-Are orchids hard to grow?
No. They are no more difficult to grow than many popular flowering plants. Like any plant, an orchid needs water, fertilizer, light and air. If you grow other ornamental plants either in the garden or indoors, you can grow orchids.
-Aren't orchids terribly expensive?
Not any more. Once a hobby for the wealthy, orchids are now within the reach of any income. Modern reproductive methods make it possible for growers to enjoy plants for a reasonable price. You can spend as little as you like. But trying to own one orchid is like trying to eat one peanut!
-Are all orchids the same?
Quite the contrary. No plant family is more diverse. After all, the orchid family is the largest plant family, occupying almost all possible environments. From the thimble-sized Mystacidium caffrum to the 20-foot-tall Renanthera storei, orchids exhibit amazingly different shapes, forms and growth habits. Some orchids produce blossoms no larger than a mosquito; other orchid flowers are as large as a dinner plate. Your familiar corsage is just one of the thousands of attractive types that can be grown with ease, given the proper culture. And with today's propagation methods and current hybridizing trends, there are more choices to choose from than ever before.
-Are orchids parasites?
Absolutely not! Of the approximately 20,000 species of orchids that grow around the world, not one is parasitic. In nature, many orchids cling to trees and bushes as a growth habit, but they take nothing from the host plant and do not injure it in any way. Orchids that grow on trees are called epiphytes or air plants.Do orchids come from the tropics?Some do. But every country in the world and every state in the United States, including Alaska, has orchids.
-Do I need a greenhouse?
Not necessarily. Some popular orchids can be grown in your home or under lights. Those able to withstand cooler weather may be grown outdoors. When selecting plants, choose those that will survive in the environment you have to offer.
-Should orchids be protected from drafts?
By no means. As a matter of fact, orchids require moving air. They do best where there is a steady, moist breeze. However, if grown indoors, blooming plants should be positioned away from air-conditioning or hot-air vents.
-What sort of soil do orchids need?
Most require none. In nature, orchids can be divided into four types according to growing conditions. Most are classified as epiphytes, or air plants, which grow chiefly on trees. Lithophytes cling to the surfaces of rocks. Saprophytes grow in decaying vegetation on the forest floor. Finally, there are terrestrials, which anchor themselves in soil or sand. As most orchids are epiphytes, they can be grown in tree bark (fir or redwood), crumbled charcoal, pebbles, or on tree-fern or cork plaques.
-Are orchids short-lived?
Most are long-lived. In fact, some species are virtually immortal, given the proper attention. Divisions or propagations of orchids discovered in the 19th century are still growing and flowering today.
-How often do orchids bloom?
Again, it depends on the plant. Some bloom once a year, others bloom several times a year and some even bloom continuously.
-How long do orchid blooms last?
It depends on the type as well as on cultural treatment. Blooms of hybrids of the genus Cattleya may last from one to four weeks on the plant. Those of the genus Phalaenopsis commonly last from one to four months.
-Are orchids fragrant?
Some are so powerfully scented as to perfume an entire greenhouse or living room. A few orchid fragrances defy description, while others mimic familiar aromas -- raspberry, coconut, lilacs and citrus. Others have no scent, but rely on shape and color to attract insects or birds for pollination, thereby continuing the life cycle of the species.
-Can I transport orchids?
Yes. Because many of them are cultivated in pots or baskets, they can be carried anywhere. Many growers use blooming plants as living centerpieces in their homes. Orchids are routinely mailed and sold at shows. But use common sense. When you buy orchids, do not let them sit in a hot or cold car or damage may result.
-Where can I buy orchids?
Hundreds of orchid nurseries, many of which advertise monthly in Orchids magazine, exist in the United States and around the world. Visit the Source Directory link at left to find one near you or in an area that you plan to visit. Additionally, many fine growers will ship orchids right to your door!Is conservation of orchids an important issue?Absolutely! Sadly, orchid species are becoming extinct faster than they can be described and classified. Threats to orchids originate primarily from loss of habitat and collecting. The AOS advocates the purchase of only artifically propagated orchids, either from meristems or seeds, which will help discourage the collecting of orchid species at home and abroad. The AOS also encourages orchidists to pollinate orchid species already in their collections and to share the seedlings with their fellow orchidists.
sources: www.orchidweb.org
No. They are no more difficult to grow than many popular flowering plants. Like any plant, an orchid needs water, fertilizer, light and air. If you grow other ornamental plants either in the garden or indoors, you can grow orchids.
-Aren't orchids terribly expensive?
Not any more. Once a hobby for the wealthy, orchids are now within the reach of any income. Modern reproductive methods make it possible for growers to enjoy plants for a reasonable price. You can spend as little as you like. But trying to own one orchid is like trying to eat one peanut!
-Are all orchids the same?
Quite the contrary. No plant family is more diverse. After all, the orchid family is the largest plant family, occupying almost all possible environments. From the thimble-sized Mystacidium caffrum to the 20-foot-tall Renanthera storei, orchids exhibit amazingly different shapes, forms and growth habits. Some orchids produce blossoms no larger than a mosquito; other orchid flowers are as large as a dinner plate. Your familiar corsage is just one of the thousands of attractive types that can be grown with ease, given the proper culture. And with today's propagation methods and current hybridizing trends, there are more choices to choose from than ever before.
-Are orchids parasites?
Absolutely not! Of the approximately 20,000 species of orchids that grow around the world, not one is parasitic. In nature, many orchids cling to trees and bushes as a growth habit, but they take nothing from the host plant and do not injure it in any way. Orchids that grow on trees are called epiphytes or air plants.Do orchids come from the tropics?Some do. But every country in the world and every state in the United States, including Alaska, has orchids.
-Do I need a greenhouse?
Not necessarily. Some popular orchids can be grown in your home or under lights. Those able to withstand cooler weather may be grown outdoors. When selecting plants, choose those that will survive in the environment you have to offer.
-Should orchids be protected from drafts?
By no means. As a matter of fact, orchids require moving air. They do best where there is a steady, moist breeze. However, if grown indoors, blooming plants should be positioned away from air-conditioning or hot-air vents.
-What sort of soil do orchids need?
Most require none. In nature, orchids can be divided into four types according to growing conditions. Most are classified as epiphytes, or air plants, which grow chiefly on trees. Lithophytes cling to the surfaces of rocks. Saprophytes grow in decaying vegetation on the forest floor. Finally, there are terrestrials, which anchor themselves in soil or sand. As most orchids are epiphytes, they can be grown in tree bark (fir or redwood), crumbled charcoal, pebbles, or on tree-fern or cork plaques.
-Are orchids short-lived?
Most are long-lived. In fact, some species are virtually immortal, given the proper attention. Divisions or propagations of orchids discovered in the 19th century are still growing and flowering today.
-How often do orchids bloom?
Again, it depends on the plant. Some bloom once a year, others bloom several times a year and some even bloom continuously.
-How long do orchid blooms last?
It depends on the type as well as on cultural treatment. Blooms of hybrids of the genus Cattleya may last from one to four weeks on the plant. Those of the genus Phalaenopsis commonly last from one to four months.
-Are orchids fragrant?
Some are so powerfully scented as to perfume an entire greenhouse or living room. A few orchid fragrances defy description, while others mimic familiar aromas -- raspberry, coconut, lilacs and citrus. Others have no scent, but rely on shape and color to attract insects or birds for pollination, thereby continuing the life cycle of the species.
-Can I transport orchids?
Yes. Because many of them are cultivated in pots or baskets, they can be carried anywhere. Many growers use blooming plants as living centerpieces in their homes. Orchids are routinely mailed and sold at shows. But use common sense. When you buy orchids, do not let them sit in a hot or cold car or damage may result.
-Where can I buy orchids?
Hundreds of orchid nurseries, many of which advertise monthly in Orchids magazine, exist in the United States and around the world. Visit the Source Directory link at left to find one near you or in an area that you plan to visit. Additionally, many fine growers will ship orchids right to your door!Is conservation of orchids an important issue?Absolutely! Sadly, orchid species are becoming extinct faster than they can be described and classified. Threats to orchids originate primarily from loss of habitat and collecting. The AOS advocates the purchase of only artifically propagated orchids, either from meristems or seeds, which will help discourage the collecting of orchid species at home and abroad. The AOS also encourages orchidists to pollinate orchid species already in their collections and to share the seedlings with their fellow orchidists.
sources: www.orchidweb.org
No comments:
Post a Comment