From birth to maturity

The search for perfection requires patience. Breeders produce thousands of new hybrids every year. The period from the initial selection to the inclusion of an orchid in the range covers some 8 to 10 years. So it takes a while before a particular orchid variety ends up in the living room!

This year we will follow the orchid from selection through to cultivation into a beautiful mature plant. We would like to use video images to show how the orchid is born and grows into a magnificent houseplant.

Phase 4: staking and selection

As the orchids grow, they become top-heavy – which means a greater risk that they will topple over. That is why at this stage they are placed in the ‘cups’, pot and all. This provides extra stability during the remainder of the process.

‘Staking’ is particularly done to protect the branches during shipping. The stakes also ensure that all the flowers grow towards the light in the same direction.

There is no reason why you shouldn’t remove the stakes when you get the plant home if you want to, incidentally.

At this stage the plants go in front of the camera again. This counts the number of branches, buds and flowers. And another strict selection takes place. Towards the end of the film you can see how the plants that have not yet grown enough get a soaking. They are given a refreshing shower of pure rainwater before going back to the growing phase for another week or two.