[WEBMASTER]
| Suomen Orkideayhdistys - The Finnish Orchid Society - was established on March 7, 1961. It works as a link between amateur orchid growers as well as those, who are more interested in exploring native orchids in Finland and elsewhere.
A total number of members is around 800 covering the whole country. It is worth mentioning that the northernmost orchid hobbyists are living well above the Arctic Circle. Society meetings take place in the second Tuesday of the month excluding summer months (June, July and August) at 6:30 p.m. The meetings are held at Kinaporin palvelukeskus, Kinaporinkatu 9 in Helsinki. All lectures are given in Finnish. An Orchid Show will be organised by the society in every other year. The society is publishing a periodical Orkidealehti, which comprises 6 issues per year. An other publication to be mentioned is Orkideaopas (An Orchid Guide) published in 1998, and revised and enlarged edition in 2002. These, unfortunately, are available only in Finnish.  |
ORCHID GROWING IN FINLAND
© text and photo Jari Piironen In Finland Rossioglossum grande and Coelogyne cristata have been the most widely cultivated orchid species after the World War II. Today, those species do not bloom well since they thrive better under a bit cooler conditions than we can offer nowadays in central heating equipped houses. Therefore, those orchids have been replaced by phalaenopsis as the most recommended and popular orchid in Finland. Also, paphiopedilums are consired easy to grow. Most of the Finnish hobbyists are growing orchids on windowsills or in growing cases (see picture). A small minority owns a greenhouse, a wintergarden or is growing orchids in the basement. Long and dark winter is a major obstacle for orchid growing in Finland. In the northernmost parts of the country the sun does not rise above the horizon at all during a period of late November to mid-January. The plant performance, however, can be improved by installing supplemental lighting and increasing humidity around the plants. After the winter, many hobbyists are taking most of their orchids outdoors as soon as the last night frosts are over. In this way a vigorous growth is obtained and first flower spikes can be seen when the night temperature drops down during the late August. The formation of flower spikes takes time, and it is quite typical that we can admire the orchid beauty when our days are at shorthest just in the Christmas time. |