During periods of hot, dry weather, the plants will need regular overhead spraying. In the home, this would involve a light misting of the foliage, but outdoors it should become a drenching. Cymbidiums, for example, can be liberally hosed down with no ill effects. This saturation will also assist in keeping pests at bay, particularly red spider mite, which is prevalent in most gardens during the summer.

Phalaenopsis, which in the Northern Hemisphere are grown in outdoors every year, can Ao extremely well outdoors in tropical areas. The plants should always be established so that their fleshy leaves hang down, as those of the species do in their natural habitats. This ensures that water does not lodge in the centre of the plant but becomes self-draining. This is less easy to do with some of the modern hybrids, whose leaves have lost the elongated shape of the species and have become rounder and more rigidly upright. Look for plants of the right shape for this purpose.

In parts of the world where yearround sunshine is guaranteed, the vandaceous orchids come into their own. The brilliant colours of the modern hybrids are the results of those of us residing in cooler climates. In the tropics, they grow with total ease, continuing to produce their superb blooms throughout the year.

These lovely plants, with their tall, monopodial foliage and vigorous aerial roots, are grown in vast quantities in large ground beds made up with suitable compost. Today, these are grown for the cut-flower trade as well as the export market.

On most flowers the reproductive parts are the stigma and the stamens. The stamens contain the pollen, which is transferred by either insects or wind to the stigma, where the pollen fertilizes the seed embryos situated behind the flower. In orchids, where the pollen is a solid mass, the reproductive parts are the pollinia and the stigma. Some orchids, induding Catasetum species, produce separate flowers that contain only male or female organs.

During the hottest months of the year, watering can be more beneficial if it is done towards evening, when the sun has left the plants and the temperature is cooling down.

In this way, the compost (growing medium) will remain moist for longer and keep the roots cool. Check daily to see if watering is needed, and give plenty each time to ensure a thorough wetting.

There can be two, four or six pollen masses, depending upon the genus. Each pollen mass contains millions of microscopic pollen grains – a feature unique to orchids. The pollinia are hidden beneath a protective cap, the anther, which ensures that they remain fresh. “lhey are joined by a short thread and a sticky patch, which adheres to the thorax or head of the insect.