Starting Facts for Growing Orchids

At one time, many folks assumed, perhaps with some reason, that growing orchids was an occupation reserved for the quite affluent. These days, most people are aware that orchid cultivation is a pastime open to almost everyone.  Yet one other big myth still persists: that it is very difficult to grow orchids. You should be relieved to know that this is not so.

The fact is, some of the most astounding of the orchids are surprisingly relatively simple to grow. What you need is foreknowledge, gleaned from books, whether they are the hard-copy kind or the convenient digital kind that you can download from the Internet. If you live in a mild or warm climate, you will be able to grow many varieties outdoors, in your yard or garden.But even if your climate is a cold one, you can still grow gorgeous orchids in a greenhouse or even a regular room, dedicated to the purpose.

Why grow orchids rather than other types of plants?If you have spent any time in caring for an orchid, the question wouldn't occur to you. Orchids can grip us, infecting us with a sort of fever that never goes away once we catch it!

Nevertheless, here are some possible answers to the question. The great advantage of growing orchids over other plants is their extreme beauty coupled with the great length of time that they will remain in bloom. Some orchids will remain in bloom for three or four months. A few will continue blooming for six months. Even with a small collection of different species of orchids, you can have blooms all year round since these plants vary in their season of blooming.

The topic of orchids, and how to cultivate them, is both broad and deep. You should dig deep into the subject, learning as much as you possibly can before acquiring your first plant. Nontheless, there are some basics you need to know at the very start. One of those basics is that orchids are divided into two great groups based on their growing habits.

One of the major orchid groupings is known as the epiphytals. These orchids grow naturally on the sides of trees, or perhaps in the crotches where two tree branches are joined. They are the air dwelling orchids, because they seemingly live on nothing but air and sunlight, though this of course is not actually true. It was these mysterious species that first grabbed the imaginations of collectors and resulted in the first great orchid mania of a more than a century ago. They remain the ones that hold the most fascination for people.

Epiphytal orchids are not parasites, though. The get only a little of their sustenance from the tree bark on which they grow, and this doesn't harm their hosts at all. They also pull nutrients from water, fungi and moss, as well as the decomposing leaves that sometimes get caught on them. Orchid devotees adore the epiphytals because of the enjoyment of recreating their unusual habitats in a garden or greenhouse.

The other primary group of orchids is the terrestrial ones. As you probably can guess, this type grows in soil like most plants with which we are familiar. Growing them requires potting, just as with any other familiar houseplant. Some of the most beautiful species of orchids will be found in this group.

Many orchid cultivators begin by focusing exclusively on one or the other of these two main groups. Inevitably, though, they end up growing at least a few species from both. It's a good idea to learn about both kinds of orchids if you are serious about wanting to join the world of the orchid cultivators.

Nowadays, of course, we have an abundance of good information on the correct way to grow orchids. The most complete guide to expert orchid care, without a doubt, is Orchid Care Expert by a Mr. Nigel Howard, which can be downloaded from the Internet. Mr. Howard's ebook is a thorough course, immensely practical for beginners as well as more experienced devotees alike. Also, check out the Orchid Secrets site, which is publishing an ever-growing database of entries on all facets of orchid care.