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Perhaps more than any other flower the Orchid embodies the mythology of "green-thumb" thinking. Unless you have grown an orchid and know how easy it is, you may hesitate to attempt adding this legendary and ancient beauty to your garden. Well, you shouldn't. Please, let me explain...
I live on a very tiny island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. We are 3 1/2 miles long and ½ mile wide. We don’t have a mall, fancy restaurants, cell phone towers, or cable TV. We don’t have nurseries, or garden stores. We do have lots and lots of palm trees, sea lettuce, sea grape, pandanus, breadfruit trees, plumeria trees, and orchids.
To those who have never grown one, the orchid is a beautiful mystery. It is something they see in the "special" humidified room at a botanical garden or in movies about Hawaii. The prevailing attitude is that orchids are very temperamental and fragile…remember Nero Wolfe and his orchid garden at the top of his apartment building? Eccentric millionaires with lots of time on their hands will grow orchids in exotic greenhouses that make visitors drip with perspiration and gasp for air. When you do a little research about growing orchids from seed, (after all, most gardens begin as seed, don’t they?), you will see scientists in white lab coats using glove boxes and tiny tweezers moving a brown powdery substance into beakers and flasks of agar. Ah yes, the orchid is beautiful beyond words, and obviously so delicate, difficult, and requires so much special treatment, that only those truly gifted gardeners should even attempt the endeavor.
But nobody told us. Just about every other house on our island has at least one orchid. Most have several. Some have hundreds. To some of the folks out here, the number of orchids you have determines your status within the community. To others, they are just another beautiful flower to add to the garden. Coming out here for the first time, one is amazed at the fragrance in the air from the plumeria, and dazzled by the beauty of the orchids.
We read about all the special materials needed to grow orchids, the growing medium, the light intensity and humidity levels. We live on an island covered with coconut palms, with bright sunshine and sometimes you could swim through our humid air. The orchids grow. Use only natural materials for your containers, the experts all tell us. Well, the only containers available for purchase are plastic, and not everyone wants to make their own at the hobby shop. Consequently you will see many beautiful, healthy orchids growing in plastic pots, old oil drums, handmade baskets, and in hollowed out coconuts, nailed to palm trees. Walk by a garden with beautiful orchids, and if the gardener is home, chances are you will be given a cutting and his/her own directions for planting it.
The growing medium is another area where our location plays havoc with the rules. Fir bark, peat moss, sphagnum moss, perlite, vermiculite, cork, and charcoal…sorry, we just don’t have access to any of that stuff. In 1980 the Women’s Club here on island put together a pamphlet about gardening on Kwajalein. This is an excerpt from that pamphlet:
:…a lush dendrobium orchid plant with perhaps 50 flowers per branch in three different clusters. Potting ingredients:
Bottom layer: 2 inches crushed rocks
Middle layer: 1 to 1 ½ inches of potting soil
Top Layer: chopped coconut husks pressed down into rocks and soil.
The owner did not want her name used due to what she considered the unorthodox use of potting soil."
Her orchids were, and still are, absolutely beautiful, yet she didn’t want her name given out in writing because she felt she was "doing it wrong". How could it be wrong when the result was so beautiful?
The point I am trying to make by all this is that if the conditions are right for what you want to grow go ahead and grow it! Don’t let all the details of needing this special medium, or that special fertilizer discourage you from trying. Plants have been on this planet for a lot longer than specialists have, and somehow they managed to survive without all the sprays and solutions, pellets and potions. Life – especially plant life – will find a way to live.
You won’t find many members of orchid "societies" out here. Not many of the residents of our tiny island enter their orchids in floral shows, or competitions. They don’t give lectures on propagation, or create websites dedicated to the glory of the orchid. They just plant them in plastic pots filled with rocks and coconut then sit back and enjoy the show. When a new one blooms we too feel like the proud grandparents of a child prodigy, after all…it’s an Orchid!
About Shari Scott
For most of my 53 years I have been an avid traveler, and luckily I married one as well. We are now living (for the 2nd time) on the tiny island of Kwajalein in the middle of the Pacific. I have gardened in places as varied as the Rocky Mountains and the desert of Saudi Arabia, and many points in between. My passions include, but are not limited to: Family, friends, music, good conversation, and the wonders to be found in the oceans of our planet.
Posted by Damaclese (from Henderson, NV) on June 5, 2008 at 12:15 PM:
it so true
orchid grower in the hot dry Nevada Desert hows that for the wrong place to grow um as a mater of fact we have a vary large Orchid society here and Nevada has no less then 14 native species of orchids growing in the wild go tell that to the AOS!
...
Posted by Islandshari (from Kwajalein
(Marshall Islands)) on June 5, 2008 at 4:10 PM:
Well done Damaclese! Keep up the good work!
Yokwe,
Shari
...
Subject: Getting to know you. : )
Posted by valleylynn (from Dallas, OR) on April 6, 2008 at 6:25 PM:
Hi Shari.
We are back home in the Willamette Valley (Orgeon). I just wanted to thank you for the interesting conversation we had in the library. Sorry I didn't have time to come visit you at your home. If the front yard picture is your place, I passed it many times. It is beautiful and I really admired it, I could tell a garden lover lived their. : )
I bought my daughter two orchid plants before I left. I don't know how a person can live on Kwaj and not have orchids.
Thank you for making my visit even more special by meeting you. : )
Lynn
P.S. I was not a member of Dave's Garden, so when I got home I joined. : )
Let me know if there is anything I can send you.
...
Posted by Islandshari (from Kwajalein
(Marshall Islands)) on April 6, 2008 at 6:45 PM:
Lynn! What a sweet surprise hearing from you! I am so glad that you had a good trip...I know things can get a little strange out here, but I love it just the same. I see you found the articles...I forgot to tell you a quick way to read the articles by any one person. Just click on their name and then under all the bio stuff is a list of the articles they have written...sorry I was such a dork to not tell you. Just forgot.
Your flowers are beautiful! So glad you joined - for my money, this is the best place on the web. Info on just about anything you need to know from gardening to motorcycles, from child rearing to recipes. And such wonderful, friendly and helpful people! I hope you spend many a pleasant moment with DG, and I look forward to many happy conversations with you!
Yokwe my friend!
Shari
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Subject: Excellent!
Posted by LouC (from Desoto, TX) on August 5, 2007 at 10:16 AM:
Another area where you knowledge is thorough and very well presented. Had seen your pictures before but did not retain the memory. Not only are you very smart.....but look like a flower yourself.
I may try an orchid.
LouC
...
Posted by Islandshari (from Kwajalein
(Marshall Islands)) on August 5, 2007 at 5:05 PM:
Loooooocyyyy! You are a silly goose, and I adore you. Hope you do try one and (its an old picture ). LOL
...
Posted by plantladylin (from East Central, FL) on October 19, 2007 at 8:42 PM:
Just found this story! With all the changes that have been made on the DG site I had "lost" the Articles forum! I am so glad I have it back again!
Shari, I love your story ... absolutely wonderful! I have many, many houseplants of all different kinds, from African Violets to the ZZ plant! I have about 15-20 orchids ... no fancy smancy ones that I know of ... I have a habit of purchasing a lot of plants on the clearance table at Wal-Mart to see if I can revive them. So many people think Orchids are so hard to grow. I find that as long as they are planted in a well draining medium and get lots of light and water they thrive! I don't even fertilize mine very often!
Anyhow .... I totally agree with you about the methods of growing. Some would prefer the expensive, high end potting soils and fancy pots .... me, I will pot a plant in any container I can find, the plants don't seem to care! I use yogurt cups and little plastic zip lok bowls ....
Thanks for such a great article, I really enjoyed it and hope to see more of your writings in the near future!
...
Posted by Islandshari (from Kwajalein
(Marshall Islands)) on October 19, 2007 at 9:17 PM:
Yokwe Lin!
Thanks so much for your enthusiasm! If more people thought like you, there would be more beautiful plants gracing our world. I'm so glad you liked the article, I really enjoyed writing it.
...
Posted by plantladylin (from East Central, FL) on October 19, 2007 at 9:18 PM:
I can't wait to read more!
...
Posted by Islandshari (from Kwajalein
(Marshall Islands)) on October 19, 2007 at 9:23 PM:
Well I'm sure glad you found the articles again. There are some wonderful stores, funny bits, lots of great information...I'm sure you will enjoy them all! Have a great time reading!
...
Posted by plantladylin (from East Central, FL) on October 19, 2007 at 9:42 PM:
Thank you ... I just read about your Island Home! Loving it!
...
Subject: tradeing
Posted by treborelag (from Black, MO) on August 4, 2007 at 2:26 PM:
I have a SPIDER PLANT . It came from Mexico, I sent a root cutting to a friend in Chicago and she loves it. Here in south east Mo. I have it in a pot. The winters are to cold for it, so I thke it in before the first frost. Will try to get a photo to post.( I'm not much of a photographer). Slim
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Posted by Islandshari (from Kwajalein
(Marshall Islands)) on August 4, 2007 at 4:05 PM:
I have a few spider plants myself treborelag! All in pots. We share them around the island when the little plantlets pop out. Kids especially enjoy this plant because the babies are so obvious, and all children love babies. I hope you continue to enjoy your spider plant for many years to come.
...
Subject: Nice!
Posted by jadajoy (from Newport News, VA) on August 4, 2007 at 6:15 AM:
Shari
I like how you demystified the orchid. I too thought it was a high maintenance flower.
Thanks for the great info. Nice writing style!
...
Posted by BDale60 (from Warren, PA) on August 4, 2007 at 7:28 AM:
That image of orchids growing out of old oil barrels, leftover plastic pots, etc. is just great...springing up everywhere in your area. Fun reading.
...
Posted by pepper23 (from KC Metro area, MO) on August 4, 2007 at 10:07 AM:
Great article Shari!!!
...
Posted by Horseshoe (from Efland, NC) on August 4, 2007 at 3:43 PM:
Sure enjoyed reading this, Shari. Thanks!
The orchid info is great but so is the way you talk about your personal relationship with how it grows on the island you live on and what the islander's perspective is!
(Would love to hear more about 'life on the island' sometime!)
Thanks for contributing to the new articles feature!
Shoe
...
Posted by Islandshari (from Kwajalein
(Marshall Islands)) on August 4, 2007 at 3:59 PM:
Thank you for the kind words. I have enjoyed working on this project. Jadajoy - I hope you will now try growing one! So happy to have given you all a smile from Kwaj. Hiya Pep. Shoe - high praise indeed coming from you. I have enjoyed reading so many of your posts!
...
Posted by UniQueTreasures (from Beaumont, TX) on August 4, 2007 at 6:09 PM:
Awesome job on the article Shari!
I've always had the same mis-pre-conceptions about orchids too. Not long ago, I found 4 of them on the rescue me aisle at Lowe's for $5 each. I bought them all. Rather than even attempt to revive them myself, I gave them all to Connie so she could rescue them in her greenhouse. I didn't even want to take a chance that I'd give them their final death. They are doing very well now, thanks to this Southeast Texas heat and humidity and her loving care.
Janet
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Posted by KyWoods (from Melbourne, KY) on August 4, 2007 at 7:57 PM:
Beautiful pictures! That would be a lovely place to visit--and live.
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Posted by Islandshari (from Kwajalein
(Marshall Islands)) on August 4, 2007 at 8:54 PM:
Thank you for the comment KyWoods. Janet, the point of the article was to give you the confidence to grow them yourself! Please try again...(smile!)
...
Posted by pepper23 (from KC Metro area, MO) on August 4, 2007 at 8:57 PM:
I would try but my green thumb is sporatic. LOL
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Posted by UniQueTreasures (from Beaumont, TX) on August 4, 2007 at 10:20 PM:
Maybe I will, if I can sneak one away from Connie's greenhouse!! Shhhhhh
HAHAHAHAHA
Janet
...
Posted by Tropicman (from Wichita, KS) on August 4, 2007 at 11:36 PM:
Thanks,ever so much Shari,
When reading your article,I feel like I've been on a adventure with you at the wheel!!!
I've tried the orchid plant many times unsuccessful,until just recently,I bought to from Lowes,that were on the death bed,and brought them back to life and now flowering
once again in all there beauty!!!
Don
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Posted by chrissy100 (from Sydney
(Australia)) on August 5, 2007 at 12:01 AM:
Shari how beautiful......But where do I get broken coconut bits ...do you think coconut fibre will do the job?....if not -any suggestions...that makes a lot of sense to me ....most of my pots of anything tropical have gravel in the bottom (for drainage and to stop them blowing away in severe wind.....next the soil....little cow poo thrown into it for gentle tonic and to hold the moisture.....then some mulch on top....that all works.
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Posted by KyWoods (from Melbourne, KY) on August 5, 2007 at 12:33 AM:
My sister has one that never bloomed again--I keep telling her it needs more light. She has that and an african violet in a corner on the kitchen countertop where the sun from the window can't reach.
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Posted by Islandshari (from Kwajalein
(Marshall Islands)) on August 5, 2007 at 12:49 AM:
Ours definately like lots of light. So have her move it to a brighter spot. Coconut fiber works fine, but so do pottery shards, broken bricks, smooth pebbles.... Use what you have, don't try to do what I do because then you aren't being true to your area. We can figure it out...
