The Beginner's Orchid

Every year my daughter and I attend the local orchid show that takes place in March. I go to see the wonderful displays done by the members of the Orchid Society, but my daughter is there to check out the vendors and buy orchids in bloom. Her favorites are the huge white Phalaenopsis and she usually purchases several to decorate her home. Phalaenopsis, or Moth Orchids' often bloom for several months and as long as they are still in bloom my daughter is satisfied with her purchase. Once the last blooms have faded she brings the orchids to me to take care of until they are ready to bloom again the following year. Since Phalaenopsis orchids are so easy to grow I'm happy to take care of them until they bloom again.

The various orchid shows that I have attended over the years are always busy places, to the point of being crowded. Most of the people who attend are like my daughter and head straight to the vendors to purchase their instant gratification'. I would venture to say that most of them throw their orchid plants into the trash after the blooming has ceased, and my daughter falls into this category, too. Often these plants would have bloomed much longer if their owners knew how to properly care for them. Most of the plants that are purchased are Phals, which are very easy to grow once you understand their needs.

A Little Background

In the wild many orchids grow on the trees, much the same way the bromeliads do. This type of plant is called an epiphyte and while the tree acts as the host plant, the orchids get no nourishment from the tree itself. The orchids roots allow them to cling to the bark of trees and their only source of fertilizer comes from the water that runs down the bark of the trees. Within the ridges of the bark are dead insects, small bits of rotting leaves and decaying particles from the bark itself. The roots are exposed to the elements and hang down from the branches of the trees like tendrils, can reach several feet in length and are called aerial roots. When it rains the orchids get their water both from any water that runs down the bark of the tree or from the leaves above them. The root of orchids are covered with a sponge like substance known as velamen and this enables them to absorb water quickly, and also prevents the rapid loss of water between watering. Orchids don't require a great deal of water and the easiest way to kill and orchid is to over water it, but more about that later.

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