When I was a kid, working here with my siblings, Robert and Susie, we had many pets.  Dogs, horses, birds, guinea pigs, fish, hampsters, ducks - the list seems endless.  Our sons continued that tradition, adding hermit crabs, a tarantula ("Hairy"), a box turtle ("Emily"), and many broods of bearded dragons. 

 

These experiences helped me to realize that the trick to raising healthy, happy animals was to create a specific environment and watch them closely for signs of unhappiness or distress.  A gecko we once had, for instance, liked a closed terrarium with many plants to climb on and hide in. He required high humidity - so we misted the cage several times daily, and added lots of fruit flies for mourishent.  By giving this little green guy an ideal climate and care, he lived well past the average life expectancy of a reptile insurance pitchman.

                                                                                      Dakota and Emily

These care tips translate over to plants very easily.  Sometimes we tend to forget that orchids are living things, each with their own specific culture requirements.  To grow them successfully, we must understand what each variety requires and try to simulate those conditions in our growing area.  Some plants like very high light, and some would rather grow in the backgroud, shaded by other plants.  Some like warm, humid conditions constantly, others require cool nights, or high moisture to thrive.  If we learn where the specific varieties grow in nature, and thusly what their individual requirements are, we can choose the plants that will grow best in our own growing areas.  Masdevallias, Draculas and some Miltonias, for instance, would be difficult to grow outdoors in Florida or Arizona due to their need for very cool temperatures in combination with high humidity/moisture.

 

Our old bearded dragon ("Gex") and our turtle ("Emily") both love living in the greenhouse environment.  The warm, tropical climate helps them thrive.  Every September, however, they begin to hibernate.  Emily digs herself into the sand and Gex hides under his cork log; both sleep soundly until spring, despite the fact that the inside greenhouse conditions do not change nearly as drastically as in their native environments.  They must be following their inborn traits and natural instincts.

 

Many orchids do this same thing.  They drop their leaves, go dormant, and/or just stop growing until spring.  This is simply the normal growth cycle that they go through yearly.  It doesn't seem to matter if they are in a warm greenhouse, or growing under a consistent cycle under artificial light.  The plants still go semi-dormant; their growth slows or stops until the spring. 

 

We must consider that it is the sum total of all evironmental factors that affect our plants.  Day length, daytime and nightime temperatures, and humidity levels fluctuate throughout the seasons and thus require us to constantly observe and change our care.

 

Living things - plants, animals, people - the more we understand their requirements, the better we can nurture and care for them.  When orchids are given the proper care, they reward us with flowers that brighten and beautify our lives, especially during these long winter months.

 

Enjoy your hobby!

 

Best wishes,

Liese