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RCHIDS 



A PRIMER FOR BEGINNERS IN NEW ENGLAND 



Emmett Ross 



hen one thinks of an orchid, a 

 corsage orchid, or cattleya, usually 

 comes to mind. And it one would 

 think of ever growing orchids, one 

 would probably visualize hot, 

 humid tropical jungles — growing 

 conditions that would be 

 impossible to duplicate at home. 



Well, this scenario is partially true. 

 Yes— there are many orchid 

 species that are difficult, if not 

 impossible, to cultivate. Our 

 native orchids are some of these. 

 This is usually due to specific 

 biotic or special physical resource 

 needs. However, there are over 

 35,000 different orchid species 

 found on all continents except 

 Antarctica and half again as many 

 hybrids. So with this many 

 varieties to choose from, there 

 must be at least one that we 

 .growers would be able to cultivate. 

 As a matter of fact, there are 

 many. 



You might be asking yourself, 

 "Why grow orchids at all?" Well, 

 as soon as you see orchids in 

 bloom, I think that question will 

 answer itself. Orchids are some of 

 the most fragrant flowers available; 

 they also produce some of the most 

 sensual, exotic and vividly colored 

 flowers in the plant kingdom. Do I 

 sound prejudiced? I must admit I 

 was hooked when I saw my first 

 plant in bloom and have been a 

 plant junkie ever since. Let me 

 also add that growing orchids will 

 present you with challenges not 

 imaginable and then reward you 

 with visual and sensual delight. 



The novice grower should first 

 learn a little orchid ecology. This 

 will increase the chances of 

 success. TTie first "secret" to 

 growing orchids is the realisation 

 that most orchids are epiphytes. 

 TTiat is, they have adapted to 

 growing on other plants. There- 

 fore, as such, orchids can not be 



The New Hampshire 



Orchid Society is holding its 



first American Orchid Society 



(AOS) sanctioned show at 



the Center of New Hampshire 



Hohday Inn & Conference 



Center in Manchester on 



March 20-22. 



This is the first time 



a national show has been 



sponsored by the New 



Hampshire organization. 



Exhibitors are coming from 



New England, New York, 



and California; the judges are 



of national reputation. The 



plants displayed should be of 



the highest quality . 



considered as dirt plants. Even 

 roots of terrestrial orchids are 

 seldom found in soil. They lie 

 above the soil in leaf litter. There 

 are even some orchids — litho- 

 phytes — that grow on rock 

 outcroppmgs. 



Your second "secret" to successful 

 orchid culture is properly defining 

 your growing conditions and seek- 

 ing out those species or hybrids 

 whose ecology most closely resem- 

 bles your growing area. When one 

 becomes a specialist, accommo- 

 dations can be made. But to start 

 with, it's easier to choose plants 

 tailored to your environment rather 

 than to create a special environ- 

 ment for your plants. 



Horticulturally, orchids are classi- 

 fied by minimum night temperature 

 and by light requirements. There 

 are three major temperature cate- 

 gories: warm (65-70 degrees F.), 

 intermediate (60-65), and cool (50- 

 60). Likewise, there are three 

 major categories for light require- 

 ments: high (2000-3000 ft/candles), 

 medium (1000-2000), and low 

 (500-1000). Once you see which o( 

 these conditions define your grow- 

 ing area, you should be able to 

 choose the orchids that will do 

 best. 



Other cultural requirements that 

 must be attended to are potting 

 medium, watering, and humidity. 

 Orchids need air circulation about 

 their roots. Redwood or hr bark 1/ 

 4-1/2" in size is a popular medium. 

 This allows for plenty of drainage 

 and aeration and gives a substrate 

 for the roots to cling to. Orchid 

 roots will rot in a matter of days if 

 allowed to stand in water. The 

 number of waterings and the 

 humidity needed will ultimately be 

 determined by the type of orchid 

 chosen. Again, this is where 

 forethought is important. Some 

 orchids are deciduous or dormant 

 during our winters when high 

 humidities would be difficult to 

 maintain. These plants would be 

 good candidates for the New 

 England grower. 



I have two growing areas. A low- 

 light, warm greenhouse in which I 

 grow phaleanopsis and paphio- 



February/March 1992 21 



