Orchids and
Orchid Care
The
popularity of orchids has increased tremendously in
recent years. Fresh cut stems of spray orchids are
being produced by the hundreds of thousands in
places like Hawaii and Thailand. Orchid plants are
regularly featured in the interior layouts of
shelter magazines, and more and more flower shops
are carrying them on a regular basis. Orchids are
now the second-highest selling blooming plants in
the U.S. (behind poinsettias), and as availability
has increased, prices have come down.
Orchids
have always been associated with a sense of the
exotic, wild, and rare, and orchid care has a
reputation for being difficult and mysterious, which
seems to make them that much more special and
desirable. In fact, growing orchids isn't really
that hard if you choose the right varieties. Some
are quite durable and resilient. But even if you
don't want to actually grow them, orchid blooms last
a long time on the plants; longer than a bouquet of
cut flowers. So you could think of a blooming orchid
plant simply as a very long lasting fresh
arrangement, and discard the plant when it's
finished flowering. To most people, orchid plants
aren't that attractive without the flowers.
One
of the easiest orchids to care for is the
phalaenopsis
(fail-an-OP-sis), sometimes called the Moth or
Butterfly Orchid. The phalaenopsis orchid produces
flowers with a broad, flat petal on either side,
resembling the open wings of a butterfly. These
orchids are most often seen in a crisp white color
with a lemon-yellow throat, although many other
colors and patterns are grown, with new ones
appearing on the market all the time. Purple, pink,
and peach shades are prevalent. Some varieties have
minute speckles on a contrasting background color.
Others have flashy pinstripes on their petals. The
flowers usually range from about 2 inches to nearly
5 inches wide. Depending on the variety, a
phalaenopsis orchid can produce a scape (flowering
stalk) with anywhere from 3 to 20 flowers on it, and
older, mature plants may have 3 or 4 scapes in bloom
at one time. The plant also grows elongated, often
rounded leaves that lie more or less flat in two
ranks on top of the growing medium. Wiggly,
silver-gray aerial roots are also produced, which
serve to draw moisture from the air or from the
potting mix.
Phalaenopsis orchids, like the majority of orchid
plants, are known botanically as epiphytes. In the
wild, epiphytic plants (including orchids,
bromeliads, anthuriums, and many ferns) live high in
the branches of trees where they can benefit from
maximum exposure to bright light and fresh air. They
absorb needed moisture from the humid atmosphere of
their natural environments. They obtain nutrition
from decomposing organic matter, such as leaf
litter, that accumulates among their roots or in the
forked tree branches where they're perched. In order
to provide the best orchid care, we try to duplicate
those growing conditions as closely as possible.
That means that orchid plants are typically potted
in a growing medium composed of bark, crushed
charcoal, lava stones, sphagnum moss, or some
combination of the above. Planting an orchid in
ordinary potting soil would eventually lead to its
death from suffocation.
An
orchid's roots must have access to humid air, and
orchid growing media are designed to provide a moist
and humid environment around the roots, while at the
same time allowing plenty of fresh air to circulate.
Bark and porous stones, etc., give the roots
something to anchor themselves to while supporting
the orchid plant upright in its pot. Allow the
potting mix to approach dryness in between thorough
waterings. Such a growing medium will drain quickly,
preventing the roots from drowning. However, it will
not retain very much nutrition for the orchid plant.
Therefore, orchids should be fed with almost every
watering, using a dilute solution of fertilizer,
specifically prepared for orchid plants. Once the
flowers have come and gone, stop fertilizing and
slow down a bit on the watering. Let the growing
medium dry slightly and give the orchid plant a
chance to rest for several weeks, but don't allow
the leaves to shrivel.
Most
species of orchids require very bright light in
order to grow and flourish. However, the
phalaenopsis orchid is one type that will
survive
in less light, making it easier to grow. Another
somewhat shade-tolerant variety is the Lady Slipper
orchid (Paphiopedilum sp.). The Lady Slipper has a
rounded lip that extends from the face of the
flower, looking like the toe of a ballet slipper and
giving this orchid its common name. The 'paphs', as
they are affectionately called, often have
colorfully-mottled foliage, making them somewhat
attractive even when not in bloom. In any case, it's
best to grow orchid plants in pots that are placed
on top of a gravel-filled tray. Keep the gravel wet,
with the bottoms of the pots above the water level.
As water evaporates from the tray, the atmosphere
immediately surrounding the orchids will stay nice
and humid.
There
are, of course, many other species of orchids which
may be successfully grown indoors, including
cattleyas, miltonias,
cymbidiums, and others. For more detailed
information about orchid care, visit the website of
the American Orchid Society (www.orchidweb.org).
There are more than 20,000 known species of orchids,
and untold numbers of wild orchids that haven't been
discovered. The sad truth, however, is that the
natural growing habitat of orchids - the tropical
rain forest - is rapidly disappearing through
irresponsible management and clear-cutting.
Among
cut flowers, some of the more popular and readily
available varieties are the so-called spray orchids,
including dendrobiums, oncidiums, arachnis,
arantheras, and vandas. Dendrobiums usually come in
white, purple, or some combination of the two,
although green varieties are also obtainable. The
flowers are normally between the size of a quarter
and a fifty-cent piece, occurring on graceful,
linear sprays anywhere from 10 inches to two feet or
more in length. They're long lasting and can add a
touch of class to any flower arrangement.
Oncidiums, also known as Dancing Lady orchids, have
delicate yellow flowers speckled in brown, and are
arranged on wispy, branching stems. Their common
name comes from the fact that the lower petal of the
flower is wide, rounded, and slightly ruffled like a
miniature ballgown. Though not quite as durable as
the dendrobium orchids, oncidiums are exquisitely
bright and appealing.
Less
commonly seen as cut flowers are the vanda, the
arachnis, and the aranthera orchids. Vandas are
usually crowded on relatively short, fairly thick
stems. Long lasting and sturdy, they're available in
an interesting range of colors, including a smokey
purple, a deep burgundy, and a brassy gold with tiny
brownish speckles. Arachnis orchids are also called
'Spider Orchids', and the shape of the flower lives
up to the name. Their stringy, greenish-yellow
petals are eerily marked with blood-red splotches.
Arantheras feature slender blossoms on firm stems.
One variety, 'James Storei', has attractive
brick-red flowers on long, branching sprays.
Even
though they may be grown in faraway places, your
favorite professional florist can usually get any of
these orchids for you with enough advance notice.
Perhaps they are already carrying them as part of
their usual inventory. In any case, with Mother's
Day approaching, consider sending Mom a long-lasting
orchid plant, some sprays of cut orchid blossoms
arranged in a vase, or a traditional
cymbidium orchid corsage. She'll be sure to
appreciate the exotic beauty of these fascinating
flowers.
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