Why Orchids Are Known as the Aristocrats of Flowers
There is a tremendous variety of plants available these days to ornamen our houses and to touch our rooms and offices with green freshness. Further, we never get tired of them; in fact, we seek more of them, wanting to add new ones to our home and work places.
Flowers, particularly, have great appeal to most of us. Many folks find themselves attracted to the aristocrat of the flower kingdom, the orchid.
Orchids have been called “conquerers of the light.”. They catch us up with their beauty when we first encounter them, and they continue ever after to pull us to them. Mother Nature has treated the orchids with special kindness. Their flowers are colorful; showy yet elegant at the same time. Their fragrance is sweet, yet hardly cloying. They have a thin texture, making them appear frail and delicate, yet they can last longer in a vase than many ornamental flowers. Really, the only thing they “lack” from the standpoint of aesthetics is thick foliage. But really, this is no big deal–the common aestehtic solution is to surround them with ferns to create an attractive arrangement.
For a long time, people assumed taht these wonderful flowers were too delicate to grow with ease. This was erroneous. Orchids are in truth fairly simple to cultivate, and more than one hobbyist has raised some breathtaking specimens. The “trick”–and of course it’s not really a trick–is to learn as much as you can about orchid growing before you even acquire your first plant. By getting educated on the subject, you can assure yourself of success.
One prevalent myth about orchids is that in order to thrive, they must have high heat. That’s not true, though! What has misled many people over the years is the fact that the orchid’s native lands are mostly in the tropics. But many of them originate at relatively high altitudes on the sides of South American mountains. It would be a mistake to subject these coolness-hardy plants to high temperatures — if the heat didn’t kill them, it would at least stunt their development.
It doesn’t matter how much of a green thumb you think you have (nor not!), the truth is you can grow these beautiful flowers. Imagine springing a gift of an orchid–one you grew yourself!–on a friend or family member. Envision winning prizes for breathtaking orchids that you cultivated yourself. Picture yourself going so far with your orchid growing hobby that it becomes a business, perhaps one big enough to provide you with a living. All of these things are possible to you.
One of the best and most complete guides to modern orchid growing is undoubtedly Orchid Care Expert by Nigel Howard, available online. You can buy tons of books about orchids but Howard’s guide is a complete course — highly recommended for beginners and experienced growers alike. You might also want to visit the Orchid Secrets web site, which has a growing database of articles on all aspects of orchids.
So, then, here’s to a great orchid adventure!
