I grew up in the orchid world, influenced by many orchid nurseries, judges and shows.  My father Hermann has been into orchids for over 50 years.  I grew up in the background, taking it all in.....Listening to judges, growers, greenhouse owners and society members from all over the world discussing this interesting and complex hobby.  To this day, I continue to learn from every person I listen to....including our customers and even beginner growers.  There are so many varieties of orchids that no one person or book will ever have all the answers (although Greg swears he has met many people that think they do).  That is what makes this hobby so intriguing - there is always something to learn!

 

When a problem or questions arises, ask your local orchid growers or society gurus to lend advice.  Oak Hill Gardens can give you general requirements for growing in the Chicago area and similar latitudes.  However, folks living in different climates will not benefit fully from that advice and would be best to consult local experts on some of the finer details.  Potting media, pests and fungal diseases can vary widely between geographic regions.  

 

Another piece of advice would be, "dont' fix it if it ain't broke."  If your plants are blooming and growing great, don't repot them into the newest and sexiest potting media ever to grace mankind just because someone paid a grand to advertise it in the latest orchid rag.  If your plants are healthy, don't drastically change your feeding schedule just because Oak Hill shares our scheme with you.  If it's working for you, it's probably because your growing area is different; everyone's is....

 

If you do want to try something new, it's probably best to try it out on a few of your plants first to make sure the product works well in your environment.  If a plant is not growing or blooming well, that is the time to "mix-it-up" a bit.  Try a new media, a new fertilizer, or even mounting it instead of growing in a pot, for instance.

 

We grew Neofinetia falcata here for years; the plants grew OK in our standard orchid mix in clay pots.  When the coconut fiber product became readily available, we potted a few Neos in it and the root growth exploded.  We now grow them (and most other Vandaceous varieties) in the fiber.  However, someone in an arid climate such as Colorado or Arizona may not have success with such a rapidly draining medium.  This is just one example.

 

Adapt to your environment and help your orchids adapt, too!

 

Happy Growing,

Liese