Orchids-Live-Forever

A borrowed picture of a Clipper ..

When the early Dutch explorers navigated the great oceans of the world in Clippers, in search of great fortunes during the early 17th and 18th Centuries, no-one really expected Orchids to be part of their bounty.  That was to be the beginning of a new hobby that has grown to be a passion and craze..  Surviving the journey back "home", gives you an idea of just how durable orchids really are.  Interestingly, orchid plantations have been handed down from one family generation to another.

There are over 50,000 known species of orchids growing in almost every climatic region in the world.  These amazing and varied plants produce some of the most spectacular and wildly beautiful flowers known to man.  Orchids are known for their wide variety of colors, petal formations and arrangements and so, it is no surprise that orchid collecting and growing has reached epic proportions.

Table top variety of a "leopard orchid".

A variety of Cattleya Orchid

Some free info if you wish to start collecting orchids:

• Begin with varieties native to your geographical region. They will flourish better and flower more easily. If you live in the tropics, several species of cymbidium, oncidium and vanda, flourish very well and there are loads of fascinating forest varieties.
• Water them or spray them sparingly - don't flood them!!
• Avoid interrupting their flowering cycle; meaning that if you see a flower spike beginning, don't re-pot the plant at that moment, allow the flowers to finish their cycle, allow the plant to rest and when you see new roots emerging, then re-pot your plant.  If it doesn't need re-potting, leave it alone.

 Click here to significantly improve your orchid growing skills.

Two warnings - 1. Once you get into orchids that's it, you're hooked, you can find yourself dropping everything and everyone and running to an orchid show and 2. Don't try to collect them all, it's impossible and you'll go "potty"!!