Love Affair with Orchids By Jodi Tooke
I love orchids. My very first orchid was white, and I received it from a boy I hardly knew for a
Homecoming Dance. All evening I stole glances at it as it perched on my wrist. Part of me was afraid it would fly
away. Ever since, their exotic beauty has captured my imagination and inspired my soul.
Orchids are the largest of all plant groups–one in ten plant species is an orchid, and there are over 100,000
registered hybrids. They grow everywhere, from in the ground to high in the bark of trees. They thrive in grasslands,
swamps, deserts, and mountains. Some even grow in the Arctic, but most grow in warmer climates.
The structure of the blossom is what makes a plant an orchid. First, look for one club-shaped column fused
with male and female parts (stamen and sigma). Next, three petals with the lower center one enlarged and complex.
Finally, flowers have three petal-like sepals that are often the same color of the petals.
Phalaenopsis is easily recognizable. It imitates female moths to trick the males into pollinating it. Sold commercially, it grows well as a house plant and will rebloom.
Its magical appearance is easy to maintain. Just put them in a well-lit spot, but not direct sunlight. Keep
them moist and relatively cool. I repot mine once a year, just because I like to fuss, but they thrive in crowded
conditions. Check out the American Orchid Society website for more details (www.aos.org/orchis/orchid-care.aspx).
Jodi Tooke is a volunteer with the Garland County Master Gardeners program of the University of Arkansas
Division of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service. Over 200 members participate in sixteen “dirt”
projects, three Yard-of-the-Month selections, garden therapy at the Caring Place, and five different
community education committees. Master Gardeners pool skills and resources to improve home
horticulture, stimulate an interest in plants and gardening, and encourage beautification of Garland
County.
For more information, call 501-623-6841 or email abates@uaex.edu.
