Plant Gardens 101

Orchids are a very unique family of flowers; they are the largest family of flowering plants. The orchid has evolved so successfully that there is only one continent in the world where they do not grow naturally – Antarctica. The evolutions of the orchids mean that they have learnt to adapt to each individual environment. During this process of adaptation the orchid has drawn on arachnids, insects, birds and butterflies to ensure its successful pollination. We all have an idea that orchids are a beautiful flower – some are not, however, their achievements of survival still make them worthy of admiration.

The orchid family divides into three sections, Firstly the sympodial; this has developed in dry climates and stores water in swollen stems a sort of ‘pseudo bulb’. The second type is a monopodial; this type of orchid has one upward growing stem, a rhizome, and continually produces new leaves from an apex. This type does not reproduce easily, but if the main stem is damaged it may produce a new young plant from the base. The third and least common type of orchid is the diapodial; it grows in a similar manner to the sympodials, but without the bulbs.

Orchids grow and gather their food and moisture by different means as well. Most orchids attach themselves to trees or twigs, some to rock while the third place themselves more conventionally in soil.

The needs of an orchid are much less than many plants, this has been key to its survival. As with all plants the roots are the means of nourishing the orchid, however, with an orchid the roots have another function, they are the means of the orchid anchoring them self. It is the roots of the epiphytic orchid which holds it to the tree or rock with out which the orchid may perish. These exposed roots will absorb from the atmosphere the necessary moisture for survival; an orchid which is anchored to a tree may also absorb nourishment from the bird droppings or moulds on the bark of the tree.

The orchid is recognized as an exotic plant and has become the obsession of many an avid gardener. The wide variety of orchid plants means that there is a plant to suit almost every environment and if desired anyone can nurture an orchid. The range of orchids is constantly growing and a record of the different types is kept at the Royal Horticultural Society in London. This record contains all the recognized naturally occurring orchids as well as the hybrid orchids. Some orchids are now so rare that they are classified as endangered and protected by law. In the US there are certain orchids which are so rare that if you are caught picking or damaging one it is punishable under both federal and state law!

Orchid hybrids are naturally occurring as well and bred by enthusiasts. The ability of the orchid to evolve means that it is continually changing, it is possible that there are orchid hybrids formed and lost faster than man can record them. This is why the orchid has appealed to so many people; the survival of the orchid captures the imagination and then the sight of its delicate flowers draw people in to its world of wonders.

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About Jon Kelly

Jon Kelly is a published author who writes articles, that includes information on gardening and Orchids. Learning about the orchids history,charm and mysticism will make it an even more addictive hobby.To find out more please visit: http://www.theorchidguide.com

Orchids, despite their delicate appearance and reputation, are quite hardy plants that are resistant to diseases and pests – as long as they have the right growing conditions. Your best defense against the diseases and pests that affect orchids is to make sure that you keep humidity, light, temperature and ventilation levels within the optimal levels for the orchids you’re growing.

Water problems are one of the key causes of problems that affect orchids. Standing water on the leaves or around the roots can encourage root rot and invite bacteria and fungi to attack the plant. Controlling the humidity level around your orchids can help prevent many of the most common pest infestations and diseases that damage and kill orchids. (more…)

Because of the wide variety of orchid species, it’s impossible to generalize about their growing habits and preferences. It all depends on which kind of orchid you’re dealing with whether it prefers to grow in the air, on a rock, in bark or moss or in the soil. Orchids are divided into three different groups.

Epiphytes are the most familiar orchids for most people. They are ‘air growers’, taking their nutrients from the air, though the usually grow on and in trees. Unlike many plants that grow in trees, epiphytic orchids are not parasites and don’t harm the plants on which they grow. Cattleya, cymbidium and dendrobium are epiphytes, as are most of the orchids that are commonly cultivated. (more…)

Dendrobium orchids are mostly found in tropical areas, but some have adapted to more cooler climates. Some species grow on trees, while a few can be found growing on rocks. Some of these plants shed their leaves in the fall or water, while others are evergreen. If you’re interested in growing one, there are a few things you need to know. This article will give you a few tips on how to take care of dendrobium orchids.

Air
It’s important to provide good air movement. This will help prevent water from accumulating and leading to the formation of mold. You can simply open up a window in the room to provide adequate air movement. A small fan can also be used, but it shouldn’t be pointed directly at your plant.

Temperature
As mentioned earlier, dendrobium orchids are usually found in tropical areas. It’s best that you provide a temperature range between 70 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit during the day. At night, a range between 65 and 75 is good. You can expose the plant to extremely cold or hot temperatures for a short time without causing major damage. (more…)

Orchid fertilizer is essential for keeping your plant thriving. It delivers a blend of nutrients that the plant converts into energy for development and growth. If you’re unfamiliar with the basics of using fertilizer, this article will tell you everything you need to know.

Macronutrients
Every good fertilizer contains three important macronutrients. They include nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium. This is commonly abbreviated NPK. Nitrogen mainly helps the plant’s stem and leaves grow. While growth will likely be restricted if the plant doesn’t get enough nitrogen, too much can reduce flowering.

Phosphorous is essential for production of protein, which is necessary for the production of flowers. If the orchid doesn’t receive enough, growth may slow dramatically. It can also cause the plant to lose flowers early. The element potassium plays a role in loss and absorption of water. It also helps synthesize proteins. (more…)

Cymbidium orchids are commonly used for corsages or cut flowers because of their large flowers. One spike may have up to 30 flowers, each one measuring between four and six inches. These flowers can look good for more than two months after being cut. If you’re looking to grow one of these orchids, there are a few things you need to know beforehand. This article will teach you how to care for cymbidium orchids.

Light
These orchids usually grow best when kept outdoors for most of the year. You should give them as much light as possible. However, never expose them to intense direct sunlight as that can burn the leaves. When given the right amount of light, the plant’s leaves will be light green and firm. (more…)

Jewel orchids have very elegant leaves. Therefore, they are valued less for their flowers than for their foliage. If you want to grow one of these plants, there are a few things you should know beforehand. This article will give you a few tips on how to care for a jewel orchid.

Light
In the wild, these plants grow in places with low light. Therefore, it’s best to provide low or medium light when growing one yourself. Avoid strong sunshine or bright light at all cost. You can simply use incandescent or fluorescent lights to provide the right amount of light.

Humidity
Jewel orchids require high humidity. If you’re growing one in your home, then you need to pay special attention. This is because your air conditioner or heater will reduce the humidity in the home. (more…)

Cattleya orchids are one of the most common species grown. They are often referred to as corsage orchids thanks to their big flowers. The flowers can measure up to eight inches and are also fragrant. If you want to grow one of your own, there are a few things you should know beforehand. This article will give you a few tips for growing cattleya orchids.

Humidity
Maintaining proper humidity levels is extremely important when caring for one of these plants. The relative humidity in your home should fall between 50 and 80 percent. This can easily be done by using a humidity tray. Simply sit the orchid atop a tray of gravel filled with a little water. (more…)

Vanda orchids originate in eastern Asia and northern Australia. This genera in the orchid family requires expert care, so beginners shouldn’t start out trying to grow one. This article will give you a few tips for growing these plants properly.

Light
Vandas thrive with plenty of sunlight. You should give them at least half a day of light. It’s best that you put them in your brightest window. Make sure that you don’t forget to relocate them as the seasons change. This will allow them to receive as much light as they need. If you give them sufficient light, they will probably bloom two or three times each year. (more…)

Orchids have more than 22,000 species listed on the books, though it is suspected that there are more out there. These beautiful flowers come in all shapes, colors and sizes. Considered to be rather delicate flowers, orchids plant care is often undertaken by professional gardens for sale to florists. However, you can also find plenty of free orchid articles on how to care for these lovely blooms at home.

Where Orchids Can Be Grown:

The truth is that orchids are a cosmopolitan flower, which means they grow just about anywhere in the world and under a diverse number of conditions. While the tropics are home to a larger number of orchid flowers, they can also be found in desert conditions, cold climates (such as above the Arctic Circle) and even on glaciers.

An overwhelming majority of tropical orchids grow on trees and shrubs, often suspended in the air. However, for the purposes of growing orchids in more temperate climates, earth-bound species are usually used. (more…)

Young orchids need better care than more mature plants. If this is your first time growing one, then there are a few things you should know beforehand. This article will give you a few tips to help you grow one properly.

Light
More mature plants are in the flowering stage. Therefore, they require a higher level of light intensity than their younger counterparts. Immature orchids normally have light green leaves. If you notice the leaves are dark green instead, you should provide the plant with more lighting.

Scorching
As you just learned, providing the right amount of lighting is crucial to proper care. However, you need to make sure that there are no drops of water on the leaves. This will concentrate sunlight and result in the leaves becoming scorched. Young orchids are usually too delicate to survive this type of injury. This is less serious with older plants, as they can usually recover from this type of injury. (more…)

Growing orchids can be easy when you know how Aside from the many online sources, common sense, attention and patience will bring you through the exciting activity of orchid growing. The main two things to note when you grow orchids are water and light.

Water can make or break your orchid. Remember that orchids are air plants meaning they should have free air circulating around them. If you haven’t noticed, orchids are found where there is constant breeze. Stagnant air certainly does not allow drying of potting medium and leafage. During warmer days it might be necessary to spray mist or dampen the orchid house floor to enhance vaporization. (more…)

There are virtually thousands of orchid species found throughout the world. You will likely want to choose a plant that produces beautiful flowers. However, you will also need to consider the type of environment that you can provide. This article will discuss some of the most popular orchid species.

Dendrobium
This is one of the most popular varieties. These plants produces either twins or triplets of three inch flowers. The flowers come in colors of red, white, orange, and purple. Dendrobium orchids can go relatively tall, so you need to make sure you provide stability with a stake. During the summer months, you need to give them full light, humidity, and provide warm temperatures. They like less humidity and heat during the winter. (more…)

Growing and caring for orchids is a very pleasurable experience for any enthusiast. There is however an alternative to growing orchids the traditional way and that is with hydroponics. Hydroponics allows you to grow crops and plants without soil or compost as the roots of the plants are placed in a mineral nutrient solution.

The Babylonians and Aztecs cultures grew plants without soil so technically they were using a form of hydroponics. Our technology and scientific knowledge has improved dramatically since the times of the Babylonians and Aztecs as well as our understanding of the benefits

In their natural environment, plants absorb mineral nutrients from soil when these nutrients dissolve in water. The level of our understanding of the required nutrients has enabled us to artificially introduce them into the plants water supply and as a result the soil is no longer required.

Please be aware that there is a difference between hydroponics and a soilless culture. Hydroponics is a type of soilless culture but other soilless cultures include sand and gravel.

There are many advantages using hydroponics which can be applied to the care of orchids.

• No soil – It should be obvious that you don’t need to purchase any soil. No soil means that soil borne diseases are no longer an issue which reduces the need for pesticides.

• No weeding required

• Watering – It is very difficult to under water an orchid but over watering is a very common problem. Hydroponics removes this headache and at the same time saves water.

• Space – Less space is required with hydroponics.

• Light – More of the plant is exposed to sunlight. Also, as more of the plant is exposed it is possible to see the roots so identification on any problems is easier.

• It’s easy – The system is very easy to set up and once set up it requires very little maintenance.

• Growth – The orchid is given the correct nutrients in the correct quantities which means more beautiful and healthy orchids can be grown.

There are obviously many advantages which hydroponics provides. It won’t however solve all the problems faced by the orchid enthusiast. Greater flower yield isn’t always guaranteed and the costs can sometimes be higher than when grown in soil.

Orchid enthusiasts should make an effort to at grow at least a few orchids using this method. They will be surprised at the ease of using hydroponics and it will only increase their knowledge and experience in the care of orchids.

Nigel owns OrchidCareExpert, a website which contains lots of useful information if you wish to know more about orchid care

View more articles from Nigel Howell

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The orchid family is not only the largest but one of the most diverse plant flowering families in the world. The orchid was one of the first plants to evolve on earth, it was around in the time of the dinosaur, over 120 million years ago. Given the length of time they have been around it shouldn’t be surprising that there are over 35,000 species with hundreds of thousands of hybrids.

The most famous orchid in the world is the vanilla orchid (planifolia). Coca Cola is the largest customer of vanilla as they use the seed for flavouring. Madagascar is the world’s largest producer. Orchids are very beautiful plants and that is why so much time and care is put into growing them. Vanilla on the other hand is grown for its commercial value rather than for its appearance but it is labour intensive. The vanilla crop is the main source of income for many independent farmers in less developed countries.

Reproduction
One of the ways in which the orchid is so diverse is its ability to reproduce. Some orchids rely on flying insects, others rely on crawling insects and finally there are orchids that rely on the wind for pollination.

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Have you adored orchids for your whole life, always giving them as gifts instead of regular flowers, or perhaps even had your own potted orchids? Since you’re so passionate, and have the know-how, you should start your own home business as an orchid cultivator by starting your own orchid greenhouse!

Let’s not get carried away, though. Before you can sell all those gorgeous orchids, you need to build a greenhouse for them to grow. Not only that, but you’ll have to make sure you can afford the financial investment involved in your growing operation. It is not just a matter of putting them in the soil, then harvesting them, you have to take special care of the plants like they were your own children. You need the right type of soil, specific growth ingredients that orchids need to thrive, and so on. So, before you jump run out and start buying tons of stuff, ask yourself this: “Am I ready to grow my own orchids? Do I have the money needed, the will power required and the special knowledge required?” If you answered “yes,” then read on. If not, you might want to wait for a while before building your own orchid greenhouse, or just keep dreaming.

Assuming you have what it takes, then it’s time to build! Here are five critical steps towards making this dream a reality: (more…)

Repotting orchids should be done at least every two years. If you fail to do so, your plant may die or at least produce few flowers. You can easily tell when it’s time to do so. If your growing medium has broken down or if new growths extend over the edge of the pot, it’s time for you to repot the plant. Although it can seem difficult your first time around, it’s not such a hard task. This article will give you a few tips to help you.

Timing
One of the first things you need to consider is when to repot. If you wait longer than two years, then the potting medium will break down. This will prevent air circulation from reaching the roots. Also, the medium will start retaining too much moisture, which will increase the risk of root rot. You should repot the plant in early summer before new growth starts to appear. (more…)

Growing a breathtakingly beautiful orchid can be a very rewarding experience as well as a challenging one. There are many enthusiasts out there trying to grow the perfect orchid, however, many an enthusiast has been let frustrated in trying to achieve such an objective.

If you haven’t already bought your orchid, the best place to do so is at a nursery which specialises in orchids. You will find that the staff at these specialist nurseries will have many year’s of experience and plenty of enthusiasm. They will be able to point you in the right direction of where you need to start. If you do find a knowledgeable member of staff be sure to remember their name so you can get some advice if you need it in the future.

Orchid care is much more an art than a science so there are no strict rules that you should follow. There is, however, advice that you can use to assist you until you become more experienced.

Positioning
The best site to place the orchid is in a well lit position as good levels of light are required. Avoiding direct sunlight is also necessary as too much light can lead to leaf scorch. If the leaves begin to go a reddish color then this is a sign of too much light and you should try and introduce some shade to bring the leaf temperature down.

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Every one of us has an orchid enthusiast or at least a plant fanatic in their entourage, right? Well here are the ten top gift ideas for these people. This should ease your pain when you have to choose a Christmas gift for that aunt in law you barely know of…

Orchid Stationary
Every respectable Botanical Garden will have orchid stationeries. If not, you can try specialised stationary online boutiques. You can even check at the American Orchid Society. In addition to the calendar they produce they also offer full stationary sets as well as individual note cards.

Orchid Paperweight
An encapsulated live orchid in clear polystone within the paperweight will make any orchid lover jealous! You can take a look at Orchids Asia, a Chinese Import company. Right now they have five different orchids you can choose from and since they are live flowers no two are identical… (more…)

It is especially important for beginning gardeners to know what to look for when buying orchids. You have to examine the plant closely to make sure it’s in good health before you take it home. There are a few things you need to pay special attention to. This article will give you a few tips to make sure you pick the best plant.

Age
One of the first things you need to ask about is the age of the plant. Beginners should try to choose a plant that is relatively mature. Younger plants are much less durable than their older counterparts. Therefore, they will be much less forgiving of any mistakes that you make when caring for them. (more…)