Flowering elegance

There are pinks and purples, petals plain and patterned. Some like it hot, some do not! "There is an impression that orchids are some mysterious exotic plants, which are very difficult to maintain. Nothing can be further from the truth. Not only are they easy to maintain, they are also very forgiving. They recover easily even after one makes mistakes in their care,” asserts Khushroo Dubash, whose store Orchids, Etc tells a blooming tale!

"Our outlet at Bandra [on 14th Road, Khar (West)] in Bombay is more than just a shop. We consider it a boutique for exotic indoor plants. Although the main focus is on orchids, we also deal with other exotic plants, such as various types of bromeliads (a family of monocot flowering plants, the most well known being the pineapple family) and different hybrids of anthuriums,” he continues. Supplying plants to five-star hotels, corporate clients and individuals, Dubash notes that their plants are frequently bought as gifts because "people find this a better way to express their affection, as the blooms last for three to four weeks as opposed to bouquets.” Orchids, Etc has also expanded to selling floor standing greens, simple Ikebana arrangements to more elaborate cut flower displays for the table, plants on hire, ceramic and cane containers, and more. The boutique’s interiors and layouts give walk-in customers the experience of color and varieties they would not see elsewhere. "We also want to educate the lay person about these lovely plants and explain the ease with which they can be maintained,” he stresses.

The beauty of blooms at Orchids, Etc: the store (alongside), vriesea solo in ceramic planter (top right) and pha-laenopsis in double wooden planter

Their colorful and detailed website www.orchidsetc.in welcomes you to the wonderful world of orchids and provides tips on repotting, watering, spraying with fertilizer, removing the fungus, if any. With the purchase come the instructions on maintenance, accompanied by tender, loving care! Most of the items involve low maintenance. "You can order orchid plants for delivery on the website and pay by credit card on the net,” he explains. Prices mentioned on the website range from Rs 850 to over Rs 5,000 for the real rare ones. Less costly varieties are also available. "We have our farms for orchids and other plants at Lonavla and Khopoli and a nursery at Jogeshwari in Bombay,” he says.

Now in his 50s and originally from Madhya Pradesh, Dubash did his schooling in Uttar Pradesh and came to Bombay thereafter. "I passed out from St Xavier’s College, got a job, found a Parsi girl, married and settled down here!” he narrates. His ‘green’ interest started "as far back as I can remember. Many years ago, I bought a small piece of land in Kashid (a beach town in the Konkan region in Maharashtra, about 135 km from Bombay on the Alibag-Murud road), where I worked with plants and trees. Over 15 years ago, I walked into a nursery and bought what I discovered was my first orchid plant. After that there was no looking back. I learnt all I could about orchids and over the years built a collection, which I housed in a nursery I built at Kashid,” he relates. A course on tissue culture helped him propagate the orchid plants and understand them better. "About three years ago, I decided to elevate this hobby to a small commercial level. That’s how Orchids, Etc came about,” he describes. The store can be reached on 022-26483418; e-mail:info@orchidsetc.in