Cape Town - Capetonians are spoilt for choice when it comes to growing orchids. Although the region does not experience the tropical temperatures found in the northern parts of the country, the luxury of a cooler winter opens up a world of possibilities for orchid growing.
Orchids found in cooler climes might not be as flashy as their warmer-growing cousins, but they make up for this in their unusual forms and sheer beauty.
Genera that prefer a cooler climate include cymbidiums, or boat orchids. Their large spikes of 10 or more flowers are a wonderful addition to any home in winter and spring when the blooms open.
“Cymbidiums are easy to grow if they are given adequate water and food throughout the year,” said Gregg Brill, president of the Cape Orchid Society. “They are happy inside or placed under a sheltered spot like a veranda or under a tree.”
Cold-loving orchids like the masdevallias orchids from South America love to be cool and moist all year round. They grow in dark, damp forests where temperatures rarely exceed 25°C. Their closest plant relatives, the Draculas, also love cool conditions, providing a breathtaking show of potentially hundreds of flowers which hang beneath the plant.
These can be grown easily in cool areas in the house, as long as they remain damp.
Cape gardeners are not limited to cooler-growing orchid varieties only. Moth orchids or phalaenopsis, a warm- to intermediate-growing genus, loves being indoors. These orchids are by far the most popular orchid grown around the world.
In botanical terms, their commercialisation is fairly recent. Trends coming out of the East, where they are grown by the hundreds of millions, are breath-taking. Flowers of every shape, size and colour are being bred and engineered.
The latest craze sees flowers the size of saucers emerging from commercial farms in South Korea. Keep an eye out for spikes with 30 or more flowers on them!
“In the wild, temperatures rarely fluctuate by more than 10°C between day and night or across seasons, similar to conditions in homes,” explained Brill.
“Grown near a windowsill in indirect light, these plants will give you flowers for weeks for very little effort.
“They need to be watered once a week or less in summer and only once every two weeks in winter.”
Starting out with orchids
Brill says there are plenty of myths when it comes to growing orchids. The most prominent of these is they are difficult to grow and require specific conditions in custom-made glass houses. “Not so,” says Brill. “Many of the most popular varieties are grown very successfully on a windowsill in a bathroom, bedroom or kitchen.”
How can you be successful with orchids? Follow these guidelines:
* The trick to growing orchids and reflowering them is to mimic their natural conditions in your home as much as possible. Increase the humidity around the plants by adding a small saucer filled with stones and water under the plants, so a layer of humidity is created around the plant.
* Water sparingly, feed occasionally and provide a bit of air movement (an open window will do).
For more information
visit the Cape Orchid Society website at www.capeorchidsociety.co.za.
Kay Montomgery, Weekend Argus
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