The best way to understand the requirements for your plant are to find out a bit about it's natural enviroment, where it grows such as in trees or maybe on trees, in rich humus or even maybe on lime rocks, it's conditions during it's different seasons, temperatures night & day, humidities, when it gets it's light & shade, & so on.
It may all seem a little daunting for the beginner, & this is where your local orchid clubs & societies come in. If you are going to buy an orchid, you really need to know whether you can supply the right conditions for the plant, & thus avoid possible disappointment later on. You will find that people within the local orchid societies are generally only too willing to help you with advice, & lend support when things do go wrong. From my experience, orchid people everywhere are generally a pretty good bunch.
from Trevor Gilbanks - arethusa@free.net.nz
