Victorian era orchid growers

[ChipMolly]

Currently reading 'The Culture of Greenhouse Orchids' by F. Boyle. Victorian era understated sense of humour.

[Tindomul]

OMG, yes. Funny thing is the author was probably dead serious too.

[Subrosa]

Considering that people of the time also ate arsenic to improve their complexions this is surprising?

[Ferns Daddy]

Looks like its going to be fun reading it.

[Optimist]

I read an old one by an author named O'brian. Particularly interesting was the victorians answer to not having central air and heat in the greenhouse. Should interest off grid folks. In fact when I buy houses I like older ones because they are so good with air flow.

[NYCorchidman]

Good reading. hahaha

[RJSquirrel]

just as interesting is how they filled the greenhouses. an orchid hunter was every bit an explorer as anyone ever noted as such. Orchids fought back as These men were eaten alive by cannibals, snakes, crocodiles, disease and starvation. They were brutal in their desire to return a plant that no one else had and be the 1st to get back with it. Others would try to sabotage the mission by acts as simple as urinating on the competitors collected plants. Many never returned to be seen again. Others are well known this day.
This is also why areas had been stripped of native vegetation that now we have to manage from the edge of extinction. As they say...
'grow orchids from seed not divisions or cloning to insure a diverse population of what is left.'