A Detailed Guide to the Different Types of Orchids
October 2nd, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed
Most people would be surprised to know that there are over 25,000 different types of orchids. Orchids have been around for over 100 million years and the flowers of all the types of orchids have a very distinctive look with three inner petals and a cupped petal that is distinct from the others.
Cymbidium Orchids
One of the most popular types of orchids is the cymbidium orchids. These orchids are typically found growing in locations around the world such as Japan, China, South East Asia and Australia. These are large and grassy plants which are amongst the best known of orchids because of their popularity as cut flowers.
Known as the king of the orchids, these orchids are popular and desirable because of the beautiful flowers they produce. They make great houseplants and are very common in floral arrangements. There is also a lot of variety with these orchids because they show very diverse color patterns, different for every species.
Denrobium Orchids
Another of the more popular types of orchids is the denrobiums. These orchids are considered as being quite exotic, and are also known as the Singapore orchid. They ooze with glamour and elegance, but are much more commonplace today as opposed to in the past.
Vanda
These orchids are usually flat with petals all of the same size, and are one of the most common or popular types of orchids that orchid growers love. They are monopodial orchids and there are about 80 species plants, native to China, the Himalayas, Indonesia and northern Australia. When it comes to the cultural requirements of the vanda orchids it is most important to remember that all vanda orchilds are of monopodial growth habit which means that they grow from the tip of the plant.
They are heavy feeders and should be given a solution of complete nutrients at least once a week. You should avoid using high nitrogen fertilizers on these plants as they will inhibit flowering.
Care and Maintenance
There are many other types of orchids that you can choose from as well, and it is important to be aware that each different type of orchid is going to require a different type of care. There are many effective ways to educate yourself more on this matter, including attending orchid shows and visiting nurseries.
Here there will be knowledgeable and experienced professionals who can offer you valuable information and make you feel more comfortable with growing and caring for orchids.
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A Guide to Repotting Orchids
September 26th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed
Orchids are truly tremendous plants. They take amazingly different shapes and forms and are available in a variety of breathtaking colors. Many people mistakenly think that orchids are difficult plants to grow but this is actually not true, and as long as you are educated and understanding on the plant genus and how they grow you should have no problems.
Repotting Orchids
Repotting orchids is often a difficult process however, and repotting an orchid for the first time can be especially daunting. This is particularly because repotting orchids is very different than repotting any other type of plant, and so even gardening experts often have troubles with this.
Repotting orchids is a very important step in their growth because an orchid that is kept in the same pot too long will flower poorly and eventually end up dying. There are two ways that you can tell if your orchid needs repotting. The first is to consider the size of the overall plant, and if it has become obvious that it is too large for the pot you have it planted in, of course you will need to move it to one of a larger size.
The other way that you can tell you need to repot your orchid is if the growing medium has broken down. If you can see that the growing medium has become sodden and mushy you will need to repot the plant in fresh medium, as this is the only way to keep the roots from rotting.
If you do not feel comfortable repotting orchids yourself you can always bring the plant in to a nursery or gardening center where they will have experts who can take on the task for you, but the best idea is to learn more about the orchid plants and about the steps that are required for proper repotting so that you can learn how to do it yourself in the future.
Remember that unless it is an absolute emergency, the best time that you can repot your orchid plant is just after it has begun to produce new growth but before the new roots of this growth have had time to elongate. This way you will not be ripping the roots out of the soil, but even if you are not able to do it at this specific time just keep in mind that any time the plant is not in flower is when it will be best to repot it.
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Rare Orchids: Names and Information
September 20th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed
The orchids are an incredibly large and diverse family of pets, and they bloom in a range of different colors and forms. There are more varieties of orchids than almost any other flowering plant, and they are also able to live in a range of different habitats.
Rare Orchids
Orchids are truly beautiful flowers, but there are some rare orchids which are particularly sought after. Of all the rare orchids that one can choose from, the Phal amboinesis ‘flava’ which is the rare albino variety of the Phal amboinesis ‘yellow’. These are known as monopodial orchids which have stems that grow indefinitely.
With these types of orchids the leaves always grow from the end of a stem and they also often produce aerial roots along their stems.
Then there are also sympodial orchids which are characterized mainly for their succession of shoots or bulb like stems. With these orchids the roots tend to form at the base of pseudobulbs. The rarest of these orchids include cattleyas and dendrobiums.
Cattelyas are very rare orchids and unbelievably beautiful flowers. They are best grown in a well drained pot or basket, and although of course watering is necessary you need to be sure not to overdo it with these plants because they will die almost immediately if over watered. They require a warm climate to grow and so if you live in a seasonal location you should be sure to take them indoors once the weather begins to get colder.
As for the dendrobiums, these are vigorous and easy to grow rare orchids that produce large numbers of flowers throughout the year, in varying colors. In order to keep your dendrobiums healthy there are a few tips you should keep in mind.
This includes fertilizing them weekly and frequently with a balanced fertilizer, and you should never use water that has been softened in salt consuming water softeners because this will be damaging to the plant. It is important to always remove any dead or dying parts of the plant as they will weigh the entire plant down and over time result in killing it.
There are many other orchids which are rare and beautiful as well, but it is important that you be aware of how to care for the specific type of orchid that you are interested in because there are different methods and tips that will be helpful, depending on the genus of orchids that you are growing.
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The Plus And The Minus Of Raising Orchids Under Lights
September 14th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed
For general knowledge, the light intensity is measured in fc which is the short form for foot candle or by klux which is an abbreviation of kilo lux which is the international measuring unit for light. The equation between a fc and a klux is that about 92.3 fcs make 1 klux. The light intensity can be measured with the help of a light meter which works best when used at the time the light is at its maximum, i.e. exactly at noon time.
Raising Orchids Under Lights – The Optimal Conditions
Orchids would normally require and revel in light of 10 thousand fcs or more. It is easier to adapt a low level light orchid to a high level light than vice-versa. You would never be able to coerce a high level light orchid to bloom in conditions where light is low. The low or medium level light orchids would tolerate more light better if they are watered more often. This would mean that plants that need watering every 10 days should be watered every eight days instead.
There are indicators that would tell you whether your plant is happy with the light you are providing or not. It is possible to study the orchids you are growing and know exactly what type of light they prefer. If you do not know where to go for guidance, visit an orchid sale shop and ask for their assistance regarding raising orchids under lights. They would be able to guide you pretty accurately.
Alternatively you could definitely use the Internet on raising orchids under lights, however for this option you need to know the name of your orchid so you could match it with the information available on the Internet. Check the leaves of your orchid carefully. If these are healthy green, hard and crisp to the touch the light is just okay. However, the light would be too low if they are dark green and if you find that the leaves are a funny purplish in color, then you are giving too much light to your orchid.
Raising Orchids Under Lights With The Best Help Available
There is always scope to raise orchids under artificial lights and if you so want, but be careful that you choose the right medium. When it comes to growing orchids you need to be highly accurate about the requirements of the plant or you would not get any results. Choose horticultural lamps over the household lamps because the former offers a better spectrum of light for plants.
What you need here for raising orchids under lights is the high intensity horticulture lamps which could emit 1000-9000 fc which would be just right for your favorite plants. These would give you the value for your money.
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Information on Purple Orchids
September 8th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed
There are over 25,000 orchid plants, as the orchid genus is one of the most populous plants in the world. Purple orchids are one of the favored types of orchids, because of their dramatic and exotic color and aroma. Although many people mistakenly think that orchids are a difficult plant to grow this is actually not true, and if you can grow houseplants you can grow orchids.
Getting Started
If you are interested in growing purple orchids, one of the best things that you can do is go out and get yourself a good book on orchids. This book will come in very handy during your orchid growing project and you will have something to turn to if you ever have a quick question or need some ideas.
You will also have to consider the environment that you have to offer. You do not need a greenhouse to grow your purple orchids but you will need a window or light in your home. Light is one of the most important elements to growing orchid plants of any kind, and as a general statement most orchid houseplants do well in medium light.
Purple orchids should not be crowded and this will also allow them all to get the sunlight that they need to strive, rather than being covered by other orchids. A sheer curtain may be required in order to protect your orchids from excessive light, or you can simply take them out of the window and put them in the shade once the harsh midday sun comes out. If you like to take your plants outside to get their sunlight, make sure that you use isopropyl alcohol to spot treat your plants to help keep them pest free.
You will also need to get them the proper growing material for the purple orchids, and most actually require no soil. Instead you will need to use rocks, mulch, sand, crumbled charcoal, pebbles, or another material depending on the specific type of orchids you are growing.
Learning how to grow orchids in your home is truly a beautiful hobby, and you can even take some of the flowers that you grow and use them in wedding bouquets or for making floral arrangements.
Growing orchids certainly does not have to be difficult and as long as you are educated and understanding on what you are doing then you should not have that many problems and should come out with some healthy and beautiful orchids.
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Taking Care Of Outdoor Orchids
September 2nd, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed
Orchids have very beautiful and exotic looking flowers which are the main attraction of these plants. Outdoors orchids are more common than growing orchids indoors because they need a medium amount of sunlight and, for some, lots of humidity. Outdoor orchids will need less care compared to those being grown indoors. There are just a few considerations that you will need to think about before you can rest assured that your plants will be well.
Tips For Growing Outdoor Orchids
Not all orchids want a lot of sunlight. This means that when opting for outdoor orchids, you will need to be aware of what kinds you have and how much sunlight they need. There are some orchids that thrive well in chilly places, while others do better in semi-hot atmospheres while other prefer the warmer regions. Ask the people where you purchased your orchid regarding how to take care of your latest buy and the best way to transplant them, if you have plans of doing so.
Most outdoor orchids will appreciate netting or a sort of filter over them. This netting will help lessen the intensity of the sun that beats down on the outdoor orchids and at the same time protect the fragile, delicate plants from falling leaves, small branches and other debris. The netting will also protect the outdoor orchids from possible strong rain and can also recreate a humid atmosphere. This humid atmosphere is necessary for kinds of orchids.
Since orchids are aerial plants, this means that they have no need for soil. Outdoor orchids can be attached to living trees and posts coated with bark. Putting the outdoor orchids in soil will rot their roots due to constant exposure to water. It is best to follow the orchids’ natural ways of living to achieve the best possible health for them. Outdoor orchids can also be a form of decoration for some areas of your yard, lawn or lanai. The beautiful blooms with radiant, crisp colors are a sight to behold.
Outdoors orchids tend to grow faster then their indoor counterparts. A large plant can be cut into several pieces as long as the roots are already exposed and have lengthened to as much as three inches. Some species of orchids grow roots in their body while others grow baby plants that appear in their roots.
Taking care of outdoor orchids and other plants can be a form of stress relief and relaxation. Investing in these plants can also yield beautiful flowers and good health.
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