Stories

Are You Afraid to Grow Orchids

Tuesday, April 15, 2025

by Eliot Rifkin

Are You Afraid to Grow Orchids?

Do you feel that orchids are the most evolved plants and are too complex for you to grow? We dove into the hidden world of orchids. Did you know the Queensland state flower is an orchid?

4ZZZ's Eliot Rifkin chatted with Paul McCarthy from Brisbane Orchid Supplies, who helped us befriend these fascinating plants.

For a deep dive...

Find all your orchid growing needs in one local place - here's Paul's Brisbane Orchid Supplies

Here's an introductory 'How to care for orchids' as well as understanding some of the those Latin orchid family names Paul spoke of

Trying to decide which Queensland orchid's you'd like to bring home and learn about - check out these Qld Orchid ID photos Or perhaps you'd like to understand our Native Brisbane orchids in the wild and there's more SEQ Orchids here. As well as a little further afield ... FNQ Orchids.

Ready to dive in and meet orchid growers and learn som growing tips - find an orchid club near you and join - Orchid Organisations in Queensland and visit The Queensland Orchid Society to find out where their meetings and local orchid shows are.

...and finally, take part in helping the CSIRO identify orchids and perhaps discover a new species by becoming an Orchid Hunter

Eliot Rifkin

Eliot Rifkin is a Journalist and Producer on Thursday Brisbane Line

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