ORCHIDS-A SELECTION OF SPECIES

Miltonia specie


ORCHIDS-A SELECTION OF SPECIES

Aeranthes Grandiflora specie


If you wish to have variety,the cultivation of orchids species will provide you with a glorious range of flower form and color throughout the year.
While many orchids growers assemble a mixed collection of species and cultivated hybrids,there are some who prefer to grow only species.Should you decide to do the same,your choice of plants will in no way be restricted,for such is the range of species available that the pleasure and challenge of growing them equals if not surpasses that of growing a mixed collection.
Cultivating a mixed collection of orchids species is both rewarding and challenging.Many are delicately scented;others mimic the insects that pollinate them.

Dendrochilum specie


The following section presents a selection of orchids species that are relatively easy to cultivate:
-Aeranthes
-Aerides
-Barkeria
-Bulbophyllum
-Calanthe
-Colax
-Dendrochilum
-Masdevallia
-Miltonia
-Oncidium
-Stanhopea...

Bulbophyllum specie

Orchids-What is an Orchid

Orchids-What is an Orchid


Orchids are seldom medicore:people either love them or loathe them.However,once they have become acquainted with orchids,most people are fascinated by them-occasionally to the point of obsession.Loathing often stems from an ignorance of the enormous orchid family and may be based on an elementary fear or dislike of the unknown.Of course,some orchid growers do give up,but almost certainly not because the flowers repulse them.

Orchids-What is an Orchid


What is an orchid?
There is no simple answer to the question "What is an orchid?" No clearcut statement is possible:there is no single country of origin,no single habit of growth,and no single shape and colour of flower.
The Orchidaceae form the largest family of flowering plants known to science.It is generally accepted that there are at least 25,000 native species,derived from approximately 750 genera grouped in numerous tribes and subtribes.

Orchids-What is an Orchid


Orchids are perennial plants found growing in a wide variety of situations and with different growth habits.Orchids' flowers vary in size from those requiring a magnifying glass to appreciate their full beauty,to blooms up to 20cm in diameter.And flowers may vary considerably in size and shape within a single genus,thus complicating species identification,even for an expert.

Orchids-What is an Orchid

Orchids-Patterns of Growth

Orchids-Patterns of Growth


The principal direction of growth of monopodial orchids is upwards,new growth being an extension of the growth of previous years.Leaves are produced alterntely on either side of a central stem,the interval between the leaves ranging from minimal to many centimeters.Although growth variation is less obvious among monopodial than sympodial orchids,it still exists.One extreme is shown by the genus Arachins,which is often described as having a climbing habit,the vigorous stems reaching the higher tree branches 10 or even 20m above ground.Such vigorous Arachins species from tropical areas of Asia are not suited to pot culture in temperate zones.

Orchids-Patterns of Growth


Occasionally,certain monopodial orchids will freely produce side growths from the leaf axils.But always the new growth is an extension of previous years,and pseudobulbs are never present.

Orchids-Patterns of Growth