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| General information about Orchids |
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The orchid is probably the largest plant family. Orchids grow in many different countries and most species are found in tropical rainforests.
There are over 40.000 different varieties. They grow in the strangest places, for example nestled in tree knots, in rock crevices and on cactus stalks. One finds varieties that grow against tree trunks in the misty forests of Brazil with their roots in the open air and there are varieties, which are only found in the hilly areas of Asia.
In the 18th century the tropical varieties were introduced to Europe and people started collecting them because of their intriguing flowers and the fascinating range of shapes and colours. The orchid is the queen of flowering plants. For this reason passing butterflies and humming-birds were tempted to pollinate the flowers. Butterflies and hummingbirds carry the pollen from flower to flower. After pollination a capsule is formed which can contain as many as 30.000 seeds. The seed is the size of a dust particle. After a gestation period of about 10 months, the seeds are dispersed by the wind into the atmosphere.
The orchid grows in two ways: monopodial en sympodial.
The monopodial growth process; the orchids have a central upwards growing stalk with flowers, e.g. Phalaenopsis.
The sympodial growth process; the orchids have a rootstalk with a new bud on one side. This bud develops into a shoot. The flower stalk arises from the shoot, ex. cymbidium, oncidium and the miltoniat.
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| Epiphytes |
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Plants that live on other plants are called epiphytes. Epiphytes unlike parasites do not live off of the host plant. They attach themselves to a tree and feed from the rain that washes tree trunk. They dont take away any food from the host plants as, parasites do. The most popular/known orchid, the Phalaenopsis is an example of an epiphytic growing orchid. The Cattleya and Vanda are also epiphytes. There are also orchids, which grow on the bottom of the rainforest. These are known as terrestrial growing orchids. They live mostly in the shade of trees. There are also varieties that grow in open areas and get more light. Since orchids grow in so many different places and under such varied circumstances it is impossible to give them a standard form of care. The light intensity to which the leaves/petals of an orchid are exposed is of great importance to the food production in the leaf, and therefore for its growth and development, which is aided by the enzyme, chlorophyll. This process is especially effective in the morning. The temperature is another very important factor. Any cooling of the warm leaf results in evaporation of the water in the leaf. The plants and its roots cannot compensate for excessive evaporation resulting in a wilting plant.
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| Botanicial species |
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Already at the beginning of the 20th century, orchids were being imported for botanical gardens, universities and private collections. Knowledge of orchid cultivation has developed slowly. Through the creation of hybrids, a variety of Botanical sorts have arisen which feel comfortable in every home. From a wide range of varieties, Euroorchid has selected a few sorts, which are suitable for your window seats, offices, hotels or as a gift.
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