A FASCINATION with orchids rescued from near death has blossomed into a five-year passion for Redlands grower Sarah Baumback.
Now a member of the Redlands Orchid Society, Ms Baumback is encouraging locals to discover the extraordinary variety of the plants when the group’s annual orchid show returns to Birkdale later this month.
Ms Baumback said her interest began after seeing a close friend revive a small collection of struggling orchids.
“I was amazed at how these delicate plants could recover and bloom again after suffering from root rot or drought,” she said.
“Their resilience captivated me, and I soon found myself drawn into the world of orchids.”
Visits to orchid shows deepened that fascination, with the displays revealing a huge range of colours, shapes and species and plenty of plants available for newcomers to take home.
About 18 months ago, Ms Baumback joined the Redlands Orchid Society to build her knowledge, and she quickly found a friendly community of growers willing to share.
The society’s monthly meetings begin with practical demonstrations ranging from basic care, repotting, remounting and pest management to the specialised needs of orchid species.
Ms Baumback said one of the key lessons was that orchids were not all grown the same way.
“Each genus has its own preferences, so creating suitable conditions often means identifying or crafting microclimates within your orchid house.”
Ms Baumback said simply moving a struggling orchid to another position could make a surprising difference.
Despite several years of growing experience, she said there was still something new to learn at every meeting.
“The more experienced growers are unfailingly generous in sharing advice on how to improve plants and cultivation techniques,” Ms Baumback said.
The Redlands Orchid Show will be held at Birkdale Sports Club, Judy Holt Park, on Saturday, October 31, from 8.30am to 3pm.
