While you may already have a certain flower that attracts you, orchids offer a variety that appeals to anyone. For more than one hundred years since it’s introduction to Victorian society, orchids have become one of the most exquisite choices in flowers available.

Orchids are available in four different varieties. Epiphytes – cling to the tree as they grow Lithophytes – known for growing on rocks. Saprophytes – grow in leaf litter. Terrestrials – grows in sand.Between these four categories, you will discover that there is an abundant number of distinct plants.

Native orchid species number more than 20,000 known species, which leaves us to believe that may be many not discovered yet. In addition to the native species, over 100,000 hybrids have been created artificially with cultivators. It has been a busy one hundred years for the orchid family.

Orchids have long had a reputation for being high maintenance and hard to grow. This isn’t necessarily true. Some varieties do need more attention, but there are many varieties that are hardy. Some orchid varieties prefer heat and humidity that is the popular belief for this plant, but there are some that thrive in cool, dry conditions. The differences in light, temperature and the best growing condition is another example of the varieties of natural areas where they grow.

Horticulturists and home gardeners are known to get grimy from rooting around in soil to eliminate weeds and apply pesticides and fertilizers. They are constantly planting, dividing, and replanting. They take these steps to enjoy the rewards of growing plants that are both beautiful and nutritious to eat or view. What if these values could be derived without having to ever touch soil?

Hydroponics is the science of growing healthy plants without the use of soil. The most common medium used for this is water. There are definitely definitions that are more technically accurate, but for the occasional teacher, home gardener, or hobbyist, this definition is fitting.

But how is such a thing even possible? Don’t plants need soil for nutrition, heat, support, water and all the other things they need to grow and reproduce? Not necessarily.

Plants absolutely have to have water, but it doesn’t have to come from the soil, even though this is the most common method. In nature, there are plenty of plants that thrive in gravel, sand, or on the surface or under the surface of a body of water.

The Weather Vane

New Year New Dreams New Flowers

Another year has come and gone. And so we find ourselves upon the threshold of a brand new 365 days days which we cannot hoard or save but must spend, wisely or otherwise, each as it comes along. What we do with these days one by one, as they slip irretrievably through our fingers will determine to a large extent what we are to get out of the many months and years to follow.

This is of course, by custom, the season for making good resolutions, mostly concerning rather trivial matters, which are not taken too seriously. Perhaps one will stop (for a week or two) smoking cigarettes, or putting cream in the coffee, being late with regular tasks or losing the weight.

There is, however, one good resolution which every home owner may well keep, and that is: Make plans instead of resolutions. Map out, for the coming twelve months, at least one project which will be of permanent value. Only thus, when the year closes, shall we find the dream which each one of us has concerning the kind of a place we would like eventually to create at least one step nearer realization.