When I tell people I grow Orchids, they usually give me a bit of a weird look. As my dear friend Nell would say, it’s my ‘nerd sport.’

Orchids are likely to be considered the domain of retired Bank Managers and other such types who have the time and inclination to put the effort that’s thought needed to successfully grow these notoriously fickle plants. I have a slightly more relaxed attitude to my Orchids, and as you can see…they too produce divine blooms.

It got me to thinking that my approach to Orchid growing could really be a metaphor for my approach to life – that’s of course only when, I remember not to ‘over-analyse’ and resist my urge to ‘push things along’ a bit too much. The best outcomes do tend to materialise when I just ‘let things be.’

As the heading would suggest, I don’t really spend that much time fussing over my Orchids. I just allow them to ‘do their thing’, while I do mine. They get watered when it rains, and perhaps once a week when it doesn’t. I buy Orchid potting mix that contains a slow release fertiliser so I don’t need to ‘feed’ them. I re-pot them about once every 2-3 years so that they have room to grow. And, I keep them in a spot that gives them a bit of morning sun, which they seem to like.

I’m not suggesting that ‘ambivalence’ is the way to get the best results in life or Orchid growing, but once you’ve put the solid foundations down in either pursuit, it’s often best to resist the urge to push things along in the hope of getting enhanced results.

I bought my first Orchid when I moved into my first ‘share-house’ at 19 years old. Fifteen years later, I have 11 pots of Orchids; ten of those have come from that one original plant from all those years ago. Not bad going by anyone’s standards!