Meet the orchid keeper : Exotic flower fuels passion
Marty Hair
Detroit Free Press
Mar. 4, 2006 12:00 AM
In his day job, Don Garling is professor of fisheries and wildlife at Michigan State University.
But his passion is growing more than 1,000 orchids at his home greenhouse in Okemos, Mich.
He jokes that he specializes in what he calls "P" orchids: pretty, puny and peculiar, including Phalaenopsis and Pathiopedilums. He spends about five hours a week in his 17- by 20-foot greenhouse, where the temperature in the winter is about 72 degrees during the day and 63 degrees at night.
Recently, Garling, 57, shared thoughts about orchids.
Orchids he recommends for beginners: Phalaenopsis, because it can be grown on a windowsill, and the Southeast Asian Lady Slipper. "With care similar to an African violet, they will do well under home conditions if you have nice south, east or west exposure," Garling says.
Some orchids are fragrant, although perhaps only at certain times of the day, like Garling's first orchid, a cattleya, in the same group as the popular corsage orchids. Early in the morning, "it smelled just like Froot Loops," Garling recalls. "By midafternoon, the fragrance was totally gone."
Fragrance is one way that orchids attract bird and insect pollinators. Many white-flowered orchids are fragrant only at night; one cattleya with a heavy perfume is called Lady of the Night.
What they cost: Orchids in bloom start at about $20 to $30. Garling recommends buying them while they're flowering so you'll know what they should look like.
What to look for: Garling shakes the plant in the pot to see if it's loose. "If it really, really rattles, it might not have a good root system," he says. He also looks for green leaves that appear strong and healthy without sunken or limp sections.
"You certainly don't want to see anything that might imply insect damage or problems," he says.
What protects tropical orchids: Many orchids are rare and endangered. The Convention on International Trade and Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora sets guidelines that countries agree to follow to protect rare and endangered plants.
Why orchids are thought of as touchy: "They oftentimes like neglect. . . . You don't want to water them unless they need it." If the orchid's pot comes wrapped in foil, he says, discard it so water can exit the drainage hole. Orchid roots need oxygen; too dense a potting mix or too much water causes rot. Certain orchids require more light than they can get on a windowsill.
How often to repot: When the potting mix breaks down, or every six months for orchids in small pots. How to know? Garling recommends watering orchids in a sink. It's time to repot when the water doesn't run through and out of the pot as quickly as it used to. Select potting mixes for orchids that are light and open, with ingredients like bark chips and sphagnum mosses.
Best human temperament for orchid success: "You're talking to someone who's somewhat compulsive," Garling says, laughing. "You get into an appropriate routine. You can't leave them three, or four, or five weeks like you can some other houseplants. . . . Pick the right one for the conditions you have and they're as easy as any other houseplant."
