Orchid FAQ
by Tricia
genre:
Home & Garden
description:
Some frequently asked questions and information on orchid growing. Originally published on www.greenfreak.net.
This is a work in progress and is not complete. Feel free to visit my website for more photos of orchids and to ask me questions about growing them.
chapters
chapter 1:
Orchid FAQ - introduction
chapter 2:
Where do orchids come from?
chapter 3:
What types of orchids are there?
chapter 4:
A word about orchid pests
Orchid FAQ - introduction
chapter 1
—
updated 09/22/07
—
2030 characters
—
0 people liked it
Years ago, most people associated orchids with corsages. Maybe they thought that all orchids grew in only tropical rain forests. Certainly, it was not considered a house plant but better yet the kind of thing you would only find in greenhouses or some far-away country.
Not anymore.
Orchids have exploded to the mainstream market in the past few years. The most commonly seen orchid, the Phalaenopsis, can be viewed in commercials, movies, catalogs, and even on the shelf of your local Wal-Mart or Target store.
There is good reason why the Phalaenopsis was chosen as the ambassador of the orchid genus. It’s largely considered the easiest to grow in less-than-optimal conditions, the blooms can last for weeks to months and for a blooming orchid, it’s definitely the least expensive.
I should rephrase that. It should be the least expensive. But with the onslaught of the popularity of these beauties, orchid sellers are taking people for a ride. I’ve seen a flower nursery selling a medium sized Phalaenopsis with one spike of flowers priced between $45.00 to $65.00. I’ve also seen the exact same orchid being sold less than a mile away at a health food store for $12.00.
Just like anything else, the potential orchid grower will benefit greatly from a little education on what types of orchids there are, what kind of care they are going to need, and where you can buy them without sticker shock. And because I’ve done just that, I wanted to share what I’ve learned with you. The following is considered a “FAQ”. That is, Frequently Asked Questions.
This FAQ is intended as basic information to help the new orchid hobbyist. I understand that to an experienced orchid grower, this information will seem very generalized. I have gathered this information from books I have purchased and websites I’ve visited. If you have any suggestions or corrections, please feel free to email me by visiting my website, www.greenfreak.net and clicking on the "Contact" link in the top right hand corner.
back to top
Not anymore.
Orchids have exploded to the mainstream market in the past few years. The most commonly seen orchid, the Phalaenopsis, can be viewed in commercials, movies, catalogs, and even on the shelf of your local Wal-Mart or Target store.
There is good reason why the Phalaenopsis was chosen as the ambassador of the orchid genus. It’s largely considered the easiest to grow in less-than-optimal conditions, the blooms can last for weeks to months and for a blooming orchid, it’s definitely the least expensive.
I should rephrase that. It should be the least expensive. But with the onslaught of the popularity of these beauties, orchid sellers are taking people for a ride. I’ve seen a flower nursery selling a medium sized Phalaenopsis with one spike of flowers priced between $45.00 to $65.00. I’ve also seen the exact same orchid being sold less than a mile away at a health food store for $12.00.
Just like anything else, the potential orchid grower will benefit greatly from a little education on what types of orchids there are, what kind of care they are going to need, and where you can buy them without sticker shock. And because I’ve done just that, I wanted to share what I’ve learned with you. The following is considered a “FAQ”. That is, Frequently Asked Questions.
This FAQ is intended as basic information to help the new orchid hobbyist. I understand that to an experienced orchid grower, this information will seem very generalized. I have gathered this information from books I have purchased and websites I’ve visited. If you have any suggestions or corrections, please feel free to email me by visiting my website, www.greenfreak.net and clicking on the "Contact" link in the top right hand corner.
Did you like this?
vote
