Orchids
The vivid colors and intricate patterns of orchids have attracted and fascinated people for centuries. They can be found in the tropics of every continent except Antartica and are now widely grown commercially as house plants and commonly propagated adding new hybrid species to the more than 25,000 species that exist today.
Orchids are the largest family of plants in the world with 25,000 to 30,000 different recognized species in about 880 genera. They are primarily herbaceous (non-woody) perennial herbs that are generally terrestrial (growing in the earth) or epiphytic (growing on other plants). Most species manufacture their own food, but some are saprophytic (live on dead organic material) or are helped to obtain nourishment by a fungus living in their roots. All orchid flowers are symmetrical meaning each flower can be divided perfectly in half forming two equal parts; however, species can differ greatly from one another, with extreme variations in size, weight and color. While some orchids may only be the size of a dime (Platystele Jungermannioides) when in bloom, others may weigh up to one ton (Grammatophyllum Speciosum). Orchids can live up to 100 years, but typically take 5-7 years before they bloom. Their blossoms appear in almost every imaginable color except for true black. The only orchid grown commercially, for purposes other than house plants, is the Vanilla Planifolia which produces vanilla beans. Orchids have the smallest seeds in the world with one seedpods containing as many as 3 million seeds.
Miltoniopsis “Pansy” Orchids
Miltoniopsis is an orchid genus comprising five species and are native to Costa Rica, Panama, Venezuela, Columbia, Ecuador and Peru. They are called the “Pansy” orchid because of its’ pansy face with contrasting colors. They come in colors including white, yellow, burgundy, lavender and pink and grow about one foot tall as an upright grower, making it a preferred house plant. Miltonopsis are similar to Miltonia Orchids, however, they have one leaf at the apex of the pseudobulb whereas Miltonia have two. You can also tell them apart from their pseudobulbs: the pseudobulbs of Miltoniopsis are rounded, laterally compressed, and clustered tightly together whereas Miltonia pseudobulbs are more elongate and more widely spaced. They prefer an intermediate cool climate with daytime temperatures between 70-80°F (21-27°C) and night time temperatures between 55-65°F (13-18°C). They prefer humidity between 40-60% with good air movement.
Miltonia Orchids
Miltonia is an orchid genus comprising twelve epiphyte (growing on other plants) species and eight natural hybrids that are exclusively inhabitants of Brazil except for one species whose range extends from Brazil into the northeast of Argentina and the east of Paraguay. Unlike Miltoniopsis that thrives in a cool climate, Miltonia prefer the warm climate of Brazil. They should also be kept in the shade as direct sunlight can burn the leaves within a short time. They have large and long lasting flowers, often in multi-floral inflorescences and bloom beautifully often twice a year. When the temperature is warm, their blooms can last up to 6 weeks.
Beallara Orchids
Beallara are hybrid orchids that combine the best characteristics of the following genera: Brassia, Cochlioda, Miltonia, Odontoglossum. Varieties of the genus Beallara prefer a temperate and light to partially shaded location. Like most orchids they want to be watered regularly but never be too wet. Their preferred temperature is between 60-80°F (16-18°C) and humidity between 55-75%. They have a branched stem that grows to about 59in (150cm) in height. The leaves are elongated and lanceolate (shaped like the head of a lance) and the flowers are numerous (commonly 14 to 16) lasting between 20-30 days. These orchids are commonly cultivated in greenhouses for ornamental purposes, resulting in a huge variety of cultivars of different colors.
Paphiopedilum “Venus Slipper” Orchids
All Paphiopedilum are characterized by both a cup-like lip called the pouch, which gives them the common name of lady slipper, and a prominent dorsal sepal. The genus is comprised of around 80 accepted species including several natural hybrids. They are native to Southeast Asia, the Indian Subcontinent, southern China, New Guinea and the Solomon and Bismarck Islands. They are dwarf to moderate sized with leaves that are stiff, waxy or leathery and range from a glossy green to beautifully mottled. The leaves usually form a fan-shaped tuft. Due to their popularity, Paphiopedilums have been ruthlessly gathered and poached from the wild, making them very rare or extinct there. As soon as a new species or population is discovered, poachers will take the plants for orchid collectors who pay large sums of money. Habitat destruction is an additional factor contributing to their rarity.
Brassia “Spider” Orchids
Brassia is a genus of orchids consisting of 34 to 38 recognized species and are native to Mexico, Central America, the West Indies and northern South America, with one species (Brassia Caudata) extending into Florida. They are notable for the characteristic long and spreading tepals (in some clones longer than 19in (50cm)), which lend them the common name “spider orchid”. They are usually quite vigorous epiphytic plants with few-to-many flowered inflorescences bearing large to very large, whitish to yellowish and light brown flowers with narrow sepals and petals spotted or blotched dark brown and a large, pointed, prominent, more or less reflexed lip. Flowers can last for many weeks and should be staked or supported properly.
One of the most interesting thing about Brassia orchids is the way they’re pollinated. It’s widely pollinated by female spider hunter wasps of the Pepsis and Campsomeris genera. Mistaken by the mimicry of Brassia, the wasp stings the lip of the plant, while trying to grasp its prey without any success. They do this stinging and tugging at the column and lip again and again, which results in the pollen sticking to their head. When they fly to another flower, the pollen falls off their head and enters the stigma of the plant.
Oncidium “Dancing Lady” Orchids
Oncidium is a genus of orchids consisting of about 330 different species. They’re distributed across much of South America, Central America, Mexico and the West Indies, with one species (Oncidium Ensatum) extending into Florida. They have tiny flowers that cluster in vibrant colors and like bright and direct sunlight. They vary greatly in size and shape, and most species are epiphytic. The flowers come in shades of yellow, red, white and pink and the petals are often ruffled on the edges, as is the lip. The lip is enormous, partially blocking the small petals and sepals. They range in width from about 0.25in (6mm) to more than 4in (10cm), depending on the species. Oncidium are characterized by their presence of column wings, presence of a complicated callus on the lip (this can be used to separate the species), pseudobulbs with one to three leaves and several basal bracts at the base of the pseudobulbs.
Odontoglossum Orchids
Odontoglossum is a genus of orchids that consists of about 150 species that are primarily native to mountainous areas of tropical America. These high-altitude orchids flourish where cool temperatures prevail year round. They’re fairly picky about temperatures with a preference to stay below 74°F (23°C) during the day and around 50-55°F. (10-13°C) at night with humidity between 40-80%. Orchids in warmer climates need additional water and humidity with increased airflow as the humidity increases. The flowers are borne on a spike that arises from the base of the pseudobulbs and vary greatly in color and marking. They may be white, red, purple, brown, yellow, or even be blotched with a showy blend of many colors and usually have ruffled sepals and two toothlike structures on the central labellum. They’re amongst the most varied and colourful of the orchid family.
Zygopetalum Orchids
Zygopetalum is a genus of orchids that consists of about 15 recognized species. They occur naturally in humid forests at low to mid elevation regions of Tropical Central and South America – Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Peru, and Bolivia with most species located in Brazil. This orchid's generic name, derived from the Greek word zugon, means "yoke" referring to the yoke-like growth at the base of the lip. They produce waxy-looking, exotically patterned blooms. These blooms are strongly scented and have greenish-brown petals and sepals, and purple color on their lips.
Phalaenopsis “Moth” Orchids
Phalaenopsis “Moth” Orchids are a genus of about 70 species of plants which are monopodial (growing upward with a single stem) epiphytes or lithophytes (grows in or on rocks) with long, coarse roots, short, leafy stems and long-lasting, flat flowers arranged in a flowering stem that often branches near the end. They occur naturally in India, Taiwan, China, Southeast Asia, New Guinea and Australia with the majority in Indonesia and the Philippines. The flowers can last from 8 to 16 weeks and can bloom once or twice a year. They can also live up to 100 years if provided the appropriate environment.
Dendrobium Orchids
Dendrobium is a genus of orchids with one of the largest groups of nearly 2,000 species which are mainly epiphytic and lithophytic. They’re native to southeast Asia and grow in all manner of climates, from hot, wet lowlands to high-altitude, cool mountains. They are generally warm-growing orchids and thrive with a day temperature range between 70-85°F (20-30°C) and night temperatures around 60-65°F (15-18°C). Like many orchids, Dendrobium benefit from intermediate to high humidity levels, between 50% and 70%. Each spike typically produces 5 to 20 flowers that last from one to three months.
Doritaenopsis Orchids
Doritaenopsis is a genus of artificial hybrids that was formed in the 1950's, when Doritis Pulcherrima (now known as Phalaenopsis Pulcherrima) was crossed with Phalaenopsis Equestris. It’s considered a moth orchid hybrid that has more flowers with more intense pink than those of the Phalaenopsis parent. The largest recorded of its’ kind had an inflorescence that grew to nearly 8 ft (2.4 m) tall with five branches, 75 flowers and 29 buds, with individual flowers that measured 8.0 cm (3.1 in) across.
Cymbidium “Boat” Orchids
Cymbidium is a genus of orchids with about 55 species and 16 natural hybrids occurring in the wild and can be found in tropical and subtropical Asia including North India, China, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Borneo Islands and North Australia. It usually grows in cooler climates at high elevation and is the most popular winter and spring blooming orchids able to survive cold temperatures as low as 45°F (7°C). The word Cymbidium comes from Greek kymbe meaning “boat”, referring to the hollowness in the lip of the flower. They usually bloom once a year during winter and spring seasons and the flowers can last for more than four weeks and come in various colors such as white, green, yellow, brown, orange, pink and red.
Cattleya “Corsage” Orchids
Cattleya is a genus of orchids with about 120 recognized species. They are one of the most commonly cultivated species and have been crossed with numerous other orchid genera to produce thousands of showy hybrids commonly used in corsages. Most are known to be epiphytic or lithophytic. Mature plants will typically reach about 2 feet tall with flowers that can grow up to 8 inches across and colors that vary from white to pink, orange, purple, red, yellow, and blue. Flowering usually occurs once a year, but some hybrids produce flowers more often. They have somewhat succulent leaves, and can contain from 1 to 30 large brightly colored flowers. Their flowers have three sepals and three petals, one of which is modified to form a prominent labellum (lip).
