Wood blinds are great for many different rooms and areas. These kinds of blinds need to be cleaned properly to be able to maintain their appearance and durability. Cleaning wood blinds is not a difficult task. It depends on what kind of blinds design you have and also on what the medium is for your wood blinds. Wooden slats and woven wood are among the more common designs which your binds may have. Cleaning wood blinds will need your fair amount of work especially for those with slats.

Wooden Slats' Cleaning Procedure

Cleaning wood blinds with slats can be tiresome and may need taking them down from their installation if they are too dirty for ordinary cleaning. For daily cleaning, brushing off the dust with dry cloth can be acceptable but when cleaning wood blinds in this method does not work, you may have to take them down and clean them piece by piece.

There is another way of cleaning wood blinds other than the common way of using a dry cloth to remove the dust. This method is to wipe the blinds with a damp cloth and in turn use dry cloth to clean off the moisture. This wood blind cleaning procedure of using a dry cloth helps prevent the inadvertent seepage of water into the wood. If water seeps into the wood it may result in discoloration and warping of the wood, and this is certainly something to avoid as it will damage the beauty of your wood blinds. When cleaning wood blinds such as these is always best to wipe dry any water or liquid residue on the slats in order to avoid such problems.

Another method you can use to conveniently clean wood blinds is vacuuming. By attaching a brush feature on the end of the vacuum, it is easier to clean the wood blinds. All one requires to efficiently clean wood blinds by vacuuming is to sweep the brush head across the slats, and is ideal for daily cleaning of lightly accumulated dust. If the dust has already settled into the slats then the previous methods should be applied.

The Cleaning Procedure Woven Blinds

For a number of wood blinds they may be woven and could present a challenging task of cleaning. However, in reality the cleaning of woven wood blinds is considerably easier compared to cleaning slatted blinds. The use of vacuuming is perhaps the simplest and certainly easiest way to clean woven wood blinds, and is the perfect method for daily cleaning. But if the dust has made its way in and settled in the crevices then the use of a bristle brush may be required to clean the woven wood blinds. For this type cleaning it is definitely a lot easier to bring down the woven blinds and then clean them instead of leaving the blinds installed then trying to clean.

A common reason why BBQ grills don't last as long as expected is because many people aren't aware of how to clean their grill properly. Many times, it just boils down to being lazy if you don't clean up your BBQ after each use.

Rather than taking a brush to the baked on mess, a lot of people check out the situation and figure that they can leave it to the next day. You might have the best of intentions, but not all of us do a good job of keeping such promises. So we end up just putting away or covering up the dirty barbeque grill, complete with charred food remnants and pooled grease.

The next thing we know, surprise, surprise, the barbeque gas grill no longer works properly. And the most disgusting part of this whole situation is that if you use the grill again without cleaning it, it will have a very negative effect on the flavor and aroma of your food.

Since replacing a barbeque grill can be quite expensive, you really should learn to be more careful when it comes to upkeep on the grill that you already own. It's actually not that difficult to clean the grill after each use. In fact, it only takes a few minutes to scrub it, let it dry and then put it away.

Check out these simple ways to keep your barbeque clean and in top working order.

The first thing you have to do is remove those food particles that have burned to a crisp and stuck to the grill during cooking. Once your grill has cooled down completely, use a stiff brush to scrub the interior; you can buy brushes made specifically for this use. The inside of the grill needs to be cleaned carefully. Don't use soap or chemical products, since the remains of these products will enter into your food the next time you cook.

To clean the grate, remove it from the barbeque grill before washing it with soap and warm water. Avoid harsh chemicals and bleach as you clean up the burned bits that are stuck on the grill.

To remove stubborn food particles, soak the grate for a few minutes and then vigorously brush it to remove the charred bits of food. Use clean water to rinse it off well and get rid of any remaining cleaning agents. Next, let the grate dry naturally, then place it back in the BBQ.

It's a good idea to keep your barbeque grill covered or put away out of the elements so that it won't start rusting.

We should appreciate orchid and other flower cultivators, at least in part, for the burgeoningpush to make full use of the water that reaches our homes, in particular that which comes down as rain. If you are an orchid grower orchids, this is a topic you might like to investigate.

Orchids, similar to other plants, have specific likes and dislikes as to what is provided them to nourish their roots. Most of them definitely do not like water that is too hard. Unfortunately, the water that comes out of the taps in many locales is too hard for orchids to thrive at their best. For the most part, hard water won't kill orchids. It might stunt their growth, though, or keep them from ever blooming as beautifully as they would have.

A good thing about orchids is that they possess thick, fleshy roots that can stand up to hard water better than many other sorts of plants. Hardwood plants, for instance, with their fine roots, are too easily destroyed by water that is overly hard. Nevertheless you should take measures to avoid putting hard water on your orchids.

There are filters that you can acquire to install on your water line that will make your water softer while taking out many impurities that are bad for humans and plants alike. Nothing, though, is better than good old rainwater when it comes to your orchids! After all, this is the form of water that nature supplies to plants the world over.

Several companies produce rain barrels that are great for catching and storing rainwater until you need it. Many people set up the barrels below the rainspouts coming from their roofs. With some planning and work, you could set up several rain barrels to direct water directly to your orchids. Then the watering work, presuming you live in a fairly rainy area, becomes nearly hands free.

Whatever kind of water you use, don't use it on your plants if it has a chill on it. For example, I would not use water collected from an outdoor tap on a cold day, without first allowing it to come to room temperature in my home or in the greenhouse. Chilly water can lead to spotting, rot young growths and harm roots.

Some orchids will get benefit from water with a little lime mixed with it. In years gone by, people noticed that imported Cypripedium orchids often were covered in chalky lime deposits due to the plants having grown in limestone rock crevices where the water trickled down upon them. So if you have a Cypripedium, you could try adding lime to the water, a little at first and then more if you determine that the plant is thriving on it.

The art and science of orchid cultivation is a fascinating subject. Orchid growing is not as difficult as some people like to make it out to be, but you must arm yourself with solid information before plunging in to this rewarding pastime. 

The most thorough guide to expert orchid growing, in the opinion of many, is Orchid Care Expert by master orchid grower Nigel Howard, which is available to be downloaded from the web. Mr. Howard's guide is a complete education all to itself, practical for neophytes as well as those more experienced. As well, visit the Orchid Secrets web site, which is publishing a growing library of information on all topics of orchid care.

Not that long ago, people believed that growing orchids was a hobby reserved for the rich among them, or certainly at least the very affluent. These days, most people know that orchid cultivation is a pastime available to nearly everyone.Yet there is another mistaken assumption that continues to be passed along: that growing orchids is so difficult it is almost not worth the effort. You should be relieved to know that this is not so.

The fact is, many of the most astonishingly lovely orchid types are in actuality pretty easy to grow. What you need is foreknowledge, gathered easily from books, whether they are the hard-copy kind or the convenient digital kind that you can find and download from the World Wide Web. If you live in a mild or warm climate, you will be able to grow many varieties outdoors, in your yard or garden.But even if your climate is a cold one, you can still grow gorgeous orchids in a greenhouse or even a regular room, dedicated to the purpose.

Why grow orchids rather than other types of plants?If you have spent any time in caring for an orchid, the question wouldn't occur to you. Orchids can grip us, infecting us with a sort of fever that never goes away once we catch it!

Regardless, here are a few answers to the question. One huge advantage of growing orchids as opposed to other flowering plants is their extreme showiness paired with the great length of time they will stay in bloom. Some orchids will continue in bloom for three or four months. A select few are even known to keep their blooms for as long as six months. Even with a small collection of different species of orchids, you can have blooms all year round since these plants vary in their season of blooming.

The topic of orchids, and how to cultivate them, is both broad and deep. You should dig deep into the subject, learning as much as you possibly can before acquiring your first plant. Nontheless, there are some basics you need to know at the very start. Among those basics is that orchids can be classed into two great groupings, based on growing habits.

One of the major orchid groups is the epiphytals. These are orchids that grow on trees, or sometimes in moss or fungus on rocks. These are the "air dwelling" orchids, that seem to thrive on nothing but sunlight and air, although this, of course, is not really the case. It was these mysterious species that first grabbed the imaginations of collectors and resulted in the first great orchid mania of a more than a century ago. They are still the ones that most fascinate people today.

These epiphytal orchids should not be thought of as parasitic, though. The get only a little of their sustenance from the tree bark on which they grow, and this doesn't harm their hosts at all. They also pull nutrients from water, fungi and moss, as well as the decomposing leaves that sometimes get caught on them. Orchid growers love the epiphytals because of the fun--and sometimes challenge--of recreating their growing environment in a greenhouse or garden.

The other major grouping of orchids consists of the terrestrial ones. As you can guess, these are the kind that grow in the soil like "normal" plants. Growing them means pottting them, as we do with most other of our familiar houseplants. Some of the most beautiful species of orchids will be found in this group.

Many orchid growers start out by concentrating on one of these two main groups of orchids. As you might guess, though, they end up growing at least a handful of species from both groups. It''s recommended to learn about both types of orchids if you are serious about joining the world of orchid growers.

These days, of course, we have an abundance of solid information on the correct way to grow orchids. The most thorough guidebook to today's orchid cultivation, many growers agree, is Orchid Care Expert by Nigel Howard, which can be downloaded from the web. Howard's well-written guide is a thorough education all by itself. And, it's appropriate for beginning gardeners as well as more experienced orchid growers. Also, check out the Orchid Secrets web site, which features an ever-growing database of information on all aspects of orchid cultivation.

Since tulip mania (or "tulipomania") reached its height in the Netherlands until the present day no one group of plants has acquired such a firm hold on popular passion as the orchids. Believe it or not, though, today's orchid craze hardly compares to the fevered devotion that the plants inspired in our Victorian forebears, especially in England and the United States.

Certainly, of course, many other plants were greatly admired in the Anglo-Saxon world of the latter half of the 19th century.Among these were ferns, cacti, chrysanthemums, palms and roses. But orchids to a much greater degree represented the height of horticultural respectability in the 19th century garden. So highly were the tropical epiphytes held that on May 12, 1885, the first huge orchid conference was held in London. This event brought together both commercial and amateur cultivators to exhibit their prized specimens and to discuss such vital questions as the culture and nomenclature of these fascinating flowers.

At the time of that great conference in London, the exotic tropical orchids had been known to most of the world for only around a hundred years. The Spanish botanist Francisco Hernandez casually mentioned a few orchids as curiosities in his account of his 16th-century voyage to Spanish America. Almost two centuries later, naturalist Engelbert Kaempfer and botanist Georg Eberhard Rumphius, both working for the Dutch East Indies Company, described some of the Asian orchids. It was not, though, until just prior to the opening of the 19th century that many Europeans became aware of these exciting, mysterious plants.

By the early 19th century, botanists were attempting to cultivate a handful of specimens at such places as London's famous Kew Gardens. Until 1820 orchids were looked upon as curiosities in botanical gardens, but about that time some showy Cattleyas and other species produced some stunning flowers, piqueing greater interest among the public. By the middle of the 19th century, new orchid specimens were making their way to Europe from all around the globe. Additionally, more and more people were attempting to cultivate orchids at home.

The first great orchid craze was going full throttle by the late 1800s and continued undiminished for many years to come. Somewhat suprisingly, a solid scientific understanding of orchid botany and what was needed to be consistently successful in growing orchids did not arrive until the 1920s.

Nowadays, of course, we have an abundance of good information on the proper way to grow orchids. The most accurate and clear guidebook to contemporary orchid care, it is widely acknowedged, is Orchid Care Expert by a Mr. Nigel Howard, which may be downloaded online. Mr. Howard's guide is a full education in itself, wonderful for novices as well as the more experienced. Also, visit the Orchid Secrets website, which is publishing a growing library of information on many aspects of orchid care.

The Cattleya fly is one of the most potentially damaging pests that canfind their way to your precious orchids. In fact, this pest is closely associated with orchids rather than any other type of plant, as you might guess from its scientific name, Eurytoma orchidearum.

Cattleya flies deposit their eggs in the orchid plant's young growths. The eggs hatch and then nymphs (or maggots) hatch and begin to feed voraciously. The nymphs quickly swell to a grotesque size within the bulbs. One signal that these maggots are doing their dirty work is that the bulbs themselves will swell becoming club-shaped at the location where the pests are feeding.

Finally, the nymphs turn into flies, which munch their way to the outside by chewing through the flesh of the bulbs. Adult flies are deep black, have clear wings, and are about a quarter inch in length. Sadly, by the time you see them, it could be too late to salvage many of your plants. Nonetheless, you should try to kill the flies before they get a chance to inject their eggs into your remaining good plants.

If you have plants that are already infested, the best remedy is to slice away any bulbs that you notice are swelling more than is natural. Then just drop the nymph or maggot into some water to drown it. It's disheartening to have to cut away your plant's young growth, but this is better than leaving your other plants open to being attacked by this pest. With luck, the plant that you had to do "surgery" on will grow a new bulb in place of the old one.

Now for the good news about Cattleya flies. They are fortunately not especially common, and most orchid growers will never see them. Regardless, it is just good practice to inspect every new orchid for the signs of these flies and their maggots. Besides looking out for abnormally swollen bulbs where the fly's nymphs might be feeding, inspect for tiny holes where a female fly's ovipositor might have inserted eggs into the orchid. If you don't see these signs, you are probably safe from Cattleya flies.

To be really successful growing orchids it is vital to know how to deal with all the various threats to your plants, including insects. It isn't as hard to grow orchids as many people apparently believe, especially if you read up on how to properly care for these wonderful plants.

The most accurate and clear guidebook to expert orchid growing, I have found, is Orchid Care Expert by a Mr. Nigel Howard, which is available to be downloaded from the web. Howard's wonderful guide is a comprehensive education all by itself. And, it is suitable for beginning gardeners as well as more seasoned orchid cultivators. Also, visit the Orchid Secrets site, which is publishing an ever-growing database of entries on all aspects of orchid care.

Do you have an orchid that continues growing, one year after another, but that never produces more than one blooming pseudobulb. If you desire to increase the number of blooming growths, you can accomplish this by a method of cutting with a knife in order to produce back shoots. With luck and a suitable type of plant (those from the Cattleyas family are best), you will eventually have a really spectacular orchid.

Proceed as follows: Take a plant that has several back pseudobulbs, say four or five. Cut the rhizome in two between the bulbs, being careful not to otherwise disturb it. That's basically it, but here are some things to keep in mind:

• The best time to cut most orchids is during their resting phase, usually fall or winter. When they again enter their growing phase you may then observe them producing two growths from one pseudobulb where you have cut it.
• Cutting should not be attempted on an orchid that is not in good health. Cutting as described above will not harm a healthy plant, but could be stressful to a weak or sickly one.
• If you cut the same plant for back shoots every year, you will eventually have an orchid that is both bigger and more stunning that it would have been without the knife. This is how some of the amazing specimens are produced that you come across in orchid showings.

There is more that can be said about the art of cutting to produce more blooms, as well as the process of taking cuttings to start more plants. To learn more about these and other secrets of orchid cultivation, a respected guide such as that written by Nigel Howard is highly recommended.

The most complete guide to contemporary orchid cultivation, I have found, is Mr. Howard's Orchid Care Expert, which is available to be downloaded online. Mr. Howard's ebook is a full course of study, helpful for novices and the more experienced cultivators alike. Also, be sure to visit the Orchid Secrets web site, which has a growing library of postings on many facets of orchid cultivation.

So, you've nursed and fussed over an orchid for many long months and now it is rewarding you with a gorgeous bloom.  Should you treat the plant any differently now? The answer is: Maybe.

Although the species of your orchid will be the final determinant, as a general rule it would be advisable for you to remove the plant to a cooler and drier place that that in which it was grown. This will help the flowers to last much longer than in a warm and moist greenhouse or other typical growing room.

Most orchids will not suffer by being place in a drier and cooler location when they are in bloom. For most of them, it will be positively beneficial. Nevertheless, you should ensure that the temperature of your orchid's temporary new home should never get below 50 degrees F. at night.

Here's an experiment you can carry out if you happen to have two orchids of the same type that bloom at around the same time. Leave one in your growing room, and put the other in a cool, dry place as advised above. You will almost certainly notice that the one in your "cool room" will have fresh flowers for a much longer time than the one that was left behind.

Naturally, the flowers of even the best-cared-for orcnhids will eventually begin to fade. When this happens it is time to move the plant back to its warmer room. Just take care to shade it from the sun until it has re-adjusted to the warmer surroundings. Otherwise it can become scorched.

One of the keys to success in growing orchids is to understand their life cycles and the different stages they go through. Every stage requires a different kind of care, and the blossoming stage has its own unique "rules.".

The most up-to-date guide to modern orchid cultivation, I have found, is Orchid Care Expert by Nigel Howard, which can be downloaded from the Internet. Howard's wonderful guide constitutes a complete education all by itself. And, you will find it suitable for those just starting out as well as more experienced orchid growers. Also, visit the Orchid Secrets web site, which has a growing library of articles on all topics of orchid cultivation.

One of the pleasurable side hobbies to orchid apprecation is that of looking for references to these mystery-shrouded flowers in works of literature and popular entertainment.

Among the earliest short stories in which an orchid plays a central role is an odd little piece by the pathbreaking science fiction writer, H.G. Wells.This story is not so much science fiction as it is horror, though. You can easily find it in short-story compilations as well as on the Internet under the title of "The Flowering of the Strange Orchid" or simply, "The Strange Orchid."

Wells lived and wrote during the era of the first great orchid craze, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This was also a time when there were still some isolated and relatively unexplored places in the world, which fired contemporary imaginations with fantasies of unknown monsters that could yet be lurking in some jungle or mountain fastness.

For "The Strange Orchid," Wells built on the fact that flowers discharge their scent into the air to attract insects, which in turn spread pollen from one plant to another, assisting the plants to reproduce. What if--Wells wondered--there were a flower that took this a step further by evolving the ability to use its scent to overpower and feed on large animals?

The story centers on an Englishman with a passion for orchids who has acquired a rare specimen. After months of tending to it he is excited to see that it is about to blossom. He goes alone one day, eager to enjoy the first sight and odor of the unknown flower. Three hours later his housekeeper finds him lying unconscious before the orchid, which is  giving out an intoxicating odor and is looking very vigorous and wicked. A blood red-tint suffuses its
leaves and it has already pushed some of its finger-like shoots round the orchid lover's neck and beneath his shirt front.

With an inarticulate cry she ran towards him, and tried to pull him away from the leech-like suckers. She snapped two of these tentacles, and their sap dripped red.

Then the overpowering scent of the blossom began to make her head reel. How they clung to him! She tore at the tough ropes, and he and the white inflorescence swam about her. She felt she was fainting, knew she must not. She left him and hastily opened the nearest door, and, after she had panted for a moment in the fresh air, she had a brilliant inspiration. She caught up a flower-pot and smashed in the windows at the end of the greenhouse. Then she re-entered.

She tugged now with renewed strength at Wedderburn's motionless body, and brought the strange orchid crashing to the floor. It still clung with the grimmest tenacity to its victim. In a frenzy, she lugged it and him into the open air.

Then she thought of tearing through the sucker rootlets one by one, and in another minute she had released him and was dragging him away from the horror.

He was white and bleeding from a dozen circular patches.

Thanks to the quick thinking of the housekeeper in this story, the orchid's victim survives--this time.

Fortunately, orchids that feast on blood do not actually exist.You can, though, view this tale as symbolic of the strange grip that orchids can have on anyone who falls under their spell. People who contract orchid fever, including all who venture on growing them, tend to suffer from it their whole lives long. So now you have been warned!

If these fascinating plants have put their bite on you, you'll want to learn as much as possible about how to grow orchids successfully.  The most thorough guide to expert orchid care, without a doubt, is Orchid Care Expert by Nigel Howard, which is available to be downloaded from the Internet. Howard's wonderful guide constitutes a comprehensive education all to itself. And, it's suitable for beginners as well as more experienced orchid cultivators. Also, visit the Orchid Secrets web site, which has an ever-growing library of postings on all facets of orchid cultivation.

Orchids require resting time every year. The particular time for this depends on the Variety, but for most orchids it should start some time in the fall and continue through most of the winter. You must treat plants differently at this time than you would during their energetic growth periods (spring and summer usually). This is an often-overlooked part of growing orchids successfully.

A good general practice is to give your orchids rest from November through the middle of February. You should lower the temperature of your orchid room and you should reduce the amount of water you give the plants.

For tropical orchids, keep the air temperature at around 60 or 65. Cooler-origin orchids can tolerate temperatures as low as 45 degrees Fahrenheit.

At this time, give your plants just enough water to keep them from shriveling. The bulk of the moisture should be supplied by misting or by taking steps to keep the air humid. Occasionally, though, you should poke down into the soil and examine the stem, roots and rooting medium of your plants. If these are beginning to dry out you can water them directly.

Some species will continue to grow during the winter. These will demand somewhat more water than those that truly go dormant. If you see new shoots emerging, though, try to avoid wetting them or they else they could rot.

Some orchids are deciduous. This means they will drop their leaves after they have finished their growing for the year. You need to give these as much sun and light during their resting time as you can. This is to allow their pseudobulbs to ripen, letting them grow stronger and flower more freely.

Caring properly for orchids during their rest is not that difficult. Avoiding all problems, though, requires a good bit more information than can be covered in a short space. The most up-to-date guide to today's orchid cultivation, I have found, is Orchid Care Expert by Nigel Howard, which may be downloaded from the Internet. Mr. Howard's ebook is a full course of study, useful for beginners as well as more experienced growers alike. Also, check out the Orchid Secrets web site, which has an ever-growing library of information on all aspects of orchid cultivation.

Cockroaches are among the greatest pests with which you will have to deal in growing orchids. They can do heartbreaking damage in a scant few nights if not intercepted and killed.

Why do cockroaches pose such a big problem?  The answer is that one of their favorite meals is a potted plant's tender young roots and flower stems. It is not unknown for the roots of a plant to be completely chewed up in one night by roaches.

How to fight cockroaches effectively is one big topic. People have been fighting with them in their homes and kitchens for centuries, and we will probably be fighting them for centuries to come. They have evolved to be incredibly successful in living amongst us and in resisting extermination.

A wide array of poisons have been marketed in an attempt to control roaches. If you go the route of putting out poison, you must of course only use the ones that will not do damage to your plants. Check out the garden supplies aisle of your local hardware store.

For a less potentially risky solution, many growers have had success using boric acid, sugar and flour mixed with water to make a paste. The paste must be spread in every possible crevice to be effective. Some people even make sure to put some behind their light switch plates in their walls. To be completely safe, though, don't allow any of this paste on your plants themselves.

You could also set out a few those "roach hotels."  These will catch many roaches and keep them from getting to your plants in the first place.

But really, the only way you can hope to keep roaches reasonably controlled is to hunt for them by both day and night. You should especially search for them on and around your plants in the evening, using a flashlight. They leave their hiding places in the evening to seek food and it is then that they are most easily caught and killed. Don't forget to move your pots and baskets around to uncover ones that may have run into hiding from you.

A good guide to orchid growing will have many more tips and suggestions for making sure that pests such as roaches don't destroy your plants. The most complete guide to today's orchid care, in my opinion, is Orchid Care Expert by Nigel Howard, which may be downloaded from the web. Mr. Howard's guide is a complete course in itself, great for beginners as well as those more experienced. Also, be sure to visit the Orchid Secrets web site, which has an ever-growing database of articles on all topics of orchid cultivation.

As with any plant we want to cultivate, orchids can be beset by pets--insects and other small creatures. Red spiders are a big threat, and so are cockroaches. Thrips, beetles, and some kinds of snails and slugs can also be pests.

To grow orchids successfully, you must take measures to defeat these pests before they can damage your plants. You can take very specific measures to deal with each specific kind of pest. Your best defense against pests of whatever type is simple cleanliness.

Pests come in on imported plants, despite the best efforts of agricultural control officials.However, even nursery-grown orchids can have pests lurking in their potting soil or within their root structures.

Don't bring any plant into your home until you have inspected it thoroughly. Immediately destroy all pests that you find upon visual inspection. If you don. The flowers also will be ravaged by these invaders, a frustrating thing if you've doled out both care and money on a plant.

Newly arriving orchids should be treated with a certain measure of suspicion. This is especially true if you have other orchids around. You should isolate it for a few days. Place it in a "probationary" room or other structure. Do not rest until you have completely rid your plant of any insects you find on it.

Pests cannot easily escape destruction if you wash every part of your plant's leaves, bulbs and roots. The best procedure is to thoroughly cleanse the bulbs and foliage. Carefully tap the plant out of its pot, trim off any decayed roots, wash the good roots in clean water, and then re-pot using new material and a clean container.

If done well, this will be a sure means of eliminating those pests which a novice grower would have to search closely for to spot. A few pests might be seen in egg shape. Others appear as insects but are so tiny they cannot be seen without a magnifying glass. Cleaning your plants per the above suggestion will clear away all traces of pests, including the ones you can't see with your eye.

A good guide to orchid growing will have many more tips and suggestions for making sure that a pest doesn't put an end to your prized plants. The most complete guide to today's orchid growing, in the opinion of many, is Orchid Care Expert by Nigel Howard, which is available to be downloaded from the web. Mr. Howard's ebook is a complete course, helpful for beginners and the more experienced growers alike. Also, visit the Orchid Secrets web site, which has an ever-growing library of postings on all topics of orchid cultivation.

Orchid culture is so widespread today that it is diffcult to imagine a world without these wonderful flowers. Yet, not so very long ago, the people of the so-called civilized world were completely ignorant of the overwhelming majority of species of orchids.

Europeans of course knew about their local orchid types, such as the lovely Bee Orchid. But knowledge of the many gorgeous tropical orchids had to wait on the results of explorations into the jungles and mountains of South America and the eastern Indies. Even then, orchid specimens were slow to make their way back to England and other European countries.

Perhaps the first living orchid to find its way from the tropics to England was an Epidendrum cochleatum, one of the more showy of its family. It flowered in London in the year 1787. Another species from the same orchid family was brought in to England in the year 1778. It took a decade for its caregivers to bring forth flowers from the plant.

Admiral Bligh, of Bounty fame, took 15 species of epiphytal orchids to England from the West Indies some time in the early 1790s. These were planted at the well-known Kew Gardens in London. For many years the West Indies, along with India, were the primary sources of tropical orchids for Europe. In 1793, though, a species of Oncidium was transported to England from Panama, followed several years later by orchids from Uruguay.

By 1818, Brazil in partcular was contributing to what had become a steady stream of orchids back to England and other European lands. By 1830 the Royal Horticultural Society had sent representatives traveling throughout Brazil looking for unusual species.

The orchid trade quickly turned into a serious profit making enterprise, with businessmen in Brazil negotiating deals with their opposite numbers in London to ship plants to England to be resold there. William Harrison, a merchant in Rio de Janeiro during the 1830s and 1840s, sent many beautiful orchids to his brother Richard in Liverpool. Richard's house soon became a magnet for orchid fanatics who pilgrimaged there to see the latest arrivals.

Of course, it was one thing to import orchids into Europe, but another thing to get them to thrive and reproduce. For more than half a century England was known as the grave of tropical orchids. The plants that survived did so in spite of rather than because of the treatment they received. Growers continuing experimenting and making mistakes until, by about 1850, they had largely figured out the art of orchid cultivation. That's when the orchid craze really took off, because now the knowledge was available by which even non-botanists could grow these stunning plants.

Knowledge of successfully growing orchids has greatly expanded during the intervening years and today we know so much more than did those Victorian enthusiasts. We also have, of course, better technology to assist us in the greenhouse and garden.

The most complete guide to modern orchid cultivation, many agree, is Orchid Care Expert by Nigel Howard, which may be downloaded from the Internet. Howard's wonderful guide is a complete education all by itself. And, you will find it suitable for beginners as well as more seasoned orchid growers. Also, be sure to visit the Orchid Secrets web site, which has a growing database of postings on all topics of orchid cultivation.

Of the incredible array of flowering plants on our earth, orchids easily exert the most fascination. Not only are they aesthetically pleasing, but their life stories often have a bit of mystery and wonder clinging to them. Although distributed widely, many can only be found in isolated or exotic locations--misty jungles, the sides of volcanoes, mucky swamps, as examples.

Beginning most earnestly in the nineteenth century, orchid enthusiasts have devoted years and even careers to discovering as well as breeding new types of these flowering wonders. Although most orchids are acquired these days from nurseries that specialize in cultivating the plants, many of them being developed through hybridization, it is good to understand a little of their natural origins.

Orchids are herbacious plants encompassing tens of thousands of known species, with still more being discovered.  They exhibit a startling range of color and form, which has contributed greatly to public interest. Master gardeners often delight in growing a wide range of orchids to demonstrate their mastery of the arts of cultivation.

Orchids grow everywhere in the earth except for the desert and polar regions. Some 85% of all orchid species originate in the tropics or subtropics, but this still leaves a large number that come from colder regions. In some parts of the Himalayas orchids constitute the most abundantly represented family of plants in terms of sheer number of species.

By far the greatest number of orchids occur in three large tropical belts:

• Tropical Africa (including islands to the east in the Indian Ocean). These mostly belong to the genera (families) Angnecum, Bulbophyllum and Disa. Orchids from this region are not so widely cultivated as ones coming from other tropical lands, but Africa nonetheless has many interesting species.
• Tropical Asia. This region, which includes Indonesia and other islands as well as the mainland countries of Southeast Asia, is considered especially rich in orchid genera. Typical of the region are the large genera Dendrobium, Eria and Bulbophyllum and many smaller ones as well.
• Tropical America. This region embraces Mexico, Central America and the tropical parts of South America. Isolated from the rest of the world for millennia, this region contains an unusually high number of indigenous orchid genera, many of which contain hundreds of individual species. Among the large indigenous genera are Epidendrum, Pleurothallis and Oncidium; many smaller genera found here also contribute more than their share to orchids that have found favor among cultivators the world over.

In the temperate zones of the southern hemisphere may also be found many orchds, though not in so abundant number as in the tropics. In southern Africa the Disa and Calanthe genera furnish a few species judged valuable to cultivation. Australia contains many genera in common with the tropical Asia. Southernmost South America boasts many temperate-zone orchids, but they are unfortunately overshadowed by those
from the vaster tropical-zone part of the continent.

in the norhern hemisphere's temperate areas, we should take note of the United States, particularly the New England/norhteastern region, as well as Canada. There we find about 20 native genera, whose member species grow mostly in swamps and moist grounds. The most famous of these are the Cypripediuins or Lady Slippers.

Europe also has many native orchids, but undoubtedly the most famous and showy is the Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera). The Bee Orchid grows on dry or semi-dry turf, often in open areas within woodlands. Bee Orchids are common near the Mediterranean coast of Europe, and grows (albeit less abundantly) as far north as Germany and the UK.

Orchids differ greatly in the ease with which they may be cultivated, but by and large they are not the difficult plants that folk wisdom would have it. The most up-to-date guide to today's orchid care, I have found, is Orchid Care Expert by Nigel Howard, which is available to be downloaded from the Internet. Mr. Howard's ebook is a thorough course, useful for novices as well as more experienced growers alike. Also, visit the Orchid Secrets web site, which has a growing library of information on all facets of orchid cultivation.

It is common "knowledge" that the orchid is a tropical/subtropical plant. But in truth, orchids can be found in almost every part of the globe outside of the deserts and the polar regions.

About 85% of orchid types may inded be found in the tropics and subtropics, but that leaves a large proportion to the more temperate zones. Among other things, this means that you will not be out of luck if you live in a cool area and want to grow orchids, but do not have a greenhouse or other warmed area in which do so so.

The number of orchid species known to botanists is in the tens of thousands. You could be surprised to learn that there could well be orchids growing in your own vicinity, even if you make your home in a cool region. Take the fairly common Lady Slipper.

Lady Slippers (also written Lady's Slippers and Ladyslippers) is the name given to a large subfamily of orchids, the Cypripedioidea, with many species that grow in cool climates over much of North America and Europe. If you live in the New England states of the U.S., or the Appalachian mountain region, or even in Canada, you might find Lady Slippers of one variety or another growing in the woods near your home.

A species of Lady Slipper is the state flower of Minnesota. Another is the official state wildflower of New Hampshire. The Canadian province of Prince Edward Island has a Lady Slipper as its official flower.

If you're thinking of growing orchids, especially in an outdoor garden, you would do well to consider a native species. It will already be used to your specific climate, and--if you live in a place that has low temps in the winter--you might not even need to bring it inside when cold weather arrives.

Among the loveliest American orchids is the Yellow Lady Slipper. It is also among the easiest orchids to grow in a garden. On the other hand, the Pink Lady Slipper is extremely difficult to grow.Clearly, unless you are already experienced with growing orchids, the Yellow Lady Slipper is the preferred choice.

Nurseries that specialize in orchid plants tend to run out of stock from time to time. Nevertheless, Lady Slippers are generally some of the easiest orchids to acquire. They're also less expensive, for the most part, than orchid plants that originate in far-away places. They are an excellent orchid for getting your thumb green, so to speak, before you take on the challenge of rarer or more "foreign" species.

All of the rules governing successful orchid gardening apply to the Lady Slippers and similar plants. You need accurate information before you begin attempting to grow these or other orchids, and  the best, most thorough guide to modern orchid cultivation, without a doubt, is Orchid Care Expert by Nigel Howard, which can be downloaded from the web. Mr. Howard's guide is a comprehensive course of study, useful for beginners and more experienced growers alike. Also, be sure to visit the Orchid Secrets web site, which has a growing database of articles on many aspects of orchid cultivation.

For most people, there is nothing that compares to relaxing in comfort in their own home. When you're in your castle, everything you need is within easy reach and at your disposal. In order to help make sure that your home is always at its best so that you can relax and enjoy it, it is necessary to do regular rug cleaning, since having clean floor coverings can make a big difference is how you feel when you walk through your door.

Ideally, your home is the one place where you have all of the things around you that create a happy, joyful and peaceful environment. But, when dust, dirt and grime start collecting around the house, and especially on your rugs and carpets, it can make it more difficult to feel that you have entered a refuge from the outside world. Instead, it can feel like you have entered a disaster zone, compelling you to roll up your sleeves and start cleaning.

As the new carpets and rugs that are in your abode start looking worn, tired and dingy, it is time to spruce them up with a quick rug cleaning. Whether you choose to undertake this yourself or hire a professional carpet cleaning company to do the job, you will find that your floor coverings has been restored to a great extent.

If you decide that you want to tackle cleaning the carpet on your own, then there are a few tips that can help you give the proper care and attention to your rugs. But, you should always remember that there are professionals who are experts at carpet and rug cleaning who can take care of things for you if you start to feel overwhelmed, or just simply don't have the time to do the job properly.

One of the first carpet cleaning tips to keep in mind is to be careful not to be too aggressive or harsh when trying to remove a pet stain or other type of stain on your rugs and carpets. If you do this, then the chances are good that the stain will spread and you could even push the substance that is soiling the carpet even deeper into the fibers, which could cause further damage the fibers and make it almost impossible to get out.

The next tip is for pet stain removal and spots. Attend to the stained areas as quickly as possible. Nearly all carpet stains can be removed with the proper carpet cleaning product and method as long as the stain does not have a chance to permanently set. Usually, you have a window of a few days to get the stain out, and the earlier you try the better so that you will still have time to call a professional cleaner if you need to.

Another carpet cleaning tip is to do a test application of any cleaning chemicals that you think you want to use before applying the produce widely over the surface of the floor coverings. Test a small area that is out of the way and out of sight first and look for discoloration. Some types of fibers used in rugs and carpets will loose their color very quickly when certain chemicals are used on them.

If you are unsure about your ability to properly take care of the rug cleaning yourself, then you should call on the services of professionals. They have the carpet cleaning equipment and cleaning products, and the expertise to deal with various types of carpets. They can do the job correctly so that you can get back to enjoying your surroundings.

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There is nothing quite like having dirty, dingy, pet smelling carpets in your home. No matter how much fragrance you spray the odor is still there. You get down on your hands and your knees to try to clean the spots but it only seems to make it worse. What can you do? You can give carpet cleaners a chance to get rid of those pesky smells and stains. Carpet cleaners are live savers and can extend the life of your carpets.

You have spent all that money on your carpets so now it is time to take care of them properly. You can find carpet cleaners in a wide variety of brands, strengths and prices so there is something out there for everyone. In this audio program we will discuss the different carpet cleaners and products that are currently on the market. Who knows? Maybe it will help you to decide on which carpet cleaner, carpet cleaning service or product to buy.

What types of carpet cleaning devices are there?

There are several different models of carpet cleaners on the market today. You can find heavy duty uprights or you can find little hand held cleaning machines. The size you choose should be based on how big an area you will be cleaning. You should also consider models that are specifically designed to treat pet stained carpets if you own indoor pets. Stains can reach deep down to the substructure of the floor beneath the carpet so it is important to find a carpet cleaner that can get those far reaching stains and remove them.

How much will professional carpet cleaning services cost?

Professional carpet cleaning services charge per foot of carpet area. They also will tack on the cost of supplies and any specialty areas such as large staircases. When you hire the cleaning service you should also ask if they clean upholstery. That would be a perfect time to give your furniture a thorough cleaning. The price is also based on what condition the carpets are in. If there is mold or mildew present a specialty service will need to be called in to remove the mold and mildew.

What is Chem-Dry carpet cleaning?

Chem-Dry carpet cleaning is a method that uses less water to clean your carpets. A traditional carpet cleaning machine will saturate the areas of carpet and then suck up the excess. Unfortunately this still leaves the carpets damp. The carpets must then dry over the course of a couple of days. With the Chem-Dry system there is no need to wait days for the carpets to dry. They are usually dry within 1-2 hours. The real secret behind the Chem-Dry system is the chemicals used to treat the carpets. The solution contains carbonate ingredients that dry much faster than the typical water/soap solutions.

How do I clean up pet stains?

Pet stains are a literal pain to deal with. Not only do you have to deal with the smell but you have to deal with the discoloration as well. The best treatment you can use on a pet stain is to buy specially formulated spot treatments that are designed to lift pet stains. Simply spray the cleaner on, scrub with a brush and then gently but firmly blot with a paper towel or rag until the area is dry. If your carpets are especially stained by pets you may want to consider hiring a professional carpet cleaning service to come in and do your entire carpets to rid yourself of the smell and stains.

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Cleaning your carpets is a job that seems endless, probably because it is. In order to keep your rugs and carpets in good condition, looking attractive, smelling great and feeling good under bare feet, it is important to routinely vacuum and clean them. Carpets can also be a breading ground for bacteria and microorganisms, providing yet another reason to know how to clean a carpet properly.

Peoples homes that have a few kids playing and running around, one or two pets, and many vistors both coming and going will need carpet cleaning more frequently. On the other hand, a home with just one or two people who don't stir things up much or drop food or spill drinks on the flooring will not need to clean the carpet as often.

One great tip in terms of how to clean a carpet and how to keep it in great shape is to keep "dirty traffic" to a minimum. This is the foot traffic that drags in a lot of grime, debris and dirt from the outside, which settles into the carpets. Using small area rugs and carpets in those high-traffic areas can be helpful or simply opting for tile or vinyl flooring instead of carpets might be the better solution.One of the first things to look at when considering how to clean a carpet and how to keep it in condition is to reduce as much of the "dirty traffic" as possible. Dirty traffic comes from people coming inside from the out of doors and tracking in a stream of various types of dirt and debris that can get ground into the fibers. You can put area rugs and carpets in those high-traffic areas or consider replacing the carpeting with tile or vinyl, which can be a better choice.

There is another thing to keep in mind if you are considering new carpets. The lighter the color of the rugs and carpets you install, the more frequently the carpets will need to be cleaned. This is true both in terms of regular vacuuming and how often the light colored carpeting will need steam cleaning or shampooing with special carpet cleaning equipment.

Another basic tip for cleaning a carpet is to vacuum at least once a week or more if you can see debris starting to collect. You should think of vacuuming as being the first line of defense for keeping carpets looking new and pristine for as long as possible. With frequent vacuuming you will help keep dust, crumbs, dirt and other debris from becoming ground into the fibers of the carpet as foot traffic passes over the area.

The vacuums that do the best job at cleaning carpets are those that have strong suction and that also have an agitator or brush roller. A machine that has a lot of suction can pull dirt from deep inside the fibers and the brush roller will help to make it easier to detach debris from the surface of the carpet where it can sometimes become entangled with the looser fibers at the top.

If your carpeting is light colored or it gets a lot of heavy traffic, then you will want to also do carpet shampooing or steam cleaning at least every three to four months. If your home has darker rugs and carpets and fairly light traffic, then you can probably get away with doing deep cleaning only once a year. For many people, the best idea for how to clean a carpet is calling on the services of a professional carpet cleaning company to do the job right and save you a lot of work.

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If it has been at least a year since the last time you thought about cleaning carpets, or since installing new carpets, then it is almost a sure bet that the carpeting is starting to show signs of wear and there is evidence of dirt and stains. While this is true of households without pets and children, it is even more true the case in homes where pets run free, contributing to the grime and the mishaps that lead to stains. But, with a few handy carpet cleaning tips, the carpeting in your home can quickly start looking better.

If you have kids, pets, or just a lot of traffic going in and out of the house and going across the carpeting all the time, then it is a sure thing that even brand new carpets will start to look dingy and drab before you know it, if you don't have a good routine for carpet cleaning and maintenance. The good news is that there are some simple carpet cleaning strategies that will help restore the beauty and appeal of your rugs and carpets, from wall to wall carpeting, to area rugs such as Oriental carpets, Persian carpets, and other specialty carpeting.

As carpet cleaning tips go, the one that is probably the most basic and the most important is to vacuum all of the rugs and carpets regularly. This means that you should vacuum at least once a week even if it doesn't appear that the carpeting is dirty. You should vacuum even more often if your carpet receives lots of foot traffic everyday.

Regularly vacuuming the rugs and carpets in your home is the first line of defense and will help to minimize the amount of dust dirt, and microorganisms that naturally collect in carpeting from getting ground into the fibers. When these elements get ground into the fibers it makes it more difficult to get them out no matter what type of carpet cleaning service or equipment you use.

The next important tip for cleaning carpets to keep them looking new and fresh is to routinely rent a carpet cleaning machine or hire the services of a professional carpet cleaning service. If you don't have too much traffic or commotion on and around your carpeted areas, then you should plan on doing a carpet cleaning twice a year for the best benefits. However, if you have pets and children that spend a good deal of time on the carpets, then it is a good idea to have them cleaned quarterly.

By following these basic carpet cleaning tips, you will be taking great steps in keeping your rugs and carpets in tip top condition. Vacuuming regularly and doing the deeper carpet cleaning will extend the life of your carpets and will help keep microorganisms from growing and thriving. And, the best thing is that your floor coverings will continue to be attractive looking and cushy feeling when they are cleaned on a regular basis.

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Even amateurs can successfully grow orchids if they take the time to learn about the differences between the major families of these wonderful plants, as well as their varied requirements.

Orchids come from a wide variety of environments which differ from one another in almost every respect. As a result, you will find that some species produce their flowers early in spring, others in summer and yet others during the dull days of winter. Their times for beginning their seasonal growth also varies; nevertheless, for convenience, feel free to rest all of your orchids over the winter. The majority will then begin to push up their young shoots as soon as the days lengthen and the sun gains increased power.

When your orchids are in their growing periods, you should treat them differently with respect to heat, according to their native origins. The East Indian orchids need a good amount of heat. Inside, maintain the air temperature around them at 65 degrees Fahrenheit at night and 70 degrees at day. Outdoors they will thrive at up to 75 degrees in the early spring, and temperatures as high as 85 or even 90 are acceptable during the high summer months. Nevertheless, you should shade the plants from the direct rays of the sun.

Therefore, this type of orchid must be well supplied with atmospheric moisture at all times. These plants need lots of misting! As well, you can simply pour water over the tables and paths of your greenhouse or other growing area. A nice, moist, rising heat will be produced this way. Be sure and do it every day.

Brazilian orchids come from a cooler climate one that is not so highly saturated with moisture. These, natrually, need both less heat and less moisture, but they do require warmth during the peak growing time. The same applies to the majority of orchids that originated in Mexico. They should be heated artificially to approximately 60 degrees at night and 65 or 70 by day during the spring. As the days lengthen, temps may be allowed to increase. During approximately May through August the night heat may range between 65 and 70 and
by day from 70 to 85 degrees.

There are also the cool orchids, so called. These should be kept in a separate area from other orchids, if you can. These plants come from places such as Ecuador and Peru, where they grow high on mountainsides. These must be grown at lower temperatures. Try 45 to 55 degrees in the winter and 50 to 65 in the summer. Wherever you grow them, you should see that they are well shaded from the sun most of the time. Too much heat is definitely dangerous to cool orchids!

There are many other groupings and subgroupings of these plants, too many to go over them in this short post. If you want to learn more, the best and most thorough guide to modern orchid growing, hands down, is Orchid Care Expert by Nigel Howard, which may be downloaded online. Now, there are lots of books about orchids but Mr. Howard's guide is a complete course in itself, suitable for beginners as well as the more experienced. Also, check out the Orchid Secrets web site, which has a growing database of articles on all aspects of orchids.

The means to grow great orchids is now available to just about everyone, unlike in past ages. This happened as a result of studying these plants both in their native habitats and in greenhouses, gardens and even the laboratory.

A crucial discovery was the finding that some of the most ornamental species need less heat and less elaborate growing equipment than previously thought necessary. This understanding opened orchid gardening to everyone who would take the time to read up on the subject.

In the 1800s, when the mania for orchids really boomed, many would-be growers were initially discouraged by one huge 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 one orchid enthusiast complained 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 jotted down all they learned about each type and species of the plants that they encountered.

Yes, it is important to understand the habitat and climate from which an orchid comes. But having said that, let's inject a cautionary note. It is not generally a good idea to try to strictly imitate the natural conditions in which a plant might be found. To some degree it is possible to grow more impressive orchids than nature produces by carefully tweaking its environment. 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 should a just-starting-out orchid grower to do? Can one strike a balance between imitating nature and trying to improve on it? The answer: Brush up. Educate yourself. Immerse yourself in the subject. You can successfully grow orchids if you know what you're doing up-front.

Among the best and most complete 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 is a complete education in itself, suitable for beginners as well as the more experienced. Also, be sure to visit the Orchid Secrets web site, which has a growing library of articles on many aspects of orchids.

There is a tremendous variety of plants available these days to ornamen our houses and to touch our rooms and offices with green freshness. Further, we never tire of having them around us--we in fact seek more of them and want to add new ones to our surroundings.

Flowers, in particular -- cut or potted or growing in the garden -- have great appeal to human beings. Many people are especially smitten with that most regal flower, the orchid.

Orchids have been named "conquerers of the light" by both horticultural and literary writers. They amaze us when we first encounter them, and they continue thereafter to draw us to them in admiration. Mother Nature has shown particular partiality to the orchids. Their flowers are elegant and bright. Their fragrant odor is generally described as sweet, yet most people do not find it cloying in the least. Their texture is then, which misleads many into assuming they are delicate. Yet they can last longer after being cut than many another ornamental bloom. Really, the only thing they "lack" from the standpoint of aesthetics is thick foliage. But this is not a serious deficiency: one can always fill the space around them with fern leaves for an attractive arrangement.

For a long time, people assumed taht these wonderful flowers were too delicate to grow with ease. This was mistaken. Orchids are actually rather simple to cultivate, and many amateur growers can consistently raise some of the most extraordinarily beautiful specimens anyone has ever seen. The key is to study up first, using a good modern guide to the art and science of orchids and orchid growing. To assure success, you must educate yourself first; skip this preparation and you may be dooming yourself to failure.

One prevalent myth about orchids is that in order to thrive, they must have high heat. That's not true, though! Yes, it's true that orchids are a "tropical" plant, if you mean by that they originate between the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. However, quite many of them, in their homelands, group high up the mountainsides, where it is crisp and cool. It would be a mistake to subject these coolness-hardy plants to high temperatures -- if the heat didn't kill them, it would at least stunt their development.

Whether or not you think of yourself as a skilled gardner, you can grow these wonderful flowers. Imagine surprising a friend or loved one with an orchid you grew yourself. Envision yourself culitvating gorgeous orchids that are so good they win prizes. Picture yourself going so far with your orchid growing hobby that it becomes a business, perhaps one big enough to provide you with a living. These things are all possible to you, even as an orchid newbie.

One of the best and most complete guides to modern orchid growing is undoubtedly Orchid Care Expert by Nigel Howard, available online. Now, there's tons of information out there about orchids. But Howard's is the most complete all-in-one reference that I've ever seen. You might also want to visit the Orchid Secrets web site, which has a growing database of articles on all aspects of orchids.

Here's to a great orchid experience!