This is the story of what it took for me to get into Orchid care at Rod McLellan Company, the world Orchid expert at the time.
More than 10 years ago I had moved out to the San Francisco Bay Area with quite a bit of plant experience growing Daylilies during the summers. I’d grown them for many years, hybridized, named varieties, and more.
I was green and just out of college. After seeing an ad in the Sunday paper for Rod McLellan Company “Acres of Orchids”, I was overwhelmed with what they wanted. The ad was very long, with a huge list of qualifications amounting to them wanting to hire one of the best experts out there in Orchids, puiblic speaking, training, etc.
I realized it was such a huge job description that there probably weren’t many people who would apply with qualifications, so I applied. I went in for my interview with some Orchid experience, but mostly the interest, other plant experience, and dedication in doing whatever it took to become one of the best Orchid experts out there. I think they saw the aptitude, hope, and energy I was willing to devote, and I got the job.
Years there were spent as pretty much an intensive training all the time. I immersed myself in Orchids and eventually was an Orchid expert within the first year. The first months they started me out with supervision as I oversaw greenhouses and staff.
The first year I knew about Orchid care
- read about 15 full Orchid books
- trained with the best Rod McLellan Company Orchid hybridizers
- trained with the Orchid store staff
- traveled and learned from other Orchid Growers and hybridizers
- did a ton of learning in Orchid greenhouses
- gave some Orchid care talks
The second year I was getting to be an Orchid care expert and
- became a company hybridizer
- oversaw staff and the “Spa For Orchids” fully, where we cared for every kind of sick Orchid that came in to be boarded
- trained staff on Orchid care
- was an Orchid expert
- created Orchid displays for Pacific Orchid Exposition
- selected plants to save from sales greenhouses
- did Orchid photography
- started on my path to become an Orchid judge
- did layouts in Orchids Magazine, etc.
- gave talks to public
- oversaw breeding stock plants
- met with newspapers, was interviewed and written about in newspapers such as the San Francisco Chronicle
- did planning
- job title evolved
- and much more
My third year on I was Orchid expert
- meeting with people from all over the world about Orchids
- the main company hybridizer
- company photographer for new Orchids
- staff trainer
- Orchid judge
- in charge of breeding stock plants
- giving talks to garden clubs, garden centers, newspapers, Orchid Societies, many big events
- branding person - did much traveling and meeting with other Orchid nurseries
- did R&D - some favorite trips to find new Orchids were Maine, Hawaii, Chicago (some great growers here), Los Angeles ( LA has amazing hybridizers), etc
- creating displays for Orchids, selecting the Orchids
- designing layouts
- wrote full feature article with company president and VP providing input, on Colmanara Wildcat, one of the most famous Orchids bred by the Rod McLellan Company
- job title evolved
- and much more
I feel very lucky to have been given the opportunity by Rod McLellan Company to learn so much about Orchids. When I left just before the company was bought, I knew I had been given something very special. I had taken a ton of knowledge and experience from over the years there, and had learned to simplify what could be very complicated. Yes, Orchid care can be difficult, and we all know that, but it was my goal to learn all that I could, to be able to simplify Orchid care. This took a lot of careful thought, and making sure people first feel comfortable they can care for Orchids, with the tools they need to do it right. I truly feel that if people are given the right information and help in choosing the right kind of Orchid for them, Orchid care can be easy. That is the purpose of the Orchid Care Tips Website I created after I left Rod McLellan Company, to make Orchid care easy for anyone.
The most important thing I have learned about Orchids is this: you can grow beautiful Orchids but as there are many kinds that have various preferences, you need to choose the right Orchid for your care habits and environment.
I hope you enjoyed this story, and thanks for taking the time to read.
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