About 50 years ago (when my mother gave my new wife-to-be an orchid 'corsage' consisting of a potted plant) orchids were considered exotics. Today they are 'weeds.'
(Note: To make things less redundant I am going to write in 'universals' rather than adding a 'most' caveat to 'most' of my comments. Please add the 'most' as appropriate. Also I write from the U.S. experience and the 'Real World' may be different.) About 15 years ago at an IPA meeting there was a discussion on the effects of Taiwan's Phal breeding program. We were told that it would be good for the smaller commercial houses because people would buy a 'cheap' phal/den, get Orchid Fever and buy more 'expensive/exotic' orchids from the local orchid growers. The theory was good but it didn't work out that way. People just bought more junk from the Wal-Marts and tossed them out when they finished blooming. People couldn't be bothered in today's use-abuse-throw away society. Making things more difficult in attracting the new serious grower was that the plants gotten from 'Wal-Marts' were over juiced, poorly potted and cared for. They died and the new grower thought orchids were really hard to grow. Now 'all' we have to do is 'educate' the uninformed hoard that well grown orchids purchased from your local grower will flourish with reasonable (and easy to supply) home care. Leo - How wise of you to get to the heart of the problem by recommending all of us must become educators on the joys and challenges of growing specie/quality orchids thru/and with the formation of a Master Orchidist Program. This seems to be one of those very few times when initial design support must originate at the National Orchid Society level from the experience of AOS members of the Master Gardeners Program. I would suggest a massive and sustained publicity campaign once the program is designed/up-and-running. After the US elections advertising on the local stations will once again be relatively cheap. Maybe this is an area the AOS MUST spend some money. (I am sure that the AOS only buys American for their store at Delray Beach.) I would also encourage all local societies to participate in the local Home and Garden Shows. In Fort Wayne, IN we were able to convince the H/G show people that we were a 'public service' attraction and got free display space. State/county and 4-H fairs are another possibility to be seen. Some who are skilled growers and willing to share their skills can offer on a gratis basis their knowledge to the local county agriculture extension service. They would be a go-to person when someone calls in with an orchid question - like maybe once a year that would happen but their also could get their name in the local newspaper. PAX, Jerry in IN _______________________________________________ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) [email protected] http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
