My Tryst With Growing Orchids

I was mad after Orchids. I hunted for orchids all over India, and even abroad. Along with some special kinds of orchids, I had brought along world's biggest orchid from Thailand -the tiger orchid. Tiger orchids are huge in size; and the flower stalks also are equally big.

Orchids naturally grow in places with humid climates in India. I bought good many varieties from Kerala. Some of course I got free from friends and friends of friends. Northeast India has some very unique orchids, I raided some nurseries and gardens there too. From Goa too I got some of them. Bangalore, the garden city of India has also places where they grow orchids. I not only got some orchids from there but also got a lot of pots, accessories, manure, and tips to grow orchids.

As the numbers of orchids increased, I also explored new ways of potting them. I got quite many wooden pots made. Orchids needs pots with a lots of ventilation. The theory is that we must take care of their roots. When we water the orchids (preferably in the morning) we must drench the roots; and they must have enough ventilation to grow dry again.

Finally I had over 125 orchid plants. Our friary in Bangalore made a green house for orchids. They began to bloom. Once they bloom they remain for a long time like the leaves. It was October; and it was the feast of the patron of ecology, St. Francis of Assisi. In my memory, that was the time we had maximum flowers on the orchids.

Orchids and caring for them brought a lot of joy and satisfaction to me. I do not regret that I spend so much time with orchids, I feel sad that I did not continue to care for them enough. now when I look at the archives of my computer, they are full of memories (photographs) of the golden era of my orchid passion. I am sure it will again reignite someday in my life.