He said that they originated in tropical rain forests where they grow on rocks and trees. The plants are not a fungus but hold on for support only. Orchids currently face extinction due to loss of habitat and poaching and are now mostly mass produced in jars in vast greenhouses for sale in shops and garden centres.

There are many different types of orchids with a variety of blooms and needs, some being very large and some tiny. The most popular in this country is the moth orchid which flowers in the spring and can stay in bloom for three months.

Orchids have very specific requirements in order to grow and thrive – a growing medium specially designed for orchids, a light spot but not in full sun, a humid atmosphere with preferably fresh air, a steady temperature of 20–25 deg C which makes them ideal house plants, and correct watering which means allowing them to dry out completely after watering so that their roots don’t rot.

In addition they don’t like being near coal fires or fruit but, mostly importantly of all, they hate having soggy bottoms.