Why is it difficult to grow orchids well in the city?

Although orchid cultivation in China has a history of more than 2000 years, its habits from the mountain forests have not changed. It not only requires acidic leaf-mold soil and semi-shaded diffused light, but is also intolerant of smoke, dust and air pollution. In addition, management practices such as watering, fertilizing, dividing, and potting are more particular than those for other flowers. A slight negligence will result in poor growth or cause pest and disease problems, so it is very difficult to grow them well in the city. In the past, orchid growers summed up their experience as: in spring do not bring them out (keep them sheltered in spring), in summer do not expose them to the sun (shade in summer), in autumn do not let them dry out (moisten in autumn), in winter do not keep them wet (keep them dry in winter). It is also said that orchids have twelve likes and fears: they like sun but fear heat, like wind but fear cold, like rain but fear waterlogging, like moisture but fear wetness, like dryness but fear aridity, like soil but fear deep burial, like fertilizer but fear turbidity, like trees but fear dust, like warmth but fear smoke, like people but fear insects, like clustering but fear separation from the mother plant, and like cultivation but fear pampering.

Of course, if an environment suited to the growth habits of orchids and suitable cultivation conditions are created, orchids can still be grown well.