In the hot house

When Nancy Mercier moved from Southern California to Roseville in 2007, she made two extra car trips just to bring along all her orchids.She became interested in the exotic plants 10 years ago when a friend asked Mercier to care temporarily for his orchids during a hot spell. Living near the ocean, her yard received cool, moist winds that helped the orchids thrive. During those few weeks, she fell in love with the hobby."When you're hooked on orchids, you are hooked on orchids," she said.Now living far from ocean breezes, Mercier purchased a greenhouse kit for $1,400 to control the orchids' environment and, with the help of her son and his girlfriend, erected it in the corner of the back yard. Now, nearly 50 orchids bask in filtered light within the plastic walls of the 6-by-8-foot enclosure, conditioned to the proper climate by a heater, swamp cooler, humidifier and misters that cost about $200 extra.Arranged on wood-slat shelves for maximum air circulation, the plants were chosen so one always is in bloom. Although winter is not the flowering cycle for most orchids, Mercier has several specimens displaying frilly purplish-pink masses; trailing off in stippled star-like patterns; or showing multiple hues in one spectacular flower.There are numerous varieties of cool-, temperate- and warm-climate orchids with five common requirements: adequate food, light, water, temperature and humidity."But different varieties need different things," Mercier noted.To facilitate tracking her plants individual needs, she uses a chart identifying the correct feeding schedules and habitat preferences for each type. Despite the necessary attention to details, Mercier finds that nurturing the tropical flora is not daunting."They are a lot hardier than I thought. People think orchids are difficult to grow; but they're not."Revered for their delicate beauty for centuries, orchids once were found only in the hothouses of the very wealthy. Today, orchids are cultivated by gardeners around the world, with many working to conserve rare species or hybridize uncommon forms and colorations.All orchid flowers are comprised of three sepals and three petals, with one petal often taking the form of a lip or pouch. There are two types of orchids: terrestrials, which are planted in rich, loose, moist soil; and epiphytics, which are grown in organic matter and store their food and water within the stem's bulging pseudobulb.In the wild, epiphytics wrap their stems around tree trunks and obtain nutrients from rain. Many orchid enthusiasts grow epiphytes on chunks of bark, which is the same material Mercier uses in her potted specimens. When the bark begins to compact, she takes the plants out of the pots, taps the dirt from their roots then adds new bark, leaving plenty of air pockets."You have to repot epiphytics regularly to keep the bark loose," she advised. "Once the bark breaks down, the plant retains too much water."Like most gardeners, Mercier is a member of several clubs, gaining useful tips from more experienced orchid cultivators. She also attends shows to find new strains while admiring others' blooming successes."I'll never win awards, but I just grow them for me," she said. "Because I travel frequently on business, I can't have a cat or dog. So, instead, I have my orchids."For more informationAmerican Orchid Society; www.AOS.org; (561) 404-2000Gold Country Orchids; www.goldcountryorchids.com ; 645-8600Sacramento Orchid Society; www.Sacramentoorchids.org;921-0569The Orchid Forum of Sacramento; www.Orchidforum.org Tips for growing orchidsn In most cases, plant leaves should be a light green color.n If leaves become very yellow, or have brown or orange spots, move the plant to a shadier site.n If leaves become dark green, move the plant closer to the light source or it may not flower.n Overwatering is a common mistake. Most orchids tolerate being too dry much better than they tolerate being too wet. n When watering, let the water run freely through the pot to help flush out mineral deposits and avoid salt buildup.