Mother Nature Knows the Best for Orchid Cultivation? Maybe, Maybe Not

Orchid growing no longer lies exclusively within the domain of the privileged few, now that the means and requirements for cultivation are better understood. This has come about because, first, many people have studied the plants in their native habitats, and second, because they have closely studied the various orchid cultivars in greenhouses, gardens and even in the laboratory.

One of the most important discoveries about orchids was the finding that some of the most ornamental species require less heat and less expensive growing equipment than was once thought necessary. This understanding opened up orchid growing to anyone willing to spend the time to learn its ins and outs.

In the 1800s, when the passion for orchids really blossomed, many would-be growers were at first held back by one significant problem. World travelers sent home one exotic species after another, but often without any notes at all as to their local growing conditions. Orchids vary greatly in their requirements. They need widely differing amounts of ight, heat and water. Ignorance of a plant's unique needs could and often did lead to disaster. "The want of some such information has been a source of extreme vexation to many lovers of these plants," complained an orchid enthusiast and writer in 1885.

Nowadays we are much luckier with respect to understanding the orchids entrusted to our care. We can stand on the shoulders of previous orchid enthusiasts who meticulously wrote down everything they learned about each type and species of the plants that they encountered.

So yes, it's vital to know what an orchid's native habitat and climate are like. Take that with a grain of salt, however. It is not generally a good idea to try to strictly imitate the natural conditions in which a plant might be found. Done carefully and with the right knowledge, it is possible for us to cultivate better orchids than nature can by tweaking the plants' enviroment. This is an art as well as science.

Again quoting that Victorian orchid authority: "We admit that we should by all means take nature as our guide for the production of good plants but it should be nature in her best garb only and then looking as we do upon cultivation as a help to nature the result can only be an improvement if success in the object aimed at has been attained."

So what's a beginning orchid grower to do? How do you strike a balance between imitating nature and improving on it with the tools of modern horticulture? The answer: Educate yourself, as much as you can. You can successfully grow orchids if you know what you're doing up-front.

Among the best and most thorough guides to modern orchid growing is Orchid Care Expert by Nigel Howard, which may be downloaded online. There are many books on the subject of orchids, but Mr. Howard's guide constitutes a complete education all by itself. And, it's suitable for beginners as well as more seasoned orchid growers. Also, be sure to visit the Orchid Secrets web site, which has a growing library of postings on all aspects of orchids.