While the current economy leaves many wanting to keep home heating costs down, lower house temperatures are warming up a new trend: orchidelirium.
Orchidelirium is the Victorian-era term for avid orchid collecting. Ohio University greenhouse manager Harold Blazier is a collector who has cared for hundreds of orchids at the Botanical Research facility for about 20 years.
According to the most recent U.S. Department of Agriculture information, orchids are the second highest selling potted flower in the country. The popularity of the flowers has increased in recent years because orchids are low-maintenance and grow well in homes ' and dorms ' where thermostats temperatures are down, Blazier said.
The temperature in the orchid room at the Greenhouse stays between 60 and 75 degrees in the winter and the humidity fluctuates between 65 and 70 percent.
Blazier is a member of the American Orchid Society who has won prize ribbons at local society competitions.
One of the greenhouse's Lady-of-the-Night orchids won first prize at a society competition last year as did a phalaenopsis plant, which is the most popular type on the market because it is low-maintenance.
His favorite flower, a stanhopea, took three years of care before it bloomed.
-
he said.
The orchid room, as well as the rest of the greenhouse, is located behind Scott Quad and is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays.
We're the best kept secret around here he said.
He said many people come to do homework, eat lunch or even practice martial arts. The outdoor garden is especially popular in the warmer months but he said many people like to come to a relaxing place in the winter when they are depressed.
Some of Blazier's favorite plants in his care are the carnivorous plants, which capture and kill animals ' mostly insects ' and digest and absorb nutrients from their prey.
Carnivorous plants are mainly kept in a very humid room, but some sinister-looking plants like sundews and butterworts pop up all over the grounds.
One of them even has leafy fangs which Blazier said adds to the horror, and in the winter, several corpse flowers will bloom, giving off a scent that justifies their name.
Blazier always has a few students working on hand as well as his assistant, Aaron Mather, who has been a full-time staff member for seven years.
Emily Roe, a junior studying plant biology, said the Work-Study job not only helps her relate to her classes, but is something she finds interesting.I enjoy working with plants
she said. It's a peaceful job.
Seventy percent of the plants are part of a teaching collection grown for OU's plant biology department. The orchids are used in a range of classes, including Blazier's own greenhouse management class.
Professor Glenn Matlack, who teaches tropical ecology, said he uses hundreds of plants in his class, especially epiphyte orchids, which grow in rainforest trees.
They illustrate interesting adaptations to growing on tree limbs
he said.
The greenhouse will soon be making room for more botanicals because all the outdoor plants have to be brought inside for the winter. While the greenhouse might get crowded, Blazier said he and his staff will keep the greenhouse plants growin' all over the place
real happy.
17
Archives
Jessica Blakely
200810249121midsize.jpeg
