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Grow Orchids In Your Window

Some say you can, some say you can't. All I know is that we do grow orchids in our living-room. Quietly defying all the people who said we could never grow them at home, we brought some budding plants back with us from Guatemala after getting permission from the proper authorities.

To the amazement of our skeptical friends and even our own, they began to thrive and flower. Gradually we slipped deeper and deeper into a world of pseudobulbs and back bulbs, osmunda fiber, fir bark and sphagnum and always more and more orchids.

What we're doing anyone who wants to can do. Although many protest that orchid growing in the average home is not possible, presently I will tell you how we did it.

But first, why grow orchids? What is the charm of this plant? Why is it considered exciting to raise?

One of our first discoveries was that orchid flowers last a long time. One year a Cypripedium lasted six weeks.

Then we found that orchids come in every color, shape and size from huge cattleyas to tiny spray orchids with exquisite markings on the petals of some and designs in the hearts of others. What a range to choose from !

Furthermore, most orchids are fragrant. When bought from a florist, their perfume is often lost but the scent of the home grown kinds is another reason why there is joy in growing them.

So much for the "why," now for the "how to."

After asking questions, experimenting and reading a book or two, this is what we tliscovered about growing orchids indoors, and this is a pleasure to share.

Good ventilation and fresh air, orchids must have. For ample light, they should be grown in a southern, eastern or western window where direct sunlight is allowed to hit them only from mid-October to mid-February.

Most important of all is humidity. It is possible to grow some orchids loose in the house in trays full of water and pebbles. Certain sorts will thrive this way if they're top-sprayed several times a day.

A more successful way is to enclose them in some sort of glass case. One orchid plant will flourish under a bell jar like phalaenopsis orchid. A few will settle happily in an aquarium with a glass top. But, any kind of glass case will do. One may be made of an old-fashioned book case or dish cupboard with glass doors. Substitute glass for the wooden back, set it in a window and there is a perfect orchidarium.

In making an orchidarium, provisions should be made for glass on all sides, adjustable vents top and bottom and a tray, to fit inside the case, with pebbles and water in it. These provisions result in plenty of light, circulation of warm air from room and humidity.

Article Source: GardenGap.com

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