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

Substrate for orchids

Substrate for orchids


Substrate for orchids

Different orchids require dissimilar substrates within which they will bloom. The orchids develop in the ground at a moderate temperature and in communal soil called as Bletilla. On the other hand, the Terrestrial orchid needs extremely porous and rich substrate. Besides, the young seedlings and plants require fine substrate as compared to the adult plants.

Substrate for orchids


Few of the worth mentioning substrates include:

Peat Moss: Also called as Sphagnum, is a classic compound available in majority of substrates for the orchids. It is prohibited picking peat moss, since this would imperil the plant as well as the disappearing habitat. The best quality of Sphagnum can be easily found in Chile and New Zealand. Its features include nice aeration and water absorption. Some orchids can grow their best in the substratum made exclusively of sphagnum, however, for majority of orchids it is mixed with the tree bark that do not retain water properly. Peat moss can be exercised for planting orchids on the tree bark, where the plant roots are wrapped in the moss and then are attached to small or large bark pieces. Various other mosses that grow in word are certainly not suitable for the orchid planting.

Shredded bark: It is the main ingredient included in many substrates, needed for the proper growth of orchid. The common bark that is found in this substrate is pine. Shredded bark comes in various fractions, including finely shredded, mid sized shredded and roughly shredded particles. In majority of the cases, the grower will exercise bark along with fine shredded bark particles.

Substrate for orchids

Orchids Requirements

Orchids Requirements


Most orchids require the same care: like having a lot of light (not direct!) and plenty of water, which incidentally can not even stand in a decorative container, for flower it would be bad. If you foster your orchid properly, the new flowers, depending on the species, occur in three to six months.

Do not re-potting orchids too often in the new container. Normally, do this only a few times. And one more bad news - under ambient conditions is very difficult to reproduce orchids. Continue to do your best with orchids Cymbidium: once from the earth grows six germ flower is simply divided into two smaller flowers.

Orchids Requirements

Types of Orchids

Vanda


Oncidium


Miltonia

The most common type, which you can get in our places are Phalenopsis and Cymbidium. The first feature numerous short and broad leaves, while the type Cymbidium is known by a large number of long and narrow leaves (at times reminiscent of the wide grass) and some root strips.



Dendrobium


Cattleya

Room garden - Orchids

Room garden - Orchids

Representatives of this group of plants derived from the family of orchid sites, the most extensive plant family of flowering plants on Earth. Recently, orchids are one of the most popular groups of room plants
Specifics

Each specific type of orchid has a specificity associated with cultivation. If exposure to some common characteristics: it was worth it to get the orchids flower only once, on one flower (Cymbidium) or repeated (Phalenopsis) that can be properly removed or cut.

When flower buds appear, orchids do not remove. Only by opening up the first button, we bring them to the desired location. Neither of these orchids does not like the too much water in decorating container, therefore, ensure the proper watering and disposal of excess water. Not repotting them too often and always ensures the proper substrate for orchids, which should be allowed to drip.


Room garden - Orchids


Room garden - Orchids

Tips for growing orchids

Tips for growing orchids

Tips for growing orchids
1. Orchids should not be exposed to sunlight heat, particularly in the midday hours, but be sure to have enough light. The apartment is on the cultivation of orchids the most appropriate east and west windows.
2. The orchid for growing need high humidity. Ensure you to place the container in a room filled with water. Very effective way of damping is to spray plants with sufficient care for the humidity of the air.
3. Water for watering orchids should not contain too much calcium.
4. Orchid roots need moisture, but they sometimes leave to almost completely dry. Excess water is always more dangerous than its lack. Only in summer days, when the new shoots of the most intensive growth, we can be a little more carefree.
5. Air roots should not be removed until they are fresh.
6. Very practical for transplants are prepared substrate mixture for orchids, which you can buy in the flower shop.


Tips for growing orchids


Tips for growing orchids

Orchids -Most Beautiful Flowers

Orchids -Most Beautiful Flowers

If God really exists and he did something nice, so that could be women and orchids. Each one on own way radiates its own beauty, tenderness, charm and grace. Without them it would be life on earth boring and sad. In Orchids family belong more than 30,000 species of plants which grow in all climatic zones except the Arctic, the Antarctic climate and ice mountain areas. Their specialty is two-sex flowers, consisting of three provisional and three petals. Gives the typical appearance of the back leaves, known as labelum and is a different color from the other flower leaves. Beautiful flowers are a wide variety of shapes and colors, which are very long time persist in the plant, or cut off in the pot.


Orchids -Most Beautiful Flowers

Wonderful Orchids Flowers

Wonderful Orchids Flowers

On the flowers is worth the wait.
Sometimes it is necessary to first orchid flowers wait a few years, a possible long wait, the more are looking forward to the first flowers. In particular, since some types of orchids flower two to three months. We should not even think that orchids are interesting only for their flowers. On its own way orchids are pretty well as a green house plant. When we try to cultivate the orchids for the first time, we must carefully select the type of cultivation. We should starts with the one of the simpler types, which may be already on the window shelf ensure conditions similar to the natural environment orchids.


Wonderful Orchids Flowers

The Genera and Species of Orchids

The Genera and Species of Orchids

Phalaenopsis
Phalaenopsis is the most widespread genus orchid. You can bring up in the apartment, as well as in greenhouses. It was named from the Greek word phalaina - moth and opsis - because its flowers look like moth
Vanda
The name derives from Sanskrit’s name Vanda for the species Vanda tessellata. Their homeland is India, Himalayas, Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Philippines, New Guinea, southern China and northern Australia.
Paphiopedilum
Paphiopedilum is widespread in southern China, India, South Asia and the Pacific Islands. It was named from the Greek words Paphos - the name of the city in Cyprus and pedilon - shoes.
Cattleya
In nature is found from Costa Rica to tropical Central America. Genus was named after William Cattley, which has successfully raised Cattleya labiata orchid species, which is used as packaging material in the transport of other orchids.
Cymbidium
The name derives from the Greek word kumbos - hole, because the lips are in the middle of a flower designed in the hole. Their home is a tropical and subtropical Asia (Northern India, China, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Borneo), and northern Australia.
Dendrobium
Their homeland is Asia, the Philippines, Borneo, Australia, New Guinea and New Zealand. The name derives from the Greek word dendron - a tree, and bios - life.
Oncidium
It is a genus that is very complex, as some species are reclasificied. The name derives from the Greek word onkos - swelling, whereas the lower lip flowers look like they were swollen.
Miltonia
This is a small orchid genus, which is named after Lord Fitzwilliam Milton, who was an English lover of orchids. Their homeland is the central and southern Brazil to Argentina.
Zygopetalum
Masdevallia
Epidendrum
Ludisia discolor
Hybrids: Burrageara, Cambria, Miltasia...


The Genera and Species of Orchids

Watering Orchids

One of the fastest ways to kill an orchid is to let it sit in a waterlogged pot. The frequency of watering depends on the type of orchid, media, light conditions, container characteristics and temperature.When orchids are actively growing, water them once per week.


Watering Orchids

At each watering, apply enough water so that some drains from the bottom of the pot. Orchids rest after flowering; watering should be reduced at this time. Water is especially critical for phalaenopsis.Do not let phalaenopsis completely dry out.Do not allow water to remain on the leaves or in the leaf axils, as this may readily lead to disease and death.


Watering Orchids


Watering Orchids

Temperature for growing Orchids

Orchids are not as delicate and temperature sensitive plants as most people think. Most will adapt readily to conditions offered by any home or greenhouse. For growing purposes, we group orchids into three temperature classes:medium,cool,warm.


Temperature for growing Orchids

The medium temperature class is represented by many Cattleyas, Epidendrums, Oncidiums, and Laelias, and most other commercially available orchids. The ideal minimum temperature is 60 degrees F nights and high 70s during the days. An occasional deviation will have no harmful effect. This group will do very well with the air, temperature, and light facilities found in the average home.


Temperature for growing Orchids

The cool class includes Cymbidiums, Cypripediums, Odontoglossums and Miltonias, and should be grown 5 degrees to 10 degrees F cooler than the medium class. These plants also require high light, so imagine cool, sunny October mornings as an example of the light and temperature that this class needs.


Temperature for growing Orchids

Warm class orchids are represented by Phalaenopsis, Paphiopedilums, Vandas, Rhynchostylus and Dendrohiums. These plants should be grown 5 degrees F warmer than those in the Medium Class. They do well in high humidity and can be grown outdoors in Georgia from late spring to early fall if shaded and protected from rain. Never expose orchids of this class to less than 45 degrees F. During cold, freezing night temperatures, all orchid plants should be moved away from the window to provide a protective airspace against freezing. Air temperature can be 15 to 20 degrees F cooler near the windows than the room temperature.




Temperature for growing Orchids


Temperature for growing Orchids

Growing Orchids

Orchid Cultural Requirements
Growing Medium
There are many different types of orchid potting medium used in orchid culture. The overall consideration is to provide structural support for the orchid roots, but also to provide lots of air spaces between medium particles. Many orchid plants are grown in osmunda fiber. This fiber comes from the roots of the Osmunda fern that is native to Australia and the Pacific. The tough, wiry fibers break down very slowly and is an ideal potting medium. Fresh pine bark is also a popular medium but is usually mixed with other amendments before use. Both materials are sometimes mixed with peat and perlite or vermiculite. Some orchids are even grown in pebbles mixed with bark. Most orchid roots are adapted to being exposed to air and harsh conditions, but cannot tolerate being wet for more than a day or two.


Growing Orchids

Orchids grow slowly compared to houseplants. However, most orchids need to be repotted about once every two years. To pot an orchid, the pot is filled about two-thirds with orchid potting medium, then the plant is set in the pot with its roots spread out. The growing tip either centered (monopodials) or placed two fingers from the pot rim (sympodial). Then additional media is packed tightly around the plant to hold it in place. You should be able to turn the pot upside down without the orchid or medium falling out. Practice will insure successful repotting. When the plant outgrows the pot by extending the new shoots over the edge, usually about every two years, it is time to repot.


Growing Orchids

Light
The ideal place in the home for growing orchids is a bright window, free from drafts, where your plants receive indirect sunlight both morning and afternoon. (A south window is best.) In winter, give orchids all the light possible. Light intensity should be between 1500 and 2000 foot candles the equivalent to a bright south-facing window. With extra large windows or especially intense sunlight, the light may be adjusted downward by moving plants 18 to 36 inches from the window. Plants in the home require a greater light intensity because they receive light from only one direction, while in a greenhouse they receive light from many sides. Many orchids can be grown in a greenhouse or outdoors. All will require partial shade. Therefore, it is best to shade the section of the greenhouse you intend using or else grow them in an area that you have already shaded for foliage plants or African violets. Dendrobium Oncidium and Vanda will grow best in 20-30% of normal outdoor light, whereas Phalaenopsis-type orchids require only 10- 15 % of normal light.


Growing Orchids

Presentation of Orchids

Orchids is the largest family of the flowering plants.Its name is derived from the genus Orchis.
There are over 880 genera, 28,000 species and well over 300,000 registered cultivars currently documented.Orchids are also one of the most adaptable plant groups on earth.Tundra, rainforest, mountain, grassy plain, desert and swamp environments contain numerous orchid species.


Presentation of Orchids

Orchids produce seed pods with literally hundreds of thousands of seed that are released and scattered by the wind. Orchid seeds must establish a symbiotic relationship with a special fungus to survive its first year of life. The fungi gathers water and minerals for itself and the seedling, and the seedling shares its sugars from photosynthesis with the fungus. Only one or two orchid seeds will ever germinate and survive on that perfect crevice or depression that is both moist and has the fungus present. Even then, its chances to survive in the wild long enough to bloom are slim.


Presentation of Orchids

To avoid this problem, greenhouse growers sow orchid seeds on moist, sugar-rich, sterile agar, or they cut out growing clumps of orchid cells and place them on the agar. These techniques allow many hundreds of orchid plants to survive to maturity. New and improved hybrids can be mass produced rapidly. This is important as orchids are very slow growing. Many orchids take five to seven years to mature to flowering. You can see why breeding three or four orchid generations could span a person's lifetime just to get one new hybrid propagated sufficiently for sale.


Presentation of Orchids


Presentation of Orchids