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Orchids have the reputation of being difficult to grow in the West. Gardeners shy off from attempting to grow them because they think that they are difficult to grow and because they are expensive. This is easily understood, but there is more to the story than that. The fact is that most countries have their own native orchid species, so it is possible to grow orchids wherever you live, if you choose the right species.

The other side of the coin is that what most gardeners in the West think of as orchids are orchids from exotic countries and they can be a problem to grow. I say difficult to grow, but that is not the whole story either. If you can create an environment similar to where the orchids come from, it need not be a problem at all.

A lot of the spectacular orchids are parasites, like mistletoe is a parasite plant in the temperate countries of the West. These orchids often grow on trees. In trees and on trees, that is. So, their natural environment is to become attached to the bark of a living tree or to be lodged in the fork of a branch.

The orchid will then draw its nutrients and water from the inside of its host much in the same way as does a flea or a bed bug. Another thing to be aware of is that if a plant lives under the canopy of a tree, it seldom, if ever, experiences direct sunlight. Wooded areas are also fairly humid. It is also worth mentioning that exotic plants usually come from warm or hot countries.

Therefore, if you can recreate these conditions of providing warmth, humidity and a host, growing exotic orchids should not become that much of difficulty. And in truth, it is not, although in the West it might require a greenhouse.

Thailand is home to numerous parasitic orchids, most of which grow on trees in the forests, which are warm to hot and humid, but most people do not live in those conditions. Most Thais live in either open villages or cities where conditions are not favorable to growing jungle orchid varieties. However, most Thai gardeners do not want or even have greenhouses.

Instead, if a Thai gardener is interested in nurturing jungle orchid species, he or she will purchase (or acquire) the root complex of a dead tree which also has a tree stump of, say, a metre attached. They will then move this tree stump in to a very shady position, say, under a canopy and grow their wild jungle orchids on that.

How is that done?, you may ask. Well, it is actually simplicity itself. First you acquire a sample of the orchid and then you affix it to the stump with a ‘strap’ of something that will both permit the orchid to expand and to breathe. Most Thais use some of the fibres from inside a coconut.

The gardener will strap the baby orchid to the stump using the coconut matting as a band-aid with either staples or small nails. By the time the orchid has sunken its roots into the host, the matting will have rotted away, as will probably the staples.

The only thing left to do is to keep the tree and the infant flower well watered so that it can draw the remaining nutrients out of the dead tree. They will flourish for numerous years under these conditions and the tree stump will be a living flower pot, of sorts.

Owen Jones, the author of this piece, writes on several topics, but is now involved with Loy Krathong. If you would like to know more, please visit our website at Package Holidays to Thailand.

Check out this video about landscaping:

John from www.growingyourgreens.com visits the Fullerton Arboretum to learn about some uncommon varieties of exotic fruit trees growing in Southern California. Fruit trees are great for landscaping and for food! They are much lower in maintence than a vegetable garden and will provide food for many years!

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Exotic Environments Rock Arch with Plants Aquarium Ornament, Small
Product Description
Exotic Environments Rock Arch w/Plants Aquarium Ornament is made with durable poly resin, 5-1/2-inch by 4-inch by 5-1/2-inch, Small
Exotic Environments Rock Arch with Plants Aquarium Ornament, Small

Exotic Environments Rock Arch with Plants Aquarium Ornament, Small

Exotic as the dictionary would define it in this context with plants is something introduced from a foreign country meaning not native to the country in which you may reside. To further define these plants, they are usually imported from very warm and frost-free environments and placed in your home in pots or larger containers where climates are much harsher than the native land.

This requires artificial creation of those elements that will result in the exotic plants ability to survive in the environment of your home or place of business. It will,in some cases, test your ability as a gardener because some of the these exotic plants need more tender loving care than do others. To others decor maybe more important for a short period of time than providing a place in your home or garden for a long period of time. This will be up to you to decide.

I am going to assume here that you are the enthusiastic gardener and it will necessitate some close requirements to be followed. This is especially true if you have the desire to raise orchids,bromelaids or exotic hoyas. Exotic Plants are usually from much warmer climates and this relays the impression that they will require intense temperatures. This is actually a misnomer and you will be quite surprised to find that the requirement for cooler almost cold nights are required to process sugars from the leaves to the roots.

One of the real dangers to an exotic plant is the lack of humidity. In the outside world it is dripping with moisture and the humidity is close to 100% but bring it into a heated home and it experiences only a small amount of the moisture it can usually hold. Here there is more evaporation then the plant can possibly replace. This is sure death to your exotic plant. It requires the existence of saucers filled with pebbles and water placed under your exotic plant. It may also require you to mist your plant at least once a day to continue the existence of a higher humidity then would normally exist in the room.

Light is of extreme importance in the ultimate survival of your exotic plant. If you have an exotic plant which is a bloomer then the intensity of light must be close to that of its native land. Even the daylight length is important to some flowering exotics and may require you to provide some type of artificial light to extent the time necessary to flower properly.This is especially true of such plants as gardenias,Amaryllis and holiday plants. Windows without sun will not support flowering plants but strictly foliage plants including tender tropics will do well in north windows with full light.

Temperature is a major element in the life of your exotic plant. A constantly high temperature will induce the plant to use up its stored food during the daytime hours there by bringing exhaustion to the plant. This is the reason a period of such temperatures must be followed by a period of lower temperatures to regain its energy. It is vital that you don’t over heat the area in which your exotic plant is located and you would be advised to follow the instructions that accompanied your plant.

Watering is another important element in the growth of your plant. You would think the tendancy would be to under water your plant. It is found that most people actually are guilty of over watering their exotic plant. The rule of thumb here is not to water until the surface of the soil is dry. A tropical plant with very coarse roots and growing in heavy very loamy soil should be left to “dry out” and then water by soaking the pot until water appears through the drain holes in the bottom. However these plants will need additional watering in a heated room some possibly daily. I have a vine that constantly dries out and needs water on a daily basis. In the summer months this maybe cut back depending on the sun exposure and summer heat.

A word about soil composition. Some of these exotic plants having hairfine fibrous roots will require a more humus soil like leaf mold,peatmoss,sphagnum,shredded fir-bark or a humus compost with sand or perlite for proper drainage. This gives you the advantage ,in most cases, no need for plant fertilizer as the above matter will provide all the nutrients necessary as it breaks down. You might want to add a little fish fertilizer for nitrogen and also some bone to add phosphate. As in the case of watering,there is a tendency to over play this necessity and the plant can meet an untimely death from too much “tender loving” fertilizer.

The answer to the question: Exotic plants in the home? I would vote yes because these plants add so much to the decor and beauty of your surroundings. They are such excellent conversation pieces for your visitors and brings great pleasure and satisfaction to your gardening experience. You can read all about other indoor plants at http://www.gardenersgardening.com/indoorplants.html