The orchids (more formally, Orchidacea) are a grouping of plants comprising over than 20,000 known species, quite many of which are very valuable commercially. Many people believe them to be the most interesting order of plants in the whole vegetable kingdom due to their astounding mode of growth and existence, their bizarre habits and the many shapes and forms of their flowers, which are quite distinct from those of all the other plants — delicate seeming in texture and with exquisite and glowing hues.

Orchids are also to be remarked upon because of their widely admired adaptability and the degree to which they will freely cross breed or cross fertilize. This is true in their natural habitats as well as under cultivation. This fact also accounts for the nearly endless varieties of flowers and colors that can result from the hybridizing process.

A little botany: The orchid flower as a rule consists of these parts: sepals, petals, the labellum or pouch, and the column or crest.

On most orchids the labellum is usually the most conspicuous part as well as the most important organ of the flower. Insects crawl or fly into it looking for the succulent juices contained inside the spur or walls of the flower, pollinating the plant as they do so and bringing about cross-fertilization in the bargain. This is how so many new varieties are produced in the wild, and these are termed natural hybrids. But under cultivation this work must be done by human caretakers using small camel’s hair brushes and with a careful eye and judgment as to the right moment for fertilization. It is in this way that the most beautiful orchid hybrids are created, and these are termed garden hybrids.

Among the things that makes growing orchids so exciting is the dream of producing our own hybrid orchids. It takes knowledge and a modicum of patience, but even novices have created some astounding plants through hybridization.

If you are wishing to experiment with the hybridization of orchids, you should first gain some good experience in the basic cultivation of these plants. Only after you have gained confidence in working with orchids should you try the demanding task of hybridizing them. Orchids are slow growing, and slow to come to bloom, so you must be prepared to wait often years to see if your hybridizing attempts are a success. Nonetheless, when it succeeds, it’s fantastic experience. You can produce not only a beautiful flower in this way, but also orchid types never before seen in the world.

Clearly, you must gather all the information that you can before trying your hand at hybridizing orchids. Fortunately, there are good books available on all aspects of orchid growing, including step-by-step instructions on hybridization.

The most up-to-date guidebook to modern orchid cultivation, it is widely acknowledged, is Orchid Care Expert by master orchid grower Nigel Howard, which is available to be downloaded from the Internet. Mr. Howard’s e-book is a full course of study, immensely practical for novices and the more experienced devotees alike. Additionally, spend some time at this Orchid Secrets web site, which features an ever-growing database of postings on all facets of orchid cultivation.