Flowers and plants

Orchids 

This page contains following subjects:

• Introduction
• Use
• Care
• Some species

Introduction

Orchidaceae is the largest plant family. Orchids grow in many countries. In the Netherlands we have some species in the wild. Most species grow in tropical rain forest. In 18the century tropical orchids became well known in Europe. People start collecting them because of the beautiful flowers. There are about 40.000 species known. Orchids are collected in the wild, but this give a lot of damage to the species. 

Orchids are divided to the way they grow:

• Monopodiale way of growing. These have a central upright growing stem with flowers, example. Phalaenopsis.
• Sympodiale way of growing. These have a rootstock with on each site a new shoot. This shoot develop itself to a pseudobulb. On the pseudobulb the new flower stem will develop. example.

There are orchids who grow in the ground (terristic) and there are species who grow in a tree (epiphytic).

We divide orchid also to the way they bloom:

• Cyprepediacea
• Orchidaeae. The other orchids.

Use

Orchids are specific interesting for collectors. They keep the plants in special climate glasshouses. For in the house we can keep some species very good. They often can bloom for a long time. Species such as Phalaenopsis easy can rebloom again.
For flower art especially the flower is important. For exotic arrangements or a wedding bouquet it give a very special sense of beauty.

• Repotting can be done each 2 year in a special soil. We do this not before the pot is filled with roots completely. Orchid soil contain roots of fern, bark, peat, perlite and so on. Important for the orchid is the fungi, they live in symbiosis with it. A airy structure is very important. There are species who grow in soil, but many species grow in trees. Repot when a new shoot develops.
• Multiplying is not successful in the houses, but a specialist can  multiply the plants by taking off the pseudobulb. On the bulb new young plants can grow. When they have roots you can plant them.
• Light is very important, put the plants in front of the window and protect them for the son on the south side.
• Watering we can do with clean rain water. In summer you can give water once a week and in winter time once in 10 days. Put the water on top of the pot. Orchids can not stand wet roots.
• When you put the plants on a plate above the water (island method) they will have a better humidity around the plant.
• The plant need nutrition quite often.
• After flowering you cut back the stem very low. Only by Phalaenopsis you must cut of the stem between each two year above the third eye. Further on cut is low.
• Tip. Read in special books what kind of care the different species need.

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Last update of this page 23.05.2004