Orchid Starter Kits
Orchids starter kits have been around for years, often sold alongside starter kits for other tropical plants. They’re a clever sales solution for tropical areas like Hawaii, where strict rules apply for plant export. The plants are packaged by certified nurseries, and they can be quickly checked by airport agricultural inspectors.
Sometimes they’re baby orchids or seedlings. Often they’re packed in small pots or moss. In Costa Rica, seedlings for the national flower, Cattleya skinneri, are sold in test tubes. They’re nice souvenirs, but when the vacation’s over, you’ve got some work to do. First on the agenda is learning about your particular variety. Besides Phals, Cattleyas, Dendrobiums, and Arundinas. I’ve seen Epidendrums and Spathoglottis sold this way. Light and water needs are different for each type.
Next, pot if it’s necessary. Then, you may need some patience. Some kinds take as long as 7 years to mature and bloom, and that’s under ideal growing conditions. Most won’t take so long, but don’t expect instant gratification. Starter kits for Arundina, the Bamboo Orchid, contain a stem cutting to pot. These may bloom in only 2 or 3 years if you have room for a large, tropical, sun-loving orchid. No matter which variety, orchid starter kits make great living mementos of your travels.
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August 26th, 2011 at 10:45 am
Great info dude!!
August 28th, 2011 at 8:56 am
Pretty insightful. Thanks!
August 29th, 2011 at 5:37 pm
Very nice, i bought seeds from one of those kits for a ginger plant many years ago. Much to my suprise it grew and I stillhave it. I keep it in a big pot outdoors and it blooms every summer. I winter it indoors since i live in Ohio where we have cold winters. I never bought an orchid seedling so I don’t know how well they grow.
September 3rd, 2011 at 10:55 am
I’ve seen these but I never bought one. Thanks for the tips!
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