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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!