August, 2001

Orchids

By DAVID R. NEWMAN
For The Northwest Senior News

Barton Gendel gives you his straight scoop about growing orchids: they've been his "passion, obsession, and disease." But they have also been a "tranquil hobby" that has evolved into an ongoing, thriving business.

It all began when Barton Gendel and his wife, Heléne, bought their first, single orchid. That didn't exactly work out, in fact, the plant died. But the couple learned what was required to keep orchids going, and soon some 150 of these second most popular of all plants (poinsettia is the first) filled their home and "we realized we had to do something." So they formed Briggs Hill Orchids, Inc. to make a business out of their hobby. It is not a business they came to naturally. Barton Gendel is a pharmacist, while Helene had worked in the printing industry.

Nonetheless, the Gendel's country acreage south of Eugene now sports, along with their home, a sophisticated greenhouse. There, under their careful tutelage, plus the correct lighting and humidity controls, a variety of orchid plants are slowly nurtured to produce healthy specimens aimed at giving wholesale customers healthy plants to sell, and retail customers their own pleasurable experience of owning and growing orchids.

For what the Gendels offer is more than just the plants; they pass along what they had initially neglected to learn. "We try to provide the expertise, so that the person walking out of here has a fighting chance to successfully grow the orchids they take home," says Barton Glendel. Briggs Hills Orchids also has available potting media, books, fertilizers, and other items for the orchid grower including completely assembled greenhouses.

But it is the expertise that most helps the orchid grower, for orchids, it seems can be somewhat easy to grow, if the grower is willing to follow some basic guidelines. And these guidelines are based on the individual plant, for orchids come in such variety ("there are 30,000 species of orchids, with 100,000 hybrids," says Barton Gendel) that what suits one does not help another.  For example, some orchids need more humidity than others, temperature and light requirements vary, so do watering and feeding needs. One reason: orchids originate in many parts of the world, in many different climates.

Common to all orchids, however, is the element of patience required on the part of the grower, for orchids take time. Gendel says it takes 18 months to two years to just obtain seedlings from the microscopic seeds, and then several more years for the plant to bloom. In fact, he says, some lady slippers can take from 7 to 10 years to flower. When they do bloom, maybe once a year, various orchids can produce a wide variation of flowers, "from big and shiny, to very tiny," depending on species. The blossoms also stay around for varied times, with some lasting up to 3 months. And some blossoms come complete with their own odors, which include chocolate.

While all of this variety and differences in individual requirements for different plants may seem daunting, Gendel says it's not that difficult for the average person. Most of the orchids in the greenhouse are grown under normal conditions. "We mimic the home," he says.

For those interested in purchasing orchids, a little knowledge is seen as more important than for many other plants. Along with the varied growing requirements to achieve successful results, there is also the matter of cost. Orchids can range in price from "$20 to hundreds and thousands of dollars," Gendel points out. So the initial investment may be more than for other plants.

And with this in mind, the Gendels recommend that before purchasing orchids, "get expert advice." Knowing what to look for increases the odds of taking home a healthy plant that will produce flowers. And even once the plants are home, if there are questions, they should be asked. "If you have a question, call — but don't wait six months," urges Heléne Gendel. Briggs Hill Orchids is located at 27936 Briggs Hill Rd., near Eugene, and is open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm. The phone number is 431-3886, and  the internet web page is www.briggshillorchids.com.