Balance. A single concept, and so pertinent to the health of living organisms, including orchids and mankind. For over 3000 years the foundation of health in Chinese medicine has been the balancing of the yin and yang. So how do we apply this concept to orchid culture? Through observation one can determine the balance between wet and dry, hot and cold, light and dark, etc.

Media can be also altered in terms of balance: Heavy versus light, moisture retention versus porosity, nutrient excess versus depletion, etc. By locating the balance between the two extremes one can find a range that is better suited for orchids.

The wide range of temperatures, light, humidity, etc. found in particular areas of the world can result in diverging concepts of what is ideal for growing orchids. Each location with its specific conditions requires an adaptive way of thinking to accommodate not only the location specifics, but also the fluctuations that occur climatically as seasons change. And even perhaps as the world weather patterns diverge from the norm.

The concept again is balance, which is not the same as static or prescribed. Living organisms live in a world of constant flux so balancing is an ongoing process rather than a fixed equation. For instance, let's say you have found a perfect nutrient mix that you have used for several months during the months of say, June through August. "Viola", you may say and continue to use the same formula for the rest of the year. You may notice that in the winter months your orchids begin to grow more on the "leggy" side, the tissue becomes more brittle and flowering diminishes. Yes, maybe the formula was ideal then, but now the change in weather has created the conditions that need to be balanced by a different nutrient formulation. So balance is an ongoing process and can help solve the many riddles of raising orchids.