Orchids are not for the impatient. They can take years to flower, are sensitive to changes in their environment and can frustrate even experienced gardeners. Yet for three Nairobi men, the challenge of nurturing these exotic plants is precisely what makes the hobby rewarding.
For Anand Savani, the fascination has lasted more than 25 years and grown into a collection of more than 500 orchids.
“I have never really counted them. I keep buying and propagating, so I estimate that I have more than 500 of different varieties,” he says.
His interest begun in the early 1980s, when frequent business trips to the Far East introduced him to the colourful flowers displayed in hotel lobbies in Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia.
“I would see these beautiful flowers but did not even know what they were. I kept wondering why we did not have them in Kenya,” he recalls.
His curiosity eventually led him to the orchid show, then held at All Saints Cathedral in Nairobi. Regular visits deepened his interest, and he later joined the Kenya Orchid Society.
Over the years, Savani has learned that growing orchids requires more than watering and occasional attention. The plants are sensitive to environmental changes, making them particularly vulnerable to Nairobi’s rapid urbanisation.
Joy after years of waiting
High-rise construction around his home has altered the local microclimate, affecting light exposure and subjecting the plants to fine cement dust.
“I have lost quite a number because of the construction boom in Nairobi,” he says.
The setbacks, however, have done little to dampen his enthusiasm. Some of his most memorable moments have come after years of waiting.
“One orchid took 10 years to flower. When it finally did, the experience was incredibly rewarding. There is immense satisfaction in knowing that you have managed to bring a plant that difficult into bloom,” he says.
For Savani, patience is both the greatest challenge and the biggest reward. He also believes orchids can comfortably coexist with pets, having kept both cats and dogs alongside his collection.
“Pets are intelligent and can learn boundaries. Once they understand that the orchids are not to be disturbed, they generally leave them alone,” he says.
His advice to beginners is to research a plant before buying it, paying attention to its origins and natural growing conditions.
“Understand where the orchid comes from and the conditions it needs to thrive. Temperature, humidity and watering requirements are particularly important,” he advises.
Unlike Savani, Patrick Kariuki is a relative newcomer. His orchid-growing journey began in October 2024, after an interest in houseplants gradually drew him toward tropical and exotic species.
He now has about 25 plants across 15 varieties, although some are yet to flower, making identification difficult.
“I am still learning. With some orchids, you can only identify them properly once they flower,” he says.
Most of his collection consists of epiphytes, orchids that naturally grow on trees or rocks rather than in soil.
“They can be grown in containers with bark rather than ordinary soil. In that sense, they are relatively clean and convenient to keep,” he explains.
But their unusual growing habits do not necessarily make them easy to maintain. Temperature fluctuations, inadequate fertiliser and insufficient light can affect their development. Some also remain dormant for long periods without flowering.
Kariuki recalls the disappointment of watching the buds on one of his Phalaenopsis orchids dry up just before opening. Although the plant eventually flowered, the experience reinforced how unpredictable orchid growing can be.
“You can do everything right and still find that a plant will not bloom. I have had orchids go for two years without flowering,” he says.
His fascination also has roots in childhood. Growing up, he remembers seeing orchids hanging from trees, although he did not recognise them at the time.
“It was only after I started growing them that I remembered seeing these plants when I was young,” he says.
He believes many Kenyans remain unaware of the diversity of orchids, often overlooking their uniqueness and treating them like ordinary shrubs.
For Kariuki, one of the greatest pleasures is watching flower buds emerge. Some varieties have similar foliage but produce strikingly different blooms.
Patrick Kariuki, an small scale orchid grower poses for a photo with some of the orchirds from his collection.
Photo credit: Pool
“Sometimes you do not know exactly what you have until it flowers. Vandas and Angraecums, for instance, can look similar in their leaves and growth habits, yet their flowers are quite different,” he says.
“The first was an absolute joy”
For Saajan Shah, orchid growing started with a desire to take on a challenging hobby. His interest developed after his brother acquired the family’s first few plants. Some died before they understood how best to care for them.
“We lost a couple at the beginning. That is a familiar experience among orchid growers. You lose some plants before you learn what works,” he says.
Intrigued by their delicate nature, Shah volunteered to look after the surviving orchids. When one finally flowered after six months to a year of care, he was hooked.
“The first flowering was an absolute joy. The flowers were spectacular, and I realised how rewarding the challenge could be,” he recalls.
That early success encouraged him to venture beyond Phalaenopsis, the familiar variety commonly sold in supermarkets, and explore Vandas and other orchid genera.
Saajan Shah poses for a photo at his booth, display name: The Beginning of a New Fairytale, during the Kenya Orchid Society annual show at Sarit Expo Center Nairobi on October 30, 2026.
Photo credit: Wilfred Nyangaresi | Nation Media Group
“People tend to focus on the flowers because they are attractive and eye-catching. But flowering is really a consequence of having a healthy plant. If you want an orchid to flower repeatedly, you must first look after the plant,” he says.
Shah pays particular attention to the leaves and roots. Healthy leaves should be firm and green, while mushy sections may indicate rot. The roots are equally important because they help the plant absorb water and nutrients.
He also encourages beginners not to be discouraged by mistakes, which he considers an inevitable part of learning.
“If your first plant dies, do not give up. You learn through experience, observation and experimentation,” he says.
Orchid growing can also be an expensive pursuit, particularly for collectors interested in mature specimens. Shah estimates that his most valuable orchid is worth more than Sh15,000, while some mature plants can fetch between Sh50,000 and Sh60,000.
Among his prized specimens is an Epidendrum estimated to be about 40 years old. Although commonly referred to as the ‘poor man’s orchid’, its maturity makes it valuable.
“An orchid of that age has taken decades to reach its present state. You cannot simply replicate that maturity overnight,” he says.
