11) What are the greatest threats to orchid conservation worldwide?
By far the greatest threat to the survival of orchid species is habitat loss. This is both in the tropic and here in the temperate zones as well. There are cases where collection and smuggling of choice new species has stripped them from specific locales, but these, though well publicized, are few and far between. Cutting and burning of forests, draining of wetlands, conversion of forest to farmland, the growth of suburbs -- all uncontrolled and without oversight -- these are driving orchid (and other) species to extinction.
Because of the pollinator specificity I mentioned above, loss of insects as a result of encroaching farming and the use of agricultural chemicals can drive an orchid to extinction, even if its immediate habitat remains untouched. Populations also move about through time, as the texture of the forest or grasslands changes. So there are complex interactions that have to be taken into account before land is developed. And when land is preserved, the parcels need to be large enough or linked in some way.
12) In terms of orchid cultivation commercially, how widespread is usage of pesticides or other potentially harmful chemicals?
It is important to note here that even the most dangerous of pesticides can be applied properly and responsibly in a greenhouse, and pose little or no threat to the environment. Because of the public expectation of a cosmetic product, fungicides and pesticides are used as necessary. These are certainly “potentially harmful chemicals.”
I think few commercial growers use pesticides preventively these days, but many do use fungicides to prevent infection. Although no one wants to buy a plant with toxic residue, they don’t want a plant with aphids or leaf spots either. Commercial growers cannot use things like insecticidal soap because of the cost, labor intensive application, and potential for damage to flowers and foliage. The irony is that the products less toxic to us are more toxic to the plants, especially the flowers.
What growers can do (and most do) is apply pesticides as infrequently as possible, and in as responsible a manner as possible. Frequent inspection, spot treatment rather than blanket sprays, maintaining optimal conditions to maximize resistance to illness, are all ways growers minimize their need for pesticides.
13) What environmentally-friendly growing methods are available to both private and commercial growers? And is there global momentum in this direction?
Among other things:
- The use of fertilizers produced from renewable resources (products that are organic based rather than derived from fossil fuels).
- The use of sustainable potting materials (coconut coir and chunks as opposed to fir bark or most tree fern).
- Reuse and recycling of pots.
- Growing more regionally appropriate genera to reduce the energy cost of heating and cooling greenhouses.
- Double and triple glazed greenhouses to also reduce energy use.
- Passive solar methods used to heat greenhouse.
- Certainly in the home or hobby greenhouse where sprays are less likely to be contained, less toxic products should be used.
- Species orchids should be grown from seed rather than collected and imported. There are community based growers in the tropics now using profits from species sales to preserve and protect the jungle, as well as provide services for indigenous communities.
There will be information about this available at the show. These things have to be market driven really, other than the legislation that has reduced trade in wild collected species. But these are definitely trends, and more and more growers are following these trends.
14) Is there any other orchid advice you'd like to give -- any question that never gets asked which deserves an answer nonetheless?
This is something I mention in talks I give, which is kind of blasphemous to some people. If you have no place to grow orchids it is okay to use them as temporary pot plants in your home just as people do with hydrangeas and azaleas. The plants you see sold in many stores are often grown specifically to be enjoyed and tossed. Like a pot of lilies purchased at the supermarket, they often will not perform well in the long term. If you are looking for plants to grow and enjoy for years, shows like ours are the perfect opportunity to find them. Specialty growers are producing plants to be kept and loved, and they are grown with love.
15) What are some of your most memorable comments, questions or experiences in the context of being the Orchid Doctor?
I answer a lot of questions, and on the website they come from folks all over the world. What I really like is when someone comes back to me and tells me that their plants are doing better for them, or something they had not been able to flower is now flowering. I enjoy knowing that my advice has increased someone’s results and satisfaction. That is memorable to me.
What I dislike is when someone has not put any effort into describing their plant or their problem and wants advice nonetheless. They don’t have the name of the plant, don’t have an image to show me, cannot describe it or the conditions under which it grows and so on. It is like going to the doctor and when asked what the problem is saying “I don’t feel well”, or “you’re the doctor, you tell me”. That is frustrating to me. Diagnosis of orchid issues, even if the plant is present is often a give and take, I need to know what the person has done in the past.
--------------------------You can find the Orchid Doctor at this weekend's Pacific Orchid Exposition. The event happens from March 5 to March 8, 2009. Find additional details, schedule and ticket prices at the event website.