Have you heard the bonkers story behind the orchid craze? The story goes that in 1818, a man named William Swainson was on an expedition in Brazil and he decided he was going to send back a bunch of exotic plants to Europe and he would pack them with seemingly inconspicuous or unexciting plants that he was just using as packing material. When those plants got to Europe, William Catley took one of those inconspicuous plants and grew it out. And when it bloomed, it was an orchid. And allegedly this set off the orchid craze because people were like, “What is this gorgeous plant? We need more of them.” Now, here’s the problem. In the 1800s, people did not have Netflix. What were they going to do with their spare time? They’re going to go looking for plants. So, people started going on these crazy expeditions. They’re like lying to each other about intel that they got about where cool orchids are, and they’re stripping the countryside of these new specimens of orchids. And because those plants are new to them, they are not good at taking care of them. So they’re dying all the time. We do not know how many species went extinct because they’re like, “William, is that a new orchid?” Oh, so it is, Clarence. Plants are very nice, but sometimes you got to just look with your eyes and then keep your hands in your pocket. Okay.
6 Comments
Take only pictures, leave only footprints. We know that as a species now. Unfortunately, far too many flora & fauna are now only seen in very old pictures or through an artist's rendition in a book.
Wait, my choices are gardening OR Netflix? Here’s me, cancelling my subscription immediately!!
Otoh, my serial killer tendencies are the only thing that has gradually turned me from a death-dealing black thumb to a green one! I submit that a few of us are born gardeners, but the rest of us are made. Do the – now very occasional – losses bother me? Or course they do! But I also honor them for their help in making me able to grow their kin in the days and years since!
Plants, books, jewelry, future spouse, bread😅 they used to look for everything unlike now
I had to make myself buy 1 orchid and keep it alive before I would allow myself to get more… so I understand the inclination Lol
Idk what I did to orchids, but they are my certified mortal plant enemy 😂 I can grow just about every under the sun EXCEPT for orchids. I had a friend give me one (this man had probably upwards of 100 of them) and he gave me his full sheet of care instructions, I followed them to a T and still couldn't grow the buggers ;-;
ahh so that’s where the genus name Cattleya comes from!