Do Orchids like Classical Music?

[Dr. Dave 4u]

OK...
now you all will think I'm "OFF MY MED'S" but I must ask the group if anyone plays classical music for their orchids (vs Rock, Metal, etc)???

Now seriously, in 2007 Peter Tompkins wrote a book titled "The Secret Life of Plants"

He claimed there were experiments done where they placed some sort of sensors/pickups on plants and measured the changes of what ever it was the plant exhibited. In a resting state compared to loud sounds, compared to soothing classical music etc. They also claimed when someone entered the room with a mind to destroy it sensed that and the plant freaked out!

Perhaps Mr. Thompkins was onto something or perhaps he was smoking too much of a particular plant!

Either way, I had read that book when it came out and at that time I had a very nice 300 sq foot bio dynamic raised bed veggie garden!

I think of my orchids as my plant pets and play classical music for both me and them...seems to work for me and perhaps the orchids too!!

...and thank god....no Veterinarian bills!!!

[Keysguy]

Fellow society member in the Boston area loves classical music and apparently his plants do too because he grows some great ones. Every time I've been in his GH it's been on and I think he said he has like 12 speakers in what is a pretty big GH.

[Dusty Ol' Man]

Originally Posted by Dr. Dave 4u

OK...
now you all will think I'm "OFF MY MED'S" but I must ask the group if anyone plays classical music for their orchids (vs Rock, Metal, etc)???

Now seriously, in 2007 Peter Tompkins wrote a book titled "The Secret Life of Plants"

He claimed there were experiments done where they placed some sort of sensors/pickups on plants and measured the changes of what ever it was the plant exhibited. In a resting state compared to loud sounds, compared to soothing classical music etc. They also claimed when someone entered the room with a mind to destroy it sensed that and the plant freaked out!

Perhaps Mr. Thompkins was onto something or perhaps he was smoking too much of a particular plant!

Either way, I had read that book when it came out and at that time I had a very nice 300 sq foot bio dynamic raised bed veggie garden!

I think of my orchids as my plant pets and play classical music for both me and them...seems to work for me and perhaps the orchids too!!

...and thank god....no Veterinarian bills!!!

That book is a lot older than that. I read it in the early 70s while in college.
Edit to add:
I am a music collector. I listen regularly to a wide variety of music, and so do my orchids! I have not noticed any effects one way or the other.

[james j]

There is also a book called “ What a plant knows “ that looks into surprising ways plants interact with their environment. It’s been a while since I read it but I recall something about plants reacting to music. I don’t think they were able to show any connection to growth and sound.

[hypostatic]

skip the classical, and let there be metal

[Ray]

Please be at home to sign for special delivery packages.

Those aluminum foil hats are headed your way.

[PaphMadMan]

Some of my orchids didn't like music and preferred talk radio, mostly to make fun of the callers. Another group insisted on the all polka station. There were some epic battles over control of the radio.

[My Green Pets]

Lately I have been playing rainforest sounds when I am observing my plants, gives me some moments of 'disconnect' which is nice!

[3rdMaestro]

There was a mythbusters episode about the effects of music and speech on plants. The test was done on terrestrial plants (peas I think). Not sure how epiphytes fit in with that, but yes there seemed to be some very slight benefits for the terrestrials. It didn't seem to make any difference what the speech was, mostly it was the volume that mattered if I remember correctly

[Leafmite]

My poor plants...they get whatever the birds and dog like as the pets make their wishes known more clearly.