"Orchids for Dummies"

Many of you might be familiar with the popular books titled " Plumbing for Dummies" or whatever the activity that you need help learning how to do. Well I looked up the book "Orchid for Dummies" by Steven Frownire online to possibly buy. I have a history of killing every Orchid that I have ever bought or have been given. One time, when a neighbor moved away and gave me his prized orchid plant I panicked. Sure enough a couple of weeks later I thought I killed it and threw outside in the pool pump area not wanting to deal with it. I totally forgot about and months later my husband asked me why I was growing Orchids in his pool pump area. The plant was alive and blooming. I knew then all it took was to just to ignore them. In Steve's book (which I did not buy!), he claims they are easy to grow, you just need to give them what they need and their requirements are not difficult to meet - adequate light, humidity, water and ventilation.

Last October we attended a charity ball and this orchid was the centerpiece of our table. When we left the event I was given the plant! All the way home in the car I fretted that here was another beautiful Orchid that I would undoubtedly kill! Hence , the research on this book "Orchids for Dummies." Pie in the sky thoughts! I forgot about the book, and the plant, leaving it on the patio. After all the holidays were rapidly approaching and there were things to do. So I just left it on my patio. Sometimes I would water it, or sometimes not. Come January, my husband asked me if I wanted him to throw out the dead plant on our patio table. No, I thought it just needed more time of just ignoring it. Each time I looked at this dead lifeless ugly plant, I just shook my head and turned away. Two weeks ago the buds appear...could it be that after nine months of ignoring my Orchid I would have a flower! Yes, not one but 8! Count them:)

Hope everyone has more success than I do at growing Orchids....if you do, did you read this book?