Get To Know Your Orchid Species

The Calanthe

The calanthe are winter-flowering and can be grown in a 65 degree greenhouse as long as they're in a semi-shaded area. To pot them, use a mixture of sand, leaf mold as well as loam - all in equal parts. When the leaves become yellow, and fall, rest their pseudo bulbs. The small flowers can be white, rose, or blotched with yellow or crimson and are set on long stems.

The Cattleya

This is the biggest of the orchids that professional florists grow. This is also the species most commonly associated with the name 'orchid'. The blooms of the cattleya are large and can be purple, rose-pink, yellow or white in color. These should be grown in temperatures of 60 - 80 degrees. You propagate them by taking the back bulbs, then putting them into a pot in the shade until they start to grow.

The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Orchids

The Cymbidium

Cymbidiums, when cut, keep longer than any other flower - this makes them a natural choice for creating corsages. Their flowers will be red, green, white or brown. Cymbidiums may need to be grown in temperatures below 60 degrees and using a mixture of leaf mold, loam, osmunda fiber or shredded bark - again in equal parts.

The Cypripediums

Often known as lady slippers or cyps, they come in a variety of colors and are a favorite in greenhouses and window gardens. They can be grown in cool to intermediate greenhouses i.e. 55 - 60 degrees.

Cypripediums excel in a mixture of one part sphagnum moss, two parts peat moss, ½ a part of crushed pot chips with a ½ part of loam. Have at least 1 third of the pot in drainage material, then the potting mixture, and place them towards the top of the greenhouse in a well light position. Remember not to over-water in the early stages of growth. Propagation is done through division.

The Dendrobium

The dendrobium is an epiphyte (air plant) and produces either pairs or triplets of purple, red, orange, orchid or white three inch flowers, which are firm and easily shipped as they keep for ages in storage. They will need to be staked during growing as they grow quiet tall. In summer they need to be kept warm, humid and given full light, while in winter they need to be kept cooler and drier.

The Laelia

The laelia, which originate in Mexico and related to the cattleyas, are a group of orchids that flower in fall and in winter. They should be given temperatures of 60 - 65 degrees and plenty of strong light. The laelia is frequently used in cross pollination with the cattleyas. Varieties of the laelia produce flowers that are white and have yellow markings on the lip (the alba), white petals with a rose and purple lip (the purpurata) and yellow flowers marked with red (the anceps).

If you are looking to profit from your greenhouse you can't go far wrong with orchids. Not only can you sell them as pot plants you can also sell them as cut flowers.

The terrestrial (earth-grown) varieties such as the calanthe and the cypripediums (lady slippers) are popular as collector plants, and are easy for the amateur grower to handle.

The epiphytes (air plants) include showy orchids like the cattleya and its hybrids, the dendrobiums and the vandas. The vandas and cattleyas are ideal flowers for making corsages. The cattleyas are popular because they can be grown near windows or under lights in the home, while the dendrobiums tend to be favored by new growers. You can find an orchid that will fit most budgets, markets and growing conditions.

Orchids for Dummies

Profiting from Orchids

To start with buy your orchids from an orchid specialist - the orchids don't need to be overly expensive and you will be able to get them either as seedling or mature plants.

If you aren't interested in keeping orchids yourself to grow and sell you can still buy cut orchids wholesale and create your own corsages, these can then be sold on for occasions such as proms and graduations - still making you a nice profit.

There are a number of correspondence courses available on orchid growing and corsage design, and many cities have their own orchid societies. There is also a monthly bulletin and yearbook published by The American Orchid Society which can give you invaluable tips.