YOU CAN DO IT!

Orchid enthusiast Synea Tan shares her growing advice with Tom Shields.

Ever tried to grow those most exquisitely exotic of all plants, the orchids? You can, you know. In addition to the moth orchid hybrids (Phalaenopsis) now found nearly everywhere, there are tens of thousands of other orchids whose intriguing, seductive, shimmering and often sweetscented flowers wait for you to discover. How can you grow and flower them? Listen to Synea Tan, local orchid grower extraordinaire.

What first attracted you to orchids, Synea?

A. I came across a marvellous Chinese Cymbidium in a restaurant about 30 years ago. The fragrance was mesmerizing!

Did you make mistakes at first?

A. Of course! I naturally started with a Cymbidium but soon killed it. I then tried several Phalaenopsis, which are easy, and killed them, too! Obviously I needed advice. From my music background I knew the need for constant practice and so did one thing right: I did not give up.

What sort of orchids do you grow now?

A. Because I grow in my home, I have mainly warm-growing orchids like Cymbidium, Phalaenopsis, Paphiopedilum, Catasetum, Cycnoche, Bulbophyllum, Dendrobium, Oncidium, Miltonia and Vanda.

What? No greenhouse? How do you manage that?

A. It’s really not hard. To get proper light, I grow on stands in rooms with south-facing windows, although west windows will do. I also hang two to four high-efficiency fluorescent tubes above plants that grow farther back from the windows. Orchids also need high humidity, so on the stands I rest deep plastic trays with wire mesh elevated above their bottoms. Plants sit on or hang over the mesh, so when I water, the excess runs into the trays and humidifies the plants as it evaporates. Orchids also need to be cooler at night, so I turn off the room heat and close the door each evening to let the temperature fall to around 15°C.

What are some other secrets for growing?

A. Most cultivated orchids need to be watered often but dry out quickly. I grow mine in a free-draining mix of bark, coconut fibre, sphagnum, charcoal, eggshells and perlite, or in Hydroton, compressed clay pebbles that are available from hydroponic supply stores. I punch extra holes in the sides of my plastic pots to let the water drain and evaporate more quickly. This means that I must water more often, but the results are worth it. I also use rainwater, although tap water is okay for beginners. Every year or two I repot in fresh mix, taking care not to damage the roots. I also check plants often to catch and correct problems early.

Which orchids are you especially proud of?

A. My Vandas, because they are hard to grow in our climate, and my Miltonias, because they were a personal challenge. I also love Dendrobiums because they are easy to grow and have flowers that are long lasting, numerous and often fragrant.

What advice would you give to beginners?

A. Start with inexpensive, easy-to-grow orchids such as Phalaenopsis, Paphiopedilum, and warm-growing Dendrobium. Duplicate their natural growing conditions as best you can. Accept some failures because that is how you learn. Be curious, ask loads of questions, always go to orchid society meetings and never, ever give up!

Tom Shields is a Toronto-based writer/editor and long-time species orchid enthusiast who serves on the Conservation Committee of the Southern Ontario Orchid Society.