Wild orchids come to the city.

(Baonghean) - In the world of flowers, orchids always hold a unique position, thanks to their beauty that is both noble and wild, rustic. From the forest to the city, orchid plants displaying their myriad colors have created a sophisticated hobby…

It's unclear when exactly, but orchids, once thought to only thrive in mountainous regions, plateaus, or remote forests, have found their own colorful world in bustling cities. Unlike other flowers that thrive and bear fruit with just proper care and watering, orchids present challenges for their owners due to their finicky nature and demanding nature. Each orchid variety has its own specific environmental requirements, and therefore, the care techniques vary: common varieties like the Phalaenopsis orchid, with its simple beauty, soft colors, and subtle black dots, are often suitable for office or hotel environments; while the Cymbidium orchid prefers airy spaces and cool air because of its long, dense foliage and the need for sunlight for photosynthesis… Therefore, to fully enjoy the hobby of orchid cultivation, enthusiasts must accept meticulousness, sophistication, and patience.

Mr. Nguyen Manh Trung takes care of orchids.

Each orchid grower has their own "pocket" of experience to maintain this hobby. "First, wind; second, water; third, care; fourth, variety," that's the conclusion reached after more than 3 years of growing orchids by Mr. Nguyen Manh Trung (house number 10A, alley 2A, Bui Huy Bich street). He shared: "To have a beautiful orchid plant, you need to pay attention to two factors: shade and water. These two factors must be balanced and suitable for the characteristics of each orchid type; otherwise, the plant will not flower, or may even die from root rot." While speaking, he carefully trimmed the roots of his Phalaenopsis orchid. This is a very special orchid variety; the flowers are small but have very large lip petals, usually yellow with brown spots on the petals. When in bloom, the flower has a soft shape like a dancing girl, hence its name, Phalaenopsis.

Like Mr. Trung, Mr. Bui Cong Duc – a sales representative for automotive paint products (No. 30, Phan Boi Chau Street) – is also a seasoned orchid enthusiast. Currently, Mr. Duc owns more than 30 orchid plants of various types, mostly wild orchids that he brought back from business trips to mountainous areas or received as gifts from acquaintances. Looking at his orchid garden in full bloom, Mr. Duc recalls the early days of receiving the orchids, struggling to care for them without success. He wondered why, despite watering, fertilizing, and giving them sunlight, the orchids withered away? He was determined to learn information and techniques from senior orchid growers, and also accessed the internet to learn from others.

And the plants did not disappoint the dedicated person; the orchid garden revived thanks to the valuable lesson he learned after months of research: whatever type of orchid is found somewhere, when brought home, it must be given a corresponding living environment. Mr. Bui Cong Duc enthusiastically said: “For example, some types taken from the stream bank must be placed in a shady spot with high humidity. Conversely, those that live parasitically on large tree trunks in bright sunlight must be planted in a sunny and airy place, otherwise the plant will suffer from lack of sunlight and will not bloom.” As he spoke, Mr. Duc carefully showed me a pot of Cymbidium orchids next to him. To fertilize the plants so they take root and thrive, he had to go to the trouble of obtaining mud from the bottom of a pond, because mud is clean, cool, and not a habitat for worms, so he didn't have to worry about those mollusks harming the plants. When watering, he had to use fish or snail water that had been soaked for months to remove the smell before watering them.”

Nowadays, finding and buying an orchid is no longer difficult, as orchids are widely available on many streets in the bustling city of Vinh. However, buyers need to be discerning to know which orchid varieties are suitable for their environment and easy to care for. Most orchids on the market are imported from southern provinces, making it difficult for them to bloom and even causing root rot. Orchid connoisseurs in Vinh often choose varieties originating from northern provinces, with cool soil conditions suitable for the climate of central Vietnam.

Yet, even the most knowledgeable orchid connoisseurs dare not claim to be proficient and discerning among the hundreds of orchid varieties sold on the market. A common problem is that sellers mix ferns and other forest plants into the orchid plants to increase their weight, as many orchids are sold by the kilogram, and a moment of carelessness can easily lead to being tricked. Furthermore, many sellers soak the plants overnight before selling them to make them look plump and attractive; or use chemicals and growth stimulants to make the orchids bloom at the desired time. Orchids that defy nature and are subjected to such manipulation never bloom for long, lack natural fragrance, and can even have a significant impact on the health of the grower… And of course, these “chemically treated” or “industrialized” orchids will never appeal to true flower lovers. The value of these forest flowers lies in their rustic and proud beauty, leaving no room for artificiality.

Text and photos:Hoang Vu

(57 Phung Phuc Kieu Street - Vinh City)