Why is it that the more valuable an orchid is, the harder it is to grow?

Orchid enthusiasts may have all noticed this problem: the more valuable an orchid is, the harder it is to grow. Those wild-collected orchids can be kept alive and brought into bloom no matter what you do. But the prized varieties bought for a lot of money are often hard to keep alive, let alone bring into bloom. Why is that? Haoshe Farmer will chat with everyone about these things.

Orchids are originally just grass in the mountains; it is only because of orchid enthusiasts' affection and market speculation that some varieties of orchids have seen their value multiply. But prized orchids are ultimately a minority, and as capital chases profit, some high-tech methods have been applied to propagating orchid seedlings, which of course is not a bad thing. High-tech seedling cultivation can let more orchid enthusiasts own a prized orchid they have long admired, but high-tech seedling cultivation also comes with some problems.

Propagation of prized varieties cannot be like that of wild orchids; they demand speed and efficiency. So-called tissue-cultured seedlings are seedlings grown from orchid leaf bud points. Because the technical requirements are high, the demands on environment, temperature, humidity and so on are especially strict. And once such orchid seedlings reach the hands of ordinary orchid enthusiasts, the growing environment certainly cannot meet the standard requirements, so it is only reasonable that the orchids are hard to keep alive.

As for ordinary orchids, because their market value is not high, there is no need for high-tech seedling cultivation. Most are propagated naturally (by division, wild seeds), and the offspring seedlings they produce have very good resistance and strong adaptability. So ordinary orchids are easier to grow than prized orchids; in fact it is not about the orchid but about the price driving it.