestors in England and America.
Of course, other plants had a degree of celebrity in the Anglo-Saxon sphere of the mid- to late 19th century. We may count among these the cacti, ferns, roses, chrysanthemums and palms. But orchids to a much greater degree represented the summit of horticultural respectability in 19th century gardens. So highly were these mostly tropical epiphytes admired that on May 12, 1885, the first huge orchid conference was held in London. This event brought together both commercial and amateur cultivators to exhibit their prized specimens and to discuss such vital questions as the culture and nomenclature of these fascinating flowers.
At the time of that great conference in London, the exotic tropical orchids had been known to most of the world for only around a hundred years. The Spanish botanist Francisco Hernandez casually mentioned a few orchids as curiosities in his account of his 16th-century voyage to Spanish America. Some 200 years later, naturalist Engelbert Kaempfer and botanist Georg Eberhard Rumphius, employed by the Dutch East Indies Company, described several of the Asian orchids. But it wasn’t until just before the beginning of the 19th century that Europeans in general became aware of these mysterious and exciting plants.
By the early 19th century, botanists were attempting to cultivate a handful of specimens at such places as London’s famous Kew Gardens. Until 1820 orchids were looked upon as curiosities in botanical gardens, but about that time some showy Cattleyas and other species produced some stunning flowers, piqueing greater interest among the public. By the middle of the 19th century, new orchid specimens were making their way to Europe from all around the globe. Additionally, more and more people were attempting to cultivate orchids at home.
The first great orchid craze was going full throttle by the late 1800s and continued undiminished for many years to come. Somewhat suprisingly, a solid scientific understanding of orchid botany and what was needed to be consistently successful in growing orchids did not arrive until the 1920s.
Today, of course, there is lots of good, accurate information to be had by anyone who wants to grow orchids. The most complete guidebook to contemporary orchid care, as increasing numbers are learning, is Orchid Care Expert by a Mr. Nigel Howard, which may be downloaded over the Internet. Mr. Howard’s ebook is a complete education all to itself, perfect for the novice as well as the more experienced. Also, visit the Orchid Secrets site, which features a growing database of entries on all topics of orchid cultivation.
