Cut Flower Orchids

Cultivate Orchids for Cut Flowers: A Guide

Tropical or temperate regions are suitable for growing orchids. Commercial orchid farms have proven successful outside of the tropics in locations like southern Australia and Europe. In cooler regions, you might need a greenhouse and should be more selective about the species you plant.

Lesson Structure

There are 10 lessons in this course:

1. Introduction.
   • Covers plant names
   • Basic plant classification
   • Information on plant flower structure
2. Culture.
   • Looks at soil cultivation
   • Container growing
   • Hydroponics
   • Baskets
   • Epiphytes
   • Potting mixes
   • Pruning orchids
3. Propagation A.
   • Propagation materials and equipment
   • Seed
   • Miscellaneous propagation techniques
4. Propagation B. (Tissue Culture).
   • Materials necessary for tissue culture
   • Types of tissue culture
   • Plant hormones
   • Diseases
   • Plant nutrients
5. Greenhouse Management A.
   • Greenhouses and other growing structures
   • Environmental controls
   • Benches and beds
   • Effects of carbon dioxide
   • Yields
6. Greenhouse Management B.
   • Growing plants in greenhouses
   • Plant needs
   • Temperature control
   • Greenhouse irrigation
   • Cooling
7. Pest and Disease Control.
   • Horticultural Management in greenhouses
   • Sterilisation
   • Pests and diseases
8. Management, Harvest and Post Harvest.
   • Harvest and post-harvest
   • Managing a market garden
   • Crop scheduling
   • Standards
   • Farm layout
   • Nursery costs
9. Marketing.
   • Marketing your produce
   • Economically valuable orchids
   • International flower markets
10. Special Project.
    • An in depth study of a specific group of orchids.

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school’s tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

Aims

• Describe the system for naming plants, list the components of flowers, and gather materials
• Explain the cultural practises that can be used to grow orchids.
• Explain the methods for orchid propagation.
• Describe the procedures for tissue culture propagation.
• Provide an outline of orchid-friendly protected plant producing facilities.
• Describe how a greenhouse is managed on a daily basis.
• controlling diseases and pests in an orchid flower crop
• Describe how to manage an orchid business and how to harvest and process an orchid crop.
• Describe the marketing strategies used for orchids used as cut flowers.
• Name a significant orchid group.

Where Are Orchids Grown?

Both epiphytic (also known as lithophytes) and terrestrial (also known as geophytic) orchids are the main focus of growing media for orchids. Epiphytic orchids are those that grow on living, dead, and tree fern trunks. Rock outcrops are the natural habitat for lithophytes. Orchids that grow on the ground are referred to as terrestrial orchids, albeit some of these orchids really grow in leaf litter rather than the mineral soil below. With soilless mixes, some terrestrial orchids will also grow pretty easily.

Several of the orchids that are raised for cut blooms are lithophytic. They are typically cultivated in pots filled with a mix of rocks and bark. The same cultural methods used for epiphytic orchids will work for many lithophytic orchids.

In general, composted bush debris, peat moss, medium- to coarse-grade sand, and modest amounts of soil (often only 15-20% of mix) can be used to cultivate the majority of terrestrial orchids. Reduce the sand component if the soil you’re utilising is particularly sandy. Sand should make up roughly 50% of the mixture overall. The mix should have adequate aeration, and should almost completely dry out before watering. Sometimes substances like perlite, charcoal, and fine gravel are used to help with drainage.

Orchids that grow epiphytically can be grown on wood slabs, cork, or bark.
Many epiphytic orchids can be grown effectively in pots as well. Pots made of unglazed terracotta and plastic are both often used. Unglazed clay pots are particularly well suited to orchids that need adequate drainage because they are quite porous; nevertheless, they are also pricey and can be difficult to lift.

WHAT CAN YOU ACHIEVE FROM THIS COURSE?

If orchid cultivation is already your passion, you might wish to expand on it by opening a business.
Even if you already have experience in the field, you might need to take a course or acquire new information.

This course will assist you in achieving your objectives in the orchid growing sector with the assistance of our skilled instructors.