Orchids For Your Valentine

Contact: Dr. Leonard Perry, Extension Professor
University of Vermont

Orchids are exotic, elegant, and romantic. That's what makes them the perfect gift for your special someone on Valentine's Day.

Orchids come in all colors except black (although there are orchids that are almost black), in all sorts of beautiful and bizarre shapes, and in a wide range of sizes. Although most garden centers carry reasonably priced, easy-to-grow varieties (mostly tropical species), in the natural world there are more than 20,000 species of orchids, growing in every type of habitat from tropical rain forests to the tundra and semi-arid desert, and on every continent except Antarctica. Orchids grow in all 50 states, even Alaska!

If you want to buy a potted orchid for yourself or for a gift, check the Yellow Pages in the phone book for a commercial orchid grower or visit your local garden center. Your best buy, according to the American Orchid Society (AOS), is a moderately priced ($25 to $40) mature plant in flower or bud.

This not only gives you the best value for your money but guarantees a plant of flowering size. You'll also know the season and the approximate flower conformation.

AOS recommends that you check out the greenhouse facilities before buying an orchid. Good greenhouse sanitation is one of the keys to successful orchid cultivation. The plant should be securely rooted in the pot and have lustrous flowers and firm, succulent leaves and pseudobulbs. Fresh, white roots with green root tips also are a sign of a healthy plant.

Check with the sales staff regarding the orchid's growing requirements. Orchids are commonly grouped by cool, intermediate, and warm temperature requirements based on the plant's optimum night requirements (45 to 50 degrees F, 55 to 65 degrees F, and above 65 degrees F, respectively).

Most orchids require relatively high light intensities and should be grown in an east or south window. However, a few will grow well under low intensity fluorescent lights. Orchids require regular fertilization and moderate air circulation for best growth.

Orchids vary in their water requirements. Many tropical orchids are epiphytes, growing on the side of trees, and will not do well if their roots stay wet. Epiphytes should be grown in a very porous potting medium such as coarse fir bark, lava rock, or coarse perlite. Terrestrial types rooted in soil require a well-drained, finer textured growth medium.

Watering frequency depends on the medium in which they are potted. Most orchids cannot survive prolonged drought and should be watered often. However, some require a "dry season" of six to eight weeks during which watering is reduced but not stopped. This "dry season" must occur immediately after the current growth matures and is often necessary to initiate future flowering.

Insufficient light is the most common reason orchids don't flower. If there is too little light, the leaves become a deep, lush green. With too much light, the leaves turn yellow-green.

Some orchids may not bloom if the nighttime and daytime temperature are the same. Consistently warm temperatures are good for vegetative growth but may suppress flower development.

Orchids are affected by many of the same pests and diseases as other houseplants. Insects such as mealybugs and aphids can be controlled with the proper insecticide.

Good cultural practices and the purchase of healthy plants will reduce the chance of disease. However, most fungal and bacterial diseases may be controlled using commercially-available fungicides and bactericides.

To learn more about orchids, check out the American Orchid Society's Website at http://www.pathfinder.com/vg/Gardens/AOS that includes a "Beginner's Corner," "Orchid Doctor," and other valuable information.