Plants and Trees - Orchid Plants
About Orchid Plants
History of the Orchid Plant
Man years ago orchid plants were classified as a luxury item and collectors and lovers of the plant became obsessive and they travelled all over the world to find new species. There are over 30,000 orchid plant species. The largest population of orchid plant species is found in the Asian countries with the most popular specie being the striking slipper orchid. South America is home to many wild orchids which makes the country 2nd ranked with the most population. Wild orchids grow greatly all over the world and they can be found in almost every country of the world except in the Polar Regions. Overall all of the orchid plant species have 2 main ways of growing and they are categorized into 4 main groupings which include:
- Climbing Orchid Plants, which are found high above the ground and growing off trees.
- Terrestrial Orchids, which their roots are planted into soil.
- Lithophytes Orchids, which grow off very little soil or hard rock surfaces.
- Saprophytes Orchids, which are generally wild and receive very little attention and they thrive off decaying fungi elements.
Orchid Plant Flower
The flower of the orchid plant generally has 6 petals and a distinctive lip which gives the flower and plant a unique appearance. When the plant is not flowering and only buds are intact the leaves of the plant are evergreens, narrow and broad. They can be found in large or small sizes depending on the growth and age of the plant. Some plants reach up to 3 meters in sizes. The coloring of the leaves is generally of a green, silver, or mottled tone. The coloring of the orchid flower generally ranges from, pink, white, purple, red and yellow depending on the specie type. Popular Orchid Plant Species
Because the orchid plant is so popular new species and types are becoming available from local garden nursery centers. Although the range of orchids is vast choosing a plant can be a difficult task. Some orchids are easier to grow than others. Some may be required to be grown indoors and some outdoors in gardens. Here is a list of popular and common orchid plants which are easily grown in gardens, landscaping, pots and indoors:
- Cattleya:
- Cymbidium
- Phalaenopsis
- Miltoniopsis
- Oncidium
- Dendrobium
Orchid Plant and Growing Care
The most important consideration which should be carefully dealt with is the use of proper orchid fertilizer which is only designed for orchid plants. Secondly temperature is an important part of maintaining and growing healthy plants. Orchid plants need sufficient sun light enable to grow healthily. The plant will convert certain rays of the sunlight and transform it into chemical energy to help it grow. Watering is vital for the plant to grow but they should not be over watered. Orchid plants which are used for indoor purposes should always be situated near windows or on windowsills to ensure they receive a sufficient amount of light, energy and air. Orchid plants are faced with common pests and disease issues. Specific pesticides are designed to eliminate these problems which occur in orchid plants.
