Orchids have always intimidated me. They have some kind of mystique; some of the people who grow them seem to be obsessed with them. How could I—who can't make any houseplant bloom unless it starts with a bulb—grow something so beautiful and so expensive?

But prices seem to have been coming down in the past few years, and I finally gave myself permission to try one. When I heard Trader Joe's was selling orchids for $7.99, I got over there as soon as I could and bought the little beauty you see here.

It's small, less than a foot high, and growing in a 3-inch pot that seems too small for it. (Trader Joe's has larger ones for $13.99.)

So far I've learned from the Sunset guide that it will need special soil (made of bark) when I repot it. It needs bright but not direct sunlight; no problem. They only need to be watered when they dry out; I'm pretty good at that.

My problem will be fertilizing it every 2 weeks. I've always had a problem with fertilizing. I have several kinds of houseplant food on hand, but I never remember to use it. That is, I never remember it except when I notice my plants while I'm busy doing something else. My outdoor plants get the help of Mother Nature; the indoor plants that depend solely on me die slow and painful deaths.

But I have every intention of taking care of this orchid. I think I'll try putting the fertilizining dates on my calendar. Wish it luck!