A compost pile located at a Massachusetts greenhouse was the first supplier of stray, adoptable plants for John Lapointe, of Marthasville.A native of New England, sporting a longshoreman’s bushy mustache and flannel shirt, Lapointe’s appearance is a vast contrast to the delicate, feminine flowers gracing his home.“They are just a pretty weed,” said Lapointe of his orchid collection. “They are not as delicate as we think.”Avid woodworker and talented fixer of all things mechanical, Lapointe’s interest in orchids began just in the last year when his mother, Lee Lapointe, brought an orchid home.“It’s yours,” she said. “Keep it alive.”Since that time, Lapointe has become a bit obsessed with the orchid. What draws him is the variety of color, form and variety of the species. He admits his collection now totals between 200-300 plants.Lapointe said the size of the orchid can be from “minute to monstrous,” some weighing in at 200 pounds. His collection includes orchids from Asia, Poland, Germany, France and China.“They grow everywhere in the world but Antarctica,” he said. “But they need a certain bacteria to live.”It only takes a visit to the American Orchid Society’s website to see the vast amount of information available to people wanting to raise them. There are 25,000 to 30,000 different species of orchids in the world, representing about 10 percent of all plants.There are more than 30 species of wild orchids grown in Missouri, including the Lady’s Slipper, Grass Pinks, Twayblades, Pogonia, Spirantes or Coral Roots. Native orchids love the rich humus soils and woodlands of the state, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation.Blooming orchids have a place of prominence at the Lapointe house. Orchids of all sizes and colors are situated near windows and sit on racks filled with rocks and water to provide the humidity the plants need. Each one has a distinct color and scent.Orchids put off a variety of mild scents. Aromas resemble the scent of roses, raspberries, chocolate, plastic or even rotten meat.Lapointe keeps the rest of his orchids in a climate-controlled orchid room, complete with full spectrum LED lights, a fan to stir the air and a humidifier to emulate the rain forest environment.Part of the science of growing orchids is waiting for the natural rebloom to occur.Orchids may bloom once a year, but others bloom several times a year, depending on the plant.“They grow in the air naturally,” said Lapointe. “It’s unnatural to be in the dirt. They attach to trees and grow. There is a special bark that is the best to use.“I probably baby mine,” he admits. “I use a Michigan State University formulation for orchids, a root stimulator and orchid probiotics.”Lapointe made his first attempt at crossing his first orchid hybrid, which takes patience and time. He chose two Maxillaria orchids of different colors and forms. Using a toothpick, he gathered pollinia (pollen grains) from one orchid and placed them in the sticky viscidium (a disc-shaped structure) on the other plant.The next step is to wait. At some point in the process, Lapointe will send the plant to be germinated, which can take a bit of time.“I enjoy the challenge of growing them,” said Lapointe. “They are just another one of God’s strange creations.”For more information on growing orchids as a hobby, visit the American Orchid Society at www.aos.org.

John Lapointe, of Marthasville, has collected nearly 300 orchid plants from all over the world. He enjoys the challenge of the flower and the variety of colors, forms and scents of the orchid family.

 

Record Photo/Cindy Gladden

John Lapointe babies his orchids in a basement room dedicated to his plants that aren’t currently blooming or those he is rehabilitating. He uses full spectrum LED lighting, a humidifier and fan to keep his plants healthy and happy.

 

Record Photo/Cindy Gladden

The beautiful bloom of this orchid is just one of more than 25,000 to 30,000 orchids known worldwide.

 

Record Photo/Cindy Gladden