Totally Male CEO Sandra Samuels received her first orchid in 1984. “It was a birthday gift,” she shares with SO Gardening. “I knew nothing about them then, and until about four years ago I did not try to learn about them. My MO was: after getting the orchid, water until the blooms fell off, put outside and hope that the sunlight and rain would resurrect them… however, most times they died.”

Samuels’ story is not peculiar to her. Truth be told, we have over the many years of publishing this page heard this story time and time again. Samuels, who today takes pride in her balcony in full orchid bloom, like many before her, paused to appreciate the orchid journey. “As I grew to know the value of orchids, guilt set in! I kept them until the blooms fell off and then gave them to my orchid friends and enthusiasts, Andrea Wray or Andrea Cowan, to restore them. In some cases when they bloomed again they would be sent back for me to enjoy the blooms and then returned to their caregiver. The name I labelled myself was Orchid Killer.

“As I aged I noticed that I was more connected with the earth and plants in general and my quest for knowledge increased. My friend and go-to for all my plants’ needs is Arlene Dundas-Saunders because every location I have moved my business Totally Male to, she has always done the landscaping. Her knowledge is vast, as she’s an active member of the Horticultural Society and an avid promoter of an organic lifestyle. So I started to pick up little things here and there through her as well.

Then four years ago, I [now] had a balcony and so decided to make an effort to take care of my own plants at home. Under her expert tutelage I started my journey and also sought the guidance of my other friend Andrea Cowan aka ‘the Orchid Whisperer’.

Knowledge is power. Knowing what kind of medium to plant the orchid in, what type of orchid it is, what type of pot or no pot, how much water does it need, what conditions are most favourable, makes all the difference. I still lost one or two but for the most part my orchids now bloom like they hear news repeatedly. The types I seem to do very well with are the Phalaenopsis. There are more than 70 species with various colours.

“Google is also my new best friend and YouTube. Anything you do not understand, at the click of a button, your concerns are answered. Things have certainly changed from back in the day. The plant shops are also very helpful. When doing my repotting, life can be so easy as the assistants at the stores, as well as my tutors, guide me and the materials needed are relatively easily available and will not break your bank account. For my Phalaenopsis I plant them in the Phal mix that I buy from the store. I put gravel in the bottom of some of the pots, as well as a mixture of wood chips, charcoal, coconut husk, foam for easy access to water drainage. The roots rot easily so do not overwater. Make sure that every container you use offers excellent drainage.

If I am to be honest, I could be doing a lot more for them as there is so much more to learn, like when to use the bloom booster, fertiliser, etc. I am still heavily dependent on guidance as I am still a work in progress. The actual work is done by me, though. All my orchids are now doing well and provide endless joy to me on a daily basis.

I water them every two to three days. That was one of my biggest blunders: I used to drown them. They need lots of air and controlled sunlight. My balcony seems to be a very happy place for them as they get shade where it is relatively cool and sunlight. I truly believe love and care also make a difference and I talk to them. I am not at the place yet where I know the names of the orchids or am able to identify one species from the next, but I am no longer an Orchid Killer!