| Buy your orchids as soon as they appear in the | | | | advice of several experienced growers. |
| stores when they are fresh from the nursery, | | | | HOW DOES YOUR ORCHID REACH THE STORE? |
| and the blooms will last for weeks. | | | | In the past, a nursery man would raise his own |
| When buying your orchid plant, first examine it | | | | plants, growing them through all stages of |
| carefully. The plant may have been healthy and fit | | | | development and retailing them directly to |
| when it left the grower, but if conditions have not | | | | customers. Today, things are very different. |
| been right since then, the buds may be yellow | | | | Mericloning- the method of mass propagation has |
| and shriveled. These will drop off and the plant | | | | led to an unparalleled number of orchids reaching |
| should be avoided. | | | | the store. |
| FOLIAGE | | | | Only the very best varieties are chosen when the |
| This should be clean, a deep green colour and not | | | | main stem tip or nucleus of growing cells is |
| floppy and dehydrated. | | | | removed from the plant and cultured in |
| LEAVES | | | | laboratories. Millions of orchid plants are produced |
| Check the undersides for any bugs that may be | | | | in huge laboratories each year. |
| hiding there. | | | | When young, these plants are sold to a grower |
| FLOWERSPIKES | | | | who will take them to near flowering size. From |
| Make sure that they are staked correctly and | | | | here, they will be passed on to yet another |
| that some buds are unopened. | | | | nursery man who will bring them to bloom. Finally, |
| COMPOST | | | | they will be sold to a retail outlet. From start to |
| Examine the surface to make sure that there are | | | | finish, the orchid plant may have traveled half |
| no dead roots showing, which indicates that the | | | | way around the world before reaching a store |
| root system is not healthy. | | | | near you. |
| Always ask the sales staff to provide some | | | | With the increased popularity of orchids as house |
| growing information for you. Even a short leaflet | | | | plants, many people buy them, enjoy the flowers |
| will help you with its care. Having an expert, | | | | and then throw the plant away. This is a waste, |
| experienced grower giving you extra tips and | | | | because with correct care and attention, an orchid |
| information on fertilizing, light requirement and | | | | can continue to flower and reflower in its season |
| watering can make a huge difference. | | | | for several years. So take care to choose a plant |
| Mail order suppliers on the World Wide Web and | | | | and then plan to enjoy it in the years ahead. |
| orchid societies give you the benefit of compiled | | | | |