Orchid Plants - How Are They Different?
I get a lot of requests for orchid plants and an equal number of phone calls about how to take care of them.
In this series of articles, I will explain the types of orchids, how to choose and how to look after them.
Orchid plants...
so exotic they HAVE to be hard to care for, aren't they? Nope, not true! Once you have identified the keys to success you too can have a lovely blooming plant and if you work a little harder at it, you can rebloom it so that you can enjoy it over and over again.
One of our neighbours has a phalaenopsis plant that has been blooming repeatedly for over 23 years! What is an orchid? There are 2 types: •epiphytes which cling to tree branches, often preferring to sit in the crotch of a tree; and •terrestrials/semiterrestirals that grow on or in the ground Many people say orchids are parasites - but they are not.
They attach themselves to trees but do not steal nutrients from them.
More of a symbiotic relationship, really.
Orchids present the second largest family of flowering plants in the world (first is aster/daisy/sunflower).
80% of orchids originate in the tropics but there are 40 types of orchids native to British Columbia! See this article for more information on that subject http://www.
geog.
ubc.
ca/biodiversity/eflora/orchidsbc.
html.
Orchids have different flower type and root structure than other plants.
Ephyphytic orchids typically have thick roots that actually pull in moisture from the environment around them.
A potted plant will send these air roots out in all directions.
Incidentally - the root helps you tell the epiphytes from the terrestrial plants.
Terrestrial roots are often hairy and epiphytes are smooth.
The orchid flower differs from other flowers such as lilies in a few ways.
Botanically speaking, the main difference is that the male and female part of the flower are fused together into an organ called the column.
In a lily, they are separate.
Also, the pollen of an orchid is not dust like, rather it is sticky.
Orchids therefore don't self pollinate, they need help from insects.
The flowers are "zygomorphic" meaning that you need to cut them in half on one angle alone to have the two halves be identical - other flowers are identical when spilt on any angle.
Not so botanically speaking...
The flowers on an orchid are very different from other flowers.
They are very rigid, almost waxy and firm in texture.
And they can last so long! This is in part because of their difficulty in pollination.
In my next post I will discuss different types of orchids and how to choose them.
In this series of articles, I will explain the types of orchids, how to choose and how to look after them.
Orchid plants...
so exotic they HAVE to be hard to care for, aren't they? Nope, not true! Once you have identified the keys to success you too can have a lovely blooming plant and if you work a little harder at it, you can rebloom it so that you can enjoy it over and over again.
One of our neighbours has a phalaenopsis plant that has been blooming repeatedly for over 23 years! What is an orchid? There are 2 types: •epiphytes which cling to tree branches, often preferring to sit in the crotch of a tree; and •terrestrials/semiterrestirals that grow on or in the ground Many people say orchids are parasites - but they are not.
They attach themselves to trees but do not steal nutrients from them.
More of a symbiotic relationship, really.
Orchids present the second largest family of flowering plants in the world (first is aster/daisy/sunflower).
80% of orchids originate in the tropics but there are 40 types of orchids native to British Columbia! See this article for more information on that subject http://www.
geog.
ubc.
ca/biodiversity/eflora/orchidsbc.
html.
Orchids have different flower type and root structure than other plants.
Ephyphytic orchids typically have thick roots that actually pull in moisture from the environment around them.
A potted plant will send these air roots out in all directions.
Incidentally - the root helps you tell the epiphytes from the terrestrial plants.
Terrestrial roots are often hairy and epiphytes are smooth.
The orchid flower differs from other flowers such as lilies in a few ways.
Botanically speaking, the main difference is that the male and female part of the flower are fused together into an organ called the column.
In a lily, they are separate.
Also, the pollen of an orchid is not dust like, rather it is sticky.
Orchids therefore don't self pollinate, they need help from insects.
The flowers are "zygomorphic" meaning that you need to cut them in half on one angle alone to have the two halves be identical - other flowers are identical when spilt on any angle.
Not so botanically speaking...
The flowers on an orchid are very different from other flowers.
They are very rigid, almost waxy and firm in texture.
And they can last so long! This is in part because of their difficulty in pollination.
In my next post I will discuss different types of orchids and how to choose them.
Source...