“It’s quite humbling actually... the realisation when I made my first hybrid, then it bloomed for the first time... it was the culmination of decades of effort and knowledge.”

In this fascinating episode of the Scotland Grows Show, M.T. O'Donnell welcomes Luke Callaghan, expert orchid grower and passionate plant enthusiast, for a conversation that travels from a childhood sparked by the breathtaking World Orchid Conference in Glasgow to the unique drama of nurturing rare Odontoglossum orchids in Scotland’s cool climate.

Luke shares his remarkable journey, revealing how scientific curiosity and sheer perseverance led him to become one of Scotland’s foremost orchid hybridisers. From laboratory-style experiments in glove boxes to swapping pollen with fellow enthusiasts across continents, he uncovers the secrets to keeping delicate orchids thriving, and offers top tips for beginners to succeed with the the more common Phalaenopsis orchids.

You'll also get bonus insider tips for cultivating exotic edibles like melons, watermelons, and citrus fruits on Scottish soil.

Whether you’re an orchid enthusiast, a fruit grower, or just interested in what we grow well here, listen in for hands-on advice, stories of orchid growing, and strong encouragement to “kill a few plants”… because every top grower has!

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The Scotland Grows Show is the podcast which celebrates everything that is good in Scottish gardening, as we join gardeners around the country to find out what grows well where they are, and pick up tips and stories along the way.

Be sure to sign up to our mailing list so we can let you know when new episodes are published.

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And of course, you can always find your share of gardening goodness on our website at scotlandgrowsmagazine.com.

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This series of the Scotland Grows Show is sponsored by Dedicate a Tree, a special opportunity from the National Trust for Scotland to help breathe new life into Scotland’s woodlands.

You can dedicate a tree from £7.50 and choose from three planting projects happening across places in the care of the National Trust for Scotland. They’ll send you a certificate and information leaflet, as well as regular updates about the progress of your chosen woodland project, and your tree dedication can be shared on their virtual woodland.  

Whether you dedicate a tree for yourself or for a loved one, in celebration or in memory, you’ll help nurture and protect Scotland’s wonderful woodlands for generations to come. 

Dedicate a tree today at nts.org.uk/trees